James Mills is a web developer in the North East of England and founder of Refresh Teesside »
Karen McLauchlan is the Evening Gazette's deputy business and features editor - with special interest in all things industry, property and arts related » 
Jeremy Middleton is a venture capitalist and the co-founder of FTSE-200 company HomeServe » 
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 » June 2011 Archives
Thank you.....probably
Posted by Mike Hughes on June 2, 2011 1:17 PM
It's tricky being thanked by a PR company.
As the Gazette's business editor I use plenty of press releases - but either because they are of a high standard or because I can quickly chop them around, add a little bit of background and make them worth the space.
I treat the good PR companies as district offices. There are quality writers out there who happen to be sitting in a PR office and not a newspaper office, but that doesn't mean they can't write for my paper.
So when a company rings up and says 'Thanks for the good show this morning - the clients are very happy' it bothers me.
If it's a good story it will get in the Gazette and if it isn't - either because it is badly written or an obvious plug - then it will go straight in the bin.
I appreciate being appreciated, but I'm not being nice, I'm doing my job.
Any journos or PR firms care to discuss?
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Teesside's Big Society
Posted by Mike Hughes on June 8, 2011 3:24 PM
I got an important insight into Teesside's LEP last night.
I was invited to chair a meeting attended by more than 90 businesspeople at which MD Stephen Catchpole was one of a panel answering questions about how it would all work.
An important thing for me was that there was a broad agreement in the audience. They all wanted information, but they all want it to work.
That's the important extra ingredient that is impressing Government at the moment - Teesside is genuinely united in embracing the idea that regions have to stand up for themselves now, and not build a reliance on support from London.
The region has always been quick to adapt - it has had no choice over the years - and that is a strong weapon against a background of cuts and restructuring.
It's not really a Big Society, Mr Cameron - more of a Teesside society.
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Valley or Side?
Posted by Mike Hughes on June 8, 2011 3:48 PM
This is a short blog - but an important one,
Do you live and work in Teesside? Or Tees Valley?
I'm fairly new to this area - just a few months - but it is already very clear that it is a running argument through the region.
So let's have catch-up of opinion. Let me know which you regard yourself as - and why.
Let's get this out in the open and sorted so we can get on with Business.
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Enterprise plans need answers
Posted by Jez Davison on June 13, 2011 10:08 AM
The grand masterplan for a £4bn enterprise zone network has raised a series of intriguing questions.
On the face of it, the vast scale of the plan, which aims to create 43,000 jobs over the next 25 years, is one of the most ambitious Teesside has ever seen.
The burning question is whether it will be achievable.
Continue reading "Enterprise plans need answers" »
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