CAR parts firm Nifco UK took the much-coveted Company of the Year crown at the regional grand final of the nebusiness awards 2010.

It was a night of double success for the Stockton firm, which also lifted the North-east Manufacturing Award to top a hugely successful 12 months.

The company recently started work on an £8.5m state-of-the-art factory in Stockton which will create 120 new jobs and take the total number of staff at Nifco to 300.

An award-winning Billingham data management specialist is eyeing up new export markets after almost doubling the size of its workforce.

Pearson Harper has taken on 24 staff after clinching a £6.25m contract with oil giant Chevron.

Middlesbrough has been replaced at the top of Britain’s unemployment league table. In February the borough shared top spot with Kingston-upon-Hull, each area having a jobless rate of 7.8%.

But in March the number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) in Middlesbrough dipped from 7,142 to 7,064 - giving the borough a jobless rate of 7.7% and putting it joint second in the table with Wolverhampton.

Four Teesside firms are going for growth after winning new orders.

Eco Environments is recruiting around 20 staff at its Darlington office after clinching a contract with international solar power maker Sharp.

Meanwhile, Darlington IT firm Webworks Internet is seeking to grow its 40-strong workforce by 16 following a series of contract wins.

Two engineering firms in Newton Aycliffe are also looking to expand after winning work on the £1.26bn Square Kilometre Array scheme, which will deliver the biggest radio telescope in history. DPE Automotive and Durham Precision Engineering are both involved in the seven-year project.

Passenger figures at Durham Tees Valley Airport leapt 47% in January and 24% the following month.