Eyes & Ears 13.06.25
It's what you've been missing
Treasury Island
Goldilocks zones and trailblazer neighbourhoods are two compound nouns that have crash-landed in my lexicon of buzzphrases this week.
And what a week. A meeting of the North East Combined Authority cabinet on Tuesday (where a lot was decided) followed by a Comprehensive Spending Review the very next day (where a lot was said, but a lot of it announced or leaked in the days before).
Plus there was all the other ‘stuff’ that happens in a normal week, so I’ll try to bring some semblance of sense and order to it all.
We already knew most of the big news before Chancellor Rachel Reeves stood up in the Commons - a decent-sized transport pot to extend the Metro to Washington, significant research and development funding, plus investment in social housing and nuclear power.
Potentially, the biggest prize for the North East and the wider North is the revision of the Treasury's Green Book with its over-emphasis on benefit-cost ratios (BCRs) which has been a huge handicap to any kind of levelling up in the country. This is a game-changer.
One of the first beneficiaries could be the upgrade to the Moor Farm roundabout on the A19, believes Cramlington and Killingworth MP Emma Foody.
High energy
There was a lot of energy in the North East this week, figuratively speaking and even quite literally.
The North East Combined Authority (NECA) agreed to invest £8.5m in the expansion of Newcastle College’s Energy Academy in Wallsend, allowing it to train more than 1,000 students each year for the renewable, subsea and offshore industries – triple the 340 who enrolled in 2024.
That came days after Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson officially opened the £15m Energy Central Learning Hub in Blyth where young people are trained to work in the offshore wind industry, and workers from other industries, such as oil and gas, are retrained.
It is the first of its kind in the country and Martin Lawlor, chair of Energy Central, said: “It is immensely satisfying to see the high profile that Energy Central Campus has created, delivering a unique offering that could act as a template for similar initiatives around the UK.”
Then there’s the Goldilocks Zones, with the North East identified as one of eight regions by the British Geological Society as being ‘just right’ in terms of geological conditions to drive the country’s net zero energy ambitions.
Review reaction
North East mayor Kim McGuinness welcomed the Government’s CSR announcements. Speaking as chair of The Great North, she said:
“The North has secured over £10 billion investment into our transport network, a new 10-year local growth fund to unlock our potential and transform our infrastructure, and an industrial strategy for the North's growth opportunities in advanced manufacturing and defence, clean energy and life sciences.”
John McCabe, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: “There is much for North East businesses to welcome. Support for infrastructure, clean energy and training – alongside action to tackle child poverty and improve public services – directly responds to our members’ calls for a Stronger, Fairer North East.”
The Chancellor announced that there would be a £4.7 billion uplift in the schools budget by 2028–29. But the director of Schools North East, Chris Zarraga, said a lack of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) funding and schools facing increased costs “will continue to leave North East pupils behind”.
Professor Jane Robinson, chair of the Universities for North East England executive committee, said: “Our universities are already global leaders in clean energy, life sciences, health innovation, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies. With this investment, we can go further - scaling research, building partnerships, and helping drive inclusive economic growth.”
Still not clear
The CSR did not provide clarity on everything. We will have to wait until next week, at the earliest, to find out what the Chancellor meant by her commitment to deliver the long-promised Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: “This must mean a new line from Liverpool to Hull and on to the North East, including a new station and route through Bradford, upgrades and electrification between Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester, a new line from Manchester Airport to Piccadilly and across to Yorkshire, and the full reopening of the Leamside Line.”
We’ll see.
Then there’s the Trailblazer Neighbourhoods - 25 areas which will receive up to £20m of regeneration funding over the next decade. It is still to be made clear what the money can be used for, but three ‘neighbourhoods’ in the region to benefit will be Walker North in Newcastle, Thorntree in Middlesborough and central Stockton and Portrack.
Bigger market
The NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) is to receive a £1.55m investment from the North East Combined Authority so that it can take on region-wide responsibility for destination marketing.
Tuesday’s NECA Cabinet meeting also decided to spend: £3.5m on upgrades to 195 bus stops; £6m to improve the attractiveness of nine rail or Metro stations; and £4.42m to install up to 166 new electric vehicle chargers.
Sting’s message
Sting has made a “major” – but undisclosed – donation to launch a £10 million endowment fund campaign to secure the future work of Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.
It might not be an “SOS to the world”, says writer David Whetstone, displaying his knowledge of 1970s pop lyrics, but it’s a clear message nonetheless from the Wallsend-born star. You can read David’s article here.
Sting also gave an interview to the BBC where he talked about being proud of his North East roots - but unhappy that it has been “wilfully neglected by successive governments for decades”.
