I remember working in Nottingham and seeing the Red Arrow coaches down there - it would have been 2006, but not sure when the brand was launched.
At that point, Im pretty sure GNE hadn't launched their branding.
There is also a Pronto in Nottingham, with possibly other similar named brands too
edit. A Red Arrows coach was involved in a fatal accident in Derby city centre in Dec 2006 according to this: www.derbybusdepot.co.uk/december06.html So def launched before GNE
RE: Go North East