Cued up for success Jun 12 2007
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. more
Louise puts quality back into lifestyles Jun 12 2007
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. more
Family carves a business Jun 12 2007
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. more
Learning is a new goal for many youngsters Jun 12 2007
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. more
Blooming marvellous silver medal show Jun 12 2007
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. more
Well targeted investment boosts region's economy Jun 12 2007
The North-East's economy has been given a boost as well-placed investment has borne fruit in two key areas - engineering and marine design. James Barton investigates. more
Workplaces connecting with North's museums Jun 12 2007
A pioneering scheme is encouraging staff from companies across the region to volunteer for museum-related projects. James Barton found out more. more
One NorthEast backing can help turn the tide Jun 12 2007
The International Marine Design Centre (MDC) is a £2.3m project which received £1.5m from One NorthEast and it is hoped will again see the North-East as a focal point for marine industry. more
CSR high on law firm agenda Jun 12 2007
Law firm Robert Muckle sees no conflict between its position as one of the most successful commercial law firms in the region and its extensive community and charitable work. Business success is not, in their view, incompatible with care for the wider community. In fact, if they were not successful they would not be able to make the charitable levels of giving that they do. more
New partner heads up public sector team Jun 12 2007
Public Sector organisations operating across the UK have a significant impact on both our working and domestic lives. more
Art inspires Muckle brand Jun 12 2007
Strong branding is becoming increasingly important for professional service firms, helping to show customers that they are reputable and their services are of a high standard. As all businesses experience tougher competition and as customers become more sophisticated in their buying, then the harder it becomes to differentiate yourself in the marketplace. more
Learning to value our teachers Jun 12 2007
A new American skills report has been released which links hopes and aspirations across the Atlantic. Tough Choices or Tough Times is the title of the report by the Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce and it's close to the hearts and minds of all those concerned with learning and skills here in the North East as it bears a striking resemblance to our very own Leitch Review of Skills. more
Reaping rewards of going green Jun 12 2007
Tees Valley continues to lead from the front when it comes to environmental issues - from renewable energy to recycling. And the region's growth and development of these key sectors will go under the spotlight at the third Energy and Environment Fair, being held at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium on September 20 and 21. more
Action plan combines spending power to drive economic growth Jun 12 2007
An ambitious plan has been unveiled to combine the spending power of the North-East's public, private and voluntary sectors and trigger a surge in economic growth. The Regional Economic Strategy (RES) Action Plan is an important milestone on the road to creating thousands of new jobs and businesses over the next decade. more
Going through process is a modern way of life Jun 12 2007
The process sector dominates the North-East's economy. But there's more to this complex industry than chemical plants and refineries as Anastasia Weiner discovered. more
PURASPEC™ innovation lands Queen's Award Jun 12 2007
The region's reputation for leading the world in cutting edge process technology has received the Royal seal of approval - and not for the first time. State of the art techniques pioneered and developed in the Tees Valley mean the gas used in cookers and central heating systems in millions of homes is safer than ever before. more
Consultation, consultation, consultation Jun 12 2007
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. more
New partnership to benefit region Jun 12 2007
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. more
New boost for long-term Middlesbrough jobless Jun 12 2007
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. more
Investment renaissance on resurgent manufacturing site Jun 12 2007
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. more
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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, read more,