James Mills is a web developer in the North East of England and founder of Refresh Teesside »
Mike Hughes is the Head of Business for the Evening Gazette. He will be blogging on all matters of importance to Teesside businesses - and some that are just worth knowing »
Jez Davison, business writer at the Evening Gazette, is a regular blogger on all things business - particularly finance, entrepreneurship and the state of the Teesside economy » 
Karen McLauchlan is the Evening Gazette's deputy business and features editor - with special interest in all things industry, property and arts related » 
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Deloitte, which has 23 offices across the UK including Newcastle, is among the country's leading professional services firms » 
ClimateNE & Climate Change Schools Project support the move to a low-carbon, resilient economy and help businesses avoid risk and realise commercial opportunities. Posts by Jen Atkinson, Krista McKinzey and Harriet Thew » North East Chamber of Commerce members in Sunderland enjoyed a lively meeting with Mark Hoban recently. For those who don't know, Mr Hoban has been appointed Shadow Minister for Wearside by the Conservative Party, in addition to his other job as a member of the party's Treasury team.
His Wearside role mirrors that of Alan Duncan, the Shadow Business Secretary who for the past 18 months has doubled as Shadow Minister for Tyneside. For Labour's part, Newcastle East and Wallsend MP Nick Brown was earlier this year given the task of acting as Minister for the North East.
All these appointments are welcomed by NECC. Continued economic growth in the UK will depend on governments of whichever colour helping all regions - not just London and the South East - develop to their full potential. Making sure policy and investment decisions take into account the needs of the North East is important therefore not just for this region but for the UK as a whole.
Mssrs Brown, Hoban and Duncan have all impressed us by their willingness to listen and take on board the priorities of the regional businesses which will provide that economic growth. Our recent meeting in Sunderland was further evidence of that.
Ultimately, of course, these new initiatives will be judged by their parties' actions rather than their words. But so far, the signs of a renewed focus on ensuring all parts of the UK can make their full contribution to national economic performance are certainly positive.
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