Residents and business owners across the Tees Valley Combined Authority Region, covering the five Local Authorities – Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland, and Hartlepool - have re-elected the incumbent Conservative Mayor, Ben Houchen, for a third term in office.
The political role, first elected in 2017, is the result of a devolution deal for the region which saw major funding and decision-making powers handed over from central government in Westminster to the elected Mayor.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) congratulates the re-elected Mayor on his election and remains committed to feeding into the Mayoral Combined Authority, ensuring the voice of small businesses and the self-employed remains at the heart of policy and decision making.
Reshma Begum, FSB Development Manager for North East England said:
“On behalf of our members and the wider small business and self-employed community, we would like to congratulate Mayor Ben Houchen on his re-election as the Mayor of Tees Valley for a third term.
“Small businesses and the self-employed are the backbone of our economy, playing a vital role in the success of our region. We at FSB are committed to continuing to work with the Mayor and the team around him to champion policies and business support that promote entrepreneurship, innovation, skills, and the vibrancy of our high streets in addition to improving transport and infrastructure.
“We look forward to working collaboratively to build a strong, inclusive and entrepreneurial Tees Valley.”
