2025 was big deal for some...

In the third of our end-of-year round-ups, we pull together the big deals of 2025

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Newcastle AI startup Literal Labs secured £4.6m investment, just two years after being founded.

The firm is an Al algorithm company co-founded by academics prof Alex Yakovlev and prof Rishad Shafik, based on their work in machine learning and computer systems design.

It became the first Newcastle University spin-out to secure investment from Northern Gritstone, a fund that has concentrated on university-linked businesses in the North West and Yorkshire. Investment also came from Mercuri, Sure Valley Ventures, Cambridge Future Tech SPV and several angel investors.

Offshore engineering firm FES (Flexible Engineered Solutions) International was snapped up in a £50m cash deal to become part of multinational oil and gas industry supplier Hunting.

Launched in Ashington more than 20 years ago by directors Rob Anderson and Ian Latimer, the firm became part of the London-based $1.5bn revenue group which operates from 11 countries.

FES started with a first year turnover of £143,000, before growing to establish relationships with super majors, independent oil and gas companies and international energy operators. It currently trades from a 35,000sqft facility and 6,000sqft test facility, employing 46 people across three key divisions.

Historic Northumberland firm Thompsons of Prudhoe - a company known for its expertise in demolition - was sold to Yorkshire-based Ashcourt Group.

The firm dates back to 1948 and had remained in the family of its founders William and Margaret Thompson until the deal.

It began in the haulage business for mostly agricultural customers but has since expanded into demolition services, asbestos removal, quarrying, earthworks and contaminated land remediation.