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OUR FACE TO FACE MEETINGS ARE BACK!

DATE: Tuesday, 15th March 2022 - 8:30-10:00 VENUE: Consett Rugby Club, Amethyst Park, Medomsley Road, Consett, County Durham, DH8 6LU Our members meetings are fun, friendly and proactive.  Make sure you book your place early to avoid disappointment.As well as our regular networking activities,  representatives from Durham County Council are joining us to talk about the Big Econ-versation survey that all businesses in the County are being invited to take part in - have your say on ...

APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED: PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES WANTED!

Are you looking for a new volunteering challenge?  Would you like to help the Derwent Valley Partnership (DVP) identify local issues, develop projects to help tackle these and have a say in where our funding is spent? If ‘yes’, the DVP will soon have seven public rep vacancies on its Board.  This exciting opportunity is open to anyone aged 16+ who lives, works, studies or volunteers in our area.  Applicants must have a keen interest in their community, and a desire to take par...

DERWENT VALLEY PARTNERSHIP PRIORITY SURVEY

The DVP receives an annual budget to help tackle local priorities and issues so it is really important to us that we know where to target this funding, to help improve the quality of life for our local residents, and to make our area a more attractive place for those who wish to visit for recreation and/or to access services. The survey will only take a few minutes to complete the current priority survey consultation that will help determine the priorities for the DVP to focus on in the coming y...

MORNING, ENJOY YOUR DAY - EXCITED TO BE WITH DURHAM COFFEE!

Please click the image to play Mags' video....

WILL YOUR BENEFICIARIES INHERIT EQUALLY FROM YOU?

Have you had the important discussion with your family as to how your estate will be divided on your death?  Yes, it is a difficult conversation to have but it can save a lot of heartache in the future, especially if your children are surprised that they are not being treated equally.Click here to check out my latest blog post and please don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like to have a chat about the best way to deal with your estate.Jan, Jan Cook Wills & Trusts...

HEALTH BEGINS WITH THE HEART . . .

In 2009 the High Desert Heart Institute in the USA carried a comprehensive human clinical study on Synergy’s ProArg-9+. For this study, 33 high-risk heart failure patients were selected.  The vast majority of the patients in the study had reached the end of what medical science could do for them.  They were at maximum drug levels, maximum supplemental oxygen and maximum therapy. Some of these patients were on a heart-transplant list.Each patient was given 2 ProArgi-9+ in the morning ...

THE POCKET PERCH HAS HAD A BIT OF A MAKEOVER

They now have a more defined machine sewn edge which helps them keep their shape better. Still providing fab protection and warmth from cold, damp, dirty perching places.  There's lots to choose from on the Jacwicks website, which is your favourite? Ruth, Jacwicks Designs...

IT'S TIME TO FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR I.T.

In February, Centurion Computers are endeavouring to “bring the love” to your relationship with your I.T.Did you know Centurion cover the following?CCTV camera installation, setup, and support.WiFi installation, improvement, and support. Good WiFi is essential for smart T.V.’s, Heating systems, multiple laptops/tablets, VoIP systems.VoIP phone support – talk to us regarding handsets, moving between business and home, ability to transfer numbers to mobile phones.4G networks - we are an EE...

HAPPY BUSINESS BIRTHDAYS!

Happy Business Birthdays to Toomey Legal (7 years) and Westwood Accountancy (13 years).  Huge congratulations from all your friends at DBN!...

County Durham Inclusive Economic Strategy - Have your say!

Durham County Council is building an economic strategy that will shape the County’s economic growth over the next 10 years. Businesses, large and small, in all sectors and across the County are being invited to take part in a conversation which will inform the strategy and give you a say on what is important to your business.Your views, experiences, knowledge, and ambitions will help us create the kind of economy we need for our County. The Big Econ-versation provides you with a voice to share...

LAND OF OAK & IRON HERITAGE CENTRE

As spring approaches the Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre, the team have been busy planning events, activities and workshops. If you’ve not visited them before, Land of Oak & Iron covers a 177km2 area from the River Tyne at Prudhoe, along the River Derwent and into County Durham.  The Heritage Centre is situated in the beautiful Lower Derwent Valley, with our lovely little Heritage Centre and café looking out onto Derwenthaugh Park - once a world leading iron and steel works, it has be...

INTRODUCING WILD WALLACE!

The Cooper Rose in Sunderland has undergone a 2.2 million pound refit and I was commissioned to paint my version of Wallace the Lion.  Wallace was a captive lion and performed in the winter gardens in the 1800s.  The museum has displayed Wallace since 1879.  I called my version Wild Wallace, what I would like to think he'd look like in his prime, and more importantly, Wild.  I included a couple of discrete battle scars, as he was a handful when he was at Sunderland, I can't s...

SEE NORIKOART ON HEXHAMTV

Last month Noriko ran a family friendly 1 hour art workshop on HexhamTV with her children.  In the show she demonstrated how easy it is to create Japanese paper collage with newspaper.  Here is lovely artwork made by people who joined in the workshop.For those who missed it, the recording is available to buy from HexhamTV. Just click here for the link to the recording.Noriko offers her art workshops both face-to-face and online. To find out more about her workshops, visit her website h...

