LITTLE Englanders may carp when firms fall into foreign hands, but more than 1,000 North- East jobs have been secured in the past week by overseas investment.

A £50m cash injection by Germany’s Crop Energies will save 100 direct posts, hundreds of supply chain jobs and the long-term future of the troubled Ensus biofuels plant near Redcar.

Last Thursday, Hitachi won a £1.2bn Government train-building deal that will support 730 North-East manufacturing jobs until the end of the decade.

And hopes are rising that a deal could be agreed that safeguards the RFMD microelectronics factory, in Newton Aycliffe, and another 200 skilled jobs.

Like it or not, our region would be in deep trouble without foreign cash.

The man who did more than most to persuade overseas firms they should set up shop in our area retired this month.

As managing director of Business Durham – the inward investment division of Durham County Council – Stewart Watkins had a hand in creating an estimated 60,000 jobs over 35 years.

From Fujitsu to Hitachi, the man from the Welsh Valleys has played a key role in many of the landmark projects that helped revive the region following the devastating demise of traditional industries.

On Page 52, we look back at Stewart’s time in the region and the legacy that his efforts could have on job prospects for future generations. Best wishes on a well-earned retirement.

A TTEMPTS to sink a mine under the North Yorkshire Moors National park are on a knife edge.

Developers Sirius Minerals say their plan to extract the fertiliser mineral polyhalite will create more than 1,000 direct jobs and have minimal impact on the local environment. The firm says it has customers lined up across Europe, South America and Asia and is ready to invest millions in our area.

But two damaging reports by engineering consultants Amec last week stuck a spanner in the works, which could jeopardise the project. It certainly gave investors the jitters and sent Sirius’ share price tumbling.

Amec claimed that Sirius had overstated the need to locate the minehead in the borders of the national park. It also raised questions about the project’s potential damage to the environment and cast doubt on there being a significant global market for polyhalite.

A decision on whether to grant planning permission has been deferred indefinitely to let Sirius address matters raised in Amec’s reports. In the meantime a cloud of uncertainty hangs over a project that has already cost planners a considerable sum.

U TTERLY useless email of the week award – and that’s up against some pretty stiff competition I can assure you – came from the Easy Care Sheep Society who held their 11th annual meeting in Buckinghamshire – not exactly what you’d call Northern Echo heartland. Apparently it was very well attended with “very interesting technical talks” on minerals, trace elements and Myomax genes. I’m looking forward to next year’s update already.

  • Follow me on Twitter @bizecho