Living and Working in the North East

Living and Working in the North East

The recent government announcement that hundreds of treasury jobs would relocate to Darlington, a historic market town in County Durham, is being seen as a huge, long awaited boost to the economy of the North East who has felt at times second best to the south.

The Prime Minister himself can be quoted in promising that ministers and departments will be moved to ‘ great northern cities’. This is a huge vote of confidence for the area and the local people. Incorporating the counties of Tyne and Wear, Durham and Northumberland and small parts of North Yorkshire ( southern areas surrounding the river Tees) and including large towns and cities such as Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Darlington and Middlesbrough, the whole area is one of a kind which also boasts several fantastic universities.

Last month (March) saw unemployment fall in the region for the second month in a row and data from the Office of National Statistics showed that unemployment as a whole had fallen to 5.7% in the three months up until February.

An impressive number of well known employers choose to stay in the area, such as the Sage Group, Nissan, Greggs bakeries, Barbour and Son, Tetley Tea, Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Co, Arriva, Northumbrian Water and Northern Powergrid . Furthermore, as healthcare and pharmaceuticals continue to thrive in the area, as well as many interesting opportunities within the NHS, companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and Proctor and Gamble are definitely here to stay.

Last year, in 2020, despite COVID, Rightmove identified several locations in the north east where house prices were increasing. It seems priorities were changing as it became more important to surround oneself in breathtakingly beautiful, tranquil and natural areas which are unique to this part of the country but still at a much lower cost than many other places. Properties here can vary hugely from small fisherman’s or mining cottages, coastal retreats, modern homes, spacious victorian town houses or luxurious complexes with security and privacy in mind.

Surrounded by the North Sea coastline, the North East of England is a nature enthusiasts paradise and full of hidden treasures. There are so very many places to mention but try visiting Bamburgh on the Northumberland coast, thirty miles of sand and sea which has its own magnificent castle in an area of outstanding natural beauty which has been described as the most scenic in England. The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is another gem steeped in history and accessible only when the tide goes out. The area has a long history of coal mining and also of ship building some of the worlds greatest vessels which has been recognised by UNESCO. Coal mining is now sadly no more here but many of the ‘pit villages’ have endured and retain their stoic sense of community and camaraderie. West Auckland is one such village and is also famous for winning the very first World Cup in 1910. Cricket is also very popular in the North East and Chester le Street, home of Durham County Cricket Club is a picturesque international venue overlooked by Lumley Castle which dates from the 14th century.

Whether you live, work or just visit the North east, you will find the people incredibly friendly, welcoming and helpful.

The UK Careers Fair is hosting various Recruitment Events across the North East throughout 2021, such as: North East Virtual Careers Fair, and Newcastle Careers Fair.