HomeSector ReportsNorth East VisionWinter 2007

A year of success for Muckle LLP

BUSINESS activity doesn’t slot neatly into annual divisions and a successful 2006 for Muckle LLP carried over, without let-up into an extremely busy 2007. Read

Willie has designs on future of the region’s SMEs

Willie Herdman who has been responsible for the delivering the Designing Demand programme regionally on behalf of the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) and Entrust, describes how the North East roll-out of the project has progressed. Read

How an old Princess just isn’t regal enough for the new Tyne

EVERYONE knows the Tuxedo Princess. Even those who have never stepped aboard and felt queasy on its revolving dancefloor know its reputation for good times. Read

Campaign to turn back time to restore neglected town hall

THE 70ft tall town hall clock tower that stands over the Teesside town of Thornaby has chimed out the hours for more than a century. Read

Let there be light

A TEESSIDE-based business at the cutting edge of technology has scored a world first by designing a ground-breaking environmentally-friendly fuel cell to power a lighthouse. Read

Northumbrian Water working in partnership with Healthworks

NORTHUMBRIAN Water takes social responsibility very seriously and is immersed in community life throughout the region. This is demonstrated by the water company's commitment as a main partner in the Healthworks initiative in Easington, County Durham. Read

Home-grown talent shines at learning and skills awards

If ever we needed to be reminded about our home-grown talent, the Learning and Skills Council’s (LSC) North-East Celebration of Learning and Skills (CoLaS) awards provided the ideal trigger. Read

A general practitioner who means business

IT IS hard to say whether Mark Randle is a more unlikely GP or an unlikely entrepreneur. Now he is the head of a multi-million pound stock market listed business which is looking to make serious inroads into the fast-growing £440m medicated skincare market. Read

Go on, fulfil your heart’s desire

CUSTOMERS looking for something special for their homes are sure to lose their hearts to the brand new Love Collection. The three unique pieces are the latest addition to the stunning range of furniture and accessories available from Barker and Stonehouse. Read

Oil industry’s major economic contribution

SOLID evidence has emerged of the major contribution the oil and gas industry makes to the economy of the North-East. Read

Port’s investment in expansion and development over decade

WHAT, or where, is a port? Easy answer, you might think – it’s a place where ships come to be loaded or unloaded. But that’s only part of the story. To put a port truly into context, it is a critical point in many supply chains. Read

Laws hits new heights

NEWCASTLE International Airport has announced the appointment of Dave Laws as its new chief executive. Mr Laws has been with the airport for more than 28 years, starting his career as a fire officer. Read

Aker Kvaerner plans to build on success in recruiting graduates

AKER Kvaerner Engineering Services has recruited 12 graduates in 2007 and next year plans to recruit a further 20. The Tees Valley-based company recognises the need for skilled local graduates and Aker Kvaerner intends to continue recruiting the most talented from universities in the area. Read

Digger crew's thrilling find recalls town's wartime past

IT was always going to be a prestigious development. A new housing project to build 15 apartments on the former site of Thornaby Aerodrome – which was a base for Hudson bombers during the Second World War – had to be something special. Read

Elizabeth is quick to defend home ground

She’s known to millions for her top TV roles, but Middlesbrough’s Elizabeth Carling has been back on home turf for her latest part. And as Gloria McShane discovered, she’s an actress that takes great pride in her Teesside roots. Read

Turmoil for the North-East’s biggest business

NORTHERN Rock was undoubtedly the biggest story of not only the quarter but the year in the North-East. The Newcastle bank’s request for an emergency loan from the Bank of England heralded turmoil for the region’s biggest company. Read

Multi-million pound port plan powering ahead

PLANS for a multi-million pound development at Teesport are powering ahead. PD Ports, which owns Teesport in Middlesbrough, recently announced there were now no objections to its £300m deep sea container terminal project, which is set to create 5,500 jobs. Read

At the helm of worldwide oil exploration

A TYNESIDE marine design company is at the forefront of oil exploration developments worldwide. Read

Marine Design Centre brings a dynamic new focus to industry

THE North-East of England is renowned throughout the world for its marine heritage. And although shipbuilding is no longer the lifeblood of the local economy, the skills and expertise of those involved in marine design are sought-after throughout the world. Read

Knowledge is power – we’ve got it

IT is often cited that knowledge is power and that is certainly the case for the North-East. The North-East workplace has changed dramatically over the past 20 to 30 years, moving away from its reliance on traditional heavy industries towards innovative knowledge sectors. Read