Lazy stereotypes ignore the good work in our region

The following article appeared in the Newcastle Journal on Wednesday 14th Dec 2011
Wednesday Forum

By Graham Robb
Senior Partner Recognition PR
www.recognitionpr.co.uk
Chairman Institute of Directors County Durham


I’ve never believed the adage ‘there’s no such thing as bad publicity’ or even ‘all publicity is good publicity’. When it comes to the North East economy too often it is the bad news that makes the national headlines. Last week ITV delivered a double whammy of good coverage – but not from the news bulletins, instead it was from the entertainment department.

Using specialist evaluation software to estimate the value of coverage as if it had been bought in advertising, I discovered the extensive good coverage of talented X-Factor finalists Amelia Lily and Little Mix was worth around £40 million to the region. It was a refreshing change.

We know the bad stuff – high unemployment and tough times. But what about the balance? The state of the North East is not a one dimensional story and North East leaders – whatever their politics – should unashamedly put the other side too.

With the exception of the X-Factor the national media has been portraying the North East in a grotesque caricature.

On BBC Newsnight two weeks ago the lead item was a report suggesting that Tees Valley was worst hit by the Autumn Statement. The report failed to take into account the extra Regional Growth Funding, Enterprise Zones and other measures to offset the bad news.

The BBC, in particular, has started using the region as a theatrical backdrop for gloomy news. In September 2010 it commissioned Experian to say which towns would be worst hit by public spending cuts. This resulted in a day of reports from Middlesbrough, which were universally downbeat.

Since then Middlesbrough has been the victim of lazy media short hand, as was Merseyside in the 1980s, as reports fail to look at the alternative story of economic transformation that is underway. The result is to give national and international audiences only one picture of our economy, thus compounding the problems and putting further obstacles in the way of renewal and hope.

During October and November other reports included using Norton High Street as an indicator of a story headlined ‘cuts concern much higher in the North’ and using Middlesbrough based young employed people to feature in two reports about youth unemployment in 8 weeks. (One of these reports had a good effect though – I hired one of the young people featured!)

I do not object to the content of the reports but they could have been made in any industrial area of the UK. The problem I have is that the North East is becoming the ‘go-to’ area for TV pictures in a way which fails to adequately explain the measures industry, businesses, local and national government are taking to transform the economy.

There are four new factories and facilities project in the Tees Valley: Nifco the automotive parts manufacturer; Lotte Chemicals; Cleveland Potash; the AV Dawson facility on the River Tees. Also, TAG Energy recently opened the largest factory in England in five years. Two major inward investment projects have happened in the last 12 months: The purchase of the Corus steel plant by Thailand’s SSI and the announcement that Hitachi trains will locate its massive UK production facility at Newton Aycliffe. The national news did not seem to cover these stories in the same depth as the bad news.

Tees Valley was one of the first Local Enterprise Partnerships and won 10% of total of the first Regional Growth Fund bids. The newer Northern LEP is now working; its local authorities and businesses preparing serious proposals. Targeted initiatives have been given the green light for Government funding in recent weeks: Neptune Energy Park on the River Tyne. Central Gateway, in Newcastle leading to development of Stephenson Quarter. The Enterprise Agency Consortium - six leading enterprise agencies combined with The National Enterprise Network and Barclays Bank with a business start-up programme for the North-East.

More small and medium sized enterprises are setting up. The Barclay’s Regional Business Index puts the North East in first place for SME confidence, up from fourth place last year.

The North East is known for high unemployment and every time there is a significant job loss announcement it rightly receives widespread coverage. However, since September 2010 over 36,000 new jobs have been announced – I know this because they were covered in The Journal and other local papers – but most are in small firms and wouldn’t merit a mention on the national news. When added together they are significant and are part of the rebalancing our economy so urgently needs.

I was at a meeting of the Institute of Directors recently and witnessed the frustration among business leaders and entrepreneurs that our efforts to stimulate economy growth are deemed unworthy of proper national reporting. In an age of instant economic commentaries easy stereo-types mean that national TV reports too often start from a premise that prospects are bleak and then seek out commentators to validate this stand point.

If you are in business or in a position of influence you might be interviewed by a national media outlet about the state of the North East. My advice is to read this article – or the Journal’s North East Vision magazine - and talk the region up. You won’t have long on air to do it; so make every second count!

