So it's hats off to Nissan for being named the North East's number one business at the Top 250 launch this morning.
Against the backdrop of such tough economic conditions, it was great to hear about the ongoing success that is being achieved at the Sunderland car plant. Long may it continue.
I have written in The Journal this morning about the changing shape of the top end of the league table this year and how good it is to see so many manufacturing companies up there. We may no longer be able to lay claim to being the workshop of the world, but we certainly can justify the title "workshop of the UK".
Inevitably, the talk around the breakfast tables this morning was dominated by talk of the credit crunch and the tough time that companies in all sectors are facing just now. This week's announcement from Dickinson Dees reveals just how widespread the downturn in the housing market is being felt, for example.
Today the Government has finally bowed to the inevitable and decided to postpone the planned 2p rise in fuel duty which was due to come into force in October. It was, by anyone's measure, a real "no-brainer", especially in light of the new inflation figures published yesterday. Now business will be looking for further indications that the Government has been listening to it.
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