Sites
The North East offers companies the space to grow, with ample development sites and some of the lowest costs in the UK for manufacturing operations. Industrial property costs are highly competitive, with rent starting from £2.50 per sq ft and bespoke, purpose-built manufacturing units are available.
Development land such as Jade Business Park in County Durham, the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) in Sunderland/South Tyneside and Ashwood Business Park in Northumberland are great examples of Enterprise Zone sites available in the region for the development of new manufacturing facilities.
R&D centres in North East England
Innovations in products, processes and applications have revolutionised the sector and made manufacturing operations more effective, efficient and profitable. Our region’s universities and R&D facilities are truly driving the future of the advanced manufacturing sector.
The Institute of Electrification and Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing (IESAM) is the first institute to address the industry need for PEMD training in the North East. The project brings together the North East Institute of Technology and key regional higher education and further education providers. It’s funded by the Driving the Electric Revolution Challenge, co-funded by Newcastle University, and delivered by Innovate UK for UK Research and Innovation.
DER-IC North East, one of the four national centres of the Driving the Electric Revolution programme, seeks to make the UK a global leader in the manufacture of core technologies that underpin electrification: power electronics, electric machines and drives (PEMD). It will accelerate the UK’s ability to deliver next-generation electric vehicles, hybrid aircraft, energy generation, smart grids, industrial drives, consumer products, low-carbon off-highway for construction and agriculture, low-carbon maritime and rail.
The Centre for Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP)taps into the knowledge and research capabilities of Sunderland University to help boost business competitiveness in the region.
Newcastle University hosts the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK which specialises in electric machines. This acts as a national focal point for R&D, bringing together academic and industrial expertise to develop and commercialise new technologies.
The digital sector in North East England is also playing a major role in the future of the automotive sector. Industry 4.0, automation and robotics, and autonomous vehicles are key to the future of the automotive sector and companies located in the North East are already engaged in collaborations to develop this cutting-edge technology. Within the automotive sector, the North East succeeds in fostering collaboration between established companies that have been operating in ‘traditional’ industries for decades and emerging tech companies looking to disrupt new markets. As a direct response, digital companies have located in the region to support the automotive and advanced manufacturing sectors and future advancements in the sector.
