Independent tech consultancy Opencast has formalised its close relationship with the UK’s armed forces community. The company has signed the Ministry of Defence-backed Armed Forces Covenant, confirming its commitment to serving military personnel, former servicemen and women and reservists. In a signing ceremony at 101 (Northumbrian) Regiment’s Napier Armoury in Gateshead last week, Opencast’s chief people officer Cate Kalson and client relationship director Richard Handley j

The North East’s global trade, inward investment and export potential has been showcased as part of an international delegation that welcomed the Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey, Chris Gaunt OBE, to the region. Mr Gaunt was welcomed to the North East by business leaders Ammar Mirza CBE, Imran Khaliq (Gainford Group) and Mike Clark (Dysart Developments), as part of ongoing discussions to enhance and shape bi-lateral opportunities as well as strategic col

Yesterday afternoon, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, announced the Autumn Budget. The budget was marked by increased spending commitments which the Chancellor claimed were possible due to quicker economic recovery from COVID-19 than had been predicted. Among these commitments were £2 billion for schools and £6 billion for the NHS. There were also plenty of announcements that directly affect SMEs: · For those in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, the Ch

Next week sees the culmination of months of hard work as the first cohort of the Tees Valley Business Hub Pitch Perfect programme deliver their presentations to potential investors. Pitch Perfect – Access to Finance is a programme that has been delivered by Tees Valley Business Hub (TVBH) in association with Grow Tees Valley over the summer, to enable Tees Valley-based businesses to confidently and effectively pitch their businesses to investors. Over the next two years of

The North of Tyne Recovery Innovation Fund aims to enable green and sustainable recovery by funding projects that potential to safeguard and create good quality, as well as, building a more inclusive economy and/or contributing towards the net zero agenda. Click here to find out more. For more advice and support to overcome your business challenges, please reach out to our team.

Stay updated with the latest impacts on Personal Exports as a result of EU Exit.

England has moved to step 4 of the roadmap for easing restrictions. Keep details include: Removal of the 2 meter social distancing rule The Government is no longer instructing people to work from home if they can The requirement to wear face coverings in law has been lifted There are no longer limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, civil partnerships, funerals and other life events To find out how you can continue to protect yourself, as well as, more informa

COVID-19 Response: Step 4 Roadmap