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JACWICKS DESIGNS LAUNCHES TWO NEW PRODUCTS!

One thing I love about running my own business is the freedom it gives me to design new products.  This month I am delighted to launch not one but two new products!Pocket Perch Fleece: especially designed for the winter months, this Pocket Perch has a fabulously cosy fleece top and thermal inner to give you more protection and comfort from cold damp winter benches and perching places.Measuring 40x40cm when flat this full cushion size Perch is a must have for those chilly winter walks.Keep y...

WILLOW BURN - FOUR WEEKS OF CHRISTMAS

It has become tradition at Willow Burn Hospice to host a Nurses' Christmas Fair every year so that you can all come and visit our team, as well as enjoy some festive fun.  This event is always extremely popular and is a key date in the Willow Burn diary but due to the ongoing pandemic and to minimise excessive footfall into the hospice, we have made the difficult decision to cancel. But don't worry, you will still get to see our team online throughout December with video messages and photos...

JOANNE'S PET PORTRAIT OF HECTOR!

A huge thank you to Joanne Rowland Art for making Gary's year!  Since moving to Spain, Gary made firm friends with his neighbour's dog Hector.  Hector and his family have now moved to Marbella and Gary has missed him terribly so John contacted Joanne and asked her to draw a portrait of Hector.  Joanne surprised Gary when she presented him with this beautiful portrait of Hector at the Land of Oak and Iron.  What a lovely surprise!...

NORIKO ART - SHOPPING

I’ve been drawing cartoons since lockdown started in March 2020.  Since all lockdown restrictions have been lifted in England during summer (touch wood!), I want to start sharing some of my memories from the pre-COVID period in my cartoon.When Ichi was little, he used to tell me about his memories before he was born.  When I asked him how he chose his daddy and mummy, he said, “I went shopping and bought you.”  “Daddy was very expensive!  He is a game programmer, see?...

STRESS-BUSTING FOR THE WORKPLACE - NO-NONSENSE STRESS-BUSTING FOR THE WORKPLACE

Bespoke online training and video support programmes to help your staff tackle stress, overwhelm and deal with customers.Bespoke 60-minute online training sessions.Because you need to address wellbeing; you want emotionally resilient staff; an effective stress-buster; without breaking the training and welfare budgets.Stress Express online 60-minute training sessions for the Workplace provides a self-help approach through delivery of straightforward, practical and effective techniques to tackle s...

DURHAM COFFEE ROASTERY GRAND OPENING

We're celebrating the opening of our new premises and would love to invite you to the Grand Opening of our Coffee Roastery. Join us for a champagne welcome, a brief introduction to coffee and a look at our wonderful new air motion roaster alongside a short coffee tasting session, enjoy a chance to network and be the first to try our BRAND-NEW Peruvian Coffee which we will be launching on the day! Tuesday, 23rd November – 10:30-12:30 & 15:00-17:00 Durham Coffee, AMR Building, Unit 8, Sacriston ...

BE PART OF TEAM LUMO

Job opportunity for Claims Handler with LUMO, Greencroft, StanleyThis is a rare and exciting opportunity to join a successful and ambitious company whose mission is to support innovation within the UK.Applications for the position of Claims Handler are invited from candidates who have a strong customer service background, who enjoy working with numbers and who have a diligent approach to work that results in leaving no loose ends.Click here to find out more and to apply....

BUTTON METHODOLOGY LEADS TO SIGNIFICANT ORGANIC GROWTH FOR INSURANCE BROKER

Teesside based insurance brokers, Erimus have had their best organic six months ever to the end of 2020 after adopting the button methodology for marketing strategy from My Marketing Button.  The trend looks set to continue with a significant increase in both income and quote activity in Q1 2021. The story began back in 2019 when a broker with no marketing experience was offered an opportunity to grow and develop into a marketing role.  Emma Brown, a bright graduate at Erimus attended ...

PHIL: "CALENDARS MAKE GREAT GIFTS!"

