North East unemployment rate drops
The latest unemployment figures show a drop in the number of people out of work in the North East.
500 jobs could go at Teesside call centre
500 jobs could go under plans to close a customer services site in Stockton-on-Tees.
Ashington employment fears
A North East development agency says it fears for the future of a Northumberland town after yesterday's Rio TInto Alcan redundancies.
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Cameron buoyed by unemployment figures
David Cameron has insisted Britain "can be a winner" in the global economy but acknowledged that there were still "enormous economic challenges" ahead.
He was speaking at Prime Minister's Questions as the latest unemployment figures show the number of work in the North East dropped by 11,000.
Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "There are too many people still looking for work and the number of people out of work for a long period, over a year, still remains stubbornly high."
Employment minister: The North East is a challenging environment
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North East unemployment rate drops
The latest unemployment figures show a drop in the number of people out of work in the North East.
Read the full story90 taxi drivers lose jobs at Blue Line
Ninety taxi drivers are losing their jobs because of a row over a phone number. Blue Line Taxis has closed its Newcastle office because it says the City Council won't allow it to use the same phone number as the one for other branches.
Blue Line says it will still operate in North Tyneside, but having different numbers is unworkable. The council says it hasn't directly put drivers out of work. Adding that drivers are self-employed so can work for any private hire company in the city.
200 jobs lost in Gateshead
Around 200 people have lost their jobs at a recruitment firm in Gateshead. Spectrum Social Network Ltd went into liquidation because of 'challenging trading conditions'.
The company, which traded as Spectrum Personnel, recruited and supplied temporary and contract workers, mainly to engineering and logistics businesses. It employed 30 employees and 170 contractors, out of its two offices in North Lanarkshire and Gateshead. All have been made redundant.
MPs call for talks with Direct Line
MPs and councillors say they want to talk to the Direct Line Group over plans to close one of its call centres. They say they would like to see a compromise made after the company announced that 530 jobs will go on Teesside.
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Direct Line boss: "It's been a really tough decision"
500 jobs to go at Direct Line
500 jobs could go at Teesside call centre
500 jobs could go under plans to close a customer services site in Stockton-on-Tees.
Read the full storyMP reacts to 500 job losses on Teesside
Stockton South MP James Wharton has called the announcement of 500 job losses on Teesside 'a shock'.
– Stockton South MP, James Wharton"This is very sad news for all those who work at the Direct Line call centre.
"Directors also assured me they would look to redeploy people within the company where they can but it is clear there are going to be job losses.
"We have had so much good jobs news on Teesside, with SSI reopening Corus, Hitachi bringing a new train factory and companies like Nifco expanding, it is such a shame when something like this comes along. This is the third time in recent years that the call centre business in our area has taken a hit after Garlands, then Barclay Card and now Direct Line."
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