Reports and Resources

The foundational economy provides the social and physical infrastructures, goods and services that are essential to everyday life, including transport, food, energy, education, health and care.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are central to the North East economy, driving innovation, jobs and local wealth. Yet many entrepreneurs face persistent barriers to growth, including limited access to finance, difficulties recruiting skilled workers, and the challenge of navigating rapidly evolving technologies.

This report, Beyond the Bottom Line: How Enterprise Drives Inclusive Growth, examines how enterprise contributes to inclusive growth in the North East of England.

This book draws on research from Belfast (Northern Ireland), Medellín (Colombia), Newcastle upon Tyne (England), and Pittsburgh (USA). It asks how cities can design and deliver more inclusive innovation districts that benefit people and place.

On 9 October, Insights North East and the North East Enterprise Agency (NEEAL) hosted an engaging evening exploring how enterprise can drive inclusive economic growth across the North East. The event brought together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to share new research findings and discuss how to build a thriving regional economy that works for everyone.

The concept of inclusive innovation has rapidly gained traction in academic and policy circles as a response to the distributional problems of traditional innovation strategies.