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Border Mart: Week ending February 3

Border Livestock Exchange sold 128 prime cattle including 61 cast cows and bulls. 1,141 prime lambs including 189 cast ewes and 106 store and breeding cattle. Read

Hexham Mart: February 3

Hexham & Northern Marts at their weekly sale of store cattle and suckled calves sold 579 head. Another great show of beasts met a fast trade from start to finish with all classes as dear as seen previously. Read

Carlisle Mart: February 1

Calves: A good show of 274 calves were forward. A top price of £395 was achieved twice from M/s Whitfield, Balladoyle, Silloth for a pair of terrific Limousin calves. Read

Hexham Mart: January 31

Prime cattle: Limousin heifers - 203.5p Flotterton, 197.5p & 193.5p Nunwick. Charolais heifers - 197.5p Flotterton. Charolais heifers - £1365.18, £1258.08 & £1253.53 Flotterton. Limousin heifers - £1277.98 & £1189.44 Flotterton, Hereford steers - £1269.13, £1199.25 & £1115.31 Pacific Farm. Read

Carlisle Mart: January 23

Sale of breeding sheep: A smaller show of breeding sheep were forward and once again all classes sold exceptionally well. Read

Hall Hill Farm gears up to reopen after winter break

AWARD-WINNING farm visitor attraction Hall Hill Farm is gearing up to reopen after the winter break with a baby alpaca among the new arrivals. Read

Putting collaboration between dairy farmers in the spotlight

GREATER collaboration in the dairy sector and whether it is likely to benefit farmers' bottom line is coming under the spotlight later this month. Read

UK farmers deny fall in bird numbers

WILDLIFE is an important part of British farming systems and the majority of farmers believe that conservation is a key part of what they do, according to the Voluntary Initiative (VI). Read

North East group protects rural economy

THE region is now included in a 14-strong national network of groups specifically set up to support and protect the rural economy. Read

Farmers asked for feedback on burden of red tape

FARMERS are being asked for their feedback on how to reduce the burden of red tape. Read

Rodent survey places emphasis on controls

ALMOST six out of 10 farms suffered a 'significant' or 'major' problem with rats last year. Read

Farmers set to benefit from Teesside project

FARMERS are set to benefit from a new project on Teesside to speed up the development of small scale anaerobic digestion (AD) technologies. Read

Newcastle University has role in new study

NEWCASTLE University is taking part in a major project to look at the environmental impact of different types of broiler and egg production systems. Read

Schmallenberg virus confirmed on farms across South East

A TOTAL of 11 UK farms have now been confirmed as having contracted the new Schmallenberg virus, which causes birth abnormalities in livestock. Read

Farms are under attack as never before from thieves

RURAL crime is on the rise and farmers are being urged to ensure their property is better secured against gangs of thieves stealing to order. The size of the problem came under the spotlight in Gateshead last week at an event focusing on crimes against businesses. Karen Dent reports. Read

New campaign to help farms cut gas emissions

FARMING Minister Jim Paice is backing efforts by the livestock industry to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Read

William Lawrence appointed first head of NFU's new Next Generation Policy Forum

WILLIAM Lawrence has been appointed as the first chairman of the NFU’s new Next Generation Policy Forum (NGPF) Read

Welsh fluke increase

THE number of sheep liver condemnations at a major Welsh abattoir due to fluke are nearly three times that of the same company’s English counterpart. Read

Space age deal proves a success for Muckle LLP

COMMERCIAL law firm Muckle LLP has acted on behalf of an innovative hydrogen storage technology business in a major investment deal with Space Florida. Read

Vertem Asset Management judged one of best in the UK

TYNESIDE investment manager and stockbroking firm Vertem Asset Management has been listed as one of the best in the UK. Read

Sintons lawyers promoted to partners

THREE lawyers at Sintons have been promoted to partner as the Newcastle firm continues to grow. Read

Apprentices bring so much value

AS A younger generation than mine was fond of saying, "it's the skills that pay the bills". Read

Now's the best time for new blood

THE start of Apprenticeship Week is – and ought always to be – the opportunity to celebrate good-quality opportunities for young people in the region. Read

Corporates outgrow underlying economy

WE ARE now more than a third of the way through US fourth-quarter reporting season and though it is too early to draw any concrete conclusions on the health of the corporate sector, there are certainly plenty of interesting trends to note. Read

