Law, law, law - how do you like it?

Posted by Ross Smith on August 6, 2008 3:01 PM

We sent off today the North East Chamber of Commerce's response to Gordon Brown's Draft Legislative Programme for 2008-9 - in other words, the new laws he intends Parliament to work on over the next year.

There's some pretty important stuff in there for North East businesses - not the least the prospect of councils being given new powers to put an extra levy on business rates.

We've told Government that we're not against the idea in principle - if businesses in the region agree it's worth spending extra money to fund a particular piece of infrastructure, then this creates a means for them to do so. In practice, however, we've raised some serious concerns over how it might be applied.

Continue reading "Law, law, law - how do you like it?" »

• add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit

Exports offer hope as King avoids R word

• Tags:
• Mervyn King
• MPC

Posted by Andrew Hebden on August 13, 2008 3:29 PM

"Don't mention the R word" was probably the edict from Downing Street as Bank of England Governor Mervyn King prepared to unleash his much-anticipated quarterly report on the state of the economy.And, for what it's worth, he didn't.

Continue reading "Exports offer hope as King avoids R word" »

• add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit

Economy versus Ecology

• Tags:
• Sustainable Environment Agency

Posted by Ian Brown on August 14, 2008 3:15 PM

I am lucky to hold a post for the Environment Agency covering both the north east and Yorkshire/Humberside, as such I got to hear the chairman of the Environment Agency give his retirement speech in London, Sir John Harman came from the world of local authorities (Kirklees) and as such has been at the very centre of environmental politics for the last couple of decades. He is doing other lectures so I will only touch on his conclusion.

It is also relevant to the current thnk-tank controversy. The reason we should not send the population of Sunderland to Oxford is as much about ecology as it is economy!

Continue reading "Economy versus Ecology" »

• add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit

Holiday martyrdom.......put on hold due to annual leave!

Posted by Ian Brown on August 14, 2008 5:19 PM

If I had been employed instead of self-employed I would have been given a good talking to by the HR (human resources) team for not taking my holidays. This is the time of year when virtually everybody does off for at least aweek. In rural areas many farmers and tourism businesses of course are needed in their business and frankly for many years that was my excuse.

Martyrdom in its full religious sense may be worthy but at a more mundane definition it is about many of us believing we are indispensible.....my mention of this topic to a friend before deciding to blog it met with a stoical and true statement: - " The graveyard is extremely full of indispensible people." Let's discuss!

Continue reading "Holiday martyrdom.......put on hold due to annual leave!" »

• add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit

BAA break-up makes sense

Posted by Andrew Hebden on August 20, 2008 10:07 AM

The Competition Commission's decision that BAA will likely have to sell off three of its UK airports is the only logical outcome of this long overdue inquiry.

Continue reading "BAA break-up makes sense" »

• add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit

5 flights, 6 hotels, 2 cars, 20 meetings and 5 training sessions

• Tags:
• Shared Interest Foundation
• Swaziland

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on August 21, 2008 4:39 PM

Here I am again in the whirlwind that is pre-planning for a long haul journey. This time it's a mammoth trip to the Swaziland and South Africa for three weeks, flying from the UK to Johannesburg to Swaziland to Mpumalanga to Cape Town.

From visiting the largest trade fair in the Southern Hemisphere to training people in fair trade awareness at Kruger National Park and Cape Town to watching King Mswati the Third of Swaziland pick his 14th wife; it's going to be a varied trip!

Continue reading "5 flights, 6 hotels, 2 cars, 20 meetings and 5 training sessions" »

• add or read comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit

The Rock rolls on

Posted by Andrew Mernin on August 22, 2008 2:42 PM

It may be almost a year since Northern Rock's plunge into crisis, but the level of opinion in the region over the handling of the situation has certainly not died down.

When the North East institution went cap-in-hand to the Bank of England, we saw the first run on the bank for a hundred years as every media man and his dog camped up in the region to pore over the failings of the Rock.

Eleven months on, the nation's interest in the situation may be fading, but here in the North East the crisis will not be allowed to go quietly into the night.

