£1bn North East business support fund to be extended into 2025

The North East Fund and its two predecessors have invested almost £400 million in 2,273 North East companies across multiple sectors.

The investments have helped these businesses to secure a further £700 million from other funding partners, generating a £1.1 billion impact in the region.

In that time, the companies which received investment from the funds have created 10,654 jobs and safeguarded a further 12,603 jobs.

The most recent programme, delivered by the North East Fund, has invested over £128 million in 433 companies since it was launched in 2018, creating over 2,700 jobs so far and safeguarding over 2,200 more.

The investments have helped these businesses to secure a further £238 million from other sources, resulting in a £366 million boost to the North East’s economy.

Jason Hobbs, Chief Executive Officer of the North East Fund, said: “I don’t think any of us who were involved in setting up the funds in the early 2000s could have imagined that they would make such a big impact. In the past 20 years, the three programmes have invested on average £50 million a year, helping hundreds of companies to launch and grow and acting as a catalyst to the investment ecosystem in the North East.

“They have also been an important source of support for companies during the difficult economic conditions which resulted from the financial crisis of 2007-08 and from the fallout of the Brexit vote, Covid-19 pandemic, Ukraine war and the cost of living crisis.”

The North East Fund provides finance to companies based in the North East of England and guidance on business support available in the region.

It can provide investment from £100,000 to £1 million to SMEs based in Tyne & Wear, Northumberland and County Durham, of all stages of development and in most sectors.

Funding can be provided for most purposes, including fitting out premises, recruiting staff or developing new products.

Interested businesses should contact James Holloway or Andrew Gibson on 0191 211 2300 or via email at info@northeastfund.org.