New media Christmas card for Pimlico Plumbers

Graham writes.....the new digital media is advancing throughout the PR sector. PR companies are becoming adept at offering a more hollistic service - effectively become communications specialists - with more and more advice and support on the use of digital commuincations. A good example is a recent assignment we conducted for Pimlico Plumbers. It encompasses Corporate Social Responsibility, digital and internet communications and traditional media. We arranged a competition for students at a North East based Arts College to win a paid assignment to design an e-xmas card for Pimlico Plumbers. Young people in a poorer part of the UK were given a chance to earn something worthwhile for their CV (and £500!). The winning entry has gone viral using You Tube. And the fun element of the message has received media coverage. Take a look at what the plumber to the stars says this Christmas!

Recognition’s clients among the most influential

Jamie Collis writes......The annual report detailing the 250 most influential people in the North East has been published by the Newcastle Journal. Recognition and its clients are featured.

Our clients have always been important in their own sectors, but it is good to see the Journal recognising the importance of business leadership in the way our region functions. Recognition’s Senior Partner, Graham Robb, was also featured as a new entry on the list.

Good communication of ideas, products and services can lead to influence. People who set the agenda and are at the forefront of their field are sometimes too quiet about their achievements and successes; however, properly presented they can result in influence and greater success.

RECOGNITION SIGNS UP TO PRCA INTERN POLICY

Recognition PR has become the first public relations consultancy in the North East to publicly commit to a list of firms paying at least the minimum wage to interns.

The Darlington-based firm has become one of more than 30 PR agencies across the UK to sign up to a campaign to ensure all interns are paid for their work.

The move follows an initiative by the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) – the professional body that represents UK PR consultancies – and PRWeek, a trade publication for the PR industry.

The PRCA placed a list on its site of all member agencies who commit to paying at least the minimum wage to interns.

Graham Robb, senior partner at Recognition, said he was proud the firm was setting an example as the first in the North East to join the scheme; the scheme reflects existing practice at Recognition.

He said internships allowed companies to evaluate the potential of possible employees.

Meanwhile, interns get the opportunity to build their CV and gain hands-on experience in a career sector.

Graham added: “There are many firms using interns in the North East but not paying them.

“Sometimes clients don’t know their work has been done by unpaid interns.

“By paying interns a modest sum you can give them a real taste of the cut and thrust of life in the workplace. The scheme is to be welcomed and I am proud to say Recognition has paid its interns for a long time.”

Tom Hawkins, PRCA research and policy executive, welcomed Recognition PR to the scheme.

He said: “I’m delighted to see another member agency wanting to join up to our expanding intern list.

“PR is a people business that must attract the best and brightest talent, not the best connected.

“Our industry must improve in helping to ensure that nobody is deterred from a career in PR because of their background.

“Recognition is making a progressive commitment to paying interns that not only improves social mobility, but adds value to the service it provides.”

Other agencies to have signed up to the pledge include Edelman, MHP Communications, Burson-Marsteller, Grayling, Portland and Cohn & Wolfe.

RADIO FESTIVAL PR SUCCESS!

Graham writes……Recognition won a prestigious account earlier this year and the work was delivered this week. We were appointed to handle the PR for the UK’s Radio Festival 2011, organised by the Radio Academy. Throughout the year we have been planning our media operation for an event that boasted celebrity speakers, leading industry figures and real debate about the future of this important medium.

Our team, which included Melanie Smith, Caroline Walker, Jamie Collis and me, attended the festival for four days and ran a dynamic and proactive media operation. The result was widespread coverage on TV, Radio and in the printed press. We also had extensive coverage on blogs, twitter and all over the internet.

The Festival – thanks to its creative producers and the inspired leadership of the Radio Academy – was the most successful ever.

Take a look at this tongue-in-cheek film with an American presenter, Elvis Duran, who was broadcasting live from the festival to 30 million listeners. It shows the virtue of juxtaposition – the leader of Manchester Council on a ‘zoo format’ US breakfast show!

Big Issue founder visits Coast & Country Housing

Graham writes… Last week John Bird, founder of The Big Issue, visited a range of Coast & Country Housing’s innovative projects which help people gain the skills required to find work. During his tour of the Redcar and Cleveland area, John Bird met people who have been assisted by such schemes as ‘Empty Homes’ and ‘Steeplechase’, which emphasise local employment initiative and helps people learn skills vital to finding work. John Bird also visited the ‘Living Sober’ scheme which helps people addicted to alcohol or drugs over come their addition.

We helped co-ordinate the visit, which resulted in excellent coverage, so far, in key regional press and a superb report on BBC TV.