ANN ENGLISH - I HAVE THREE EXCITING THINGS TO SHARE . . .

British Display Society AwardI’m proud to have been awarded Fellow of The British Display Society in recognition to my services in the Design and Display industry.  My story is also featured in their global VM Spotlight magazine (pgs. 46-49) (just click here to read the article).A-Z of Visual MarketingFollowing on from the A-Z of Visual Marketing masterclass I delivered virtually to DBN members during lockdown.  I’ve now developed the content into an online training course, this wi...

1950s FRONT STREET TERRACE AT BEAMISH MUSEUM

Join us to celebrate the opening of our 1950s terrace from 19th to 27th February 2022. Front Street terrace in The 1950s Town will include four new exhibits for you to explore - John’s Café, Middleton’s Quality Fish and Chips, Elizabeth’s Hairdresser’s and a recreation of the 1950s home of North East artist Norman Cornish.  Book your Beamish visit now!...

INTRODUCING OUR BRAND NEW KENYAN PEABERRY COFFEE

This is our very first peaberry coffee and it has been a fun coffee to roast.  Being a thicker denser bean, the peaberry develops differently in the roaster compared to normal beans meaning it took a bit more experimenting to get used to how this bean reacts and create a roast profile we’re happy with.  In the end we went for a light/medium roast that showcases the lush blackcurrant sweetness of this Kenyan bean whilst retaining a nice medium body.Our Kenyan peaberry beans originate ...

NORIKO'S LATEST CARTOON - "SAUSAGES"

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DURHAM'S UK CITY OF CULTURE BID IS IN!

DBN is proud to be one of the hundreds of businesses supporting #Durham2025, continuing our history of coming together to create something extraordinary. It’s our time to shine....

FANCY JOINING OUR DURHAM COFFEE CLUB?

Good Afternoon fellow coffee lovers! We recently hosted our first Coffee Course in the new training space at our roastery and it was such fun we just had to tell you more about it! We love sharing our passion for coffee with others and have created a series of courses to quench your thirst for coffee knowledge, hone your brewing skills and prepare you to join our Durham Coffee Club should you wish to become a VICP (very important coffee person). By completing tow or our coffee lover's ...

TRADING WITH RUSSIA & UKRAINE - DIT SUPPORT

From Paul Sparks at the Department for International Trade: If you’re a UK business trading with Ukraine or Russia and have questions about the current trading situation, contact the UK government's export support team by phone or online: https://www.gov.uk/ask-export-... or contact me directly for guidance. Also, there are “Sanctions” being placed on trade with Russia.  Below is a PowerPoint presentation that is used as part of our free “Export Academy”, ...

GILLIAN IS BACK WITH HER MONDAY'S STRESS-BUSTING TOP TIP

I'm back with my Monday's Stress-Busting Top Tip. This one's about kindness! Gillian, Feel Good C.I.C....

PHIL BENTON - FREE COURSE IN PHOTOGRAPHY STARTS 24th FEBRUARY

Our very own Phil from Phil Benton Photography will be running a FREE course in Photography starting Thursday, 24th February (7pm-8pm) via Zoom, and continuing for the following 4 Thursdays. You will learn the following in the sessions:Session 1 - Photography BasicsSession 2 - Information on Pixels and photo sizesSession 3 - FunctionsSession 4 - Light sources, Tripods and supportSession 5 - Practical outdoor photo taking sessionThis course is open to EVERYONE and ANYONE over 18 years of age. Spa...

RAND ROCKET LIMITED - SEE THEIR NEW WEBSITE!

Elm Marketing Solutions has launched a new website for DBN member Rand Rocket LtdThis exciting project has been on Melanie’s project board for quite a while as there were so many changes required due to the pandemic.  Together they’ve created a beautiful new website which allows customers to buy direct online from anywhere in the UK and Ireland. You can check out the new website by clicking here. This project was also part funded by Digital Drive Durham who are also DBN members....

​BIG IMPACT NETWORKING!

Yesterday was DoBusinessNetwork (DBN) first face to face meeting of 2022 at Willow Burn Hospice and it certainly was a one to remember!The group was a little smaller than usual due to covid but the room was buzzing with positivity and laughter. In the theme of Valentines Day and to ensure we made the most of our morning we did a speed networking session which meant we got to speak to everyone in the room!Although it looked a little manic at times it was great to see members c...

BEAMISH MUSEUM 1950'S TOWN VISIT

We were lucky enough to be invited along to Beamish Museum today to take a peek at part of their new 1950s development which is due to open very soon!Elizabeth’s Hair Salon, Middletons Fish & Chip shop and John’s Cafe were all open and we got to sample the chips, homemade ice cream and enjoy a nice hot cuppa to finish off.Thank you to Sally Dixon, Liz Peart, Lisa Wilkinson and all the Beamish staff who went out of their way to make us feel like VIPs. The 1950s v...