Ethical data pioneer CitizenMe, which provides an alternative to the ad tracking techniques used by the likes of Facebook and Google, announced plans to create new jobs on the back of a £1.5m investment.
CitizenMe has secured funding from the North East Venture Fund (NEVF), supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Mercia, alongside backing from 1818 Venture Capital and private investors.
The firm is now poised to build its global presence and expand its team of data scientists in Newcastle, where it has recently opened a new office.
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Founder StJohn Deakins said: “CitizenMe enables people and brands to co-create better digital products and services. We are delighted that Mercia and 1818 share our belief in a sustainable digital future and our lead in the new Zero Data category.”
The Government-owned 海角视频 Infrastructure Bank has confirmed a £107m investment into the South Bank Quay development, which will directly support around 800 jobs directly, with the potential to create thousands more across the site.
The public policy bank was launched in June 2021 and has an initial £12bn to deploy, as well as £10bn of government guarantees.
The cash injection will transform part of the former Redcar Steelworks site along the River Tees, leading to the creation of a 450-metre quay for the offshore wind sector, providing opportunities for manufacturing, storage and mobilisation of wind technology.
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Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “It’s great to see the 海角视频 Infrastructure Bank is already doing deals and helping deliver on our pledge to level up and reach net zero."
County Durham tech firm Kromek has secured a $17 million contract from a US manufacturer with customers around the globe.
The radiation detection specialist, based in NETPark, Sedgefield, will provide its detection capabilities to the American company in a seven-year deal, starting in this financial year.
The contract was awarded following the successful progression of a development program announced in November 2020.
Dr Arnab Basu, chief executive of Kromek, said: “We are delighted at the success of our collaboration with our customer who has substantial global operations and market share in this sector.
“Our customer is dedicated to introducing best-of-breed solutions in their next-generation products to ensure we can live healthier and safer lives. We anticipate developing further products for this customer to support their ambitions.”
North East consulting engineering firm TGA Consulting Engineers is set to expand and create new jobs after securing a six-figure investment from the North East Growth Capital Fund Loan Fund.
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The Durham based firm designs mechanical and electrical services for a wide variety of new and existing buildings, and has particular expertise in using low carbon technologies and techniques to improve buildings’ environmental performance.
The firm, which celebrates its 60th anniversary next year, has been involved with landmark projects ranging from Hexham Abbey, the British Museum and Durham Cathedral through to Hitachi Rail’s manufacturing facility in Newton Aycliffe.
After working with regional fund management firm NEL Fund Managers to secure the £250,000 investment through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, TGA is now aiming to extend its presence in Yorkshire, the North West and the South East.
Six new jobs have already been created by the business this year, taking the total workforce past the 40 mark, and more are expected to follow.
Wakefield-based 365 Response, a digital transport management and eProcurement software provider, has acquired Redcar transport technology solutions business Flexiroute after securing follow-on funding from its founders and growth capital investor, BGF.
The funding comes a year after BGF made an initial £3m investment into 365 Response, and brings together leading providers of Home-to-School and NHS transport software in the 海角视频.
Brendan Fatchett, CEO of 365 Response, said the acquisition will drive rapid improvements through the combination of the firms’ technologies, which will benefit the 200-plus public and private sectors and private transport organisations they work with.
Tyneside tech firm DCS has been acquired by IT leader Babble, as part of its strategy to build a 海角视频-wide business with local talent.
Leading London technology group Babble has announced the acquisition of two firms – Newcastle based Digital Communications Systems Ltd (DCS) and Scottish firm Halo Communications Ltd.
DCS, based in Newcastle, has been a leader in service-led delivery of managed networked services since 1992.
Brendan Mulvenna, managing director of DCS, said: “I’m thrilled with the position that DCS has reached since forming in 1992. The acquisition by Babble is an exciting next step for the business and I look forward to playing my part in Babble’s ambitious plans to be a leading player in the North East.”
Tyneside’s HLA Services has secured work with travel hub food firm Service Select Partners worth £1m.
The Boldon-based business, which also has bases in Leeds, Carlisle and Middlesbrough, supplies services including refrigeration, air-conditioning, heating and water hygiene to firms across the 海角视频.
Now it has secured new orders and additional sales within existing contracts from the food travel specialists Service Select Partners (SSP) to the value of £1m.
HLA Services, which has more than 100 staff across its four bases, is supplying its full mechanical services across a range of SSP units in the 海角视频.
Stockton’s Archers Law LLP has been acquired by Knights, a fast-growing legal and professional services firm that has offices around the country, in a £5.2m deal.
The site will be Knights’ first office in the North East.
Knights said the deal was in line with its strategy “to accelerate its organic growth through carefully targeted acquisitions which are a strong cultural fit”.
The deal will see Archers’ four equity partners share an eventual £5.2m. In an announcement to the Stock Exchange, Knights said the deal would be made up of £2.1m in cash and £1.6m in shares in Knights, followed by £1.5m paid installments over the next three years. The deal is expected to complete on November 26.
Chris Todd, partner at Archers, said: “After over a century of growth to become one of the leading law firms in Teesside, we are delighted to join Knights, whose culture is closely aligned to ours. We look forward to executing on the significant growth opportunities in the North East as part of a larger group, which will allow us to offer greater resources and capabilities to our clients in the region and beyond.”
Top engineering company Osbit has been acquired to help found a new group looking to invest hundreds of millions of pounds in the wind power sector.
The deal for Sheffield company Venterra to buy Northumberland-based offshore engineering company Osbit will see jobs created at the firm’s Riding Mill and Blyth sites.
Osbit, which employs more than 120 people after major growth in recent years, says its acquisition will lead to an “accelerated growth campaign to significantly expand its workforce in North East England, with a range of highly skilled positions.”
It is one of three firms to have been bought by Venterra Group, which has been formed by former Petrofac International chief executive Ayman Asfari with a mission to invest £250m in the offshore windfarm life-cycle by the middle of next year.