We have worked with Coast & Country for seven years now and it’s still great to see its commitment to excellence and leading the way in providing schemes to not only providing affordable housing, but helping people raise their self esteem develop key occupational skills.

PR SPECIALISM - ENERGY SUPPLY CHAIN

Graham writes……The launch of the new TAG Energy factory on the banks of the River Tees was an exciting occasion. 200 of the top people in the renewable energy sector, local business and politics joined staff and their families for a celebration. The guest of honour was Rt. Hon Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Recognition has worked with TAG Energy for a year, publicising the investment, preparing marketing materials and organising for top political and business leaders to see the new facility. Recognition is a specialist in PR for the energy supply chain. There are hundreds of businesses in the UK that have development products and services which are used in the energy supply chain and factories like TAG Energy are positioning Britain as a key provider of high tech engineering solutions to energy companies throughout the world.

Positive news in Tees Valley!

Graham writes........September 1st marked a new financial year at Recognition. The last year was a pleasant surprise. Turnover increased and profits were maintained in a difficult economic environment. The last few months have also been bright with three new client wins including Southdale – a national construction and development specialist – and NorChem a respected chain of pharmacies.
We have also been working with the new Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership. Tees Valley Unlimited has announced its new Enterprise Zones recently and has been involved in communication with its stakeholders to promote its vision for the growth and development. Recognition is playing its part; promoting the organisation and ensuring that the media has all the information needed to report on significant milestones. This report on BBC TV told the latest story really well.

LOCAL ITV ADVERTISING – act now or miss the chance before ITV reforms!

Recognition doesn’t do advertising; except with ITV. We are one of the smallest registered agencies dealing with ITV and have worked on several successful campaigns in recent years. We tend to offer our clients the opportunity to advertise on ITV’s local transmitters thus reaching audiences around locations they are targeting. A good example was a new nursing home in the Northern Ireland – a well-made TV advert produced some excellent enquiries; another was a restaurant in North Yorkshire. Both adverts were only transmitted locally. The adverts were affordable because ITV allows advertising to be bought by transmitters; its so-called ‘micro regions’. A typical example is the ‘micro-region’ serving Teesside, North Yorkshire and South Durham. An advert made by Recognition will cost from £1900 plus VAT to make. Then, if it is a 20 second advert transmitted 30 times in a week (11 times in peak viewing hours) the airtime will cost £3742 plus VAT, if it is a 30 second advert the same package will cost £4678 plus VAT. However, due to new technical requirements of the Sky satellite system (with the advent of new HD channels) the number of micro-regions is being reduced. This will start after January 8th next year. Hence there is now urgency to book local campaigns before ITV runs out of local space! If you want one chance of using ITV’s least costly packages get in touch with Recognition quickly!

Toby’s telly reports for the internet

New! LOW COST INTERNET VIDEOS from £200 (plus VAT)


Recognition’s services business has introduced a new LOW COST band in its video offering. From £200 plus VAT our own Toby Nichol will attend your premises; shoot properly framed video and produce short web video reports (2 to 6 mins) for use on your web site.

In this age web sites have moved on. They need video more than ever! But you don’t have to go for an expensive re-design. Recognition will produce a web video for you and host it on our site; which your site can link to! See our own site for an example of how it can look! www.recognitionpr.co.uk

Toby Nichol is Recognition’s young and enthusiastic audio visual star! We recruited him from our local college two years ago and he has built up this critical element of our service. He is now equipped with a professional camera, computers and editing suite, together with the high speed broadband needed to place videos on line.

Toby’s service compliments the high quality service we already provide, using professional TV crews all around the UK.

The prices fall into the following bands:

1) Simple web videos (Toby’s service) from £200 plus VAT
2) Videos for use on Web or on DVD (shoot by our professional network of TV crews) from £390 plus VAT
3) Web TV programme from our Darlington based studios from £600 plus VAT
4) Fully produced DVDs shot on multiple sites from £800 plus VAT

Give Recognition a call on 01325 363436 to find out more and discuss your requirements

Great fun with Fish 'n' Chips!

