In a significant boost for the North East's commercial property sector, London-based built environment specialist Ridge & Partners has officially launched its first city centre office in Newcastle. The firm has established its new base at The Spire on Pilgrim Street, marking its 15th UK location and signalling a major commitment to the region's economic landscape.
Strategic Expansion into the North East
The opening represents a strategic move to harness the area's considerable talent pool and actively contribute to a wave of regeneration and development initiatives across the North East. Among the key projects the consultancy aims to support is the colossal £10 billion QTS data centre campus in Northumberland. The new office begins with an initial team of 12 professionals, including surveyors, project managers, engineers, and health and safety specialists, with firm plans for substantial growth.
Creating Diverse Career Pathways
Company leaders have emphasised that the expansion will generate a wide spectrum of employment opportunities. This ranges from graduate and apprentice positions, designed to inject fresh perspectives into the industry, through to senior roles for experienced professionals capable of steering major regional projects to completion. The move is seen as a direct investment in the local workforce.
Paul Heron, Partner and Newcastle Office Lead for Ridge & Partners, stated: "Newcastle was the natural choice for Ridge’s expansion into the North East. The city’s strong talent pool, supported by leading universities, positions it as an attractive hub for both clients and employees. There is real momentum right now with significant investment being made across the region, so opening here means Ridge can be closer to our clients and tap into everything the region has to offer."
A Legacy of Tackling Complex Projects
Founded in 1946, Ridge & Partners has built a formidable reputation for addressing some of the most demanding property and construction challenges. The company now employs 1,300 people nationwide and operates across a diverse portfolio of sectors. These include:
- Defence and security
- Healthcare and education
- Data centres and commercial offices
- Residential, sports, and leisure
- Science and advanced manufacturing
Notably, the firm has a distinguished history in motorsport, having completed its first Formula 1 headquarters for Benetton in 1991. Since then, it has delivered projects for over 20 F1 teams across six continents, including developments for Renault F1 and Aston Martin's headquarters at Silverstone.
Council and Agency Support
The launch has been warmly welcomed by local government and investment bodies. Councillor Alex Hay, Deputy Leader of Newcastle City Council, commented: "I’m thrilled to welcome Ridge & Partners to Newcastle. The city’s built environment sector is having a real moment in the sun with the strong pipeline of development and regeneration activity. Ridge’s commitment to creating new graduate and apprenticeship roles will provide our young people with tangible and exciting career opportunities and raise aspirations for people from all backgrounds."
The firm is receiving support from inward investment agency Invest Newcastle, part of the NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI), to integrate into the local business ecosystem. Alex Wright, Head of Business Engagement at NGI, added: "It is great to work with the team at Ridge & Partners as their values truly align with the vision of the city. As an NGI partner we will continue to support them as they embed themselves in the region."
This expansion underscores a growing confidence in Newcastle's economic potential and its status as a key hub for professional services and major infrastructure development within the UK.
