North East mayor seals deal for energy sector

> Decommissioning of the offshore wind farm at Blyth, Northumberland

- GRAEME WHITFIELD Journal editor [e-mail]

THE North East mayoral authority has sealed an agreement with the Government's Office for Investment and one of the country's largest banks to drive investment into the region's energy sector.

The deal agreed at the UKREiiF investment conference aims to bring businesses and financial services together to identify how to unlock private investment, supporting regional infrastructure and supply chain development.

The North East is already a key hub for the UK's energy transition and it is hoped that the £160m North East Investment Zone will encourage more companies in the energy sector to create jobs here. The investment zone is specifically supporting offshore and renewable energy, as well as electric vehicle and battery manufacturing.