The quality of available commercial properties within South Tyneside and the unique funding package it has to offer new and existing business means the borough is well placed to take advantage of this fresh growth and to prosper in the future, according to Simon Harland, investment associate director, and Colin Davidson, office agency associate director, both of DTZ.

THE current economic climate has taken its toll on businesses and the North-East is no exception, losing many jobs over the last 12 months.

Recession, however, is often the catalyst for new growth, and many of today’s best-known firms started in tough economic times, including Burger King, Fed Ex, MTV and even Microsoft.

South Tyneside has positioned itself wisely over recent years, with development policies that have encouraged the building of space for small business.

In the last ten years this has led to a variety of mixed commercial developments at Monkton, Jarrow, Boldon and South Shields.

At the smaller end of the market the Quadrus Centre in Boldon provides start-up incubator space, while further stand-alone office accommodation, developed by Whelan at the adjacent Bullrushes, provides move-on office accommodation.

Coupled with this there has been significant development at nearby Monkton Business Park by developers including City and Northern, Gladman and Priority Sites.

The park now comprises a range of commercial space including office and hybrid units which now totals approximately 100,000 sq ft (9,929 sq m).

In South Shields, City & Northern’s Waverly Market Dock scheme has proven successful and is fast becoming a hub for training businesses, with occupiers including BTCV and Sencia. Over half of the space has already been let with a further 25% under offer.

South Tyneside has also attracted development at the other end of the space spectrum, with Viking Business Park and Market Dock in South Shields.

In the last 12 months the area has seen the creation of over 1,300 jobs, with 500 created when Indian call centre operator Techmahindra let a 27,000 sq ft (2,508.3 sq m) building at Viking Business Park from Grantside Developments.

The firm has an option to take a further 14,000 sq ft (1,300 sq m).

At Market Dock, South Shields, Garlands call centres have developed two office buildings in conjunction with Mandale Developments totalling 47,000 sq ft (4,366.3 sq m) and creating 800 jobs.

Providing the right property solution is only part of encouraging new businesses. South Tyneside was also successful in winning £16.3m in 2006 from the Government’s Local Enterprise Growth Initiative to help business start, grow and locate to the borough.

So far over 230 start-up grants have been awarded to new businesses and over 100 development grants to existing businesses.

This funding has been, and will continue to be, an extremely important ingredient in the success of the borough.