Hopes for thousands of jobs from new project

MAYORS TEAM UP WITH UNIVERSITY AND INDUSTRY EXPERTS ON THE BIOECONOMY PROJECT

- By GRAEME WHITFIELD [e-mail] @Graemewhitfield

TEES Valley mayor Lord Houchen has teamed up with his counterpart in North Yorkshire to launch a project that aims to bring thousands of jobs to Teesside.

The combined authorities in Tees Valley and in York and North Yorkshire will work with Teesside and York universities and the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) to develop a cluster around the bio-industrial sector of the economy.

It is hoped that the combined expertise of the five partners will bring in investment and job creation opportunities.

The mayors believe the partnership could grow the area's economies by more than £5bn.

The partnership also aims to create more sustainable ways to make chemicals and other materials, most of which are still heavily based around fossil fuels.

Products as different as detergents and shampoos, clothing, cosmetics, and technologies like smartphones and laptops could all be redesigned in the area.

On Thursday, Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen and his York and North Yorkshire counterpart David Skaith welcomed Government officials and business representatives to a roundtable event in Darlington outlining the ambitions for the partnership, including an agreement to host an investor showcase in London in February 2026.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said: “This collaboration is another major step in driving forward Tees-side’s growth as a powerhouse for industry and innovation.