The company has plans to grow its initial team of 12 at its base in The Spire
Coun Alex Hay, deputy leader of Newcastle City Council with the Ridge & Partners Newcastle team(Image: Invest Newcastle)
A London built environment business is set to create new jobs after expanding to launch its first office in Newcastle city centre. Ridge & Partners has boosted its North East presence and increased its UK footprint to 15 locations through the office launch at The Spire on Pilgrim Street, where it has plans to grow its initial team of 12 surveyors, project managers, engineers, and health and safety specialists.
The move has been made to tap into the region’s talent pool and support a number of regeneration and development projects across the North East, including the £10bn QTS data centre campus in Northumberland. Leaders of the Newcastle office say it will create opportunities across the board, from graduate and apprentice roles that bring fresh thinking, through to senior professionals who can drive major projects forward.
Founded in 1946, Ridge is said to tackle “the toughest property and construction challenges” and now employs 1,300 people, working on property projects in a vast range of sectors including defence and security, health, education, data centres, offices, residential, sports and leisure, science and advanced manufacturing.
The company has notably worked on a number of motorsport projects, having worked on its first Formula 1 headquarters for Benetton in 1991, leading to the design and construction of motorsport and automotive projects across six continents. It has completed developments for more than 20 Formula 1 teams, including Renault F1 team in Enstone and Aston Martin’s F1 team headquarters at Silverstone.
Paul Heron, partner and Newcastle office lead for Ridge & Partners, said: “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.
L-R: Paul Heron, partner and Newcastle office lead at Ridge & Partners, with Coun Alex Hay, deputy leader of Newcastle City Council(Image: Invest Newcastle)
“It’s all part of building a stronger presence across the North, bringing our expertise closer to where clients need it most.”
Coun Alex Hay, deputy leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “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 across Newcastle and the wider North East.
“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. I look forward to seeing Ridge & Partners’ team grow in the city.”
Ridge & Partners is being supported by inward investment agency, Invest Newcastle, part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI), to connect and grow in the city’s business ecosystem.
Alex Wright, head of business engagement at NGI, said: “It is great to work with the team at Ridge & Partners as they’re 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, making connections and exploring new opportunities.”
