News & Announcements October 2016

The North East Automotive Alliance, the industry-led cluster for the automotive sector in the region, welcomes the recent news that the new Qashqai and the new X-Trail SUV is to be built at the Nissan Sunderland plant.

Nissan has confirmed it will build the new Qashqai model - as well as the X-Trail SUV - at its Sunderland plant, securing 7,000 jobs.

Turnover topped £468m at the business, which employs more than 1,300 people at its Newton Aycliffe plant.

Northumbria University is launching a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the North East.

North East SMEs are to attend Advanced Engineering, the UK’s largest annual gathering of manufacturers and supply chain, supported by the North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA).

Former Membership Director at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, Andrew Buckley has been appointed as Chief Executive of innovation and technology transfer company, RTC North.

Reprotec has been shortlisted for the small industrial project of the year award at the 2016 awards ceremony for FeRFA, the resin flooring association.

The Journal are working in partnership with the NEAA, the UK’s largest automotive cluster, to produce a special feature supplement on Wednesday October 26th. The supplement will provide a platform to showcase the sector and its significant and growing capabilities, whilst celebrating recent successes from across the sector.

Last month saw the start of a new scheme that aims to put automotive skills in the fast lane. The Automotive Cadetship, a joint venture between industry, schools and Teesside charity The High Tide Foundation, is taking 13 and 14-year-olds on a fascinating journey through various stages of the industry’s supply chain.

Turnover at Durham-based Nifco has reached a record £60m, reinforcing the firm’s reputation as one of the region’s biggest manufacturing success stories in recent years.