Hundreds of new jobs from automotive to payments tech

HUNDREDS of jobs have been created in the North East this year.

- TOM KEIGHLEY Business Writer [e-mail]

> Jatco CEO Tomoyoshi Sato cutting the ribbon to secure a £50m investment deal between the transmission maker, Nissan and the Government

In everything from automotive batteries to payments tech - a range of investments has prompted opportunities for workers.While the job market suffered its challenges in 2025, several big announcements in the North East gave us some cause for optimism. Here are some of the top job creation stories we covered this year.

Amid a difficult year for Nissan, the news that Jatco would set up a new factory beside the Sunderland plant was a welcome boost. The transmission maker is owned by the Japanese car giant and is in the process of setting up the factory which is expected to be operational in 2026.

The move has created about 180 jobs, having attracted about £12m of Government grant funding. Those workers will play a part in producing about 340,000 electric powertrains per year.

The technology modularises and integrates the motor, inverter and reducer, and is said to make the drivetrains smaller and lighter. It will support Nissan's new range of electric vehicles.

Jatco boss Tomoyoshi Sato told us he hoped the facility could be developed to supply other European automotive customers such as Volkswagen and BMW, in the future. Former business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the Jatco investment would secure hundreds of jobs in the region.

Nuclear engineering group Assystem announced in July that about 200 jobs would be created at its North East base. The French firm has landed work at Sizewell C and is already a major player in the UK's nuclear new-build programme.

The jobs are being created at its Southwith, Sunderland base which already employs 81 people. It is part of a push to double Assystem's workforce over the next five years.