HomeSector ReportsNorth East VisionSummer 2007

Consultation, consultation, consultation

Apart from being good industrial relations practice, consultation is in many cases a statutory requirement, with failure attracting severe penalties. Here, Julie Bruce, head of employment at Business Law firm Endeavour Partnership, sets out some key situations in which consultation obligations arise. Read

New partnership to benefit region

The City Region Employment Consortium has been set up in response to the Department of Work & Pensions recent announcement that £32m has been released to address employers' recruitment needs while reducing unemployment. Read

New boost for long-term Middlesbrough jobless

The recently-launched New Ways to Opportunities project, which is being supported by the North-East Employer Coalition (NEEC), is already having huge success with 130 clients signed up in less than three months. Read

Investment renaissance on resurgent manufacturing site

The revival of one of the UK's most important manufacturing sites is good news for jobs and the economy of the North-East and the nation. The Wilton International site on Teesside has enjoyed a complete reversal in its fortunes since the beginning of the decade. Read

Newcastle Warm Zone: warmer homes for all

Residents who want to save energy, save money and do their bit for the environment can turn for help to Newcastle Warm Zone. Read

Open door for housing advice

The cleveland Housing Advice Centre has been helping local people with housing and benefits advice since 1992. The team of highly trained advisors and volunteers from the community offer one-to-one advice to people who are homeless, threatened with homelessness or living in poor conditions. Read

Reaching out to rural families

The berwick Borough Family Centre is reaching out to parents and children in some of the most remote areas of North Northumberland. Read

All included at Thornhill

The Arts Included programme at Thornhill School (TAIT) uses an intensive art-based approach to work with some of the most socially-excluded young people in central and east Sunderland. Read

The natural way to boost tourism

The transformation of 1,000 acres of former wasteland into a major new visitor attraction is underway, thanks to a multi-million- pound partnership which includes significant investment from the European Regional Development Fund. Read

Twin town revival – from an industrial past to creative future

Crossing the River Tyne between Gateshead and Newcastle never fails to etch an image on the memory, with the iconic bridges grandly spanning the divide as fond reminders of the river's industrial heritage. Read

Stockton banking on success

European funding has played an integral role in £18m of public investment to remediate a 56-acre site on the north shore of the River Tees at Stockton. It is set to create more than 2,500 permanent jobs. Read

Alan find happiness in his heaven for sportspeople

Former Thornaby boy Alan Brown is helping international sporting champions perform at the top of their game. Here Marie Turbill reveals how. Read

Aspire aims to bring together employers and education

Employers inspiring tomorrow's workforce is the core message as Aspire continues a new wave of campaigning, asking employers to help raise the aspirations of young people in the North-East. Read

It's a firm foundation by degree for future leaders

Jean Featherstone is a senior account manager with the North- East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) in Middlesbrough which she joined after spending most of her working life in the retail industry, including 13 years as a store detective with Marks & Spencer. Read

Millions will stimulate our cultural sector

An initiative established to support the cultural sector in the North-East will invest £16m between now and September 2008. James Barton finds out how this money will benefit the region. Read

University business school launch highlights ambitious growth plans

A new era in the history of Newcastle University Business School has officially begun. The Business School, which was based at the university's main campus, has relocated some of its courses to the prestigious Citywall Complex on St James' Boulevard. Read

Charitable teenagers focus on helping needy

Enterprising students have raised £26,500 to pay for a charitable trip to Costa Rica this summer. Graeme King talked to teacher Gareth Smith about their achievement. Read

Why business must back Metro Re-invigoration

Nexus and the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority have lodged a £600m bid with Government for Metro Re-invigoration. Nexus Director General Bernard Garner explains why this investment is crucial to the North-East economy. Read

Teenager's lifesaving scientific work earns her national award

Teenagers are getting a head start in the race for top jobs with the Year in Industry scheme, as Iain Laing discovered. Read

Anyone fancy trying their hand hairdressing a Highland cow?

Highland cattle may look fearsome, but one North-East couple know better and are so enthusiastic they have set up a tourist attraction devoted to them. Anna Lognonné reports. Read