Jen Hartley receives MBE in honours list

Jen Hartley, Director of Invest Newcastle at NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI), has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2024 with an MBE.

She has been awarded by His Majesty the King for the honour of Member of the Order for the British Empire for services to Business and Trade.

For more than 15 years, Jen has been working with global businesses, industry leaders, influencers and decision makers to attract new businesses, bolster private sector investment, retain and create jobs.

She has a proven track record of delivery – helping to create thousands of new opportunities for the people of Newcastle and the wider region.

Jen Hartley is Director of Invest Newcastle at NGI and Head of Economic Development at Newcastle City Council. She is also Vice Chair of Ouseburn Farm Charity, a Trustee of the Newcastle Cathedral Trust Board and a Member of the UKREiiF Advisory Group. This honour recognises her significant contribution to the growth of the UK’s economy, across emerging and strategic sectors including life sciences, creative industries, digital, corporate services and gaming – specifically in North East England.

She has worked on several high-profile projects that have attracted significant investment, with notable highlights including Hitachi, Ubisoft, Mkodo, Credera, Leonardo, Thoughtworks and Version 1 and more recently foreign-owned companies Lockheed Martin Space UK and Omnicom Media Group (OMG), which has opened an office in the city, creating up to 170 jobs.

Jen has headed up the investment function at NGI since 2019 and was involved in its inception more than ten years ago. Since then, 330 businesses have been supported to relocate or expand, supporting the creation of around 16,700 jobs in Newcastle and the wider region.

Working in partnership with local authorities and the private sector, the team Jen leads has attracted investment to the UK from all corners of the globe, including Japan, Ireland, the US, Australia, Italy and Switzerland.

After learning she had been awarded an MBE for services to Business and Trade, Jen said: 

“I’m blown away to receive such a recognition for a job that I love and feel so passionately about.

“My role allows me to represent, what I consider to be, the best city and region there is and one that I’m proud to call home. Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to work with the most incredible teams and partners, all of which deserve this award as much as I do.”

John Marshall, Chair of NewcastleGateshead Initiative, added:

“I am so pleased that Jen has been honoured in this way, recognising the work she does and continues to do for the regional and UK economy.

“We are very proud to have her part of the leadership team at NGI, supporting us in our work to create jobs, opportunities and a great place to live for current and future generations.”

Sarah Green, Chief Executive, NewcastleGateshead Initiative, added:

“In all the years that I have known Jen, she has never wavered in her passion for making Newcastle and the wider region a better and more prosperous place.

“Over the last three years, the North East of England has bucked the national trend in continuing to attract increased levels of foreign direct investment – this is no coincidence and can be attributed to her leadership and commitment to the levelling up of the UK’s economy.

“Across her 15-year career, she has shown so much commitment and dedication to the development of our region and job creation. This recognition at the highest level is well deserved – her work has undoubtedly benefited local people.”

Pam Smith, Chief Executive, Newcastle City Council said:

“Jen is a true ambassador for the region and has been a driving force in attracting a number of major businesses to the North East. Her energy and creativity is matched by her focus on improving people’s opportunities by growing the jobs on offer across the North East. I would like to congratulate her on this accolade.”