With the death knell firmly sounded for the region’s heavy industries and coal no longer the fuel for the North East’s economy, the creative industries are the hot topic on everybody’s lips. In once run-down areas creative businesses are springing up, from fairly conventional graphic design and web design companies, to digital specialists and 3D animation studios. With the need to physically transport goods replaced by super fast delivery through high-speed broadband connections these new businesses can compete with businesses in any part of the country or even the world. The impact that these businesses can have is two-fold; they contribute in terms of their own operations by being employers and injecting much needed cash into areas, they also bring an expertise to aid other start-up companies and existing businesses whether this be in developing new services or products or providing routes to promoting their businesses and retail. This development has not gone unnoticed with organisations such as Nstar offering their creative fund as well as OneNorthEast focussing on developing the creative industries. It seems the North east may once again have a world class product to export.