The North East Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) is our plan to grow and develop the region’s economy. It is an evidence-based response to our long-term economic challenges and opportunities. The Plan’s ambition is to increase the number of jobs in the North East by 100,000 between 2014 and 2024, with 70% of these being better jobs. Explore the evidence below, which underpins the SEP and our programmes of delivery.

Each year, Our Economy brings together attendees from the North East community, with a mix of policy makers, business representatives and education providers. As well as an overarching update, Our Economy also focuses on a particular theme. For 2023 this is inclusive productivity.

Taking a fresh look at global trends and economic markets that present opportunities for future regional growth in the North East LEP area.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central programme to support government’s Levelling Up agenda. This Evidence Base provides key data and intelligence about Levelling Up, along with the UKSPF's 3 key investment themes. 

This evidence base covers an analysis of regional and sector data related to digital technology, a review of the existing literature and an insight into how the digital technology sector links to national policy. It also explores the regional assets that the North East LEP currently has available.

This evidence base provides a definition for advanced manufacturing, examines the economic context for advanced manufacturing in the North East, and explores trends in the sector. It also looks at the contribution of advanced manufacturing towards emerging policy areas and the existing regional asset base.

This evidence base was produced in support of a regional defence and security cluster, due to be operational in early 2024. Supported by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), regional defence and security clusters aim to invigorate the Defence Industrial base by facilitating industry, academia and government sharing ideas. This evidence base examines the economic impact of defence and security in the North East region. It was generated in July and August 2023 in support of the cluster launch.