North East England

As one of the largest sectors in the North East, Business Services generate 40% of the region’s wealth so it’s unsurprisingly that this vital industry has been prioritised in the North East’s economic growth strategy.

Providing crucial support to other business, this important sector employs one in five of the North East’s working population – some 225,000 people – and enables other businesses to compete in the global marketplace.

For those pursuing a legal career, the North East offers many opportunities for advancement. The largest commercial law firm is Dickinson Dees, which regularly tops the Legal 500 list of top firms while Ward Hadaway, Eversheds and Watson Burton are also highly regarded.

"The North East's business services sector encompasses advertising and marketing agencies, management consultancies, legal and financial advisors, business research, architectural services and call centers."

Call centres are another significant employer within the Business Services sector. Major call centres include British Airways in Newcastle and Orange in North Tyneside and Darlington. With a considerable number of financial services call centres based in the North East, there is ample opportunity to gain higher level specialist qualifications too. 

The North East is something of a hotbed for ‘knowledge intensive’ business services, such as accountancy, web design and marketing, which make great use of IT and new communication technologies. This enables such businesses to be based anywhere, making the North East an attractive location with its comparatively low overheads compared to the south.

Professions include: solicitors, advertising consultants, marketers, architects, software designers, call centre operatives, recruitment consultants and accountants.

Analytical thinkers and highly motivated self-confident leaders with good communication and problem solving skills will do well in this sector.