Barratt's trading update

HOUSEBUILDER Barratt Developments has today reported "robust" pre-tax profit growth and said it was seeing good "momentum" on sales, despite recent interest rate hikes.

The Newcastle-based plc, which recently completed its £2.2bn acquisition of Wilson Bowden, said in a trading update that forward sales for the group were 15 per cent ahead of last year at £1.4bn for the year to June 30.

Darlington company to invest in training

INTERNET company Infoserve has pledged to invest £2m to train its workforce after taking on about 200 new recruits.

The Darlington-based company has increased its staff numbers from 125 to more than 300 after landing two lucrative contracts since the start of the year.

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