Region is right at centre of AI infrastructure transformation

AS artificial intelligence (AI) becomes part of everyday personal and professional life, the demand for digital infrastructure is driving change across regional economies and the North East is right at the centre of this rapid transformation.

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In September, the region won the backing of central government to become an AI Growth Zone, fuelling the creation of over 5,000 new jobs and up to £30bn in investment, according to the North East Combined Authority.

Work has already begun on the Cobalt Park Data Centres in North Tyneside and the £10bn QTS Cambois datacentre campus at Blyth. Expected to be Europe's largest hyperscale sites equivalent in size to 11 football pitches the scheme aims to be powered fully by renewable energy once complete.

The projects will create thousands of skilled jobs in the future, as well as during the build phases, and place the North East firmly at the centre of the UK's digital transformation.

That surge of activity in the AI and datacentre space is mirrored in this year's Ward Hadaway North East Fastest 50, which, in partnership with The Journal, showcases the region's fastest growing privately owned businesses.

Together, they employ more than 11,000 people and generate over £1.7bn in turnover clear evidence that the North East's blend of engineering strength and digital innovation is turning global change into local opportunity.

One of the standout names in this year's Fastest 50 list is Black & White Engineering, ranked as the sixth fastest growing business overall. The Newcastle-based global consultancy designs the mechanical and electrical systems that underpin some of the world's most advanced data centre projects work that has accelerated in line with rising demand for AI and high-performance computing.