BUSINESS secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has described technology park NETPark as an exemplar for innovation.

Mr Kwarteng visited the Sedgefield site – home to high value science, engineering and technology businesses – during a regional tour recently.

He said: “I would like to thank Sarah Slaven from Business Durham and the teams from Kromek, Evince, Filtronic, PragmatIC Semiconductor and INEX Micro Technology who gave me a warm County Durham welcome and showed me an exemplar for collaboration, innovation, cutting edge technology and manufacturing in the UK.

"It was also great to see that the new leadership of Durham County Council are looking at further investments in NETPark.

"NETPark and the wider North East location have multi-level benefits for investors who will appreciate the assets and the unique core skill base in this region of the UK.”

Sedgefield MP Paul Howell and Durham County Council leader Amanda Hopgood attended and asked for government support for innovation and investment at NETPark and across County Durham.

Mr Howell, a regular at the park who was on the visit, said: “The North East has a tradition of technological excellence and our future shines brightly with the businesses based at NETPark.

"They are at the forefront of research, development and innovation and are committed to generating ultra-high value manufacturing jobs in the region.

“It has been an absolute delight to share the NETPark experience with Kwasi and I can see he shares my enthusiasm for the collaborative network that exists for NETPark companies and how the local networks link into several national and international networks.”

Councillor Hopgood said: “We were delighted to join Paul Howell MP in welcoming Kwasi Kwarteng to NETPark to demonstrate why it is one of the UK’s premier science, engineering and technology parks – home to a variety of exciting, innovative and cutting-edge businesses developing high value products with global social and economic impact.

“It was great for the Secretary of State to visit some of the companies on the park and hear from managers and staff at companies like Evince, Kromek and Filtronic why County Durham – potentially UK City of Culture 2025, is such an excellent place to live, work and visit.

“We were very pleased to use the opportunity to showcase our plans and make the case for further government support for innovation and investment in NETPark and County Durham as a whole; to help us attract more businesses as part of our commitment to delivering more and better jobs for our residents.”