TEESSIDE has been dubbed as being central in the modernising of the the industrial economy.

Engineers and businesses were invited to discuss what the future holds for engineering in the UK to an audience of over 60 guests, in a panel talk hosted by research centre, The Materials Processing Institute.

Held at the Institute’s Middlesbrough campus, the panel was chaired by chief executive Chris McDonald. Amongst those in attendance was Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Penny Marshall, regional director of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

A hot topic between speakers was how the North East, Teesside in particular, is already making great strides towards a future which has a low-carbon technology-led economy whilst being supported by a education system which nurtures these necessary skills.

Mr Houchen said: “This event reflected the optimism we have as a region that has a fantastic engineering heritage and its future contribution to the development of clean technologies.”