CONSULTANTS based at the region's flagship technology park have reported successes worth millions of pounds and hundreds of jobs.

Durham University's Institute for Agility and Digital Enterprise Technology (IADET), which started out at Durham University, has helped more than 140 North-East manufacturing and engineering companies during the past three years.

Its advice is estimated to have helped secure £4.5m in investment, safeguarding 991 jobs.

It has also helped create 116 jobs in the region and increased its clients' combined turnover by £10.6m, to £84.1m.

The Agility team is based at the NetPark Research Institute, in Sedgefield, County Durham. It was set up to help North-East companies improve their profitability, performance and commercial prospects.

Agility manager Keith Ternent said: "The competitive nature of modern manufacturing puts pressure on businesses to continually operate more efficiently.

"In today's global market, it is vital that everything, from production processes to management styles, is synchronised if an organisation is to improve and maintain its competitive position.

"We aim to provide a complete solution for clients which meets their specific requirements."

Recent clients include Tricogen Laboratories, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. The company wanted to increase production to meet demand for exports of its hair care range.

Agility doubled productivity by altering shift patterns and then quadrupled it by investing in plant machinery.

It also helped Smiles Engineering, in Newcastle.

The company sought factory relocation and layout advice from Agility, after developing a system for use in bus engines that was times cleaner than its typical market rivals.

The team helped it secure £75,000 of investment, creating five jobs.

Brian Smiles, managing director, said: "It was critical when we expanded the business and opened the new workshop that we were able to meet the demand for the new engines, while maintaining the quality of the end product.

"The Agility team was very thorough, documenting procedures and considering many factors, such as the level of expertise of the new staff, health and safety requirements and environmental issues."

The consultancy is subsidised by regional development agency One NorthEast, the European Regional Development Fund, the business development units of the local councils and the University of Durham.

For further details on IADET, contact 0191-334 4741, or visit the website, www.iadet.org.uk