Entrepreneurs Forum

To be a successful entrepreneur you need to have the resolve to take the knocks, the bad decisions and the put-downs, and come back stronger.  Our guest speaker Michael Mitten knows all too well what it’s like to come through the tough times and will inspire and motivate guests to do even greater things in business and life.

 

In the third of our Emerging Talent events this year, we'll hear from entrepreneur and business coach Michael Mitten, managing director of the award-winning Newcastle-based engineering firm Houghton International.

 

Michael will reveal the lessons he’s learned during his years in industry and will speak about his extraordinary expedition to the North Pole on foot, which he completed in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support in 2009.  Drawing on the parallels between this arduous, life changing trek, which he found had similarities with the perils of day-to-day business, Michael will share his thoughts on leadership, fear, uncertainty and financing - and why he believes that anything in life is achievable if you believe it to be.

 

During dinner, Michael will also explain how he has grasped exciting business opportunities both at home and abroad, which have enabled Houghton to double production and the size of their Tyneside headquarters.  This provides the platform for his ambitious plans to create 40 jobs and grow annual turnover to £5million in the next year.

 

This is an evening of not just inspiration, but the chance to listen to, question and bounce ideas off tenacious like-minded business people.

 

Joining Michael for dinner, to introduce and facilitate the evening’s proceedings will be Dave Charlton, Entrepreneurs’ Forum founding member and Chairman of menswear fashion retailer, The Officers Club.

 

 

A graduate of University of Central Lancashire with a BA in Journalism, Michael never really wanted to take over the family firm. Whilst studying for his degree his mother, Christine, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, so his parents asked him to work in the business to help out. Michael then spotted opportunites to combine his love of exploring with developing the business overseas and at the age of 22 won his first £60,000 contract out of Hong Kong. He then went on to open up new channels in Indonesia, Singapore, Greece and the Middle East, learning lots about both business and people in the process.

 

Michael took over the running of Houghton at the age of 27, almost immediately seizing the opportunity to take the business to a whole new level. 

Under Michael’s leadership, the business quickly started to outperform other companies in their sector, entering the UK rail market shortly afterwards which has underpinned their sustainable growth.

 

Founded in 1984 in Houghton-le-Spring by Michael’s mother, Christine Mitten, Houghton International is the UK’s fastest growing, most customer focused electric motor and alternator repair company, with a ten per cent market share in the UK’s rail traction motor industry and a number of major clients operating in the London area including Unipart Rail, First Capital Connect and South West Trains.

 

Houghton International is the UK’s fastest growing, most customer focused electric motor and alternator repair company, with a ten per cent market share in the UK’s rail traction motor industry and a number of major clients operating in the London area including Unipart Rail, First Capital Connect and South West Trains. Locally they service the Tyne & Wear Metro among a host of manufacturing customers. As well as the rail industry, Houghton International also services wind power, offshore oil and gas, industrial, water, power generation, marine, mining and High Voltage coil manufacturing sectors.  The firm has also employed an agent in Canada to help grow the North American market, and also has a man permanently in Dubai to sniff out deals across the Gulf region.

 

The company was recently named as the WINNER of the Small Business Award, sponsored by Royal Mail, at the North East Business Awards 2009 (Tyneside and Northumberland Region) recognising companies form the heart of the region’s economy which may well grow into the corporate giants of the future.

 

Inspired by his Dad Ron's life sadly lost to lung cancer in 2007 and the amazing people at Macmillan Cancer Support who were there throughout, Michael decided to do something extraordinary to make sure this fantastic charity continues to make a difference to the lives of people living with cancer. In April 2009 Michael reached the Geographic North Pole on foot. He now works to inspire other ordinary people like him to do extraordinary things through his inspirational talks, philanthropic activity and one to one coaching and is planning to take on the challenge of reaching the South Pole on foot in January 2012, in the hope of raising over £250,000 for Macmillan and other cancer charities.

 

 

The dinner will commence at 6.45pm, therefore guests are advised to arrive at around 6.30pm

 

Members can register by calling 0870 850 2233 or e-mailing info@entrepreneursforum.net

 

Venue: Clock Tower Cafe, Hoults Yard, Newcastle

Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm