Tom Patterson

Hebburn-based Castle Building Services has been giving placement opportunities to 14 students at Tyne Coast College – which includes South Tyneside College – who are studying on the level 3 electrical course. Each student got 21 hours of work experience, working alongside senior members of the Castle team on live projects. The thriving company has a headcount of over 100 staff at it’s offices in Hebburn, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Teesside and last year recorded a turnover of £30m – offering a range…

Council leader, Cllr Tracey Dixon and chief executive Jonathan Tew signed the document and were joined by Cllr Joanne Bell, lead member for governance, finance and corporate services and lead member for the voluntary sector, partnerships and equalities, Cllr Paul Dean. By signing the charter, the council pledges to make a number of commitments over the next three years - including championing a racially diverse workforce, challenging racism wherever it is seen and providing training for all staf…

As part of a programme of harvest-time events, children at Nurserytime in South Shields and Hebburn, and their families have been collecting donations for the borough’s Hospitality and Hope and Hebburn Helps foodbanks. Helen Coulson, manager at Nurserytime in Beach Road, South Shields, said: “The children have been learning all about harvest and its significance at this time of year. “Not only have they been learning harvest songs to sing in celebration but their families have been contributing…

The Social Enterprise Boost (SEB) Fund can provide grants of up to £10,000 to the borough’s ‘social entrepreneurs’ – people running community interest companies and social enterprises. Delivered by Project North East (PNE), the programme aims to kick-start and accelerate social enterprises – providing help to those already improving their communities through their work and people with aspirations of following in their footsteps. Cllr Margaret Meling, lead member for economic growth and transport…

Frankie Allen will once again grace the stage of the Hedworth Hall, in Dean Road, South Shields on Friday October 27. The comedian from Liverpool will be bringing his unique style of comedy back to the venue, where he hosted a sell-out show three years ago. No-one was spared during his last performance and Allen - renowned for his one-liners and harsh put downs as well as his unapologetic way in which he targets audience members who dare to move during his performance - promises an even more “br…

The Holder House Allotment project – in Whiteleas, South Shields - now has an indoor sensory area and outdoor play area for its young visitors after the site was awarded over £20,000 from the People’s Postcode Lottery. Holder House provides adults with learning difficulties and disabilities the chance to learn about horticulture and woodwork and learn new skills and gain qualifications. It has also expanded to provide a meeting place for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities.…

eQuality Solutions Group (eQS) provides diversity, equity and inclusion services – including consultancy, training, e-learning, mentoring, learning support and assessment of disabilities – to businesses and colleges all over the country. The firm, which has doubled turnover and increased its headcount from 40 to 100 in the last two years – has unveiled a new senior leadership team to spearhead a major investment programme and target further acquisitions. Chief executive, Michael Hall; managing d…

South Shields Chess Club joined forces with refugee charity Action Foundation to hold the event at The Word library – with the aim of forging friendships by introducing the asylum seekers to other players. South Shields Chess Club chairman, Eddie Czestochowski, paid out of his own pocket for room hire in The Word library and brought along chess sets and timing clocks so the competition ran smoothly. He said: “My dad, who was Polish, taught me how to play. Chess is an international language. You…

Castle Building Services has been appointed as principal contractor to refurbish St George’s House – one of the first properties built on the Team Valley Trading Estate, in Gateshead. Built in 1937, the three-storey, crescent-shaped, building – officially opened by King George VI - is being transformed into an open plan state-of-the-art office space by UK Land Estates -whilst retaining its heritage Andrew Dawson, managing director at Castle, said: “It is a great honour to be awarded the contract…

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust issued the warning ahead of Monday’s planned three-day strike by consultants and junior doctors. The latest action by the British Medical Association (BMA) will be a 72-hours walkout starting at 7am on Monday, October 2. British Dental Association (BDA) members are also due to strike during the same period. The Trust has emergency departments at South Tyneside District Hospital, Sunderland Royal Hospital and Sunderland Eye Infirmary but is warni…

Just two months after the Dokan Karate Association came away from the WUKF World Championships with five individual world champions, they punched well above their weight at the GB International event in Birmingham. The two day event saw the squad of 25 youngsters come home with 17 gold, eight silver and 23 bronze medals. That tally saw them finish second in the medal table – topped by the Karate England national team. Dokan chief instructor, Kevan Mitchinson, said: “This was a tremendous perform…

Bradley O’Mahoney has seen a surge in new business from growing tech firms after collaborating with South Shields-based business investment specialist, Stephenson Ventures, and introducing an in-house video filming and editing service for clients. The firm, which is based at Bodon Business Park, is specifically aiming at small to medium sized companies in the region who are looking to scale up quickly. Director, Sarah O’Mahoney, said: “We are placing an emphasis on the growing number of companie…

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust – which runs South Tyneside District Hospital – says the effects of a two-day strike by consultants and the three-day public holiday are also likely to have a knock-on effect on services next week. Consultants will be taking industrial action from 7am on Thursday, August 24 to 7am on Saturday, August 26 – followed by Bank holiday from Saturday, August 26, to Monday, August 28. Patients with appointments are being asked to attend as usual, unless…

St Joseph’s Catholic Academy, which is part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, saw it’s students achieve almost a quarter of all grades at A or A*. Headteacher Peter Mitchell said the achievements come despite a number of hurdles this cohort have had to overcome during their time in secondary school. He said: “We achieved A*, A and distinction grades across a wide range of subjects and we are very proud of our students, whose hard work, determination, and commitment has been recognised…

The majority of St Wilfrid’s RC College students studying on vocational courses also achieving distinctions. Francesca Craik, executive headteacher of St Wilfrid’s – which is part of the Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust - said: “We are thrilled that despite grade volatility this year, 40% of our students studying A levels have achieved at least one or more grade at A or A*. “Vocational courses have also performed extremely strongly, with an average grade being a distinction. “We are so v…

Nurserytime, in Beach Road, South Shields, was rated as “Good” in all categories - effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour, personal development and leadership and management – after Ofsted inspectors visited in June. Nursery manager Helen Coulson says she is delighted with the inspector’s findings and congratulated the staff, children and parents. Inspector Cathryn Clarricoates’ report says children at the nursery feel “secure, happy, confident and “part of the family” and that staff a…

South Tyneside has seen a rise in the number of erectile dysfunction drugs being prescribed to men, new figures show.

South Tyneside Council was the subject of nearly 50 complaints and enquiries to a watchdog last year, new figures show.

A South Tyneside firm is helping save lives by fitting defibrillators in public places for a charity.

Youngsters from a karate club in South Tyneside made a big impression in a national competition.