Sometimes our job can be great fun! This weekend was a case in point.The Wensleydale Heifer, in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, has re-captured the record for the world’s largest serving of fish and chips. We helped organise the event and gained tremendous media coverage for one of our smallest clients. The chefs broke the record by frying a fillet of prime halibut, in its famous Black Sheep beer batter, and hand cut chips weighing a combined total of 101 lbs. They also cooked a vat of mushy peas to accompany the record-breaking dish. The Heifer was determined to use American Independence Day weekend to reclaim the world record, which was held by The Black Rose Restaurant in Boston, Massachusetts, USA with chips weighing almost 44lb and the fish 34lb, for the UK. The fish and chips were prepared in a custom made, giant pan made by Beekly Fabrications. The fillet was coated in over four gallons of batter and accompanied by an amount of chips proportional to the size of fish. The fish was weighed prior to cooking and then battered and fried as a single fish before being divided into servings. Local Black Sheep beer was used in the batter and served at the event. The record was officially verified by Guinness World Records and the dish shared amongst around 250 villagers and friends, who made a donation to the Help for Heroes charity.

Summer success

Graham writes: June has been a busy month so far......! I was delighted to win an assignment to promote a leading investment bank and wealth management business which is developing a presence in Yorkshire. This world class business has some great clients in the North, many of whom are activitely investing in the regional economy. I'm looking forward to tell people about its offering and promoting its take on the ways our economy can grow.
Meanwhile in the North East clients that invest continue to prosper. GT Engineering has won more work from Russia. It has secured a £50m contract with Russia’s leading automotive manufacturer, which will enhance significant growth over the next five years. GT, now established as world leaders in this field, has landed a contract to supply exhaust gas control systems for a new range of heavy duty diesel engines to GAZ Group in Russia.
The contract will help GT Group, which currently employs 300 people, to achieve its ambitious growth programme of increasing its workforce to 500 in the next three years. The Prime Minister is visiting Russia later in the year and GT's founder has written to him to tell him how the relationship can pay off.
Finally, we want to be working with the new Local Enterprise Partnerships throughout the North. I organised a number of events, via clients, to enage with local communities. These have taken the form of 'Question Time' style panels. We asked our clients to help pay for them and invited the LEP along. We've done this in Leeds, Darlington and Redcar. Hundreds of businesses have attended the three events. Look at the video to get a taste of the format.

Hat-trick of client wins in May

Graham writes.....there follows the official media release detailing a fantastic few weeks at Recognition PR...the picture is of the new Vertu Motor Group vehicle prep centre.

NEWS RELEASE
Recognition PR, a national PR firm based in the North of England, has announced three new client wins.

The firm ends May with two new retainers and the PR contract for the prestigious Radio Academy festival.

The Radio Academy festival is one of the most important events in the UK radio industry calendar, this year it will take place in Manchester from October 31st to November 2nd. Over the next two months Recognition will be announcing some of the festival’s landmark events, the firm will also co-ordinate pre-event publicity and run the event press office. The Radio Academy is a registered charity and a member organisation which operates under the direction of a board of Trustees.

Recognition has also won one of Yorkshire’s most popular drinks businesses – the famous Black Sheep Brewery. The Masham-based company has been brewing its fine cask beers since 1992. As well as its premium cask ales, the brewery has a first-class visitor centre located in the heart of Yorkshire Dales.

The third client win is Vertu Motors plc, which trades under the Bristol Street Motors, Macklin Motors, Vertu Honda and Bristol Street Motor Nation brands. Vertu was formed in late 2006 to acquire and consolidate UK motor retail businesses. The group is listed on the AIM market (UK:VTU).

Bristol Street Motors originated in the early 1900’s as a single Ford dealership located on Bristol Street in central Birmingham (www.bristolstreet.co.uk). Since those early days the business grew to become one of the largest dealer groups in the UK with a nationwide chain of franchised motor dealerships offering sales, service, parts, and bodyshop facilities for new and used car and commercial vehicles. The Group also operates a number of Bristol Street Motor Nation used car outlets (www.motornation.co.uk) and a number of Honda dealerships (www.vertuhonda.com). In 2010 Vertu Motors expanded into Scotland, trading under the Macklin Motors brand (www.macklinmotors.co.uk). Vertu Motors plc is now the 8th largest motor retailer in the United Kingdom and was awarded the Motor Trader Dealer Group of the Year in 2008. Recognition will support the dealer network with regional PR in different media clusters.

The three wins in May come on top of two significant wins in April; North East based telecommunications provider Odyessey Systems and international automotive parts manufacturer GT Group.

Recognition’s already acts for a number of well-known UK brands including Duncan Bannatyne’s Bannatyne Group of health clubs, hotels and spas, The Priory, Pimlico Plumbers and Wensleydale Cheese. It was founded in 1990 by Senior Partner Graham Robb and operates with a growing team in Darlington in the North East.

