HUNDREDS of jobs have been created and nearly £60m of grants secured across the region with help from a North- East chartered accountant.

Newcastle-based unw, which has a growing team of corporate finance specialists at its Citygate premises in St James’ Boulevard, announced at the beginning of last year that its grants team was nearing a landmark £50m of grant awards for its clients.

That figure is now approaching the £60m mark, after several regional businesses, advised by unw, celebrate being awarded Grant for Business Investment funding.

The grants included a £1m award for Gateshead-based manufacturer Davy Roll, a manufacturer of cast rolls for the steel industry, which allowed it to create 25 jobs.

Now the company, which has been manufacturing on its site since 1847, is being assisted by unw again to help it secure a further £850,000, as part of an £8.5m project to upgrade equipment.

Shipping insurer North of England P&I Association secured about £900,000 with unw’s help to extend its Newcastle Quayside headquarters and create 62 jobs.

Tyneside firm Houghton International, which repairs electric motors and alternators at its Walker plant, was awarded £200,000 to help expand its business and create 40 skilled jobs.

Neville Bearpark, unw partner and corporate finance department head, said: “We have had another terrific year.”