Economy

The levels of natural resources in the North East of England have greatly influenced the development of the region's industrial base. Traditional industries such as shipbuilding, coal mining and steel production once flourished thanks to the availability of coal and iron ore. The region now hosts a broader range of industries, including engineering, chemicals, microelectronics and life sciences. It's also earning a reputation for high quality bespoke software.

Transport

From Newcastle International Airport there are 13 flights a day to London (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted) which all take less than one hour. In addition, there are 6 daily flights to Amsterdam. Both cities have many more connections to other destinations worldwide

There are also excellent rail links. Arriva trains travel throughout the region, and connect Newcastle to Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool. GNER connects Berwick, Newcastle, Durham and Sunderland to York, Leeds, Peterborough, Scotland and London King's Cross. Virgin Trains run from Berwick, Newcastle and Durham to Scotland in the North; and to York, Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Gatwick, Brighton and Penzance.

On the A1 London to Edinburgh highway, it takes just under five hours to get to London.

There are six major ports serving Europe and the rest of the world including the all-weather Port of Tyne.