Published in January 2019, the North East Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) outlines the region’s strategy for growing and developing a more productive, inclusive and sustainable regional economy. The Plan was first agreed in 2014, with a clear objective – to deliver more and better jobs for the people who live and work in the North East.

The North East, like other regions of the North, is facing various challenges which include fewer employment opportunities compared to other parts of the UK, lower productivity, higher levels of economic inactivity and many businesses are vulnerable to changes in the economy, such as Brexit. The SEP identifies four areas that have strong opportunity for growth in the region and highlights the service sectors that support the wider economy. The SEP states how the North East will achieve the ambition through five programmes of delivery.