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Top creative, digital and tech companies attracted to Newcastle and the North East

Invest Newcastle, the business winning service delivered by NewcastleGateshead Initiative’s Inward Investment Team, has reported a strong performance in the creative, digital and tech industries with secured investments creating 600 jobs and safeguarding over 80 more.

Headed up by inward investment director, Catherine Walker, the team at NewcastleGateshead Initiative has worked with around 20 companies.

Such businesses include a mix of global organisations, ambitious start-ups and established SMEs, to help them locate or expand their business here. And with around 36% of investment leads being actively pursued coming from the creative and digital sector, this trend looks set to continue.

Catherine said: “The creative, digital and tech industries in Newcastle and the wider North East region are really having an impact both across the UK and internationally.

“We’ve carved out a niche in gaming with global games giant, Ubisoft, choosing to locate its Customer Relationship Centre in Newcastle while market leaders in e-commerce, Visualsoft, have opened an office in the city.

“We’ve also welcomed innovative digital agency, The Tin, who have expanded from their base in London and recently completed their first project out of the office for global brand, Kraken Rum. And joining them is Leaf.fm, a company from Costa Rica who have developed a music streaming app that is taking the world by storm.

“Our team has also supported creative agency, Surreal, with their relocation to Newcastle. Surreal also have an office in Portugal and have just been awarded the UKTI Export Growth Award in the creative sector for the recent wins generated since setting up over there.

“These are just a few examples of the calibre of companies that we’re attracting and it’s fantastic for the city.”

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