IT is often said that the best thing about the North East is the people. The warm welcome and friendly accent give the region a great external image, but for those investing in the North East, it is the strong work ethic and passion for quality which really inspires.

This is a huge draw and reflects the two-way relationship the region can have with large scale businesses and development.

The workforce available can be a huge boost to commerce, while the employment opportunities reward them in return.

85% of the workforce currently building the new headquarters for social enterprise Sedgefield Borough Homes are from the North East, with 51% from the local Durham area and Tees Valley.

In addition, 98% of those working on the highways upgrades here at DurhamGate hail from the North East.

I am not just referring to construction jobs, but the overwhelming majority of the professional team involved, such as architects, engineers and lawyers, are also from the region.

This is a genuine validation of our decision to develop in this area, just south of Durham City, which was partly based upon the availability of a ready and willing workforce.

Not only did we believe that businesses wishing to base themselves here would benefit from the region’s workforce, we knew that there would be employment during the development phase which could draw upon, and be embraced by, local talent.

The capability of the area to produce a skilled workforce is also reflected by Hitachi’s decision to establish its train building operations in Newton Aycliffe, creating up to 5,000 jobs.

Large investments, such as those being made by Carillion Developments and Arlington Real Estate at DurhamGate and by Hitachi, are a sign of commitment to the area and can prove a catalyst for further investment and prosperity of the area.

At DurhamGate, we are fortunate to be working with a jobs liaison team at Durham County Council which recognises, as do we, the potential for this area to meet the needs of those investing and employing people in the region. With such a partnership in place, the chances of successfully engaging with, and benefitting from, the local workforce increase dramatically.

Without looking at the big picture, it could be easy for some people to think that large developments only benefit big business.

However, big businesses employ people and create supply chain opportunities for other companies to do likewise.

These developments often also bring opportunities and investment to improve infrastructure to the benefit of local people, as well as creating further employment.

For more information on Constructing Excellence in the North East, please contact chief executive, Catriona Lingwood, on 0191 374 0233 or catriona@cene.org.uk.