International Trade and Investment
Inward Investment into North East England
Lead responsibility for inward investment in North East England transfers from One North East to PA Consulting and Partners on 3 May 2011.
PA Consulting is working in partnership with OCO Consulting and British Chambers of Commerce, alongside local partners, the Devolved Administrations and London and Partners. They have established offices around England, including in the North East.
Under the new FDI Delivery Model, inward investment will be primarily delivered through a centralised FDI Hub but will be complemented by continuous engagement with sub-national partners.
Key elements of the Delivery Model include:
- an integrated service oriented around a ‘UK First’ offer to ensure the development of compelling “UK First” propositions
- consistent, regular and timely interaction with overseas posts who will be responsible for generating leads with candidate organisations for inward investment (including robust pipeline management to provide a single of all opportunities)
- strong and analytical approach to the development of propositions that are linked to real intelligence including efficient knowledge processing to maintain consistent information profile for propositions
- planning, direction and guidance from FDI Hub to determine front-line activities and support from advisers and;
- robust, local engagement through interaction with Local Enterprise Partnerships, Local Authorities, Universities, Technology Innovative Centres working in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce to assist in relationship development at the sub-national level.
Should you have any queries, please contact one of the enquiry points with the new FDI Hub:
UKTI Investment Services Team Helpline: 0845 539 0419
UKTI Investment Services Team enquires: enquiries@ukti-invest.com
North East England has become one of the most dynamic regions in Europe. It is part of the world's largest market, the European Economic Area (EEA).
The region’s key strengths are:
- A dedicated and committed business support network
- Low operating costs
- A flexible, skilled and readily available workforce
- Fast and efficient logistics networks for the transport of products and components
- Strong academic support with an intelligence network of five universities and 24 colleges
- Excellent telecommunications
- A first class range of property and sites, offering solutions for all needs
- Competitive and substantial financial incentives
- An enviable inward investment track record
The North East has a strong reputation for innovation and industrial change. It is home to a number of Centres of Excellence: Digital Technology and Digital Media, Life Sciences, Emerging Technologies, New and Renewable Energy, and Process Industries.
In support of this, the region boasts strengths in other key areas including: customer service and shared service centres, food processing, advanced materials and ceramics, mechanical and precision engineering and plastics processing.
The region plays host to over 500 leading global companies which have created and safeguarded more than 75,000 jobs. North East England offers investors a region with the least risk in establishing a business and a higher net profit on average than any other UK region.
The workforce in the North East has a reputation for being hard working and flexible. The region has a population of 2.6 million people and a total labour force of 1.2 million. There is a readily available supply of labour, with a high proportion of people who are skilled or have been retrained.
A major consideration for new investors is the skill levels of the workforce. The North East is able to supply most labour requirements without difficulty. There is a wide range of agencies and organisations offering extensive training facilities and support to meet precise skills needs. Good employers experience little difficulty in retaining trained staff as the habit of leaving one job for marginal wage increases elsewhere is less marked than in other English regions.
Labour relations are now extremely good. The emphasis is on working flexibly, in a modern thriving industrial environment and in close co-operation with employers.
North East England has historical and cultural attractions and areas of outstanding natural beauty. These include two World Heritage Sites - Durham Cathedral and Hadrian's Wall - as well as medieval castles, a rich unspoilt countryside and a stunning coastline.
Industrial activity is concentrated around the rivers Tyne, Wear and Tees, with less heavily industrialised areas in Northumberland and County Durham. People in the North East have a strong sense of identity and take great pride in their region. Independent surveys consistently rank it as one of the best regions in the UK for its quality of life.
Click here to visit the dedicated Investment North East England website www.investnortheastengland.com
Building on good practice - including the Memorandum of Understanding with Shanghai and Jiangsu Province in China - the Strategy ensures the region effectively ‘account manages’ key overseas companies locating here.
For more detailed data on the North East of England and more in-depth analysis, please click on the following link www.nerip.com,
If you are a business looking to relocate or expand in the North East, please contact for information on the advantages of locating in the region.
