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Graeme Whitfield

Regional business editor

Graeme Whitfield is business editor for Reach in the North East, covering The Journal, The Chronicle, The Gazette and their websites, as well as overseeing North East content for the Businesslive site. He has worked at Reach since 1998 and has previously held roles including news editor and Northumberland editor.

Asda co-owners face MP grilling on fuel prices and company structure
Retail & High Street
The Leeds-based firm has faced criticism on "bumped up" petrol prices
Persimmon sees sales fall by a third in 'uncertain' housing market
Construction
The York-based firm pointed to a recovery in sales in the last quarter of 2023 and said it had beaten expectations
Teesworks accounts show major increase in revenue and profits
Company Results
The development of the massive site is 90% owned by private developers after a transfer of assets in 2021
‘Milestone year’ sees 39% rise in revenue at Tyneside tech firm iamproperty
Technology
The Newcastle business says it sold more than £1.5bn worth of property for the first time in a 12-month period
Housebuilder MJ Gleeson sounds note of optimism for housing market
Construction
The Sheffield firm saw a slump in sales in the second half of 2023 but has seen some signs of recovery
Humber businesses given downbeat verdict on prospects in UK economy
Economy
The quarterly survey by the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce shows businesses struggling in a number of areas
The year in North East business 2023: the region's 10 best companies
North East
In the latest of our series of articles to round up the year, The Journal's business team selects the 10 companies that have had the best of the last 12 months
The year in North East business 2023: the 10 biggest stories
North East
We kick off our end of year round-up with a selection of the 10 biggest stories for the North East business scene this year
Fenwick enjoys 'late Christmas' as retail sector sees encouraging signs
Retail & High Street
The Newcastle-based department store chain is currently drawing crowds to its popular Christmas window appeal
North East construction group pleads with councils to help SMEs
Construction
Construction Alliance North East has made pleas in a number of areas following high profile administrations in 2023
Hitachi slashes value of Durham factory amid crisis in rail industry
Transport
The firm said a £64m write-down in the value of its factory at Newton Aycliffe did not mean there would be a "cessation" at the planst
Green jobs on offer in North East fall in 2023, report finds
Climate Agenda
The PwC Green Jobs Barometer said that jobs in environmental sectors fared better than the wider economy, however
North East business activity falls for sixth consecutive month, survey finds
Economy
The NatWest PMI has been released ahead of a key week for new economic data for the region
Pragmatic Semiconductor secures £182m investment to create hundreds of new jobs
Deals
The Cambridge-based firm has a manufacturing facility at Durham
Car dealer Vertu issues profit warning as used car values slump
Automotive
The Gateshead-based firm had previously issued bullish results about its growing revenues
Metrocentre hails return of shoppers after £70m of investments
Retail & High Street
The Gateshead shopping centre said rental income and occupancy levels had risen in recent weeks
Efforts to complete the sale of Britishvolt extended by administrators
Automotive
EY have warned it may look for an alternative buyer if the current deal with preferred bidders Recharge Industries can't be completed
Sunderland business improvement district gets overwhelming vote in favour of continuing
Economy
The BID was backed for a new five-year term by a margin of 86.8%
Nissan to produce new electric vehicles at its Sunderland plant
European Union
Production of all-electric Qashqai and Juke models will safeguard thousands of jobs
North East political and business leaders give lukewarm reaction to Chancellor's Autumn Statement
Economy
Moves to cut National Insurance and incentivise business investment were announced by Jeremy Hunt
Grainger plc hails 'record delivery' as rental income increases
property news
The Newcastle firm has a portfolio of more than 10,000 homes, with another 5,600 in the pipeline
Government action on EV batteries needed to prevent decline in car industry, MPs warn
Jaguar Land Rover
A cross-party group of MPs launched its investigation into battery production as the Britishvolt project foundered earlier this year
Kitwave announces latest acquisition with deal to buy Oldham firm
Deals
The North Shields firm has bought Wilds of Oldham to increase its reach in the North West
Mars set to take over Hotel Chocolat in deal worth more than £500m
Deals
The upmarket chain said support of the major corporation was needed to back its plans to grow around the world