Two defence engineering firms are primed for “a significant increase in jobs” after being bought by an international operator, bosses have said.

A law firm says it has “the foundations to face future challenges and go from strength-to-strength” after posting financial highs.

Specialist recruitment and outsourced people services partner Jackson Hogg has moved to new headquarters in Wallsend’s Cobalt Business Exchange. Providing space to expand both its team and client services, the new surrounds will also play an intrinsic role in the company’s recently-announced switch to a four-day working week.

A trio of IT and cybersecurity companies have joined forces under a new name in a move they say will help public and private sector organisations better make the digital switch.

A funeral services company has marked its second anniversary with a team expansion.

A contractor has been appointed to create a £15 million skills hub focused on nurturing the house builders of tomorrow.

A fixture of Teesside’s iron and steelmaking past is to be razed to the ground in one of the “largest UK single explosive demolition operations of the past 75 years”.