Swedish Success and Smart Connectivity — Reflections from the Swedish Business Footprint Event in the North East

Swedish Business Footprint Event

On 10 April 2025, members of our regional team at Nigel Wright Group joined a fantastic event in Newcastle upon Tyne: the Swedish Business Footprint in the North East, hosted by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK.

The evening featured a packed agenda — insightful speakers, plenty of networking, and a strong sense of shared ambition between Swedish and North East organisations. What stood out most was just how much potential there is for deeper collaboration.

Sweden & the North East: Closer Than You’d Think

One stat caught our attention straight away: Sweden is the third-largest international investor in the North East, just after the US and Japan. Nationally, it ranks eighth — a sign that this region plays a much bigger role in Swedish trade than many might assume.

For us at Nigel Wright Group, this global-local connection really resonated. With offices in Stockholm and across the Nordics, we regularly support clients operating across both markets. Seeing this relationship highlighted in our own region was a great reminder of what’s possible.

Smart Cities, Ports and Airports — 5G in Action

Connectivity was a central theme throughout the event.

Ericsson’s Mike Barlow shared that half of all global 5G runs on their networks — a stat that raised eyebrows in the best way. Their tech is already transforming industries like logistics, automotive, and manufacturing.

Closer to home, the Port of Tyne has become the first UK port with full 5G connectivity, as presented by CFO Mark Stoner. It’s now using real-time safety systems and live product tracking via mobile app — and is aiming for net zero by 2030, with full site electrification in progress.

Meanwhile, Newcastle International Airport is exploring its own 5G transformation, laying the groundwork to become a fully “smart airport.”

Swedish Brands Scaling in the North East

We also heard from Swedish businesses that have chosen Newcastle as their UK base.

LeoVegas Group has doubled its local headcount — and is feeding innovation back to its Swedish HQ. Essity, meanwhile, is investing £35 million into a new paper plant focused on recycled materials, set to open later this year.

These aren’t just examples of expansion. They’re a vote of confidence — in the region’s talent, infrastructure, and long-term outlook.

Foundations for Growth

The event also explored how culture and community are shaping the regional ecosystem.

Steve Beharall from Newcastle United Foundation and Jonathan Blackie CBE from North East Culture Partnerships shared why inclusive development matters — not just for people, but for attracting skilled workers and encouraging them to stay.

We also spoke with Steve Angus from the Department for Business & Trade and Dawn Dunn from the NewcastleGateshead Initiative, both of whom offered helpful views on how firms like ours can play a role in aligning talent strategy with sector growth.

Final Thoughts

We left the event encouraged — and more certain than ever that Swedish investment is fuelling innovation here in the North East.

From tech and energy to logistics and advanced manufacturing, the potential is clear. And at Nigel Wright Group, we’re proud to be supporting that growth — both in the UK and across the Nordics.

With offices in Newcastle, Stockholm, and key cities across Northern Europe, we help businesses build strong, senior-level teams across commercial, technical, and operational functions.

Whether you're expanding your team in the North East or hiring across borders, we’d be happy to discuss how we can support your next move.