A recap of some of the key BUSINESSiQ headlines for 2025

It is always a challenge to fit it all in, from the shorter stories about how our region is constantly changing and rebuilding, to the blockbusters that rewrite what we stand for and take our ambitions to another level.

From my point of view, this has always been more than journalism. I put the region first, so the articles I choose to carry are there to help.

If someone reads about a company expanding, recruiting, winning a contract or struggling, it is a sentence or a whole chapter in the North East business story and I want to present it in the best way.

I want potential investors to see how the region ticks – the good and the bad – so they can make a clear decision that this is the place for them to build, provide jobs and help create communities for their colleague and families.

I’m very comfortable with the fact that I’m not by an stretch of the imagination an investigative reporter – there are plenty of more gifted reporters here who do that every day.

After 47 years in this job I’ve evolved to be an always-on advocate for the North East, an ambassador for positivity and support.

Now that I have written that down, it may seem arrogant – but it is all a matter of scale. I am way, way down the list in terms of the impact I can have, but I’m there shouting upwards, and as long as everyone finds their own way of backing this remarkable region, 2026 and the years to follow will be a story of progress and collaboration.

New year, next chapter.

Here’s the first quarter of our review of the BUSINESSiQ year.

Q1

TEESWORKS: The company behind the huge Teesworks development reported a huge drop in revenue and profits as it admitted investment decisions had been hit by the inquiry into the site.

The latest accounts for the year up to March 31 show the 2023 turnover of £142,889,169 has fallen to £22,176,487, with an operating profit of just under £67 million falling to less than £1.8million.

SARA DAVIES: Sara Davies, the County-Durham entrepreneur and star of Dragons’ Den stepped in to rescue Crafter’s Companion – the business that she founded when she was still at university.

TEESSIDE AIRPORT: A fast-growing vehicle repairer is to create 25 jobs with the launch of a new facility at Teesside International Airport Business Park.

National firm ABL 1 Touch has been announced as the tenant of the first unit constructed within the £200million Business Park South development, marking a milestone in the park’s growth.

DEC: A glowing report revealed the huge boost a Darlington Government base has made to the town and the wider region.

The report shows how there were almost 900 people working in new roles created and based in Darlington in summer last year – with 78% of the survey respondents saying the campus had boosted job opportunities.

NPIF 2: The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II reported more than130 investments totalling £50m into businesses in the North of England, following its launch in March 2024.

The £660m NPIF II covers the entire North of England, providing loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium-sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.

BRITISH STEEL: British Steel – involved in a heated debate over the siting of two new Electric Arc Furnaces – announced the opening of a new £26million service centre at its Special Profiles business in Skinningrove.

OCS: Facilities management giant takes over North East firm

A facilities management giant took over a North East firm with more than 1,100 employees. OCS, a global leader in the industry, has acquired Maxim FM, a company based in Sunderland.

REDCAR AND CLEVELAND COLLEGE: A new training facility aimed at boosting welding careers was launched. The purpose-built workshop, with 12 new welding bays, aims to provide training opportunities for adults and school leavers.

AMAZON: Darlington was chosen to lead an astonishing new era of drone deliveries from retail giant Amazon.

The Amazon MK30 drones being tested in America (Image: Amazon)

The first UK trials will start soon to make Prime Air deliveries all around a 7.5mile area, all of which will take off and be guided from the 465,000 sq ft Amazon warehouse in Symmetry Park just outside the town centre.

IAMP: Plans were approved to develop 80,000 square metres of new industrial space at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park in Sunderland, which could create more than 8,000 jobs.

DRAKEN : A £173 million Ministry of Defence contract with military training experts Draken will boost Teesside International Airport and support jobs here. The new contract will deliver Armed Forces training for responding to a range of threats – including air-to-air combat, electronic warfare and missile attacks.

KROMEK: Detection tech experts Kromek Group said they will move back into profit after a huge new agreement with Siemens.

MY PROPERTY BOX: An estate agency group expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of a Darlington-based letting agency. My Property Box has acquired Bellwood & Harris, marking its 13th acquisition in seven years.

CUMMINS: The engineering firm with a campus in Darlington reported fourth-quarter revenues for 2024 of more than £8bn.

DODDS BROWN: Portland Estates Management has taken over Dodds Brown, which was based on Albert Road in Middlesbrough and had been operating in the industry for more than a century.

BELIEVE HOUSING: A North East housing association reached a milestone by distributing £1million in community grants. Believe Housing has been awarding the funds since 2017, benefiting not-for-profit organisations across County Durham.

WADE: Wade Construction Management Consultants, based in Darlington, has reported rapid growth after receiving a £500,000 investment from NPIF II – FW Capital Debt Finance.

CLEARANSWER: The contact centre specialist is set to open a new office in Middlesbrough – its third in the town – creating 120 new customer service and sales jobs.

WBD: International law firm Womble Bond Dickinson’s private equity team advised on deals worth more than £800 million.

HITACHI: Following The Northern Echo’s “Keep Hitachi on Track” campaign, a £460m option for Lumo and Hull trains is at risk after the Government opposed the firms’ expansion plans due to capacity constraints.

NECA: The North East Combined Authority joined the Impact campaign run by BUSINESSiQ, the business arm of The Northern Echo.

Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “Promoting the region’s businesses and workers is what I’m elected to do as North East Mayor.”