VISION31: A region of endless opportunities

Hosted by NET and Bdaily editor-in-chief Steven Hugill, close to 100 attendees gathered to hear how the North East is redefining itself – moving beyond its industrial heritage and boldly stepping into a future that will be defined by green energy, digital innovation and the UK’s newest AI Growth Zone.

The morning featured two panel discussions, networking and an opening address from Newcastle-born Jim Ryan, former president and chief executive of Sony Interactive Entertainment, who spoke about the region’s character, the resilience of its people and how improved infrastructure, a strong university pipeline and “sincere service ethos” are positioning the North East as an increasingly attractive investment proposition at a time when other regions and countries are grappling with rising costs, cultural challenges and workforce pressures.

The first panel, Shaping the Future: The Power of the North East, explored how the region has evolved into a thriving commercial landscape, driven by a close-knit business community, strong sector clusters and a growing sense of shared ambition.

Audience members heard from Frans Caljé, chief executive at PD Ports; Sarah Glendinning, director of business partnerships at Northumbria University; Tom Lawson, chief executive of Opencast; and Natasha McDonough, founder and chief executive of MMC Research and vice president of the North East Chamber of Commerce.

Panellists highlighted how the North East is already delivering nationally significant programmes and stepping confidently into emerging industries.

The discussion ranged from the region’s position as the UK’s only net-exporting region to rapid advances in offshore wind, high-speed data infrastructure and the rise of the space sector, all underpinned by the pace of change reshaping Sunderland, Newcastle and Teesside – making it a “hugely exciting place to be” and one in which graduates are choosing “to stay because they want to, not because they have to”.

Tom, speaking about the region’s established tech sector, said the North East is “far better set up for the future than many realise”, with high-speed internet connections and the emerging hyperscale data centre in Cambois, near Blyth.

He added the North East’s blend of cost effectiveness, strong skills and quality of life is drawing talent back to the region and attracting new people in.

He said: “Those factors are a really powerful set – they make the North East a brilliant place to build a tech business.”

Tom also highlighted the depth of the region’s digital ecosystem, from Government tech centres to major private-sector employers, which has created a pool of people with “outside levels of experience” delivering national-scale projects.

He added: “You don’t have to be in London to deliver major programmes.

“We’ve proven we can do it from the North East.”

Natasha, who is originally from London and moved to the North East 17 years ago, agreed, saying the region had quickly become “home in every way”.

She said: “Every time I travelled north, I just had a better feeling – the coast, the people, the pace of life.

Natasha added what struck her most after setting up her business was the region’s unusually connected and collaborative business community.

She said: “You walk into an event in the North East and you’ll find professional services, engineering, manufacturing and tech all in the same room.

“It’s a genuinely collective ecosystem, people know each other, they refer each other and they look out for each other.

“Everyone wants you to do well.”

Sarah, speaking about Northumbria University’s involvement in the £50 million North East Space Skills and Technology Centre (NESST), which is being delivered in partnership with the UK Space Agency and Lockheed Martin, said: “NESST is a £50 million vote of confidence in the region and in the space sector.

“The North East is already at the heart of this growth, with 81 companies operating directly in space and an even larger ecosystem around them.”

She added: “We used to build ships on the Tyne, and now we’re building spaceships.

“We use that analogy to inspire the next generation and show young people they can have a career in the space sector – not just as engineers or astronauts, but across all the supporting roles that make the industry work.”

Sarah also highlighted the “phenomenal” speed of change.

Citing the example of the new NESST building, which involves the demolition and reconstruction of the existing Wynne Jones building into a seven-storey facility, expected to be completed and operational by Autumn 2026, she added: “In just four years, we’ll have gone from a decrepit building to a state-of-the-art centre where students learn alongside industry – with mission control operating from the heart of Newcastle.

“It’s a brilliant example of how quickly the region can move when universities, industry and local partners get behind an idea.”

This was a point that was further reinforced by Frans, who also moved to the North East – in his case Teesside – 17 years ago and has witnessed change at Teesport that is “off the scale” and “unimaginable”.

He said the industrial landscape has been transformed by rapid advances driven by the energy transition, manufacturing growth and new infrastructure, creating opportunities that “simply didn’t exist” when he arrived.

“If you’d told me back then that the area would look the way it does today, I’d never have believed it,” he added.

