Some of the most influential 2025 headlines from BUSINESSiQ

AUCKLAND PROJECT: The Auckland Project has appointed Jane Ruffer as CEO, marking a new chapter for the charity she co-founded with Jonathan Ruffer more than a decade ago.

HAYS TRAVEL: The high-profile business is returning to be the sponsor of our Business of the Year Award at the 2026 BUSINESSiQ Awards.

UMI: The Durham -based business advice and funding specialist announces it has unlocked more than £1 billion in investment for UK businesses.

SKILLS: More than 200 business leaders gathered in the North East to discuss the future of skills, education, and economic growth.

The 1815 Lunch, hosted by the North East Chamber of Commerce, took place at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light and featured a keynote speech from Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities.

SSI: At 3.05pm on October 12, 2015, thousands of steelworkers on Teesside were told the news they feared the most; the coke ovens at Redcar would be shut.

CPI: Darlington is to become one of the world leaders in treatments for cancer and dementia after a Government investment of almost £30million, including a new facility at the Centre for Process Innovation.

DOUBLE ELEVEN: Middlesbrough-based games developer and publisher, Double Eleven has announced a new phase in its growth as Kimberley Turner (former CFO and Commercial Director) and Mark South (former COO) are appointed Co-CEOs

SUBSEA: A new £3 million subsea technology facility has officially opened in the North East. Subsea technology and services company SMD has launched the site at Neptune Energy Park on the River Tyne.

TVCA: Another major North East organisation is backing our 2026 BUSINESSiQ Awards, with Tees Valley Combined Authority returning as a sponsor, this time with the pivotal Training and Skills Award.

WENSLEYDALE CREAMERY: The Wensleydale Creamery has had a record-breaking summer with a more than 16 per cent rise in visitors.

WILTON CENTRE: The North East research and innovation hub is marking 50 years “as a leader of excellence.”

The Wilton Centre, near Redcar, celebrated its half-century milestone with an event led by Pioneer Group, the UK specialist in life sciences space, community, and venture building.

CLEVELAND BRIDGE: Hundreds of jobs will be created as part of plans to build the UK’s first large-scale plastic film recycling facility as Endolys Ltd has pledged to invest up to £120 million after taking over the former Cleveland Bridge site.

Endolys has taken over the former Cleveland Bridge site at Yarm Road, Darlington. (Image: Andy Futers)

EXPORTS: A major export scheme has been extended with an extra £500,000 to help North East businesses grow overseas. The Tees Valley Export Fund, launched by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, now offers a fresh £500,000 funding pot to help businesses across the region.

BIO CLUSTER: A major new bio-industrial cluster across two Combined Authorities could bring more than 5,000 jobs to the region.

York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority, Tees Valley Combined Authority, the University of York, Teesside University and CPI have announced a partnership which aims to create around 5,000 skilled jobs across the two regions.

DRAKEN: A significant milestone has been passed for combat training business Draken and Teesside International Airport after the company officially broken ground for its new state-of-the-art £7m hangar at Teesside.

DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL: Plans to develop an innovation district of national significance in Durham City have taken a major step forward with the signing of a key agreement. Durham County Council, Muse, and Durham University have signed a collaboration agreement.

TEES VALLEY LITHIUM: Hundreds of businesses have expressed interest in helping build the UK’s flagship lithium refinery in the North East. More than 260 companies registered their interest following a supply chain briefing event hosted by Tees Valley Lithium.

BP: The energy giant is pulling out of a second major Teesside project – leaving just one from an original three-part blueprint for the future of the region after plans were revealed for a huge data centre on part of the site.

HITACHI: The Northern Echo’s campaign to ‘Keep Hitachi on Track’ has won a coveted industry award after we called on the Government to step in and secure the future of the train builder’s Newton Aycliffe plant, amid warnings a gap in its order book could have placed hundreds of jobs, and its very existence, at risk.

TEESLINK: Work is underway on a major new employment site designed to boost jobs and investment in the North East. The 54-acre Teeslink development in Eaglescliffe, owned by Stockton Council, is expected to create up to 1,000 new roles once complete.

IMPACT: Some of the region’s most influential voices gathered in Gateshead to talk about the massive and growing contribution culture is playing in the regional economy. Leaders in heritage, arts and culture gathered for The Northern Echo’s latest Impact event, which took place on the south bank of the Tyne at SIX restaurant on top of the Baltic Centre

ATOM BANK: A digital bank has opened a new headquarters in Newcastle in a major investment in the North East economy. Atom bank’s multi-million pound move from Durham to The Pattern Shop in Newcastle brings nearly 600 jobs to the city.

NISSAN: Production of the next-generation Nissan LEAF has officially begun in Sunderland. The first high-volume electric car to be built in the UK since 2020, it marks a major milestone for the nation’s automotive sector and ambitions for low-carbon manufacturing.