Commenting on the client wins, Recognition’s Senior Partner Graham Robb, said: “In 2010 we embarked on a serious marketing effort and it has paid off with some fantastic new client wins. Throughout the downturn our top clients, such as the Bannatyne Group and The Priory continued to grow, which provided a solid platform that has enabled our business to benefit from the economic recovery. We have also been transparent about our pricing, with rates and packages openly published on our website, and offered excellent value for money in a market that is watching costs with great care.”

ENDS
Editor’s Note: more information about Recognition at www.recognitionpr.co.uk follow us at www.twitter.com/recognition1st or www.facebook.com/recognition
Together with the UK's top 250 PR agencies, Recognition is a member of the PRCA. All PRCA members are required to hold the Consultancy Management Standard (CMS) - the hallmark of PR excellence. Combining elements of ISO9001 and Investors in People with criteria specific to a PR consultancy, it is an internationally-recognised accreditation, used by PR companies in 11 countries around the world.

May means more clients for Recognition!

Graham writes…We have started May with some brilliant client wins – two new retainers and the PR work for the prestigious Radio Academy festival.

The Radio Academy festival is a wonderful opportunity to recognise and promote excellence in UK radio. The festival takes place in Manchester in November. The Radio Academy is a registered charity and a member organisation which operates under the direction of a board of Trustees.

After stiff competition, we also won the Black Sheep Brewery. The Masham based company has had its beers in the market since 1992. As well as its premium cask ale, the brewery has also a first class visitor centre located right in the heart of Yorkshire Dales.

The last but not least is Vertu Motors plc. The successful car dealership was formed in late 2006 to acquire and consolidate UK motor retail businesses. It is now the 8th largest motor retailer in the United Kingdom and was awarded the Motor Trader Dealer Group of the Year in 2008. The Group is present in 70+ locations and it has 86 franchised and 3 non-franchised sales operations.

Recognition’s team is feeling really positive about the future – watch out for more client announcements soon and follow the PR stories we issue about our clients on twitter.com/recognition1st

3 New wins in April

The first week of April is here and the spring weather (together with hard work and application!)has brought three new clients to Recognition.

GT Engineering Group is a wonderful business that encapsulates all the arguments being made for rebalancing the economy to the productive manufacturing sector. It was founded by Geoff Turnbull and has clients throughout the world spending in excess of £25m per year on its engineering products. The company has several divisions, one of which provides precision products to the HGV sector and serves big name firms like Volvo; Scania and John Deere.

We also won Modus Ltd against stiff competition. Based in Darlington it provides specialist undersea equipment used in trenching. This could be laying pipes or cables. It has a base on the River Tees and its high tech kit is manufactured in the North East. Another global business extending the reach of Great Britain plc!

Final we won Odyssey Systems a telecoms business based on Teesside. Established by a brilliant enrtrepreneur the firm has supplied telephone equipment and line rental to the private sector for nearly 25 years. Its a great unsung success story....you'll be hearing more.

All three companies show Recognition is winning PR work in the real world of business. We are best when we are serving dynamic entrepreneurial organisations and, even in the downturn, there are great success stories to promote!

Bannatyne in Haiti

It is wonderful to support clients who are doing some good in the world. Duncan Bannatyne is someone who uses his wealth an influence to great benefit and his work as a UNICEF representative illustrates this perfectly. We were only too happy to produce this short video for him, taken from his own home movies of a recent visit to Haiti. Duncan has been supporting the charity Mary's Meals which is feeding children in the earthquake zone and helping families as they come to terms with their future. well done to our young editor Toby Nichol on a great job produce this.

Recognition launches new hydrogen power system

Recognition has been asked to promote Inova Power Limited, a new North East engineering business, which has launched a cost effective new energy innovation capable of extending the range of electric vehicles and reducing carbon emission from the existing UK vehicle fleet.

The new technology, developed in conjunction with the University of Sunderland, was demonstrated to a group of leading opinion formers from the region by the team behind the innovation.

The breakthrough will significantly enhance the distance capabilities of electric vehicles, such as those being manufactured in the North East, overcoming a major barrier to commercialisation.

A research partnership has been established between Inova Power Limited and the University of Sunderland to commercialise the product.

Inova Power’s system extracts hydrogen from water, safely and cleanly, with the ability to revolutionise the development of electric and hybrid vehicles. The hydrogen produced can also be used in conventional engine powered vehicles.

Inova Power is headed by managing director Mark Nailis, a chartered engineer with more than 20 years’ experience in developing and commercialising new products across a range of markets, including the automotive and defence sectors; and chairman David Bowles OBE, a former Northern Development Company director and current chairman of NDI Ltd and Entrust.

