International audit, financial advisory and tax firm Deloitte has announced it is set to establish a new office in the Tees Valley, set to employ up to 200 people.

Stephen Hall, Deloitte’s Senior Partner in its Newcastle base, made the announcement at a meeting of the Tees Valley Business Club on Thursday (March 23).

At the event, which helps support and connect businesspeople across the region, he revealed that the firm was intending to ramp up recruitment in the area, where it currently has around 30 staff.

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It is looking to add 15 people per month to its organisation and, should be up and running in the next year, and the D&S Times understands this could be Darlington.

The news comes as the Darlington Economic Campus continues to grow, with a total of 600 roles now filled at the Government’s HQ, as recruitment continues across a number of departments including the Treasury.

Mr Hall said: “We’ve always worked on Teesside and are keen to put the North East on the map for Deloitte. A community of people is what we are after in the Tees Valley, to give opportunities to people in the region.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, said: “This is yet another vote of confidence from a global firm expanding and creating good quality well paid jobs for local people.

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"A couple of years ago, we had the pleasure to host their senior team, and it was clear they were impressed with what’s happening in our region and they can see the opportunities for growth.

“To have one of the Big 4 opening offices in Darlington would show that what we are doing is working. We knew when we secured the Treasury that it would just be the start and here is the evidence.

More investment, more jobs, and I look forward to continuing the work with the team to identify a suitable site and push for further growth.”

Cllr Jonathan Dulston, leader of Darlington Borough Council and member of the Tees Valley Combined Authority, said: “This would be fantastic news for Darlington. We have seen the difference securing the Treasury has made to our town centre and having another huge firm join them would be a further boost to our plans.

“We are seeing well-paid, high-quality jobs come to the town helping support all of our other fantastic small businesses.

“I’m sure that if Deloitte do choose to join the Chancellor in Darlington there will be plenty more who will follow suit.

“We are attracting serious investment showing that our plan for Darlington is working.”