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28| workingEDGE January 2016 Newcastle maybe famous for celebrities such as Ant and Dec and Cheryl Fernandez Versini but as the financial and cultural centre of the North East, Newcastle has acquired a reputation for being one of the UK’s centres of high-tech industry, with renewable energy and manufacturing businesses particularly prevalent. The Newcastle Science City project touts this reputation and claims the city is the key city in the UK for science businesses. This reputation has been further enhanced with the opening of the Core, Science Central in October 2014 – the centre acts as a 5,000 square metre growth accelerator for spin-out companies from Newcastle University and firms focused on science, technology and sustainability more generally. As well as being exceptionally well-connected to its regional neighbours (the Metro public transport system connects Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland and other stops along the coast), it takes just two hours 50 minutes to get to London Kings Cross on the fastest train, despite its relatively far-flung location. Newcastle International Airport is also close by; serving a number of destinations in Europe and worldwide, it is also accessible via the Metro public transport system. Newcastle boasts a number of appealing locations for start-ups, particularly tech and energy businesses. The North East Enterprise Zone covers 10 sites within the three key areas of the Low Carbon Vehicle Corridor, the North Bank of River Tyne and Port of Blyth; businesses located in these areas gain access to a number of incentives including reduced business rates, enhanced capital allowances and a quicker planning process for new builds. The North Bank of the River Tyne is also one of five Centres for Offshore Renewable Engineering (CORE) in the UK and benefits from its close proximity to the National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth. Known as the region’s major student centre, the city has two universities within its borders – Newcastle University and Northumbria University – with Durham University also a short distance away. Businesses based in the area can benefit from a range of services for business offered by Newcastle
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