My new 2022 calendar is NOW AVAILABLE it includes six landscapes and six wildlife photos. Just click here to order your calendar. Although you will need to book them this year, I'll be exhibiting at several Christmas Fairs. November: 11th to 14th - Brockbushes Christmas Fayre19th to 21st - Beamish Hall26th to 28th - Spanish City Christmas Fayre December: 4th and 5th - Linskill Christmas Fayre I'm also now doing high end textured wallpaper murals of any of my work. Please contact me for more deta...

JAMES: "I'VE DONE SOMETHING TO FIRMLY PUT MYSELF OUTSIDE OF MY COMFORT ZONE . . ."

After nearly 9 years it’s a wrap.  I know!  It definitely feels like end of an era. I launched Visual Punch back in 2013 not long after getting a first-class degree in Film and TV production.  I quickly discovered that it was extremely difficult to get a role within the sector - it was the old adage of companies wanting experienced people for entry-level roles but there was no way of getting it.  However, I didn’t want that to stop me from doing what I wanted to do so I d...

PETER THOMAS - CONSETT TOWN CENTRE QUESTIONNAIRE - RECLAIMING CONSETT

As part of an Eco project with young people from Consett, we are asking people of all ages to complete this online questionnaire.  It is about how people feel about Consett and how they feel it could be improved. Once you have completed it, can you please share it (https://forms.office.com/r/sjTAj9kzFc). The more responses we have the better! Thank you!Peter...

HAPPY BUSINESS BIRTHDAY TO MOIRA BARNES SALES CONSULTANCY

September 28th marked my first business birthday! In those three years, I have worked with several DBNers including James Ibbitson of Visual Punch, Melanie Cant of Elm Marketing Solutions and of course with the DBN team, delivering sales training workshops in-person and online to all the wonderful members. My 3 top tips if you are starting out in business… Networking - find a friendly bunch who will look after you (like DBN). Don’t worry about selling yourself at these events to start w...

THIS AUTUMN, DISCOVER THE LAND OF OAK AND IRON AND THE HERITAGE AND NATURE OF THE DERWENT VALLEY

The Heritage Centre is situated in the beautiful lower Derwent Valley in Winlaton Mill, and hosts a range of events and activities, along with our lovely little café and shop.Upcoming events include guided bird and nature walks, creative workshops, art exhibitions, local artist and maker events, music and pizza evenings, book launches and evening talks.Join one of our events for our climate awareness week in October, try a social morning with Woolly Wednesdays and Board Game Tuesdays.Starting i...

GED NAUGHTON - CONSETT THE WORLD!

A Consett project that uses soccer to bring people from different continents together is appealing for football gear to send to Africa. Ged Naughton from Consett is asking people to collect second-hand boots, strips and other kit to send to four teams in Liberia, West Africa.  Ged has been connected with Liberia for more than 25 years and for three years has organised the Christmas Dribble - a sponsored walk in December kicking a football 15 miles to raise money to cover transport...

EXCITING NEWS FROM DURHAM COFFEE!

Our brand-new roaster, after a long journey, has arrived and we are finally open to the public.  Our Roastery Opening Times are: Wednesdays 10am - 1pmThursdays 10am - 1pm The Roastery is located at: Industrial Estate, Unit 8, AMR Building Sacriston, Plawsworth Road, Sacriston, County Durham DH7 6JX. As well as all of our coffees, gift box, soaps etc. you will soon also be able to purchase some brewing equipment from our online store (or at the roastery), such as the Hario V60 Dripper S...

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT - THE SENSORY ROOM PROJECT IS COMPLETED

After the huge challenges of Covid, we are delighted to say that our Sensory Room programme with the young people Learning for Life & Consett Academy has been successfully completed!The film of the project can be seen below and we have added the DBN logo to the closing credits & tagged you in to social media where possible.Many thanks for your support - it is going to make a real difference to some of the most vulnerable in our community.Peter Thomas...

