Your pick of the key BUSINESSiQ headlines for Q2 2025

Simon Walker, who owns The Flag Man, a flag-making business based in Morpeth, said the space agency found his company online in the early days of the internet.

KIM MCGUINNESS: The North East Mayor unveiled a £208 million transport investment plan for the region. This is the first phase of an £800 million investment by Ms McGuinness, to be made over the next three years.

TEESWORKS: Independent project management consultancy Logic-i has been chosen to oversee the expansion of the private wire network at the former Redcar steelworks site, now known as Teesworks.

CONSTRUCTION: Robertson Group, which has a base in Gateshead, has announced its financial results for the year ending June 30, 2024.

The family-owned construction, development, infrastructure, and support services business posted revenue of £825 million, 23 per cent ahead of the previous year (£670 million).

TEESSIDE AIRPORT: Proposals for what is described as the ‘biggest ever’ private sector investment in Teesside Airport were revealed.

The plans, which would create 250 new jobs and boost economic growth, involve agreements with three key airport tenants, Draken, Willis Lease Finance Corporation, and Airbourne Colours, to each expand their operations.

CPI: A pivotal ‘driving force’ in the North East’s ‘knowledge economy’ marked its 20th anniversary. The Centre for Process Innovation celebrated two decades at a special event in Westminster.

INVESTMENT ZONE: A ‘transformative’ package of proposals to create 2,000 skilled jobs aim to help regenerate key town centre sites and make the Tees Valley a ‘global powerhouse’ in digital and creative industries.

The region was selected as an investment zone in 2023, and the first £80 million of a £160 million investment has now been allocated.

BANNATYNE: The Darlington-based national health club and hotel operator reported growth in profits and turnover.

Duncan Bannatyne

The group, owned by serial entrepreneur and former BBC Dragons’ Den investor, Duncan Bannatyne OBE, achieved a pre-tax profit increase of more than 40 per cent to £14.4 million in 2024.

T12: The firm agreed to a framework contract after delivering three key pieces of equipment for a Brazilian oil and gas operator, designed to support the late-life extension of subsea assets.

ASBESTOS: A Durham asbestos consultancy was taken over, with its managing director leaving the company.

Environmental Essentials, one of the UK’s leading asbestos service providers, has acquired Omega Asbestos Consulting Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

MAYORS: Senior business leaders from across the region gathered at the North East Chamber of Commerce’s Partner and Corporate Dinner for a wide-ranging conversation with the region’s Mayors, Kim McGuinness and Ben Houchen.

AUTISM: A North East business owner called for more awareness and understanding of autism in the workplace.

As the father of a child with autism, Shane Gammage, owner of communications agency Who’s Listening, based in Sunderland Road, Gateshead, understands the importance of having a deep understanding of the issues autism can present.

Shane Gammage and his daughter

TEESSIDE AIRPORT: Work is underway to create a ‘cutting-edge’ digital testing ground at Teesside Airport.

The new 5G-enabled “Teesside Digital Trade Test Bed” on the airport’s north side will see a private network cover a large stretch of the site to help carry out a wide range of trade, goods movements, and digital processes.

SUNDERLAND BID: A new initiative is set to transform a North East city coastline.

The Seafront Business Improvement District (BID) in Sunderland was officially launched to create a ‘cohesive strategy’ for both sides of the river.

AI: Is playing a critical role in driving innovation and efficiency across various sectors with adoption rates at an all-time high, according to a new report.

The report, produced by international law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, shows that 87 per cent of CEOs and 97 per cent of CTOs are actively integrating AI into their business operations.

COUPE GROUP: A County Durham family business with 30 years’ experience in road marking services, was sold.

Jack Coupe and Sons Limited was established in Shildon 1984 by Jack Coupe. The business was later taken over by his sons, Mark and Martin Coupe, in 2010.

The company, which employs 42 staff members, was acquired by Stuart Davison, who has plans to expand its operations.

MGM: A North East construction firm tripled its turnover in just four years.

