Starting a business in Newcastle

The city’s reputation for high-tech industry has gone from strength to strength with its legendary nightlife, Newcastle is a top destination for tourists and locals alike. But it’s also home to a rich mix of cultural experiences, with plenty to see and do whether you’re visiting or living in the city.

In 2006, Newcastle was voted as the arts capital of the UK in a survey by Artsworld, partly thanks to its large selection of theatres, concert venues, galleries and festivals that take place in the city. It also has a long-standing reputation for poetry, with its own dedicated venue for poetry readings, Morden Tower.

The financial centre of the North East

Its diverse cultural scene aside, Newcastle is a fantastic place to do business. As the financial centre of the North East, the city’s reputation for high-tech industry has gone from strength to strength, particularly in the renewable energy and manufacturing sectors.

Newcastle’s association with all things high-tech is set to be enhanced by the opening of Newcastle Science Central, a joint venture between Newcastle City Council and Newcastle University. Science Central is touted as one of the biggest city centre development opportunities in Europe, and will house leading science and tech businesses and cutting-edge research.

Support for SMEs

Small and medium-sized businesses can access support from the Business & IP Centre Newcastle, which helps entrepreneurs, inventors and SMEs in the North East to launch and develop a business. Based in Newcastle City Library, the Business & IP Centre Newcastle provides information and advice through in-house experts, market research, and networking opportunities.

Newcastle is also home to a major angel-led accelerator programme, Ignite. Specialising in tech and digital start-ups, Ignite invests in businesses of all sizes and offers £17,000 per team in return for 8% equity along with workspace and mentors.

Help to get connected

Newcastle City Council is actively investing in helping businesses get connected with its Go Digital Newcastle scheme. The initiative aims to provide businesses and residents with access to super-fast broadband connections, and businesses in Newcastle can apply for connection vouchers worth up to £3,000 towards the cost of getting connected.