Universities can drive our global future

DURING the years I headed Software City we were driven by a passion to develop a talented, innovative North East workforce that could make the most of new opportunities we were creating for skilled posts in high-growth technology companies. Read

Building firm’s staff vote to strike

WORKERS at a leading construction firm have voted in favour of strike action in a long-running row over pay and conditions. Read

QE boosted by £50bn

THE Bank of England has injected a further £50bn into the economy today to help fend off another recession. Read

CPI set to lead the way with £880k Government grant

A SIX-FIGURE Government grant boost could help Wilton’s Centre for Process Innovation lead the way in bringing an energy-from-waste process to market. Read

Footfall boost for Middleton Grange shopping centre

A TEESSIDE shopping centre is celebrating bumper footfall following the opening of a new flagship store. Read

Workers axed as Badekabiner enters administration

MORE than 80 workers have lost their jobs after a Northumberland bathroom-making company collapsed for the third time in two years. Read

Car giant Nissan sees profits rise again

CAR giant Nissan has reported a 3.2% rise in its bottom line profits in its third quarter and kept its full-year profit target after healthier sales offset production damage from flooding in Thailand. Read

Tanfield's order book continues to grow

CHERRY picker maker Tanfield says its order book is continuing to grow as buyers replace their old equipment after the recession. Read

Fresh blood for G Gardiner and Son as it plans to grow

A WEARDALE business which has been in the same hands for two and a half centuries has brought in fresh blood as part of its plans to grow. Read

Jet2holidays to create 100 new jobs in region

PACKAGE holiday specialist Jet2holidays is creating around 100 North East jobs after announcing five new routes from Newcastle Airport. Read

Prizes on offer to green firms to boost business in South Tyneside

CASH prizes, free accommodation for a year and expert support are being offered to two green industry companies in a competition designed to bring more business into South Tyneside. Read

Rental demand is driving up income for Grainger

THE strong rental market is driving 'resilient' trading at property giant Grainger, despite the continued tough economic conditions. Read

North East businesses fear economic recovery will take three years

MORE than a quarter of North East businesses fear economic recovery will take another three years, says a new report. Read

Trinity Mirror Regionals and Google link up to help SME's

THE company which owns The Journal and Evening Chronicle is about to offer a new service to help smaller firms manage their advertising more effectively after linking up with web giant Google Read

CIPD awards night to reward best performing North East firms

COMPANIES which want to perform at the top of their game best realise they have to bring in changes to suit their market. Read

Hundreds of jobs to be created within Virgin Media group

CABLE operator Virgin Media is to create 620 new jobs as it looks to meet demand for its broadband and television on-demand service. Read

Shareholders pile on the pressure for Thomas Cook bosses

FRUSTRATED shareholders piled pressure on the bosses of struggling tour operator Thomas Cook following one of the most turbulent periods in the company’s 175-year history. Read

Government should not be let off the hook over Thameslink contract

THE Government should not be let off the hook if train-builder Bombardier wins enough orders to secure the future of its UK plant for the next few years, say union leaders. Read

Nuclear deal boosts Darchem Engineering plans

A NUCLEAR contract win could help speed up a Teesside engineering firm's plans for an £8m factory. Read

Top awards for two Teesside hotels

HOTELS on Teesside are embracing a buoyant start to 2012 for the UK’s hospitality industry with two top awards. Read

Sage takes over Integral Computers Limited

SOFTWARE giant Sage has paid £16.7m to take over an Ireland-based card payment processing company. Read

Grainger reports robust trading

PROPERTY giant Grainger is shrugging off the grim economic outlook to report 'resilient' trading. Read

Lloyds Banking Group set to close Newcastle office

MORE than 100 jobs are to go after Lloyds Banking Group announced it was closing the firm's North East hub. Read

Manufactuing forum model to be rolled out across the North East

A BID to create a bigger voice for the manufacturing industry in the North East has been launched by one of the sector's most respected champions. Read

Alcan smelter petition to be handed in to Parliament

A PETITION signed by thousands of people urging ministers to save the Alcan smelter in Northumberland will today be delivered to Parliament. Read

