UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN IS A POSITIVE TREND
6 | Aycliffe Today Business
Pictured ( left to right ): Aycliffe Business Park Community chair Kerina Clark with David Osborne ( Roman ), Lee Harris ( Mitchell Gordon ), James Ritchie ( Tekmar Energy ), Chris Hyde ( JDP Contracting ), Julia Potts ( Hitachi Rail ), Stuart Liddle ( Gestamp Tallent ), Matthew Stiller ( Stiller Warehousing and Distribution ), Peter Slark ( Palram ), John Parnell ( Business Durham ), John Elliott ( Ebac ), Sarah Slaven ( Business Durham ) and Pamela Petty ( ABPC ).
UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN IS A POSITIVE TREND
The latest labour market statistics show a slight improvement and a positive long-term trend with unemployment down over the past year .
Figures show employment in the North East stands at 1,217,000 or 72.2 % – a fall of 8,000 over the last quarter but an increase of 10,000 over the year . This compares to a rate of 75.1 % nationally .
North East unemployment stands at 75,000 or 5.8 % – a fall of 3,000 over the last quarter and 13,000 over the year . This compares to a rate of 4.3 % nationally .
Our Quarterly Economic Survey for Q3 2017 showed a slight decline in business confidence on the measures of future workforce growth and training investment , particularly in the manufacturing sector .
With other figures released recently also showing a decline in apprenticeship starts in the North East over the past year , Government must listen to businesses in our region and address their concerns about the apprenticeship reforms and barriers to staff recruitment and training .
We need a working North East where everyone has the opportunity to contribute to the economy .
We ’ ve called on the Chancellor to ensure that schools and colleges have sufficient resources to deliver a comprehensive careers information , advice , and guidance programme , which is vital to raising aspirations and making sure that young people leave education with the skills required by business .
Paul Carbert
Policy adviser North East England Chamber of Commerce
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3,600 workers represented at highlevel business leaders dinner
Thousands of workers were represented during a high-level meeting of business leaders from Aycliffe Business Park .
Bosses from 11 Newton Aycliffe companies – including Gestamp Tallent , Hitachi Rail , Roman , Ebac , Stiller Warehousing and Distribution , Palram and Tekmar Energy – gathered for the event at Redworth Hall Hotel .
The informal dinner , organised by Aycliffe Business Park Community with help from Business Durham , was arranged to increase engagement among some of the park ’ s larger firms .
Combined , company bosses around the table represented a total of 3,600 people who work on Aycliffe Business Park , from an estimated 10,000 .
Gestamp , which makes car chassis for a number of automotive manufacturers , employs 1,400 at its Aycliffe site .
Plant director Stuart Liddle said : “ It was useful to understand more about the work of Aycliffe Business Park Community , what they ’ re doing for the business community and to see what they can potentially do for us .
“ People are coming to the area and seeing it as a prosperous place to do business , which helps all of us , so I think the work of this group is very important .”
Tekmar , a leading supplier of subsea cable protection systems , employs 150 people from two Aycliffe sites .
Chief executive James Ritchie said : “ It ’ s important that we find ways to engage more locally with the supply chain .
“ It has never felt like that park has had a leader , so from a strategy point of view it ’ s good to see someone driving the bus .”
Shower manufacturer Roman employs 235 people on Aycliffe Business Park , and managing director David Osborne added : “ It ’ s useful to get out and meet other businesses on the park .
“ When you put everyone together like this , then a handful of people representing 3,600 workers around one table does give a lot of clout and a much bigger voice .”
Other guests included Hitachi HR manager Julia Potts , Ebac chairman John Elliott , Stiller Warehousing and Distribution managing director Matthew Stiller and Palram ’ s Peter Slark .
They were hosted by ABPC board members Kerina Clark , Sarah Slaven , Lee Harris , Chris Hyde , John Parnell , Pamela Petty and Martin Walker .
Spread across 400 hectares , and with future expansion plans , Aycliffe Business Park is already home to an estimated 500 companies and 10,000 employees .
Businesses can find out more about what ’ s happening on Aycliffe Business Park , register their details and submit news by going to www . aycliffebusinesspark . co . uk
Under-13s ready to go after donations
Newton Aycliffe Youth FC ’ s Under-13s team started the new 2017-18 season in style – thanks to the generosity of a Newton Aycliffe company .
The U-13s ‘ Eagles ’ were just three weeks away from the campaign kick-off with a brand new squad preparing for 11-a-side football – but without any kit .
Until Aycliffe Business Park firm Optimum Recruit agreed to sponsor the Under-13s side with a full new kit .
The firm ’ s owner Craig White said : “ As a business based , and with our roots firmly in Newton Aycliffe , we feel it ’ s very important to give back to our local community .
“ As well as the football team , we also sponsor Aycliffe Dance Academy ’ s annual show , and we hope to be able to continue to support local organisations in achieving their goals for many years to come .”