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Sage confident as it beats all forecasts

BRITAIN’S biggest software company, Sage, has seen half-year profits outstrip analysts’ forecasts and is confident it will continue to beat the credit crunch and achieve record earnings for the year. Read

£1.7m pledge to keep Tees green

A POWERFUL coalition of business interests has put its weight behind the Tees Valley’s biofuels industry. Read

Ghost ships to be dismantled at last

THE dismantling of former US naval vessels in the region could begin in a matter of weeks as a five-year row over the controversial plans draws to a close. Read

Nuclear aims urged to go on

THE GOVERNMENT has been urged to press ahead with its programme for building new nuclear power stations - regardless of who ends up owning British Energy. Read

No turning back the clock

Poking fun at his former Soviet masters and praising a Europe without borders, former Polish president and Nobel peace prize winner Lech Walesa tells Karen Dent why he believes migrant workers are good for Poland – and the North East. Read

Region can teach rest a lesson on staff training

THE North East is leading the country in combating the skills shortage by proving it is the most dedicated to training its workers. Read

New premises for rental firm

REFLEX Vehicle Solutions is investing further in its Teesside workforce by opening a new site in the area. Read

Public set to vote for the top entrepreneur

FOURTEEN of the best new business brains will go before the public next week in the final stage of the If We Can, You Can challenge, backed by the Evening Gazette. Read

Autocare outfit plans new sites

A MIDDLESBROUGH-based autocare company has revealed it has earmarked further sites “in the North-east and Yorkshire” after opening a new £2.5m site in Knaresborough. Read

Let’s focus on our natural and historic attractions

I’VE been seeing stars. I was invited to a fascinating astronomical event – the launch of the Kielder Observatory – at the aptly-named Black Fell. Northumberland has some of the blackest, unpolluted skies in the UK. Read

Coatings firm plan to double in size

A METAL coatings company which applied the finishing touches to Alan Shearer’s security fencing is set to double in size following a management buy-out. Read

PDG shares suspended

SHARES in books and novelty goods retailer Premier Direct Group have been suspended after it asked for time to secure new funding. Read

Call for early cut after MPC freezes rate

BUSINESSES called for a cut in interest rates as soon as possible after the Bank of England froze rates at 5%. Members of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) had been under pressure to make a fourth cut in six months following a flurry of poor economic news. Read

Innovative ideas put into practice

FOUR young businesses are through to the final of the Young Enterprise North East awards after successfully coming through two hotly contested regional heats. Read

Mike Angus, OpSec group finance director with some of their products

Firm going for growth with £19m war chest

ANTI-counterfeiting company OpSec has secured a £19m war chest to help fund its ambitious expansion plans. Read

£10m lawsuit boss denies being rude and unprofessional

A FORMER director of Tees Valley Regeneration has denied being rude and unprofessional during a key meeting over the £500m Middlehaven redevelopment in Middlesbrough. Read

Advisers look to Europe for growth

A NORTH EAST financial adviser plans to expand into Continental Europe after buying a rival. Read

Buy-out saves 20 jobs as ailing DJ Tool Hire finds new owner

A TOOL hire business which sank into administration in March has been bought out by national operator Hire Station, but four of the company’s seven sites are to close with the loss of 10 jobs. Read

Bordello Bordello trio promises five-star fun

STRIDING into the business world these three woman say they have created a service which will keep them one step ahead of the competition. Read

Planting the idea of cheaper fuel with eye on environment

As businesses try to cut their power bills – and their carbon footprint – Karen Dent speaks to the companies that consider biomass to be a burning issue. Read