Jobs boost from Darlington Economic Campus departments

The Darlington Economic Campus hosts a string of Government departments including the Department for Business and Trade, HM Treasury and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

The campus was poised to go to a major city, but Darlington was chosen in 2021 after years of lobbying.

International consulting firm Drees and Sommer was commissioned by the Treasury to measure the DEC’s role since it came here.

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The report shows how there were almost 900 people working in new roles created and based in Darlington in summer last year – with Feethams House the main base for the roles.

A “huge amount” of business enquiries showing interest in the area and an increase in legal firms moving to the area were also highlighted on the back of the campus’s arrival.

And  78% of the survey respondents said the campus had boosted job opportunities – with two-thirds of those agreeing it had made a positive impact.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “I’m proud the huge effort we made in ensuring we brought the Treasury and wider campus to Darlington has paid off.

“This survey shows in black and white the massive impact it’s made to jobs, investment and careers right on our doorstep.

“This has been a trailblazer in showing hundreds of people from Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool can build a great civil service career close to home.

“I’m looking forward to the Brunswick site being developed as soon as possible – and I’ll keep working as hard as I can to ensure central Government keep their word and build on Darlington’s early success.”

A bigger base at the upcoming Brunswick Campus, near the Hippodrome Theatre, is in the pipeline to come in 2027 after gaining planning consent last summer. This five-storey base in Brunswick Street will see civil service jobs rise at the DEC to more than 1,400.

Beth Russell, Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury, said: “We are extremely proud of the Darlington Economic Campus and the way it has evolved over the last three years. It has not only grown in terms of the number of people now working across the nine government departments based here but it is also creating opportunities for stakeholders across the region to engage with the Civil Service on a wide range of policy topics.”

Pauline Crellin, DBT Head of Campus, said: “It is brilliant to see the positive impact the Darlington Economic Campus has had on the local community in just three years which builds on our mission to create job opportunities across the country.

“There is so much talent and innovation in our region and our presence in Darlington allows the Civil Service to tap into it. More than 80 per cent of DEC colleagues are local recruits, harnessing skills and offering opportunities for people to build excellent careers where they live.”