Continue reading "The Rock rolls on" »

• add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit

Nothing to Declare from Dubai

• Tags:
• airport
• Johannesburg

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on August 27, 2008 4:34 PM

Well after 22 hours of travelling, 15 hours on planes and a five hour stopover in Dubai (where it was 35 degrees at midnight) I have finally made it to Johannesburg.

For the first time in two years and numerous trips to Africa my airport pickup actually picked me up. Would you believe it?!

Despite getting on the right plane (this time) and everything happening according to schedule, it wouldn't be me in Africa if everything went according to plan!

My bags hadn't been broken into when I arrived- apparently a bit of a miracle for Johannesburg airport. I was then shunted off to the 'something to declare' aisle (even though the only thing I wanted to declare was the need for some sleep and a hot shower!)

Continue reading "Nothing to Declare from Dubai" »

• add or read comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit

Southern Hemisphere's Shopping Heaven

• Tags:
• SARCDA

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on August 28, 2008 9:48 AM

I woke up bright eyed (and glad that the Dutch couple had not let me sleep too long the day before!) and ready for the day ahead.

Today I visited the SARCDA trade fair, the largest trade fair in the southern hemisphere.
Here, eight of the Swazi groups I will be visiting next week are displaying their products and competing for their share of the market.

Gerard (the owner of the B & B - yes, now on first name terms!) kindly drove me to the fair.
It is worth noting that he has now taken on a number of roles, my personal chauffeur, dinner companion and tour guide!

Continue reading "Southern Hemisphere's Shopping Heaven" »

• add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit

Swaziland Dreams and Custard Creams

• Tags:
• airport
• Johannesburg
• roads
• Swaziland

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on August 28, 2008 10:22 AM

I'm currently sitting under a tree in the middle of Swaziland (shading from the intense African sun) writing today's blog.

I am counting my blessings, as I feel truly privileged to be back in this amazing country, privileged to spend time with inspiring people that despite numerous setbacks and hardships put their all into their work and live life to its fullest.

Now first let me tell you about my journey here.

Continue reading "Swaziland Dreams and Custard Creams" »

• add or read comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit

Glassblowing in Crocodile Village

• Tags:
• Shared Interest Foundation

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on August 28, 2008 4:23 PM

Among the many mountains that encircle the tiny African Kingdom of Swaziland is one that resembles a basking crocodile.

At its summit is the world's most ancient iron ore mine, dating back 43 000 years and at its foot is the remote village of Ngwenya (Siswati word for 'crocodile'.)

Here a small group of Swazi craftsmen and women - with age old artistry - breathe life into enchanting interpretations of African animals and birds, imbuing each with its own irresistible personality.

Here I was able to witness and try out first-hand the magical art of glassblowing; each item handmade from 100% recycled glass!

Continue reading "Glassblowing in Crocodile Village" »

• add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit

Shining a Light on Swaziland Struggles

• Tags:
• AIDS
• Botswana
• Swaziland

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on August 28, 2008 4:46 PM

Swaziland has now surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest HIV /AIDS infection rate in the world.

Almost every other person is infected by the disease (42% compared with 3.9% in 1992.)

A national survey by the health ministry predicts that a quarter of Swaziland's population are predicted to die from the disease by 2010 and already 60,000 children have lost either one or both parents to the disease.

This is having a huge impact on all of the businesses that I visit, and it is evident that whatever project we run here, there must be an HIV/AIDS component.

I met with an organisation called Swazi Candles yesterday - their philosophy is to create unique handmade candles in a happy working environment and they certainly pull this off. As you walk in the door you can hear singing and giggling.

It is here that I met an unbelievably inspirational lady - Tholiwe Tsela.

Continue reading "Shining a Light on Swaziland Struggles" »

• add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit

Reed all about it: the X-Factor reaches Swaziland

• Tags:
• Reed

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on August 29, 2008 3:15 PM

I have arrived at a very special time of year, especially for the unmarried Swazi girls.

Today marks the beginning of the Umhlanga or Reed Dance.

This annual event draws the nation together, reminding Swazi people of their relationship with King Mswati III.

The only way I can think to describe it is like a week-long dance off in the style of an X-Factor competition.

Continue reading "Reed all about it: the X-Factor reaches Swaziland" »

• add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit