Event write-up 16th June 2022

June 21st 2022

Tees Valley Business Club & Darlington Borough Council Introduce - Darlington Economic Campus

Members and guests visited the Darlington Council Chambers to hear from Darlington Borough Council, HM Treasury, Trade Advocacy Department for International Trade and the Tees Valley Combined Authority.

Chair of the club, Jane Reynolds MBE welcomed members and guests to the event and said it was brilliant to finally see how the plans for the new government campus in Darlington have come into fruition since the announcement in March 2021.

Councillor Heather Scott OBE, Darlington Borough Council, entered the stage and thanked the business club for choosing to visit the Council Chambers and introduced Beth Russell, director general tax and welfare of HM Treasury and Pauline Crellin, director of trade advocacy Department for International Trade.

Beth Russell thanked the business club for the opportunity to speak to local businesses and discussed the progress so far, since the treasury relocated to Darlington. Beth said that the purpose of the relocation allows the department to create opportunities for a wide range of people in the north east and that it provides a better understanding of the UK as a whole, by operating from outside of London.

Beth also shared that there will be 200 people working at the campus by March 2023. As well as a newly built campus with the aim of 1000 new jobs on top of the already 700 new jobs already in circulation. Beth spoke about how Darlington has welcomed the Treasury and how she has enjoyed the community feel and meeting businesses.

Next up, Pauline spoke about her role in the Department for International Trade and the importance of the departments moving up to the north and providing opportunities to people who want to have a career as a civil servant without having to relocate. Pauline explained that although both the Treasury and the Department for International Trade are above target on recruitment, they would welcome more applications for senior positions.

Helen Kemp, group director of business and skills at Tees Valley Combined Authority discussed the business support available and explained how the Tees Valley Combined Authority are in the process of reviewing the support with the aim to improve the process of applying, whilst developing relevant business support for all sectors and enhancing how they build relationships.

Finally, Diane Williamson from The Teesside Charity spoke to the members to highlight the charity’s upcoming annual ball in October, encouraging members to reserve a table for one of the most talked about events of the year. To reserve a table please contact diane.w@teessidecharity.org.uk

Jane thanked the Darlington Council Chambers for hosting the event as well as the speakers for providing a great insight into the opportunities available and lastly, Jane thanked the Tees Valley Business Club team. We look forward to seeing you at our second event this month at Kirkleatham Marquee on Thursday 30 June.