GREAT TO BE BACK AT EMCON 2021

The atmosphere at EMCON Engineering & Manufacturing Show 2021 felt like a reunion party as everyone enjoyed the novelty of being back out connecting with each other in-person again. Owen Weightman of 3D Virtual Spaces had a stand in the ‘incubator’ zone and collaborated with Ann English of Create Intrigue on the design and visual marketing.  This time-lapse video shows how the ideas were transformed into reality. There is support available for Durham businesses to exhibit at EMCON next ...

RUTH AT JACWICKS DESIGNS

Happy Business Birthday to Jacwicks Designs In September Jacwicks Designs celebrated its 3rd Birthday!  As you can imagine the past year has been a rollercoaster but we made it through.  I’d like to say a huge THANK YOU! to all customers and supporters over the years, I couldn’t have done it without you. Looking forward to the coming year, there will be some exciting new product launches and the revival of Shows, Fairs and events across the UK. I am very excited to be launching som...

RUTH AT LAND OF OAK & IRON - MEET THE MAKER

DATE & TIME: Saturday, 16th October - 10:00-16:00VENUE: Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre, Spa Well Road, Winlaton Mill, Blaydon upon Tyne, NE21 6RU.Land of Oak & Iron are excited to host the next of our regular ‘Meet the Maker‘ events at the Heritage Centre in Winlaton Mill.  Our next Meet the Maker is with Ruth Jacobs.  Ruth is the founder of Jacwicks Designs and designer of the Perch range of waterproof sit-mats and picnic rugs.The Pocket...

LAND OF OAK AND IRON - MEET THE MAKER WITH JOANNE ROWLAND

DATE & TIME: Saturday, 2nd October - 10:00-16:00 VENUE:  Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre, Spa Well Road, Winlaton Mill, Blaydon upon Tyne, NE21 6RU. Land of Oak & Iron are excited to host the next of our regular ‘Meet the Maker‘ events at the Heritage Centre in Winlaton Mill.  Our next Meet the Maker is with Joanne Rowland. Joanne is a professional wildlife and pet portrait artist, based in County Durham, in the North East of England. ...

Storage Needed

The local councillor for Blackhill is looking for free temporary storage for a toy appeal she is running. If anyone can help please DM us. ...

ILLUMINATIONS NETWORKING BY LUMO

DATE & TIME: Wednesday, 29th September - 15:00 VENUE: The Willow Suite, The Greenhouse, Amos Drive, Greencroft Industrial Park, Annfield Plain, Stanley, DH9 7XN Booking is still open for this event and there are a number of places available. To register your interest or to find out more call Louise Mcvittie on 01207 460 616 or email louise.mcvittie@lumo.tax. We can finally put the Zoom calls in the back pocket and enjoy the energy & excitement of a live networking event! Lumo Tax are proud ...

GED NAUGHTON – CONSETT THE WORLD

A Consett project that uses soccer to bring people from different continents together is appealing for football gear to send to Africa.  Ged Naughton from Consett is asking people to collect second-hand boots, strips and other kit to send to four teams in Liberia, West Africa.  Ged has been connected with Liberia for more than 25 years and for three years has organised the Christmas Dribble - a sponsored walk in December kicking a football 15 miles to raise money to cover tra...

FREE Fire Safety Live Event

The Fire Safety Team at Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service is running a free live event aimed at those who have a responsibility to ensure fire safety management (local businesses, community centre reps etc). It will be held on a Teams “Dial in” on Thursday, 16th September 2021 between 14:00 and 16:00. To attend this live event contact josmith@ddfire.gov.uk....

Tackling the Social Care problem - tax impacts for SME owners

Yesterday, the Government announced increases in National Insurance Contributions for employees, employers and the self-employed and an increase in the rates at which dividend income will be taxed from April 2022.  All three will increase by 1.25 percentage points from that date and from April 2023 employee’s payslips will see the NIC elements transformed into something called the “Health and Social Care Levy”.There is an awful lot of politicking to be done before these changes come i...