AFTER more than 30 years supporting businesses across Teesdale and County Durham, John Atkinson has retired.
Mr Atkinson came to County Durham in 1989 to work for the Agricultural Training Board and worked with the Teesdale Training Group for a number of years, supporting the training of local farmers.
He went on to join County Durham Training and Enterprise Council and then Business Link County Durham, where he became the local point of contact during 2001 when Foot and Mouth hit the country. He worked closely with Teesdale Enterprise Agency to support businesses that had been affected by the outbreak.
Mr Atkinson was also a volunteer with Radio Teesdale, presenting a series of breakfast shows and also a regular business programme.
For the last ten years he has worked for business support organisation NBSL, delivering the North East Business Support Fund and has regularly attended the Teesdale Business Networking meetings, in Enterprise House.
He has also been the co-host of the Teesdale Business Awards since their inception and is also a director of Teesdale Development Company which manages Enterprise House, the organisers of the Teesdale Business Awards.
Mr Atkinson will continue as compere at the 2023 Teesdale Business Awards, which will see nominations open earlier than usual in July 2023, with the awards ceremony being held at The Witham, in Barnard Castle, on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.
