CHRISTMAS is coming early for businesses across Darlington, as turnover has continued to show positive growth for the fifth month in a row, according to the business index for October.

Employee figures are also up on last month, which is reassuring news. It comes after figures recently published by the Office for National Statistics, which named the North-East as having the highest unemployment levels outside of London, at 6.6 per cent of our population.

The latest quarterly Business Confidence Report, complied by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), shows continued pessimism across the UK. However, a recent report by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) shows our region again at an extreme, but this time positive.

The CBI found business confidence in the North-East to be the highest of any region in the UK.

This month's business index has been evaluated by Peter Hogan, a tax partner at Clive Owen and Co LLP, chartered accountants and business advisors.

He said: "Locally, Darlington businesses do seem to be supporting this outlook, such as the announcement that Amec is to create 50 new jobs thanks to winning a £64m contract on a power station project.

"Likewise, Darlington-based residential home Southern Cross have just acquired the Ashbourne Group to increase the number of their homes from 360 to 573.

"Bringing their staff count to 30,000 and investing in new headquarters, in Archer Street, all acts as support to their continuing expansion programme, which has already brought them to be the UK's largest care company.

"Other Darlington businesses in the limelight recently, on account of their success, include Stapleton International who won their industry accolade of Company of the Year from Northern Offshore Federation.

"Also, Gulp and Intermedia Solutions, who both announced expansion programs in Durham and Sunderland respectively."

Outside investment from Gateshead-based company Easter Group also demonstrates support for future development, with their purchase of land at Faverdale East Business Park to build warehousing and office space.

Mr Hogan added: "The potential creation of new jobs and attracting new business to Darlington all point towards a promising future which we hope to see reflected in Darlington business owners confidence by next month."

The business index assesses local companies' activity based on figures filed by a selection of firms in and around the Darlington area over the course of the past month.

The business index figures compare and assess current business performance with previous months.