Festival saved
The Lindisfarne Festival will go ahead this year, it has been confirmed. A statement published on the festival’s social media channels said the event was under new ownership, officially back in business and under the care of its original founder, “with an exciting new chapter ahead”.
Cultured. North East’s Sam Wonfor has all the details here.
Emergency action
The NHS may have emerged as the biggest winners in the Comprehensive Spending Review, but it won’t feel like that right now at Newcastle Hospitals trust where a three-month recruitment freeze and voluntary redundancy window has been introduced.
Acting chief executive Rob Harrison emailed staff to say there was a need to save £106m by the end of March next year - that’s £9m a month - in order to “get us into a much stronger financial position for future years”.
Helping hands
A major donation from the estate of the late Steve and Christine Convey has created a £3million fund at Community Foundation North East dedicated to helping young people find pathways to opportunity and employment.
Steve and his brother Peter built Convey Bros into a successful window cleaning business, which still thrives today.
Rob Williamson, CEO of Community Foundation North East said: “What Steve and Christine achieved in their lifetime was inspirational and we know many more people in our area can realise that kind of entrepreneurial success given the opportunity – this fund is for them and the organisations offering the right support.”
A quick word
Stockton council leader Lisa Evans described comments made by Stockton West Tory MP Matt Vickers in the Commons last week about asylum seekers in the borough as “unfair, inaccurate and inflammatory”. Former Sunderland Central MP Baroness Julie Elliott is to replace Lord Jim O’Neill as Chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership following the end of his term. Newcastle City Council has received a petition signed by more than 28,000 people opposing any plans by Newcastle United to build on Leazes Park. Middlesbrough mayor Chris Cooke has praised the “Herculean effort” it has taken to get the council to an underspend of more than £2m from a position of near bankruptcy. A deal that would allow Red Bull to buy Newcastle Falcons from businessman Semore Kurdi is now in the hands of lawyers and nearing completion, according to RugbyPass who first broke news of the deal. A three-storey expansion to Newcastle International Airport has been approved, including a bigger departure lounge and baggage arrival area. South Tyneside Council is to reconsider a decision to demolish an 18-storey tower block after an outcry from elderly residents. The GMB union report a large increase in membership from staff at Durham County Council. National officer Rachel Harrison said: “Reform spouts a lot of nonsense about being on the side of workers, but these figures show people aren’t buying it.” Only four councillors remain on Yarm Town Council following the mass resignation of seven members. Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen is looking for volunteers to scrutinise the police custody processes and the welfare of people being detained. Plans have been lodged to turn the former Judges Country House Hotel near Yarm, now owned by Teesside businessman Chris Musgrave, into a five-star boutique hotel with an events pavilion and garden lodges. Councillor John Bailey has resigned from Durham County Council because of health issues - the second Reform member to step down since the party’s landslide victory last month. Michael Slavin has been appointed as the new chief executive of Northern Stage in a restructuring of the leadership team at the region’s largest producing theatre. When he joins in October, he will work “in close partnership” with artistic director Natalie Ibu. Sunderland’s new footbridge is to be called Keel Crossing after a public vote. Thousands of people are expected at Tour of the Reservoir on Sunday June 22, a major cycling event which returns to Consett for the first time in six years.
Plate first
The UK's largest Irish pop-up pub will make it’s debut at the three-day Northumberland Plate Festival at Newcastle Racecourse which begins on Thursday June 26.
The 250-capacity pub includes large screen TVs and a roof terrace to watch the racing. It will be back for Ladies Day on July 26.
Innovative thinking
The North East can lead the way in helping the UK develop the data centres of tomorrow, says a new report from regional tech network Dynamo CIC.
Among the recommendations is the creation of an innovation ecosystem that fosters collaboration between start-ups, established businesses, researchers, and investors, and the development of more industry-academic partnerships to address any skills gap
Clickbait foul
I like to think my clickbait antennae is pretty good but this was a headline that pulled me in: ‘It hurts’ - Yankuba Minteh makes Brighton transfer demand one year on from £33m Newcastle United move.
I was curious as to why the young footballer would want to leave his new club. I should have known better. He doesn’t want a transfer. He was upset Brighton had not qualified to play in Europe next season and was suggesting (not demanding!) the club needed to make new signings to have a chance of doing so next season.
I won’t name the offending organ because this kind of thing is so widespread and I don’t usually fall for it. Feel free to share examples of clickbait that has annoyed you.
Rough justice
North East-based national charity Changing Lives has welcomed the repeal of the Vagrancy Act - a law that for over 200 years punished people for rough sleeping. Chief executive Stephen Bell said: “We need to replace punishment with care, and stigma with long-term support.”