Music development agency Generator set to roll out training nationally

TRAINING for people serious about starting their own business behind the scenes in the rapidly evolving music industry is being rolled out nationally after being developed in the North East. Karen Dent reports on Generator's efforts to help musical entrepreneurs hit the right note. Read

Success for Hartlepool shopping centre after BHS store opens

A NORTH EAST shopping centre is enjoying renewed success after a flagship store opened its doors. Read

Chris Grayling: North-East is at top of priority list

EMPLOYMENT minister Chris Grayling yesterday admitted the region's private sector was "not big enough or strong enough" to pick up the slack from public sector job cuts. Read

Problem-solving and advice from Herbert Loebl

Entrepreneur Herbert Loebl's innovative programme to persuade more North East firms to sell overseas is about to start a second run. Read

'Resilient' market helps housebuilder Bellway

HOUSEBUILDER Bellway has posted a rise in sales and said the embattled housing market has remained “resilient” ahead of the key spring selling season. Read

North East MPs swap jobs with trio of apprentices for a day

THEY may not have had to march into the boardroom with Prokofiev's Dance of the Knights ringing in their ears, but three MPs are this week being put through their paces in the North East Chamber of Commerce's version of The Apprentice. Read

North East business distress is falling but watching brief needed

SIGNS of distress among businesses across the North of England are falling, according to a new survey, but a full recovery from the effects of the recession is still a long way away. Read

Pacifica Group calls on Government to act over apprentices

WITH unemployment among young people at high levels, County Durham's Pacifica Group had a clear message for MP Kevan Jones when he visited - help us get more apprentices. Read

BP takes new step in its recovery

OIL giant BP has signaled a new step in its recovery by hiking payout for shareholders for the first time since the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Read

Glaxo chief says sales will increase

GLAXOSMITHKLINE has insisted it is well placed to reverse falling sales after it highlighted a portfolio of 30 drugs within sight of release. Read

Software giant Sage buys payment firm Integral Computers

SOFTWARE giant Sage has paid £16.7m to take over an Ireland-based card payment processing company. Read

TTE apprentices showcase skills on YouTube

APPRENTICES at the TTE Technical Training Group have taken to YouTube to promote their skills to potential employers. Read

Redcar vertical pier steel framework completed

A NEW pier which will dominate the skyline of a Teesside seaside resort is starting to take shape. Read

Jobs saved as Popolo Leisure Limited takes over bars

HALF the former Principle Leisure bar and restaurant group has been taken over by a North East business, which is aiming to expand the portfolio. Read

Sales and house prices rise at Bellway

RISING sales and higher house prices are early indications that the housing market "remains resilient", according to housebuilder Bellway. Read

Angel Biotechnology marks move back to Cramlington with deals

A BIOTECH company which is expanding into its Northumberland laboratories has won three new contracts worth more than £4.5m. Read

Rolls-Royce completes aircraft carrier work

ENGINES giant Rolls-Royce has finished work on the latest components in the power and propulsion system it is supplying for the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers. Read

Northumberland mum wins backing to commercialise cot design

A FORMER management consultant who has developed what she says is a safer type of children's cot is winning backing to commercialise her design. Read

Amitex LED Lighting Co plans to quadruple business size

A LIGHTING importer's plans to quadruple the size of its business have been given a £150,000 boost from a venture capital investor. Read

Durham University scientist lands investment for graphene venture

A SCIENTIST whose company is developing a way of mass producing a substance that can make cars and planes lighter has landed £1.2m investment. Read

Red Rascal's chilli sauce is nominated for award

A CHILLI sauce maker has been nominated for the prestigious Made in Britain scheme by her local MP. Read

Ofcom line rent decision may cut pricing

THE prices consumers pay for broadband and landline telephone services are expected to fall after Ofcom announced plans to reduce the amount BT can charge rivals to rent lines. Read

Lingotot welcomes first franchisees

A BUSINESS set up to help toddlers learn languages has taken on its first franchisees as it begins to roll-out the idea nationally. Read

UK house prices stagnate due to low level of interest rates

THE continuing low level of interest rates has led to little movement in house prices for eight months, despite a 0.6% increase last month, according to the lender Halifax. Read

UK retail suffering as more shoppers swap to online

ONE in seven shops on the UK's high streets stood empty in 2011 and further closures are expected this year as more people shop online and in out-of-town centres. Read

