National praise for business support group
Support group Business Durham has seen its work highlighted as an example of ‘local leadership’ in a nation report.
The Power of Place report was published by the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) – which helps shape national policy on research and development – to feed into the Government’s ‘levelling up’ and R&D agenda. It examines how to maximise the local economic impact of greater R&D across regions and prepare for the UK economy to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Using Office for National Statistics data, the report states that the North East invests £707m in R&D or 115% of Growth Domestic Product (GDP) – compared to the UK as whole (169%).
Business Durham and Netpark, in Sedgefield, has been highlighted as a strong example of local leadership bringing great benefits to the local economy.
Business Durham, the economic development arm of Durham County Council, manages NETPark as a leading science, engineering and technology park for the commercialisation of cuttingedge R&D.
It hailed Business Durham as innovative in its approach to support and foster R&D at NETPark and said Business Durham was effective in increasing connectivity between a variety of agencies and in adopting initiatives to provide businesses with the tools they needed to succeed.
Sarah Slaven, interim managing director at Business Durham, said: “It is fantastic to be recognised in the CaSE) report.
“As an organisation influencing Government policy and its levelling up R&D agenda, it’s great for NETPark to be showcased on the UK stage.