A year of growth, collaboration and impact

As we look ahead to developing a bold new economic strategy for Northumberland, it feels more important than ever to reflect on the extraordinary progress we’ve made over the last year.

2025 was transformative for our county, a period defined by unprecedented investment, community resilience, innovation and deep-rooted collaboration.

Northumberland has always had ambition.

But in 2025, that ambition took shape in ways that will influence our economy, our communities and our identity for decades to come.

Unleashing the power of data

In September, the North East was designated by the Government as the UK’s first AI Growth Zone.

This recognition builds on the data centre investment into Northumberland from QTS and the existing data centre hub at Cobalt Park, in North Tyneside.

The AI Growth Zone will create jobs, drive economic growth, develop our digital ecosystem and support vital breakthroughs in key sectors such as health and life sciences and energy by giving researchers access to the power of artificial intelligence.

To further support development of the sector, a taskforce has been launched to drive artificial intelligence jobs growth.

Northumberland County Council is part of this taskforce along with business leaders, industry experts, universities and skills providers; the aim is clear, we want to capitalise on this artificial intelligence-driven future and create the jobs of tomorrow.

One of the most notable milestones was the enablement ceremony for the £10 billion Blackstone QTS Cambois data centre campus – one of the largest investments of its kind in Europe.

This project will create thousands of construction roles, high-value long-term jobs and attract additional investment to the region.

The site of the campus tells an important story, from a past of driving industry through coal to the future where we are powering new industry through investment, innovation and data.

For Northumberland, this is more than an economic win; it cements our position as a national leader in digital infrastructure and technological innovation.

Pioneers in offshore wind

Momentum in the energy sector also continued to grow.

The launch of the Energy Central Learning Hub, in Blyth, marked a significant step forward in equipping our workforce for careers in renewable energy, engineering and advanced manufacturing.

This is the first stage of the Energy Central Campus, with planning permission now secured for the Energy Central Institute, to deliver higher education, research and innovation in the heart of Blyth.

This was complemented with investment in new research and development assets at the nearby Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.

2025 was also significant as we celebrated 25 years since the UK’s first offshore wind farm was built in Blyth, a moment that reinforced the message that we are pioneers in offshore wind, inspiring change, nurturing innovation and growing from strength to strength.

The future is green and we look forward to what 2026 will bring to Energy Central and our offshore wind cluster in Northumberland.

Nurturing business growth

Supporting new and growing businesses is at the core of what we do.

In 2025, the Northumberland Small Business Service programme once again demonstrated its enormous value to our communities.

Milestones included:

· Delivering 139 workshops, events and business festivals

· Welcoming hundreds of business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs

· Registering 606 businesses to access tailored growth advice and support across the county

· Delivering more than 1667 hours of support

· Awarding more than £138,328 in enterprise grants to help residents set up businesses across Northumberland

· Distributing £1.2 million in capital grants to support rural business growth

Companies such as Open Works Engineering, Northumberland Logs, Red Engineering and Brocksbushes were among those able to take important growth steps thanks to support from the Northumberland Small Business Service.

A stand-out moment was the Northumberland Enterprise Festival, which brought together more than 85 entrepreneurial residents across three different locations ready to explore new business ideas.

Powering communities

Investment reached every corner of the county too.

Our teams supported and enabled community groups and businesses to deliver new services, grow their operations and strengthen local resilience.

Through the Northumberland Inclusive Economy Community Partnership, place-based funding supported vital community projects, particularly in towns like Ashington where a Newcastle United Foundation hub at the Hirst Welfare Centre has provided volunteering opportunities, training and routes to employment for young adults.

Nearly £1.8 million supported 44 diverse projects delivered by a wide range of organisations from newly-formed community groups to established charities.

Alongside this, Business Northumberland’s Strategic Accountment Management team supported companies such as Osbit and Clifton Engineering, helping unlock investment and stimulate local economic activity and job creation.

We also celebrated hitting more than 500,000 passenger journeys on the Northumberland Line, demonstrating the impact of reconnecting Ashington, Blyth and the surrounding communities to Newcastle.

We expect to hit the million mark in early 2026.

Foundations for the future

During 2025, we embarked on the development of the new ten-year Northumberland Economic Strategy, working with the business community and wider stakeholders to fully understand our economy, the opportunities and assets we possess, and how we best harness these strengths and capabilities.

We have also continued to refine the Growth Endowment and Investment Fund, which will mobilise up to £110 million in investment across Northumberland in support of the economic strategy; this transformative investment could result in the creation of more than 5500 jobs in Northumberland over 20 years and generate more than £860 million in the local economy.

Looking ahead into 2026, we’re preparing for major developments including the opening of JDR Cable Systems' subsea manufacturing base, continued enablement works at the QTS data centre campus in Cambois, and the continuation of rural business support across the county.

We’re delighted the North East Combined Authority has approved the North East Rural Growth Programme – an £8.5 million investment that will stimulate growth in rural areas of Northumberland, Durham and Gateshead.

Success built on people

When I look back on 2025, the achievements are remarkable.

But what truly stands out are the people behind them.

The entrepreneurs who turned ideas into action; the businesses which invested in growth against the odds; the community groups creating change in their towns and villages; the residents rebuilding confidence, skills and opportunity; and the partners across local and national government, academia and industry who continue to work with us to deliver for Northumberland.

The path forward is both ambitious and exciting, and the foundations we laid in 2025 will shape the county’s prosperity for decades.

Sarah McMillan is director of economic development at Northumberland County Council

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