FUNDING has been secured to create a dedicated manufacturing zone within the North-East.

The site, at Jarrow Business Centre in South Tyneside, will support high growth businesses in the advanced manufacturing and offshore energy supply chain.

South Tyneside Council has been awarded almost £500,000 from the Government’s Local Growth Fund through the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), to develop the manufacturing zone which will provide around 800m2 of re-purposed space.

Due for completion in June 2021, the site will be well placed just a few miles from the Equinor and SSE Renewables Operations and Maintenance base at The Port of Tyne in South Shields, which is expected to create significant supply chain opportunities in the development of the new Dogger Bank Wind Farm.

Cllr John Anglin, lead member for regeneration and economy said: “The North East is a leading location in England in the offshore energy sectors, particularly offshore wind which is where the future lies.

"The refurbishment of the space will provide SME businesses from within and outside the borough with the affordable, high quality manufacturing space they need, while providing new job opportunities to the residents in the region in the key sectors of advanced manufacturing and offshore energy.”

Andrew Moffat, chair of the investment board at the North East LEP said: “One of the aims of the Local Growth Fund is to support the development of economic infrastructure in the region. The Manufacturing Zone at Jarrow Business Centre will offer high quality advanced manufacturing space.

"This will provide the ideal base for smaller businesses wishing to serve larger tier 1 and tier 2 manufacturers across a range of manufacturing sectors, enabling them to benefit from manufacturing supply chains operating from two of the North East’s strategic economic assets, the River Tyne, and the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) in South Tyneside and Sunderland.”

"It is anticipated that the development will have long-term impacts on the wider region as companies develop and grow, moving on to larger accommodation in the North East.