DESIGN firms in the North- East are to benefit from a link with London’s Design Council.
Regional development agency One North East and the council have signed a memorandum of understanding and developed a working action plan, which will give North- East design firms more national exposure.
It will also give firms access to the Design Council’s networks in the capital and south-east England.
It comes as One North East plans a Northern Design Centre building in the Baltic Business Quarter, in Gateshead, which will house Design Network North, The network will allow firms to share knowledge and exploit opportunities to expand the design industry in the region.
David Godber, deputy chief executive of the Design Council and member of the Design Network North board, said: “The North-East is one of the most dynamic regions when it comes to strategically promoting design and its benefits in creating better businesses and more sustainable, creative communities.
“The Design Council is delighted to be a partner in Design Network North and we look forward to helping it grow and thrive.”
The design industry is part of the wider commercial creative sector which is worth about £800m to the North-East economy, with the potential to create about 9,000 jobs over the next four years.
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