Jobs in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne | Pictures of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

Newcastle is the regional capital of the North East and is often described as the ‘virtual’ capital of the area between Yorkshire and Scotland. With a thriving cultural, social, educational and commercial scene, Newcastle is more than simply another northern industrial conurbation - it is an attractive historic city, with a rich legacy of listed Georgian and Victorian buildings that only London and Bath can beat.

It is also a lively commercial city, which is outward-looking, progressive, cosmopolitan, and proud of its achievements.

Then and now
Newcastle developed as a port and from the 13th century onwards, exported coal, particularly to London. Shipbuilding, engineering, manufacturing of woollen cloth and printing were also important industries in the area with the former making the city a world leader. But by the early part of the 20th century the export of coal and shipbuilding declined dramatically and hit Newcastle earlier than most other industrial centres – as highlighted by the Jarrow Crusade in 1936 - and office and retail employment took their place.

There have been enormous changes in the industrial profile of the Newcastle city region over the past 50 years with its shift to services, and the virtual elimination of the more traditional industries of mining and heavy engineering. And today, the city is an important business and financial centre, with a broad economic base spanning manufacturing, information technology, commercial and professional services and retail distribution.

Indeed, the financial and business services sector is on one of the biggest employers in the city, accounting for around 22 per cent of all jobs with the likes of Barclays Bank, Ward Hadaway and Eversheds having a strong presence in the area.

And despite the process of transition, the manufacturing sector remains important in the city region economy, with Newcastle’s traditional strength in the engineering sector being in fabricated metal products and machinery. Although these sectors remain strong sectors in the region, their position as the largest manufacturing sector has now been replaced by the automotive industry. The sector now represents just over 6 per cent of the city’s workforce in key employers such as Vickers Defence Systems, Rolls Royce Industrial Power Group, BAE Systems and Chieftan.

To a large extent, inward investment has contributed to the considerable diversification of the manufacturing base into new areas such as the offshore industry, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. And although total employment remains low in comparison to other core city regions in the UK, knowledge intensive business services (KIBS) and creative industries in Newcastle have shown considerable growth in recent years.

And with a working population of 180,000, Newcastle’s economy is renowned for its outstanding and loyal workforce and 27 per cent of them are employed in the public administration, health and education sector, with Newcastle City Council, University of Newcastle and Newcastle General and Royal Infirmary being the major employers within this sector.

Key business districts
Haymarket is the northern edge of the city centre bordered by Spital Tongues and Jesmond. It is the location of Newcastle Civic Centre, Newcastle University, Northumbria University, Haymarket Bus Station and the City Pool, and is mainly a business area.

The area surrounding Manors Metro station, in the east is the location of buildings and student accommodation of Northumbria University. It is bordered by Byker, mainly a residential and educational area. The Laing Art Gallery is located here.

Quayside is the most southern point of the city centre, at the bottom of a hill on the north bank of the River Tyne and is mainly a residential and commercial area with hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs and pubs towards the Tyne Bridge end. The Newcastle Law Courts are located near the Millennium Bridge.

The Central Station surrounding the city's railway stations is known for its bars and clubs. Towards the western end, is the city's gay district. The Centre for Life, Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle Cathedral, The Discovery Museum and The Journal Tyne Theatre are all located in the vicinity, as is the city's coach station.

The area centered around Grey's Monument, is located in the heart of the city centre surrounded by retail and commercial units. It is the location of Eldon Square and Eldon Square Shopping Centre, the city's largest shopping centre, with the adjacent Eldon Square Bus Station.

If you're thinking of moving to the area, take a look at some of the current property available to buy or let in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

Take a closer look
A picture is worth a thousand words. You can see some images from in and around Newcastle-Upon-Tyne below.

Looking for local vacancies? See all current jobs in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne or find out more information on the local area.