The first of Avanti West Coast’s new fleet of trains has entered static testing at Hitachi Rail’s Newton Aycliffe factory. In a major milestone for the £350m project, carriages from a Class 805 bi-mode train are being coupled together to mark the start of the extensive testing programme ahead of the planned entry into service in...

A new partnership service will support County Durham residents with all aspects of their mental health. The all-inclusive approach of the new Durham Mental Wellbeing Alliance, which brings together 13 individual organisations, will improve access to 21 separate services, helping people to get the help they need without having to write, phone or...

Aycliffe’s Apprentice of the Year has hailed the return of the Make Your Mark Awards as “incredible”. Ellie Shooter, from Digital Edge on the business park, won the Apprentice category at the 2022 Make Your Mark Awards, held in association with Husqvarna at Redworth Hall Hotel. Ellie originally joined Digital Edge on a work placement...

County Durham residents who took part in a photography project to show what life was like in lockdown will see the results of their work for the first time. In January, Durham County Council showed an exhibition which told the story of the county’s most vulnerable residents during the coronavirus pandemic. The exhibition, Home Time, showed...

Crafter’s Companion has revealed the site of its new Newton Aycliffe-based UK warehouse. The dedicated 54,000 square foot, nine metres high pallet-racking space will enable the business to house 4,000 pallets of products. The warehouse will support the team’s ability to meet the growing demand for crafting items with their customers...

By Paul Dalton Several Aycliffe members took part in the iconic Blaydon Race on June 9, which is the largest club race in the North-East. It was nice to see so many smiling faces, especially once everyone had finished. First home for the club was John Firby in an excellent time of 34:45. Second home and continuing his impressive return...

The husband-and-wife management team of award-winning BTS Facades and Fabrications say their whole company ‘family’ deserve the accolades as much as they do. BTS won the Engineering and Manufacturing category at the 2022 Make Your Mark Awards, held in association with Husqvarna at Redworth Hall Hotel. The rainscreen manufacturing firm is...

Partnership work is helping to create a new plan to boost County Durham’s economy, bolster the response to climate change issues and assist residents with the current cost-of-living crisis, councillors will hear this week. Durham County Council’s Cabinet will receive an update on the activities of the County Durham Partnership (CDP) when it...

Businesses from across the North-East are invited to explore how they can save money whilst reducing their carbon footprint at an event being held in County Durham. A wide range of leading experts will be demonstrating the opportunities and solutions available to help businesses become more energy efficient, reduce costs and deliver a...

County Durham residents who are over pensionable age are being urged to check if they are entitled to Pension Credit. Durham County Council is supporting a national Pension Credit Day of Action on Wednesday (June 15) in the hope that more people aged 66 and over are able to access the means-tested benefit. In the last year, the council has...