One NorthEast backing can help turn the tide

Jun 12 2007 By The Journal

The International Marine Design Centre (MDC) is a £2.3m project which received £1.5m from One NorthEast and it is hoped will again see the North-East as a focal point for marine industry.

The project is to be based in the centre of Newcastle at Central Square South, overlooking the River Tyne and close to Newcastle Central Station.

Northern Defence Industries (NDI), which will administer the project, will also move its own offices from Sunderland to the Newcastle building.

Trevor Harrison, the managing director of NDI, said: "We have worked long and hard to find the right location for the MDC and I am confident that Central Square South presents an ideal base from which we can market the combined strengths of the region's ship design industry to the world.

"The MDC will quickly become a recognised international centre of excellence for marine design skills, and our aim is to help add up to £100m to the region's defence and marine sectors through the winning of new business over the next 10 years."

One NorthEast marine sector specialist Ray Thompson said: "The North-East has the experience and expertise that customers demand and the design centre will allow our industry to pool its strengths to win this work - bringing with it substantial economic gains and the potential for valuable regional jobs."

The MDC project has already won praise and support from industry. It is being welcomed by politicians and received Newcastle MP Jim Cousins' backing.

"I'm sure this [the MDC project] will be a great asset to Newcastle's economy and one which will link strongly to expertise at our local universities."

NDI is a business development company that matches the capability of more than 200 companies in the North-East and Yorkshire with the procurement requirements of the global defence and aerospace industry.