“The purposes of the present institution are, the redressing of all the grievances in any wise affecting the trade of this port - the facilitating of any measures calculated to promote the interest and prosperity of our local commerce - and generally the attainment of such objects, connected with the commerce of the port, as the exertions of individuals may be less adequate to accomplish.”

This is the third item recorded in the minutes of the first meeting of The Newcastle Upon Tyne Chamber of Commerce, and according to North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) chief executive, James Ramsbotham, it chimes as much today as it did 200 years ago.

This plain, if a little fussy, minute relates primarily to “merchants, manufacturers and shipowners”, but the principles enshrined in this historic document have endured.

In short: collectively businesses are stronger than they are as individuals.

“This remains as true today as it was in 1815 when the good gentlemen of Newcastle succeeded in dredging the Tyne to allow larger boats access to its docks,” said Mr Ramsbotham.

“Back then it was all about helping North-East goods find their way to market, and 200 years later we’re still fighting the same fight.

“Whether it’s dredging a river or securing upgrades to an overused stretch of dual carriageway, the Chamber of Commerce has proved a vital catalyst of positive change for North-East businesses for two centuries."

The first meeting of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce took place on January 5, 1815 at the Guildhall in Newcastle.

While the aims for the formation were entirely practical, it is the context in which the establishing of the group took place which is interesting.

1815 saw the end of the Napoleonic wars, the Battle of Waterloo was to take place in June that year and the country had just seen the end of the Continental blockade, which had supressed European trade for years.

Once relieved of the burden of war, Britain was free to trade.

Newcastle had the assets to be a major port, but the city was not developed enough and was losing ground to other ports.

There were no local authorities 200 years ago and it was often left to the landowners, aristocracy and merchants to organise development - in this context the chamber was established.

Members were drawn mostly from merchants and industrialists from a wide range of industries, with many founding members also City Aldermen or part of the merchant adventurers.

The first chairman was Robert Clayton, a merchant and three-time mayor of Newcastle.

He was joined by Benjamin Sorsbie (merchant), Anthony Esterby (lead and soap manufacturer), Joseph Hawkes (ironfounder), William Chapman (merchant), Joseph Lamb (glass manufacture) and William Armstrong (corn and maritime merchant).

The first president was John Clarke, a plantation owner and sugar merchant, and by January 1916 the Newcastle chamber had amassed 59 members.

The creation of chambers in Teesside, Tyne and Wear and Tynedale, all of which came together in 1995 to form the NECC we know today, further bolstered the voice of business in our region.

It is important to remember that while the first chamber was created in Newcastle, the chamber movement gathering pace across the whole region acted as a force for positive change in the North-East.

Mr Ramsbotham said: “The speed at which the chamber grew is a real example of how businesses quickly realised the power of a united voice.

“The industrialists and merchants were quickly joined by landowners, such as Lord Lambton and Lord Joicey, who were most representative of mine owners and coal producers.

“Many of the merchants and landowners had interests in shipping or were shipowners, which is why much of the chamber business in its early decades was based on the sea or shipping concerns.”

During the run-up to the Chamber’s 200th anniversary (#NECC200 for those operating in social media), NECC head of member relations, Rachel Anderson, has been researching the proud history of the organisation.

She said: “I have been amazed at the role the chamber has played in some of our region’s, and our country’s, major historical events.

“Most notable among them, occurred 100 years ago in 1914 when it helped raise the 16th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers or 'The Commercials' - so beautifully captured by Sir William Goscombe John in The Renwick Memorial ('The Response') at Newcastle Civic Centre.

“It not only helped provide these brave fighting men, it also created a fund for families who lost loved ones in the war, which if it was today would have run into the millions.

“The chamber fought for the repealing of the Corn Laws in the 1840s, lobbied against the monopolies of the rail companies in the 1880s, hosted and organised trade missions when the UK was in the grip of post-war depression in the 1920s, fought for fairness when the Thatcher Government opened up the manufacturing industry to international competition in the 1980s and worked with regional partners to attract massive inward investors like Nissan and Hitachi more recently.

“In short, the chamber is always and has always been at the front of the fight to improve conditions for our members, business generally and the people of the North-East.

"It is something to take great pride in.”

The NECC has supported members, championed the region and lobbied for the removal of barriers to growth for 200 years.

Mr Ramsbotham added: “We have stood shoulder to shoulder with firms through the hard times and celebrated with them in the good times.

“During my time as chief executive of this unique organisation, I have had the pleasure of visiting many countries and establishing links with chambers across the world.

"In many regions it is mandatory for businesses to join their local or regional chamber of commerce.

“What makes us special is that members choose to sign up with us.

"They believe in what we are striving to achieve and realise, in a very fundamental way, that a united North-East is a powerful region - working together we can get things done that will benefit us all, increasing trade, employment and prosperity.

“I would love every business in our region to be a member of the NECC, but that element of choice is key to our longevity and independence. We are not beholden to anyone other than our members and our sole purpose is to serve them in the best way we can.”

Throughout 2015, Mr Ramsbotham will be calling on businesses to join together and get behind NECC to not only celebrate everything that makes the North-East great, but to shout about and showcase the fantastic innovators, pioneering companies and the talented individuals and excellent businesses that will drive growth in across the region for years to come.

He said: “This is the year when we remove our light from under the bushel and show the rest of the world that we have a proud history, a vibrant present and a future that is limited only by our imaginations.”

#NECC200 staged a huge birthday party for Chamber staff and members along Newcastle Quayside on January 5, and will also stage a gala dinner, an exhibition of NECC’s contribution to the region over the past 200 years, a series of anniversary events, #NECC200 “Tweet of the Day” featuring North-East historic business milestones for every day of 2015, and even a world record attempt.