And, in a point stressed by all the panellists, Frans attributed this pace of progress to the region’s ecosystem, where people “know each other”, collaborate readily and “are only ever a phone call away” – a dynamic he said that enables decisions to be made quickly and change to happen “faster here than almost anywhere else”.

The second panel – Investing in the North East: A Launchpad for Success – included insight from Andy Lawson, director of pre-development at QTS; Peter Snaith, partner at international law firm Womble Bond Dickinson; Dave Martin, senior vice president of the British Esports Federation; and Jen Hartley, assistant director of capital investment and growth at Newcastle City Council.

Discussion focused on why the region is becoming a magnet for large-scale investment, from its designation as an AI Growth Zone to the rise of globally connected clusters in esports, digital infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.

Panellists emphasised the North East combines rare advantages – from an abundance of available land and power capacity to global connectivity – enabling transformative projects to progress at speed and scale.

Andy, speaking about the recently announced AI Growth Zone and QTS’ £10 billion data centre in Cambois, near Blyth in South Northumberland, which will position the North East as one of Europe’s largest data centre hubs, said: “It’s not very often you come across a site with the characteristics of Cambois…sites like this are few and far between on a global level.”

He highlighted the “rare combination of a 250-acre site and the power to support it”, adding the land is “ready-made and remediated”, which has enabled development to begin far quicker than in most locations.

He added: “In a global race for data centres, speed to market is critical.

“Finding a site that is large enough, has the power and can be delivered within the next three or four years, is incredibly unusual.”

Andy also said the North East’s new AI Growth Zone “puts the region on the map internationally”, offering faster grid connections, potential reductions in energy costs and a direct line into the Government.

In a similar vein, albeit in a different sector, Dave provided an insight into the reasons why the British Esports Federation chose to make Sunderland its home through the new 15,000sq ft gaming and esports arena next to Sunderland AFC’s Stadium of Light – which will feature a 200-seat theatre and a 17-metre-wide LED screen – set to host the Esports World Cup and Olympic Esports Games.

He said the decision was originally driven by something very practical.

He said: “We needed space for a 17-metre screen and a studio – and the old Audi garage next to the Stadium of Light had a unique roof that meant no pillars.”

Yet Dave added the move quickly became far more than a property decision, praising Sunderland City Council’s responsiveness and ambition.

He said: “It took me about 20 minutes to know where the city was going.

“Everyone we met understood the opportunity – and they got after it.

“There’s an energy and positivity in the region that’s hard to find elsewhere.”

He added the level of support was unlike anything he had experienced elsewhere, with the council, local partners and neighbouring businesses helping the company establish roots, attract talent and scale quickly.

In just four years, Esports Global has invested £7 million, created 15 full-time jobs – rising to 40 next year – and is now running education programmes, talent pathways and professional training out of Sunderland.

Dave said: “In the North East, when you pick up the phone, people move.

“You can get to the right person within two calls – and that makes all the difference when you’re trying to build something fast.”

This view was reiterated by Peter, who highlighted the North East’s global reach and deepening international connectivity.

He said: “Little old Newcastle is still the biggest office in our entire UK-US network,” he said, noting the firm now links clients “from Teesside to Houston, Riyadh and Tokyo” through long-established partnerships.

He added this global capability sits alongside a uniquely collaborative local business environment.

He said: “The region’s clusters bring business leaders around the same table.

“People share their experiences, their opportunities, challenges and genuinely want each other to succeed.

“It’s a really open network to be part of, and there is a sincerity in the region.

“We’re not out for ourselves – we’re out for the region as a whole.”

And this message of collaboration, collective ambition and shared opportunity was something all of the panellists were keen to emphasise.

Jen noted major investments “don’t happen by chance” but are the product of years of co-ordinated work across councils, universities, businesses and civic partners.

She said the North East’s defining strengths lie in its connectivity, its culture and its openness – qualities that give businesses and investors a genuine sense of belonging from day one.

She said: “You become part of a family.

“People embrace you. People want to see you do well. And investors are always blown away by the splash they make when they arrive.

“When people come to the North East, they can’t believe the welcome they get.”

NET’s next VISION 31 event will take place in Newcastle on March 17, 2026.

To secure your place, contact NET events managers Lesley Hampson or Dawn Owens at [email protected] or [email protected]