End for One North East announced
June
NEW Business Secretary Vince Cable confirmed regional development agency One North East is to be abolished.
Prime Minister David Cameron had criticised the agency for spending money on overseas offices. Former regional minister Nick Brown said the move was “the single worst thing the Liberal Democrats could have done to hurt the North East economy”, and the region continues to lobby for a strong replacement body to maintain its voice in Whitehall.
ROMAG chief executive Lyn Miles passed away after a long illness at the age of 57. The Stanley pitman’s daughter joined the Consett firm as a company secretary in 1982, rising to the top of the tree in 2000. Miles championed the company’s drive into the solar energy market, and believed in the potential of alternative energy as a boost for the region.
GILLIAN Hall became the first woman in the North of England to be made a senior partner of a full-service law company when she was promoted to a top job at Watson Burton. The 49-year-old North Tyneside farmer’s daughter joined the 199-year-old Newcastle firm 25 years ago from City firm Lovells and headed up the firm’s corporate team for 18 years. Previous senior partner Rob Langley left to join rival Newcastle firm Muckle.
NORTHERN Rock revealed plans to axe 650 staff, saying the move was necessary to bring the workforce in line with the smaller size of the State- owned bank. It announced in March it had cut losses from £1.36bn in 2008 to £257m in 2009.
Analysts said it was likely the cuts were being carried out to pave the way for a sale of the bank, and union Unite described the mood among staff who had “worked hard to rebuild the business” as “terrible”.
GERMAN firm Schmitz Cargobull announced it was cutting more than 60 jobs as it planned to mothball its North East trailer factory.
While 68 workers would remain at its Harelaw operation, mainly in sales, marketing and administration, 66 production staff would be made redundant and UK customers would be supplied from plants on the continent.
Schmitz Cargobull had already cut 175 North East jobs over the last two years, and could not give a guarantee that the factory would be re-opened.
MOTOR insurer insurethebox pledged to create 150 jobs in the region over the next three years after taking on 13,500 square feet at Quorum Business Park. The company chose the Q1 building for its home, aided by a £249,000 grant from One North East and support from the Tyne and Wear Development Company, North Tyneside Council and Business Link.
