An international online training company has chosen Newcastle as its UK headquarters and has already announced plans for a five-day sustainable food supply chains conference in the city.
Sarras Academies produces learning experiences for professionals – from mentoring with world-leading experts through to short online courses. The company currently operates within the food and agribusiness, and IT sectors, with its Agribusiness and IT Academies.
The company, which also has offices in the United States, The Netherlands and India, chose Newcastle thanks to the international transport links that the airport offered and the potential for growth in the city – with up to 15 new jobs forecast over coming years.
Sarras Academies was supported in its move by Invest Newcastle, a service delivered by Newcastle Gateshead Initiative. The team at Invest Newcastle worked with Sarras Academies through the city’s soft landing package for international businesses, Land:In Newcastle. Support extended to Sarras Academies included; legal support with partners Ward Hadaway, incentivised memberships – including the North East England Chamber of Commerce – and support with identifying funding, property solutions and relocation of key staff and family members.
Sarras Academies founder, Dr Vijayender Nalla, said: “Access to transport and local office facilities have enabled us to very quickly establish a base in Newcastle. We have received brilliant support from the local business community and we look forward to developing these relationships moving forward.
“Moving forward we are currently seeking investment to increase the speed of our growth. We are also looking to expand our operations in Newcastle and find staff who are passionate about learning and delivering success for students within our academies.”
Sarras Academies is holding a five-day conference at the end of March in Newcastle. It is a collaborative conference of food and agribusiness with professionals and learners. The conference will feature live sessions with global thought-leaders, field visits to innovative companies and daily networking.
Dr Nalla added: “The Sustainable Food Supply Chains Conference in March is aimed at global professionals and we have attracted interest from as far away as South East Asia and South America. This would not have been possible to put on such an event without the support of local businesses.”
Catherine Walker, director of inward investment at Invest Newcastle, added: “Attracting an international business, such as Sarras Academies, to Newcastle is a great coup for us. The company is at the forefront of online learning and already has brilliant links with academics through the region’s universities.
“As a city we have great national and international transport links which make us an attractive location for investment from such companies.”