Updated 4:11pm 20 March 2010:

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Bill Midgley

Bill Midgley

Dangers of ignoring the majority

A FEW year’s ago I was asked by the chief executive of an organisation of which I was chairman to agree to Christmas Day being a working day for non-Christians.Read

Time for making your mind up

WATCHING TV one morning last week I was intrigued by the interview of a so-called ‘sleep expert’.Read

Are gifts for the good of industry

THE alleged practices of British Aerospace have resulted in that company incurring a substantial 'fine', but before the business community in general commences on a path of criticism there are a few lessons that may be learned from the case and, perhaps, some questions to be asked of those of us in the business community.Read

Executive has a duty to deliver

THE sacking or ‘invitation to resign’ of the so called drugs csar raises a number of issues which are relevant to the business community.Read

Start-ups stifled by bureaucracy

WITH an economy crying out for new business start-ups, one would assume the path is clear for any enterprising individuals who wish to develop their skills and ambitions.Read

This is no time to invest in history

AS a holder of a Master of the Arts degree in British history I suppose that I should be delighted that Seaton Delaval Hall has been 'saved for the nation' and that we will all be able to enjoy and admire what is undoubtedly a magnificent building.Read

It’s surely time for action not rhetoric

THE end of summer sees the start of the political conference season, four weeks of debate and discussion that will undoubtedly have a bearing on such policies that are put in front of us as a precursor to next year’s election.Read

Independence is a must

GOVERNORS of the Bank of England and the North East have a somewhat estranged relationship, particularly given the comments made a decade or so ago when it was claimed that loss of jobs in this region were ‘a price worth paying’ to ensure the success of the national economy.Read

Don't keep telling us what to do

A RECENT addition to the many signs that seem to adorn public offices or in those organisations that are no more than privatised monopolies is the ‘instruction’ not to use mobile phones while being attended to by staff.Read

Time firms researched their bankers

AT a meeting of some of the region’s senior bankers recently I was encouraged by their statement that they are open for business with cheque books at the ready!Read

One section of our society still has money to spend

TO see a North East restaurant absolutely packed out with people on a Monday night in April could well give rise to the question, where is the recession?Read

Public sector pay may lure best staff

ONE of the difficulties that the private sector will face in the next few years will be the ability to attract and retain the best skills to fill employment vacancies.Read

Vulnerable bodies in recession

AMONG the continuing and inevitably increasing number of organisations suffering from the recession are two types of bodies that deserve special consideration.Read

What we need now is to hold our nerve

THE Bank of England’s latest fix to our economy – that is quantitative easing or, to some of us, the printing of money – is now under way.Read

The risks are high on printing money

IT would appear that we are all now familiar with the benefits of Quantitative Easing, or at least those of us who do not assume it is the latest diet fad. However, while it would appear that this is the latest ‘fix’ to our economic recession, it is far from being the panacea that politicians would have us believe.Read

Sell off these ‘national’ works to reinflate the UK economy

THE news that a painting by Titian has been “saved” for the country at a cost of £50m hardly fills me with delight or enthusiasm. This piece of work by a Venetian artist has been described as “part of our heritage”, a statement I am struggling to understand given the nationality of the artist.Read

Capitalism has served us so well

THE collapse of yet another major financial institution will heighten the debate as to whether we are witnessing the last days of Capitalism as the economic base of Western Society.Read

Rise in holidays at home

ONE of the joys and strengths of the English language is its ability to change, to adapt, to reflect changing society and to harness new words.Read

Listen up – we are not in recession

AS there is a reduced amount of news in what is usually referred to as the silly season, it is perhaps not surprising that there is a concentration on a narrow range of events, and perhaps too much time for thought and debate that is not good for some issues.Read

Health and safety or just pure farce?

THE march of regulation becomes ever more stifling as we see interpretations of legislation, however well meaning in its initial intent, that seem ludicrous in their execution.Read

Author Profile

Bill Midgley is a Cumbrian-born businessman, who spent most of the first 30 years of his life in Yorkshire, has long been a high-profile figure in the North East business community. His career in financial services began as a 16-year-old with the Midland Bank in Huddersfield and eventually led to him spending two decades with the Newcastle Building Society where he was chief executive and latterly executive vice chairman, before retiring in 1998. He has continued to expand his business and charity interests both regionally and nationally and is a high-profile media commentator.

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