A SECOND Government department relocating to Darlington will begin the process of moving from the capital within weeks, The Northern Echo can reveal today.

The Department for International Trade, the department responsible for the UK's global business, including post-Brexit trading agreements, announced they would be relocating as many as 500 workers to Darlington, just weeks after Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed hundreds of Treasury officials would also be relocating.

The Northern Echo: International Trade Secretary Liz Truss with Ben Houchen

Earlier this week, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen met with Trade Secretary Liz Truss in London to discuss 'accelerating' the plans, which will see government officials begin the relocation process to what is being dubbed as Trade North within weeks.

The Darlington site will be the department's second major base - and first outside London. It has been established as part of a new strategy to boost exports and bring the benefits of the government’s global trade policy to the whole of the UK, including benefits from future free trade agreements with the US, Australia and New Zealand.

Ms Truss said: “It was great to have Ben as one of our first guests in to the department after the local elections, talking about how we use the power of trade and investment to bring new high skill, high paid jobs to the heart of Teesside.

"I was delighted to introduce Ben to our new director of Trade and Investment North, Paul McComb, who will be overseeing our ambitious plans to create a new trade and investment powerhouse based in the centre of the Tees Valley.”

Mr Houchen said: “It was great to have one of my first meetings after the election with Liz Truss to explore how we can accelerate the move of Trade North to Darlington.

“We want to make sure it is up and running as quickly as possible so we can attract more jobs and investment to the region but so we can also advertise what are already good quality, senior jobs within the civil service which will be based at Darlington.”

The announcement comes as the first Treasury job in Darlington is now being advertised online.

The job is an Assistant Business Change Manager, which the advert says would be 'working on HM Treasury's future location change programme'.

The salary is between £29,320 and £35,000 and is a permanent full or part-time position.

The closing date for the post is June 1.

Mr Houchen added: "It’s fantastic to see that, just a few short weeks after the Chancellor announced plans to move hundreds of Treasury staff to the heart of Darlington, the first of many good-quality, well-paid jobs is up for grabs.

“This is only the start, with many more roles to come in the future, and I’d urge people across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool to check them out when they’re advertised. That way, not only will our local priorities be put front-and-centre for Government, it’ll be local people helping to drive the change we want to see for our region and the rest of the UK."

Recruitment for the International Trade roles is set to begin within weeks, and a number of major financial businesses have already begun plans to relocate to Darlington as a result.