Mike Hughes, The Northern Echo Journalist Profile

Articles

'There are really special things about the North East' says Director of UK Exports

1 day ago | thenorthernecho.co.uk | Mike Hughes

Mike Hughes meets one of the most senior Civil Servants at the Darlington Economic Campus, Pauline Crellin, to talk about its success and future plans The Darlington Economic Campus has been a huge plus for the town and the wider region - the standout example of how Government not only CAN be run from the regions, but has to be.
Stephen Welton, chair of British Business Bank, on SMEs

2 weeks ago | thenorthernecho.co.uk | Mike Hughes

3 1/1 You won’t find a North East branch of the British Business Bank as you wander down your high street past Greggs and Waterstones. But its knowledge of the region has to be as complete as a local trader and its impact has to be as perfectly targeted as an SME who might be working with people who live just a few yards away from their business. So how does it do it - and what exactly IS the British Business Bank?
Your chance to tell Bank of England how it's doing at North East event

3 weeks ago | thenorthernecho.co.uk | Mike Hughes

Michelle Cooper (Image: Point North) The Bank of England is to hear from local people in Darlington about the impact of the cost of living on their finances, as part of our Citizens’ Forum Programme which has been running across the UK since 2018. The event is designed to gather information from local people, which will complement existing data and analysis, and help inform the Bank’s policy decisions.
Potential and focus - what business leaders think of Chancellor’s plans

4 weeks ago | thenorthernecho.co.uk | Mike Hughes

Rhiannon Bearne and Arnab Basu (Image: nq) Business leaders have been quick to react to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement. At the North East Chamber of Commerce, Rhiannon Bearne, executive director of policy & representation and deputy CEO, said:"The Chancellor’s statement comes at an important moment for North East businesses and employers.
Students to hear expert panel as MP gives keynote speech at Echo careers event

1 month ago | thenorthernecho.co.uk | Mike Hughes

College students from across the North East will gather for an Echo event to hear an all-female panel tell how they built their careers. Darlington MP Lola McEvoy will give the keynote speech at the Wilton Centre breakfast event on March 28th. As part of the Impact campaign run by the Echo's business arm, BUSINESSiQ, the panel and an invited audience will then discuss Inspiring Women: How to Break the Mould and Thrive.
Revealed: Region’s top businesses shortlisted for BUSINESSiQ awards

1 month ago | thenorthernecho.co.uk | Mike Hughes

Join the celebrations on April 11 Here they are – the North East powerhouses that are driving our region forwards at an astonishing pace. These are the finalists chosen to be in the spotlight at the 2025 BUSINESSiQ Awards on April 11.
I’m proud to join Echo’s Impact campaign, says Mayor Kim McGuinness

1 month ago | thenorthernecho.co.uk | Mike Hughes

4 1/1 The North East Combined Authority is joining the Impact campaign run by BUSINESSiQ, the business arm of The Northern Echo. Here, Mayor Kim McGuinness tells us why Why has NECA decided to join The Northern Echo’s Impact campaign? Promoting the region’s businesses and workers is what I’m elected to do as North East Mayor - so we can attract more investment and jobs, and create real opportunity for local people.
North East's female leaders to reveal how they built their careers

1 month ago | thenorthernecho.co.uk | Mike Hughes

The Impact panel is at five live events each year. This time an all-female panel will be at the Wilton Centre on March 28 The Northern Echo is to host an event looking at how some of the region's top businesswomen built their careers.
North East colleges work together to help bridge skills gap

1 month ago | thenorthernecho.co.uk | Mike Hughes

A meeting has been held as part of The Northern Echo’s Impact campaign for jobs and investment to allow a better understanding of the skills gaps and how each side can help close them. The event in the Plexus boardroom at NETPark was held under Chatham House rules to allow colleges and partners in The Northern Echo’s Impact campaign to speak their mind but afterwards many of our guests took the opportunity to reflect on what they had heard and suggest the best route forward.
Merger talks involving 6,000 North East workers are called off

2 months ago | thenorthernecho.co.uk | Mike Hughes

Japanese carmakers Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi have said they are dropping their talks to integrate their businesses. They agreed to end their consideration of how to build a structure for the three brands to collaborate, their joint statement said today. Nissan Motor Corp - which has a huge campus in Sunderland with around 6,000 staff - and Honda Motor Co announced in December they would hold talks to set up a joint holding company.