Recent News

Common challenges faced by rural businesses
The Durham Business Growth programme is dedicated to empowering County Durham businesses through long-term investment and strategic guidance. As part of the comprehensive Durham Business Growth and Productivity initiative, this programme is designed to enhance productivity and drive growth across the region. Our advisers craft tailored action plans that address your business’s specific...

Hay & Kilner receives international recognition from Investors in People
North East law firm Hay & Kilner has received a silver accreditation award from by Investors in People, further demonstrating its ongoing commitment to the development of employees and being a great place to work. Investors in People, the international standard for people management, defines what it takes to lead, support and manage people effectively to achieve sustainable results. Over a...

The Business Clinic – in good health
Since 2014, the trailblazing Business Clinic at Northumbria University has provided pro-bono consultancy work to hundreds of companies and organisations. The benefits have not only helped level the playing field for students but provided a fresh perspective on business challenges. Alison Cowie asks its founder, Nigel Coates, why the initiative has been such a success. University Business...

Coquet Chocolates puts Coquetdale on the map
Former IT professional Roz Tinlin is on a mission to raise the profile of an often overlooked area of Northumberland she’s called home for the last 23 years. How? Through her B&B, whisky and chocolate, of course! Alison Cowie speaks to the serial entrepreneur to find out more. Roz Tinlin had enjoyed a successful career in IT when, in 2001, she and her family decided to buy a B&B in...

Melissa Coutts is made of the rite stuff
After she was made redundant in 2004, Melissa Coutts walked into a recruitment office and said ‘I need a job. I’ll do anything’. They responded by offering her a job. Ten years later, she started her own recruitment business, Recruitrite, focused on providing bespoke, long-term solutions for clients. Here, the Darlington-based managing director and recruitment professional reflects on her...