Fire and gritstone at the innovators' festival

A star of television’s Dragon’s Den and a star repair guru are among the guests charged with motivating and entertaining innovators at Northumbrian Water’s Innovation Festival at Newcastle Racecourse next month.

Dragon, Sara Davies, will be opening the festival with an inspiring talk all about how she has needed to innovate in order to become one of the UK’s most successful businesswomen.

She will be joined on the line-up by furniture restorer and up-cycler from Repair Shop, Jay Blades who will air his passion for sustainability, social enterprise and inclusion.

Also appearing at the three-day event are Foxdog Studios - a double act comprising IT professionals-turned-comedians Lloyd Henning and Peter Sutton as well as other acts including a gospel choir and slam poets Harry and Chris.

The sessions are free to attend at Newcastle Racecourse between 12-14th July.