Category: Business

Opencast, headquartered in Newcastle, has grown its team to 503 employees, with additional hires in London and Leeds. This brings its wider delivery network to more than 640 people when including associates and partners. The company, founded in 2012, specialises in user-centred digital and technology solutions. Opencast chief executive Tom Lawson (Image: Supplied) It has…

Opencast, headquartered in Newcastle, has grown its team to 503 employees, with additional hires in London and Leeds. This brings its wider delivery network to more than 640 people when including associates and partners. The company, founded in 2012, specialises in user-centred digital and technology solutions. Opencast chief executive Tom Lawson (Image: Supplied) It has…

The former Cuisine Marmaris on Parkgate, was previously slapped with a zero-star rating following a damning food hygiene inspection on April 3.   Although there is very little information on the new venture, the sign reads: ‘Grill&Thrill’ with an ‘opening soon’ sign in the window. Opening soon sign (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO) Out-of-date bolognese, raw…

Kylie Dixon, of Seaham, accepted the honour at St James’s Palace from Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, Princess Anne. The University of Sunderland graduate was named in the King’s Birthday Honours list 2025 for her services to social enterprise and female entrepreneurship through The Northern Lass Lounge, an online community she founded in 2020…

Pacifica Group Limited, based in Houghton-le-Spring, saw its turnover climb to £42.8 million for the year ending March 31, 2025, up from £36.1 million the previous year – an 18.6 per cent increase. Job volumes grew to 360,000 across the UK, up by 51,000 from the previous year, reflecting growing demand for domestic appliance repair,…

Bellway launched its employee engagement app and desktop intranet, Pathway, in May 2024 to improve communication across the business, particularly with on-site construction staff. Within five weeks, more than 60 per cent of employees had registered for the app, a figure that has since climbed to 95 per cent—well above industry benchmarks. Paul Lawler, group…

Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has announced the sale of The Old Lodge in Malton. The hotel was on the market for £2,150,000, however it has been sold at an undisclosed price. Set within 3.6 acres of private grounds, the 17th century Tudor mansion is home to 29 en-suite guest bedrooms, a bar,…

Aimee and Richard Bland announced in early November that they would be closing Curiositeas’ Play Café in the Queen Street Shopping Centre, adding it was a decision not made lightly. Former mental health nurse Aimee and army veteran Richard opened the business in 2022, which combines a café for parents and a play area for…

Northumbrian Water is using timber modular buildings at sewage treatment works under a £6.7 million upgrade scheme, starting with Willington Sewage Treatment Works. The timber building, designed to house treatment equipment, offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional glass-reinforced plastic kiosks. Dean Thompson, project manager at Northumbrian Water, said: “This is a really exciting first…

Andy McDermott, 47, from Darlington, launched the North East’s only SUP Airfield after his daughter Grace said she wanted to represent the country in the sport. The airfield consists of inflatable bunkers that paintball players use for training and skill development. Andy McDermott and his daughter Grace McDermott (Image: Andy McDermott) Located at Cowper House…