Greek debt worries spark fall in markets

UNCERTAINTY over the likelihood of Greek politicians and EU leaders agreeing the terms of a new €130bn bail-out package required to avoid a Greek sovereign debt default tempered investors’ enthusiasm yesterday. Read

Apprentices doubled thanks to Tees Valley Apprenticeship Scheme

AN apprenticeship scheme on Teesside has placed almost 300 people with employers in the last two years - double its target. Read

New programme targets engineers of future

A NEW programme designed to inspire young people to take up careers in engineering launches today. Read

Smart Procurement aims to help retailers cut costs

A NEW concept in procurement has been launched which aims to help motor retailers cut their costs. Read

North East marine insurance giants create strategic alliance

THE North East's two biggest marine insurance firms are joining forces to increase their business around the world. Read

North East's engineering sector offers more apprenticeships

ENGINEERING companies in the North are offering more apprenticeships than other areas of the country, says new research. Read

Ryder Architecture fights back from 2009 slump

ARCHITECTURAL practice Ryder is fighting back from a slump in business after winning nearly £4m of orders for next year. Read

Events around the North East to mark National Apprenticeship Week

A WEEK-LONG drive to highlight the importance of apprenticeships to the North East's economy starts today with business leaders calling on more firms to start schemes. Read

Radfan heating invention a step closer to production

A FAN invented by two Newcastle University students which helps make houses warmer for less than a pound a year has taken a step closer to production. Read

Darlington firm wins Olympic stadium contract

OLYMPIC athletes will be going for gold in safety, thanks to work by a North East firm. Read

North East workshop events a boost for food firms

THE first of a series of workshops aimed at teaching small food businesses about their changing marketplace takes place tomorrow. Read

Business Links successor 'inadequate', says survey

MORE than six out of 10 small firms are worried that the services expected to plug the gap left by the demise of the regional Business Links is “inadequate” to support their growth. Read

Taking stock: Reporting season is set to gather pace

THE reporting season gathers pace next week when some of the UK’s biggest companies unveil their annual figures, including oil giant BP, banking group Barclays and the country’s largest pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline. Read

BT steps up pace on 'ultra-fast' broadband

TELECOMS firm BT has stepped up the pace of its broadband expansion by promising “ultra-fast“ speeds of up to 300Mb by next spring. Read

Health club group Fitness First in loans crisis

THE largest health club group in the world, Fitness First, is facing tough discussions with its lenders as it moves close to breaching bank loan terms. Read

Glass company Pilkington to cut production

GLASS manufacturer Pilkington is to cut production at a UK factory under plans to axe 3,500 jobs worldwide. Read

Hamleys is looking to more global expansion

HAMLEYS is eyeing further overseas expansion today after strong demand for toys based on Harry Potter and other films over Christmas left it on track for a record year. Read

Outsourcing giant Capita buys Smiths Consulting

OUTSOURCING giant Capita has bought Newcastle firm Smiths Consulting in a £10m deal which will boost its computer consultancy services. Read

Homes and sport facility investment in Hartlepool

A MULTI-million homes and leisure development which will include state-of-the-art “air dome sports facilities” has been given the green light by Hartlepool Borough Council. Read

Engineering conference is first of kind in UK

ENGINEERING academics and business leaders from across the world are heading to Sunderland this year for a specialist maintenance conference held in the UK for the first time. Read

Jet garages tanker driver strikes continue

TANKER drivers who deliver fuel to Jet garages have started a fresh series of strikes in Stockton and other towns after peace talks failed to resolve a row over pay and conditions. Read

Tees Valley Unlimited target Westminster

TEES Valley Unlimited has targeted Westminster in its campaign to highlight Teesside’s potential. Read

Nova looks to raise its profile overseas

ARECORD 180,000 people took part in events organised by Nova International last year, and the company is hoping to boost its popularity beyond the UK in future. Read

Positive news for the future of oil refinery

ADMINISTRATORS to an oil refinery which went bust have received over 40 expressions of interest from companies around the world. Read

Advice is at hand over expanding to Asia

COULD your business make the leap to Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia? Firms are being encouraged to think about potential markets in Asia this month at two events run by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI). Read

Miller Homes predicts year of the investor

MILLER Homes North East has predicted that 2012 will be the year of the investor and investor sales are set to rocket, with private landlords returning to the property market for the first time in more than three years. Read

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