Join us for a ‘Parkinson’ style interview with one of the regions best known entrepreneurs. Network with some of the top business men and women from across the North East. Gain insight and knowledge about a businessman who is passionate about helping North-east business prosper in his capacity as Chairman of Business Link North East, RTC North and as a Director of the Entrepreneurs Forum. Informing that passion is the entrepreneurial tenacity that has built the Leighton Group from a small publishing business into a global technology and communications group that operates in 45 countries and in 10 languages.

Fiona Cruickshank and the other 140 people employed at the Specials Lab in Prudhoe, Northumberland have come a long way since the business was founded to manufacture unlicensed medicines for the retail pharmaceutical and healthcare markets with a team of three in 1999. It has enjoyed 75% annual growth since it was founded by Fiona and business partner Brian Dougherty and in 2006 it was the only English company north of Leeds to feature in the Sunday Times fast-track 100. Since then the company has overcome aggressive discounting practices from competitors to turn in a profit against a £10.5million turnover…. To find out more come along to our ‘Parkinson’ style interview with Fiona.