NEWS

RTC North has today, 28th July, launched its 2025/26 Annual Review, capping a milestone year in which the Sunderland-headquartered organisation became employee-owned and a certified B Corp while supporting almost 2,500 businesses across the North of England.

The review reveals that over the year RTC supported:

828 businesses to innovate

863 businesses to compete

728 businesses to grow

2,497 clients in total

160,000+ young people engaged through its STEM programme

This work helped create or safeguard 488 jobs, delivered almost 17,000 hours of business support, and facilitated £4.73 million in innovation grants.

Chief Executive, Jamie Ollivere , praised the work of his team and partners in helping businesses innovate, compete and grow, and in strengthening the regional economy.

He said: "This has been a year of real delivery and real pride. We became employee-owned, passing stewardship of the organisation into the hands of the people who deliver impact every day, and we gained B Corp certification. Together they confirm what we have always believed: that doing well as a business and making a positive impact go hand in hand. The people who do this work now have a genuine stake in its future, and you can see that energy in every story in this review."

From founders securing Innovate UK funding to manufacturers cutting production times through the Made Smarter programme, RTC has worked closely with SMEs, partners and government across the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and Humber. Its supply chain work connected smaller businesses with major buyers, and its Scaleup North East programme backed high-growth firms scaling across new sites and international markets.

Running through the year was the organisation's STEM work, engaging more than 160,000 young people and working with 1,756 schools to build the skills pipeline the North's economy depends on.

Jamie added: "The North has real strengths in advanced manufacturing, clean growth, digital, health and defence, and a growing appetite for collaboration. Employee ownership gives us a strong foundation to build on. We are based in Sunderland, proud of where we come from, and focused on delivering for businesses and communities right across the North in the years ahead."

To find out more, read the full 2025/26 Annual Review.