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Bob Young, founder of Hargreaves

Founder’s fears of move not on agenda

THE founder of Hargreaves Services has spoken of his fears the fast growing company could be pressured into leaving the North East – though the company’s chief executive has made it clear this is not on his agenda. Read

Poor weather brings slower sales for baker

BAKER Greggs has reported slower sales growth after being hit by bad weather and the credit crunch. The Newcastle firm revealed in an interim management statement that like-for-like sales increased by 4.7% in the 19 weeks to May 10, compared to 6.2% for the first 10 weeks of the year. Read

North East training spend soars

COMPANIES in the Tees Valley have contributed to the North East spending more than £2bn on training - up 44% from 2005, the highest percentage increase in England, according to findings from the National Employer Skills Survey 2007. Read

Jobs in jeopardy as one factory closes and another sheds staff

A TOTAL of 74 jobs are under threat after a chemicals business announced plans to close one of its North East sites and cut jobs at the other. Read

Teesside firms on red alert

LOCAL firms were desperately seeking news of employees and suppliers in China yesterday as the full horror of Monday’s quake reached Teesside. Read

Continued education a boost for working life

JOB prospects and long-term career success are increasingly being influenced by individuals’ willingness to mix their working lives with time spent studying. Read

Chris’ Ambition is growing

A STOCKTON WOMAN who fulfilled a lifetime’s aim by starting her own business, is about to embark on an expansion programme that will give confidence for others to realise their dreams. Read

F Jones keeps growing with £2.5m expansion

AN award-winning Teesside company is planning to sink a further £2.5m investment in its specialist stoneworking plant. Read

Buy-out secures jobs

A MANAGEMENT buy-out has safeguarded the future of a North East company and its staff. Read

Ships on horizon

NEWS that two of the defence and engineering firms working on a contract to deliver the biggest aircraft carrier ever built in Britain are ready to sign a deal has been welcomed on Teesside. Read

Work to nurture firms branches into training

A HIGH-PROFILE businessman has bought part of the enterprise company he founded to create better opportunities for the region’s budding entrepreneurs. Read

TV’s dragon is talking a lot of sense

BEWILDERING, confusing and out of control – that was the verdict delivered yesterday by the chairman of a taskforce established to investigate the Government-backed support on offer to businesses in the UK. Read

Insolvency team called in by crisis-hit bookie

TROUBLED bookmaker Neville Porter has appointed an insolvency expert to strike a deal with its creditors. Read

Van Hire firm is driving force behind top business awards

ONE of the North East’s outstanding companies will this year sponsor the closely watched list of the 250 biggest companies in the region. Read

Dazzling and incisive column

IT’S funny how sticky adjectives can be. As sticky, as Blackadder once put it, as the time that Sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky bun. Read

Panic eases, but ride will be bumpy

FOLLOWING a period of relative calm in markets and stronger performance from corporate credits and equities, last week saw the return of some volatility and fear. Read

Northern’s food factory closure put jobs at risk

THE future of more than 700 jobs at a factory which makes Italian ready meals for Marks & Spencer appears grim after Northern Foods said it would stop production there. Read

Budget cuts now will only profit in the short-term

THERE’S little doubt that it’s a tough time for businesses right now. I don’t want to talk us into a recession, but it is timely to remind readers that it is important to maintain advertising and marketing communications expenditure in a business downturn. Read

Cost of living soars as prices rise at fastest rate in six years

THE cost of living unexpectedly surged at its fastest rate for almost six years during April, surpassing City forecasts. Read

Store wants to cushion shoppers from inflation

SUPERMARKET Asda has pledged to protect shoppers from inflationary pressures after revealing a 5% rise in underlying first-quarter sales. Read