'Flurry of takeovers will not lead to meltdown'
Already this year the North-East has lost two of its major plcs and a third in North Yorkshire recently agreed to a multi-million pound US takeover bid. Deputy Editor Kate Bowman reports on the recent activity and looks at what effect it is having.

The £1m bet that's paying off for the North-East
When £1m was spent on a television advert to lure visitor s to the region, it was a bold move. John Dean looks at whether the campaign was a hit.

World Cup could be injury time as companies run short of staff
Wayne Rooney may not agree, but the World Cup is proving a lucky break for the country at a time when the economy and consumer spending are recovering from last year's lows. But, like the tournament itself, there are winners and losers. Business Editor Julia Breen reports.

The richer we get, the unhappier we become
The recent lifestyles report by the consumer spending analyst Mintel highlighted that we are becoming a nation of big spenders, with consumer spending last year at a record level of £1trillion.

Will foreign competition kill off our call centres?
Mobile phone group Orange, which employs more than 5,000 people in call centres in the North-East, announced on Thursday it was cutting between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs across the UK. Business Editor Julia Breen looks a the future of the sector in the region.

'Patterson Ford will never float on the stock market'
The motor retail sector has been consolidating, with market leader Pendragon buying Reg Vardy for £450m. But small North-East retailers, such as Patterson Ford, are looking at ways of competing with the big players. Business Editor Julia Breen reports.

Self-sufficiency - the only way to tackle prices
Soaring energy costs are taking their toll on businesses across the North-East. Deputy Business Editor Kate Bowman looks at the impacts of the volatile market and explores what is being done to address the problem.

Technology creates new dawn for coal
The past 50 years have seen the decline of coal as a fuel source in the UK. But, as Business Editor Julia Breen reports, thanks to developments in clean coal technology, the Government is viewing coal as part of the UK's energy needs.

Is the UK striking the right work balance?
It isn't always easy to reconcile statistics, particularly economic statistics. We know, for instance, that here in the UK, we work longer hours and have fewer public holidays than our European neighbours.

Living on the Sunniside of the street
The £130m regeneration scheme to revitalise a 43-acre site in Sunderland has been likened to the revamp of the Quayside in Newcastle - but there's still along way to go. Business Editor Julia Breen visits the Sunniside area to see how run-down old buildings are being given a new lease of life.

Architect is still leading the way
EIGHT years ago, an idea scribbled on the back of an envelope sealed the deal for Browne Smith Baker's (BSB) involvement in the transformation of one of the region's most run-down towns.

Time to get over the Wall
In the last of a three-part series on emerging economies, John Dean looks at the opportunities present by Eastern Europe.

A country with 72 million mobile phones must be good for business
John Dean continues Business Echo's series on emerging economies with a look at India.

Why there's nothing naff about networking
With business start-up rates in the North-East lagging behind other regions, organisations supporting entreprenurism have a crucial role. Marie Carter reports.

Has Google lost its innocence?
I would guess many of you have used Google - it is one of the great success stories of the Internet age.

Local architect who draws on his talents
Born the son of a Durham miner, Alan Smith went on to becone one of the North-East's most influential architects. Sarah French reports.

China in our hands - a chance too good to miss
The world's emerging economies offer huge opportunities. In the first of a three-part series, John Dean looks at China.

Craftspeople creating a homegrown economy
MICRO businesses, such as those making crafts, face a major challenge. They may be excellent at their craft but be less focused on actually running their businesses.

Pub chain offers £3.7m solution to years of under-investment
WHEN Punch Taverns took over Hartlepool-based Pubmaster, it almost doubled the size of its estate.

Success of regional food market standing out
The region's food and drink sector is growing at between five and ten per cent a year - with the success of farmer's markets a good sign for the rest of the industry. Frances Griss reports

Bedsearch company ready to launch its own dotcom boom
Over the next 12 months, online accomodation provider Bedsearcher will go global, pushing up annual booking sales from £4m to an estimated £40m. Deputy Business Editor Kate Bowman reports on the bid to become the biggest dotcom in the region.

New Year is the best time to go headhunting
Stewart Davies is best known as chairman of Darlington Football Club. But he is also a senior partner in Haines Watts National Insolvency Practice and has been advising businesses and individuals on financial matters for 25 years - his speciality is helping people who are in financial difficulties as a result of trading problems.

Northern Lights shine ever brighter
For decades, North-East talent sought film fame in London and Hollywood. Today, the region has its own thriving industry. John Dean reports.

A £70m vision for airport's future
About £70m is being spent on Newcastle International Airport over the next ten years, generating thousands of jobs. Deputy Business Editor Kate Bowman talks to finance director Lars Friis.

Managing success - the best way to avoid failure
With a business that grew from nothing to one with a £2m turnover in only three years, Angela McLean had the childrenswear market sewn up. But ultimately, the success of the company was its undoing, and now she teaches business students the hard lessons she learned. Sarah French reports.

Law Society opens first regional office in N-E
The Law Society has opened its first North-East office, serving more than 2,600 solicitors. Deputy Business Editor Kate Bowman talks to society president Kevin Martin about the shake-up of legal services, legal aid and the advantages of having an office in the region.

Tolwood ready to move into top gear
Vincent Bootes intends to transform car parts manufacturer Tolwood Techologies into a world leader. Deputy Business Editor Kate Bowman talks to him about his plans to expand the company's customer base, attract £2m of business in the coming months and increase sales by 30 per cent.

Where will the tills be ringing this Christmas?
Shops make up to half of their annual sales during the festive season. But with an uncertain economic outlook this year, and flat sales, Business Editor Julia Breen looks at whether retailers will be having a Merry Christmas in 2005.

Calls for North-East schools policy rejected by Government
THE Government yesterday dismissed calls for education policy to be shaped in the North-East - despite evidence that the region's secondary schools are lagging behind the rest of the country.

Enterprise 'must be rooted in the North'
EUROPEAN Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson opened the forum on Thursday with a speech at the Centre for Life, in Newcastle.

Meeting that led to reforms
TONY Blair strayed from his education script to explain how, as a new MP, a meeting with an old Labour leader shaped his view of the future.

Education is the key to region's future - Blair
TONY Blair told the forum that education was the key to the North-East's future - but although he was addressing the 250 delegates inside Hardwick Hall, his message was intended for his critics outside who accuse him of creating a two-tier education system in which children from poorer backgrounds might get left behind.

311mph trains that could turn London into an hour-and-a-half journey
A HIGH-SPEED rail system linking Northern city regions with London could be built in time for the Olympics in 2012, it was claimed last night.