Business and Industry

Director: Ian Williams 0191 229 6222

The Business and Industry directorate is responsible for delivering One NorthEast's policies to support the formation, growth and productivity of the region's businesses.

This is achieved by:

• Increasing innovation through delivery of the Strategy for Success via the Science and Industry Council and five Centres of Excellence.
• Improving access to investment and finance, and supporting inward investors, including provision of aftercare and encouraging export.
• Improving access to business support, particularly through the Business Support Network.
• Raising business productivity by increasing competitiveness through improving skills, technology and the region's knowledge base.

Read further information on the Strategy For Success and the five Centres of Excellence here.

Key Priorities

• Ensure the region leads on development of the healthcare, processing technologies, energy and the environment industries, supported by excellence in design and e-business
• Develop the work of the Strategy for Success to its next stage
• Attract and retain investment in the region by demonstrating that the North East is an exemplary place to do business
• Build a cohesive framework of partnerships that are intimate, simple and productive.

Email Ian Williams at ian.williams@onenortheast.co.uk

Business Investment Team

The Business Investment team encompasses the inward investment and aftercare, strategic account management, service sector, business finance and access to finance teams.  Working with many partners the objectives are:

• Strategic intervention with regional companies (and their parents), with regional partners to maximise growth and minimise risk to increase regional GVA.
• Encourage an increase in the region’s international business development activities; developing international relationships, facilitating international technology transfer, increasing export trade and the region’s stock of FDI companies. Bring about sectoral and company growth through the provision of access to finance, digital, design and service sector initiatives to raise the region’s productivity, competitiveness and reputation.

Head: Dr Simon Goon 0191 229 6315

Business, Enterprise & Skills Team

Provides growing and sustained levels of assistance to the business community in the region, and is responsible for the development, management and delivery of programmes and projects in support of Enterprise, Business Link, Skills and Economic Inclusion activities.
Head: Tim Pain 0191 229 6640

Innovation and Business Development Team

Works with business, universities, the research base and regional stakeholders to deliver a thriving knowledge-based economy in North East England. This will involve enhanced three pillar activity and aligning the agendas of innovation and business development.
Head: Dr Tony Ikwue 0191 229  6709