Defining digital
Digital was identified as one of four areas of strategic importance in the North East LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan in 2014. The plan also highlighted existing regional specialisms in software, cloud computing, communications, buildings information modelling, and gaming, with emerging specialisms in data analytics, immersive technologies and cyber-security.
Number of enterprises
In 2023 there were 2,465 enterprises in the digital sector across the North East LEP area. This was 50 fewer than in 2022, however, this decline was driven by a fall in the number of micro enterprises (with between 0-9 employees). The number of enterprises with 10+ employees increased by 5 over the same period.
Of the total enterprises in the sector 605 were in Newcastle upon Tyne, 455 were in County Durham and 380 were in Northumberland.
Employment
In 2022 there were 27,000 individuals in employment in digital tech across the North East LEP. 8,000 of these were employed in Newcastle upon Tyne, and 7,000 in North Tyneside.
Digital tech accounts for around 3 percent of employment in the North East LEP, a percentage point lower than in England excluding London.