Advanced Manufacturing

Advanced Manufacturing in the North East LEP area is globally focussed with strong regional clusters in automotive, electric vehicles and batteries, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Why advanced manufacturing?

Advanced Manufacturing in the North East is a significant regional employer, highly productive and a major contributor to regional goods and service exports.
In the region we manufacture passenger cars, trains and heavy off-road vehicles, including electric cars and their batteries. Our medicines cluster is well established and benefits from a range of regional assets and high calibre universities.
Substantial growth potential lies in international trade and investment, as well as local supply chains. Collectively, our manufacturing industries represent a significant opportunity to deliver higher productivity for the entire region.

Our opportunities and challenges

Opportunities for advanced manufacturing in the North East include encouraging the adoption of next generation digital technologies and capitalising on the growing global demand for eclectic vehicles and other Net Zero technologies.
Continued investment in Enterprise Zones and new infrastructure is attracting advanced manufacturing businesses to the region. The nationally significant International Advanced Manufacturing Park is a hub for automotive, advanced manufacturing and technology businesses, and is expected to support 7,000 jobs.

What the evidence tells us

Our evidence base shows advanced manufacturing employs 67,000 people and contributes £8.4 billion annually to regional exports.

Specialist support for manufacturing businesses

Made Smarter Adoption North East helps manufacturers in the region increase profits, improve efficiency and grow by investing in digital technology.

Latest Manufacturing news

Lucy Winskell OBE, Chair of the North East LEP, responds to the announcement Nissan plans to invest up to £3bn in electric vehicle production in Sunderland

“Today’s announcement from Nissan reinforces the company’s commitment to the North East, and signals a new future for car manufacturing in our region. “Not only…

In conversation with Toby Bridges, Executive Chair, The NBT Group and Business Growth Board member at the North East LEP, about the importance of digital adoption in driving operational efficiency

How has the pace of digital adoption in the manufacturing sector impacted the work you do? I chair The NBT Group, a supply chain management…

New government-backed business support programme aims to increase digital technology adoption in North East manufacturing sector

A new business support programme aimed at helping manufacturing SMEs in the North East increase digital technology adoption, innovation and skills has launched in the…

New Science and Innovation Audit identifies ways the North East can prepare for Industry 4.0 – the fourth industrial revolution.

The integration of digital technologies into manufacturing is a major opportunity for businesses in the North East according to the findings of a new Science…

£5 million industrial units development given the green light

Planning permission has been granted for three new large industrial units in Hebburn. The units, which will be built on the Monkton Business Park, are…

Specialist scheme creates over £12m new business for North East manufacturers

Businesses participating in the North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP’s) Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP) are achieving impressive results, with businesses involved so far reporting a…

Advanced Manufacturing
Programme Manager
Having studied, lived and worked in the North East for most of my career I am very passionate about the region’s future. I have a wide experience of manufacturing in the chemical, automotive, food and drink sectors as well as the hospitality industry. Please get in touch to find out more about Advanced Manufacturing and… Read more »