By Martin Walker Hitachi Rail Europe has welcomed the Government’s announcement this week to rubber-stamp plans for an engineering Centre of Excellence in Newton Aycliffe. It was announced on Tuesday that the first Universal Technical College (UTC) for the North-East will be based on Aycliffe Business Park – a move which is hoped...

We're now working on the next issue of our popular business magazine, which gives companies a chance to market direct to 250 other firms on Aycliffe Business Park. The July-August issue of Aycliffe Today Business was our best yet, and we already have a stack of exciting features lined up for the September-October edition. Space is...

The annual Future Business Magnates competition was held at the Xcel Centre in July. Martin Walker reports on what's becoming an important educational event for local businesses... Business Durham might just have the Midas Touch. No sooner had I sat down with Gary Chaplin from Business Durham to discuss this year's Future Business...

By Martin Waker Students from Durham University visiting South West Durham Training (SWDT) enjoyed a tour of Finley Structures this summer. Eleven first year engineering students, who are all 19, were given a tour at our factory on Aycliffe Business Park as part of their “hands on” week with nearby training provider SWDT. The week...

There's only eight days remaining for businesses to grab a chance of winning a £5,000 marketing prize. Newton Aycliffe FC, Aycliffe's Northern League football club, is offering up the naming rights for its stadium for just £100! Businesses are asked to buy a ‘ticket’ for just £100, with the winner being drawn at random and getting...

Great Aycliffe Town Council's series of Fun in the Park shows continue this Friday. GATC has been providing the free events, organised by OakLeaf Sports Complex, around the town for youngsters aged between three and eight during the summer holidays. The next Fun in the Park event is this Friday (8th August) at Woodham park, 11am until...

By Martin Walker Newton Aycliffe’s cricket team were denied a chance to beat league-leaders Maltby at the weekend after their home game was abandoned due to heavy rain. Aycliffe were on their way to a healthy innings when rain stopped play at Aycliffe Sports Club, with the home side on 225 for eight after 42.4 overs. Michael Howe...

A quantity of drugs was seized when Newton Aycliffe police officers swooped on an address in the town. A successful Magistrates search warrant was executed for the property at Kenny Walk, in the Mellanby Crescent area. "A quantity of drugs were seized and a male is currently in custody," said a police statement. "Newton Aycliffe...

A group of year 9 students from Woodham Academy visited Durham University as part of the Dux Award Scheme 2014. It’s the second year that the school has been involved in the scheme, which is organised through the Department for Education. The aim is to raise aspiration of students and to provide students, who have the potential to...

By Martin Walker Cruel thieves siphoned off 200 litres of diesel at Woodham Golf Club just a day after it officially re-opened. The golf course opened last Friday after an eight-month closure and two months of hard work to get the course and clubhouse back up to scratch. But some time between 10am last Saturday (2nd August) and 7am on...