HomeSector ReportsNorth East VisionSummer 2007

Pam Wood

Cued up for success

The recent World Snooker Championships in Sheffield saw John Higgins lift the crown, yet the North-East boasts its own world snooker champion, as Iain Laing reports. Read

Location is the start

Location is a crucial factor when it comes to business. And millions of pounds of investment are creating world-class business parks and office accommodation right around our region. From space for small start-up firms to global headquarters for major multinationals, the North-East can provide both - plus everything in between. Read

The seven-year pitch

Seven years ago, the European Commission commissioned Government Office for the North East with the task of managing the region's European Objective 2 funding programme. Read

No longer just about bricks and mortar

Creating sustainable communities is vital for the North-East and much work is under way to make sure homes are affordable and available right across the region. But those involved in the social housing sector have been set a target by the Government. Read

Louise puts quality back into lifestyles

Some of us feel there are never quite enough hours in the day. Iain Laing meets a former lawyer who is providing help for those who are cash-rich and time-poor to better organise their lives. Read

First-class business parks attract investors

The pace of activity in Tyne and Wear's commercial property market has been brisk in the early part of 2007 with investors continuing to see the area as a great place for expansion, relocation and reinvestment. Read

Dressed for success

Hundreds of young North Easterners have received help in setting up their own businesses thanks to a £2.1m cash injection from the European Regional Development Fund. Read

Government Office … upping the pace and shaping the place

Places are becoming more important as drivers of economic growth and prosperity. Building strong, prosperous and cohesive communities where people want to live and work, where they feel comfortable and proud and where businesses want to invest, is central to the Government's ambition to put place at the heart of what it does. Read

Family carves a business

A family-run firm, with more than 20 years' experience in the stone industry, is carving out a strong future after opening a new North-East showroom. Karen McLauchlan meets the team at Natural Stone Interiors. Read

A visionary business park – a growing business community

Companies looking for business space in North-East England have discovered Darlington as a viable alternative to the larger cities of the region. This vibrant market town is surrounded by some of the UK's most beautiful countryside. Read

How European funding works

The main investment from Europe in recent years has come from what is called the Objective 2 programme. Read

Soaring growth exceeds firm's highest hopes

The newest member of the Elliott Group, cost and project management consultancy Elliott Dent, is celebrating its first birthday after a whirlwind year. Turnover and the staff team have nearly doubled over the year in response to a number of project wins in the North. Read

Learning is a new goal for many youngsters

Plans to educate and train hard-to-reach children and young adults in Middlesbrough have been given a major boost with the opening of a state-of-the-art learning centre. Read

A great place to work – with an exciting future

Lingfield Point Business Park is not just about state-of-the-art business premises. The site is also developing other services to ensure that occupiers have the very best facilities close to hand. Read

It's a dog's life for international trade

European funding is helping North East businesses to broaden their horizons and sell their products and services in international markets. Read

Two faces of Two Castles

While Two Castles Housing Association's rural expertise is still second to none, the regeneration of urban areas is also at the heart of its work. In fact, Two Castles now has almost eight times as many urban as rural properties in the North-East. Read

Blooming marvellous silver medal show

A North-East show garden with an important environmental theme won a silver medal at the biggest and best flower show in the world. The garden, which was themed around the precious nature of water was awarded a Silver Flora prize in the Great Pavilion at the Chelsea Flower show. Read

Park life's thriving

Business Park development is taking place right around our region, and Tees Valley builder Rok has started work on the latest phase of the redevelopment at Darlington's Lingfield Point. Read

No boundaries for entrepreneurial spirit

North East entrepreneurs can now look beyond the bank manager and turn to a specially designed venture capital fund for finance, thanks to a major grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Read

Building a sustainable community

Tees Valley Housing Group is working on major developments right across the region. In each of the Tees Valley's five boroughs - Stockton, Hartlepool, Redcar and Cleveland, Darlington and Middlesbrough - the drive is on to create a better quality of life for many. Read