We like innovations such as this and so did the business leaders and media that attended our launch - we achieved coverage on all the key newspapers and radio and journalists enjoyed seeing model cars powered by hydrogen in our demonstration.

Busy week……Wensleydale launch, Carillion plc & Arlington on ITV; Pimlico Plumbers in The Times

Staff at Recognition have been really busy promoting clients this week. The fantastic development at Durham Gate was featured on ITV news. The £130m development is underway near Durham City, it continued despite the recession and as the recovery comes it will be ahead of the competition as the new business location in the North. Pimlico Plumbers entered the debate about the Big Society with an excellent letter to The Times from founder, Charlie Mullin. A major social enterprise project he is involved in is slated for some excellent coverage too. Meanwhile I’ve been very busy hosting the 'Dales Kitchen Challenge' competition to commemorate the opening of the new £1m visitor centre & restaurant at Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales. The competition saw two teams of local personalities competing against the clock to cook a recipe devised by our guest – celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager. I was the MC and it was a great fun event!

FUN START TO FEB AT RECOGNITION

Graham writes.....Recognition's people were all over the UK this week as clients launched products and services and held events to communicate with their customers. Caroline Walker was in Northern Ireland for the launch of two new care homes in the Priory Group, the launch events were covered on TV and radio and featured former Manchester United & Northern Ireland footballer Norman Whiteside, who hails from the area that one of homes is located.
In London Paul White launched a new report about environmental efficiency from the Manufacturers Association of Radiators and Convectors. The launch was at the Savoy Hotel in London and was attended by numerous journalists from the building and associated trade press.
Meanwhile in Leeds Melanie Smith, Emma Higgnett and myself hosted Strictly New Business, a competition for new businesses to win a great prize of a year's free office accomodation, insurance and legal advice. The prize bundle was worth many thousands of pounds and was hotly contested at an event that combined the scrutiny of Dragons' Den with the fun and glamnour of Strictly Come Dancing!
Business owner Craig Higgs, of Net 60 six, impressed the judges with his presentation and unique idea as well as his business acumen. Net 60 six allows golfers to play a round of golf in 60 minutes without the costly membership fees tied into golf clubs. The course is set up on a driving range and contains all the elements of a golf course, effectively bringing the course to the player.

Next week is even busier....

Prime Minister told of Recognition's research

Graham writes...last Friday I met the Prime Minister and told him about Recognition's research into announcements published in the North East regional press about private sector growth in the region. The research has sought out positive news to balance the negative. We are simply logging these good news stories every week, and have done so since the end of summer 2010. It makes interesting reading and I invite any organisation or individual to quote from it when talking about our region in public.

The most interesting conclusion we have reached is that the rate of growth in the private sector is already in excess of the rate of job losses predicted in the public sector. For example BBC TV/Experian predicted 28,000 job losses in the North East over four years in its special programme about public spending cuts transmitted on 9th Sep 2010.

This research provides strong evidence of new innovation, growing exports and new starter businesses throughout the North East. It is a live document and will be updated frequently. It was produced by one of our most talented members of staff, Anna Dawson who also met the Prime Minister (see picture).

KEY POINTS:
• Since Mid-August 2010 North East newspapers have reported the creation of 15391 private sector jobs in the region
• Since Mid-August 2010 North East newspapers have reported £3,220,182,000 of new investment by private sector business in the region
• Since Mid-August 2010 North East newspapers have reported £1,334,606,500 of new contract wins by private sector businesses in the region
• Since Mid-August 2010 North East newspapers have reported 130 firms recruiting for new jobs

New Year - New Clients.

Graham writes....it has been a good start to the New Year with some interesting enquiries and a good new client win. Creative Management Services is owned by three entreprenseurs and provides catering services to schools, clouncils and private sector organisations. It has been going a while and employs 250 people. In the North East economy the VAT rise was shrugged off by many business; our notable new indicators continued to demonstrate that private business is creating jobs....here are some of the highlights:
• Since Mid-August 2010 North East newspapers have reported the creation of 15197 private sector jobs in the region
• Since Mid-August 2010 North East newspapers have reported £2,965,407,000 of new investment by private sector business in the region
• Since Mid-August 2010 North East newspapers have reported £1,127,306,500 of new contract wins by private sector businesses in the region
• Since Mid-August 2010 North East newspapers have reported 109 firms recruiting for new jobs
So we are positive and getting on business business in 2011!!