The act was introduced in 1824 to deal with “idle and disorderly persons, and rogues and vagabonds”, and modern-day homeless charities have long called for it to be scrapped.
2003 ad break
Last week’s Honda ad from 2003 is now officially the most watched video - and clicked on link- there has been in the entire history of Eyes & Ears, all six months of it.
The Cog advert (which you can see in last week’s edition) won a few greater accolades than that of course - and it also spawned a few parodies, including this one from 118 118, where Honda parts were replaced by items such as a tractor tyre, a flamingo, space hopper and a man in a rolled up carpet.
For our younger readers who don’t remember a life without mobile phones, the 118 118 ads were a series of quirky commercials promoting a directory enquiries service and featured two moustachioed men inspired by 1970s long-distance runner David Bedford (ask Sir Brendan Foster).
Honda refused to give permission for its ad to be copied, meaning it couldn’t be shown on TV. So there’s a fair chance most of you, no matter your age, won’t have seen this before as it was only shown online and virally.
The ad, Just Works, went on to win a number of awards in its own right,
Business bites
Martijn Gilbert, the managing director of train operator Lumo, has stood down from his role with immediate effect to “pursue another leadership opportunity”. Newcastle-based iamproperty has seen record revenue growth with its online residential property auction business, iamsold, achieving increases of more than 20% to £41.4m, contributing to a pre-tax profit of £13.9m. A rescue deal has saved all 34 jobs after Newton Aycliffe-based Formula Plastic collapsed into administration. Hays Travel has acquired Essex company Spear Travel Group which has 12 branches across the country. Newcastle-based housebuilder Bellway is on track to report higher profits after a period of “robust” trading and an increase in customer confidence. Radio frequency equipment maker Filtronic are confident of surpassing revenue expectations for the year after securing a £24m contract with SpaceX, its largest contract yet with the Elon Musk-owned company. Darlington-based ZyroFisher, which supplies the cycling and outdoor trade, has signed a distribution deal with iconic Swiss bottle brand SIGG. Newcastle-based Mincoffs has maintained its position as the North East’s number one deal adviser in the latest Experian Market M&A Review for quarter one of 2025,
THE WIDER VIEW
Did somebody say…
‘Snoop Dogg hopes to open burger van at Celtic Park’ - not a headline I ever expected to read. But he has an interest in food (not Just Eat-ing!) and wants to show that stadium food can be high quality. Plus he has an affection for Celtic, saying the supporters are special and the best in Europe!
We’ll meet again
Labour ministers and senior civil servants met with tech industry executives and lobbyists an average of six times a week during the Government’s first six months in office, figures obtained by Democracy For Sale reveal.
Some of those meetings raise serious questions about access and influence. Just weeks after the election, Google’s AI chief was invited to “sense check” Labour’s new AI policy, according to the documents.
In another case, technology secretary Peter Kyle said he would “advocate” for Amazon at the UK’s competition regulator - at a time when the regulator was actively investigating the company. That case was later dropped.
Gina Neff, Professor of Responsible AI at Queen Mary University, called the scale of the access “shocking”.
AI rip off
Talking of AI, the use of paywalled content to create AI-generated videos is the latest front in a war between publishers and the big tech companies.
Freelance journalist Rob McGibbon shared the story of his 25-year estrangement from his father with readers of the Daily Mail. “It was such a deeply personal piece - and by far the hardest story I have ever had to write – that I was determined to control the copyright,” he said. “I didn’t want it being ripped off by anyone.”
Within hours of publication, however, the paywalled content and copyrighted pictures had been turned into a 14-minute video on a YouTube channel with an AI narrator - and damaging inaccuracies added for good measure.
Rob said: “Google are handling stolen goods in plain sight and governments must find the way to hold them responsible. In the real world, selling on stolen stuff is as serious as the criminal who stole it in the first place. Why should it be different in the virtual world?”
YouTube is part of Google which made at least £20bn in UK advertising revenue last year.
Good vibrations
(I can’t write that headline this week without saying RIP Brian Wilson)
NHS patients will be the first in Europe to benefit from ground-breaking cancer treatment which is non-invasive and destroys tumours with ultrasound.
Histotripsy was first approved in the US in late 2023, and more than 1,500 patients have received treatment. The UK’s first machine has been donated to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge and patients will begin receiving treatment this summer.
Total recall
Students and scholars in ancient Greece and Rome used rosemary in the hope of sharpening concentration and recall. They may have been on to something.
The aromatic herb is now gaining recognition for its health benefits, especially when it comes to better memory, lower anxiety, inflammation and immune function - and it may even hold promise in the fight against Alzheimers.