Private Capital makes a £4bn contribution to the North East economy
A new report has found that businesses backed by private capital generate £4bn for the North East economy each year.
Private Capital in Yorkshire and the North East which is being launched by the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA) in Leeds today, showcases the industry’s importance to growth in the nations and regions of the United Kingdom.
In 2024 alone, private capital invested £149 million in North East businesses. Private capital employs an active ownership model which is a hands-on approach that helps drive value creation in portfolio companies through strategic and operational improvements, whilst supporting wider economic development.
As of 2025, private capital supported 285 businesses in the region, a 12% increase compared to 2023. Private equity firms are playing a significantly larger role in the North East economy compared to a couple of years ago, backing 111 businesses, 18% more than in 2023. Venture capital currently backs 174 businesses, up 9% from 2023. These businesses are major employers in the region, supporting over 69,000 jobs in the North East - a 28% increase compared with 2023.
The new report is launching at the BVCA’s Invest Yorkshire & North East England Forum. The forum, which is sponsored by Pinsent Masons, will feature discussions on how pensions reform, local leadership and planning reforms can make Yorkshire and the North East more attractive destinations for investment.
Commenting, BVCA Chief Executive Michael Moore said:
“The North East of England is an exciting destination for private capital, whose investment is supporting the development of almost 300 businesses in the wider region. These businesses bring real value to local communities through the 69,000 jobs they support.
“However, while there is much to celebrate about the scope and scale of investment in the region’s businesses, it could be even more substantial and close the gap with other parts of the country. Policymakers, regulators, and industry all have a role to play in helping to facilitate greater levels of investment in the region, to ensure that opportunities are not lost.”
Notes to Editors
The report, Private Capital in Yorkshire and the North East can be downloaded here.
For further information, please contact:
BVCA Press Office
Email: [email protected]
Background
About the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association
The British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA) is the industry body and public policy advocate for the private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) (private capital) industry in the UK. With a membership of over 600 firms, we represent the vast majority of all UK-based private capital firms, as well as their professional advisers and a large base of UK and global investors. The private equity and venture capital industry has a vital role to play in driving national and regional growth. Currently over 12,000 companies, employing more than 2.2 million people, are backed by private equity and venture capital investment in the UK.