MGM Construction recorded a record £15 million turnover this year, up from £5 million in 2021, with current projections forecasting further growth in the year ahead.

BITC: Business leaders have visited Tees Valley to see how they can help tackle socio-economic issues in the area.

Business in the Community (BITC) has brought together senior business leaders to understand how businesses can work with communities to address the challenges they face.

GREENGROCER: A legendary Darlington market stall holder celebrated his 80th birthday – as the family run greengrocer business marks 150 years of trading this year.

Robin Blair, the grandson of the founder of JJ Blair & Sons, who was a regular at the market from just a few months old, tucked under the counter while his mother worked, shows no sign of slowing down.

Launched just 12 years after Darlington Market first opened in 1863, the longstanding stall has weathered two world wars, several economic downturns and a global pandemic, all while continuing to serve people from the area.

NATWEST: Business activity in the North East fell for the first time in 14 months, according to the latest NatWest Growth Tracker.

Firms have reported that increased global economic uncertainty, particularly related to US tariff announcements, is significantly impacting demand across various regions.

This is reflected in observations of reduced client activity and overall caution towards spending.

The headline North East Growth Tracker Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors – fell from 51.4 in March to 48.1 in April.

GREAT NORTH: Northern and national businesses, from SMES to large firms and leading industry bodies, and creative industry leaders backed The Great North, the new partnership that will unlock a new era of jobs, opportunity and prosperity for the North.

DURATA: The provider of critical power and modular data centre infrastructure solutions, has acquired County Durham-based Tolley Fabrications.

The move will allow Durata to integrate its manufacturing processes, which it says will enhance quality control, streamline operations, and deliver scalable, high-performance data centre solutions with “unprecedented speed and agility” to its international client base.

KINEWELL: Tony Appleton, who played a key role in the USA’s offshore wind industry, has been appointed as the chief commercial officer of Kinewell Energy.

GRANT THORNTON: New research shows that businesses in the North East are determined to battle on in the face of global uncertainty driven by tariffs.

Mid-market businesses are the “real powerhouse of the UK economy,” according to a North East partner at Grant Thornton UK.

Dan Dickinson, partner and practice leader for the firm, made the statement based on a survey of more than 600 UK mid-market decision makers.

The survey was conducted in April 2025, in light of the Government’s Spring Statement and six months on from the Autumn Budget.

DAD: A father-of-two who needed life-saving surgery overcame his illness and launched his own taxi business. Mark Dunning, 46, from Peterlee, became seriously ill with ulcerative colitis, a condition that changed his life.

NORTHERN LITHIUM: Another key milestone in proving the commercial viability of extracting lithium in County Durham has been reached.

Northern Lithium has announced the successful conclusion of pumping tests and extraction trials from brines under the Northern Pennine Orefield.

RACING: A haulage specialist has announced its support for a young County Durham racing prodigy. Katem Logistics, based in County Durham, will be providing professional transport services for Thomas Potter, known as T Pot, and his race equipment.

HOOBA: A plant-based manufacturer in the North East has secured a deal to supply its new range to more than 20,000 students.

Myco, the developer of Hooba, made from vertically farmed oyster mushrooms, has launched a new ‘Save the Earth’ hybrid range of burgers, sausages, and mince, which is a 50/50 split of meat and Hooba, will be supplied to students at Teesside University.

SPENDING REVIEW: the North East is set to receive nearly £30 million to boost its fastest growing sectors.

This funding forms part of a broader government initiative led by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who has earmarked £86 billion in the Spending Review for advanced manufacturing and defence.

It is part of the government’s ‘Modern Industrial Strategy’ aimed at rejuvenating Britain.

NUCLEAR: The North East could be well-placed to play a major role in a nuclear future for the UK, after Rachel Reeves committed £16.7billion to nuclear power projects as the country shifts away from fossil fuels.

Teesworks and the International Advanced Manufacturing Park in Sunderland are among sites shortlisted by Rolls Royce as possible manufacturing sites.