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GREETING CARDS FROM JOANNE

New Cards - all updated and restocked on the website. Thanks to Mr R for the help, he's a good 'un you know!Just click here to visit our shop.Joanne, Joanne Rowland Art...

HELLO MARCH!

I can't decide if the first months of 2021 actually flew past or if it lasted 3984 days?So pinch and a punch for the first of the month, and all that...It looks like it's gonna be a snowy and cold one up here, best dig out the Long Johns!Wet bench?  No problem with a Pocket Perch.  It saves bottoms from wet damp benches or any outdoor perching place every time!Ruth at Jacwicks Designs....

NEW INTERACTIVE VIDEO SERVICE FROM VISUAL PUNCH

At our last DBN meeting James demonstrated his NEW interactive video service. This service allows your customers to take a path that is more meaningful to them and, as a result, the video will feel more tailored to what they were looking for. Interactive video would be useful for those looking to have a virtual tour of a site and online courses as well as many more applications. Find out more about this service by popping over to the Visual Punch website HERE....

WILL'S TURNING SKILLS TO MAKE A SAPELE BOWL!

A little video of me working on my turning skills to make a Sapele Bowl. Please click here to visit my Etsy shop or contact me about commissions for your home.Will, ir8bespoke...

NATHALIE: TOUT LE MONDE!

4-minute French-learning adventures for kids and adults during lockdown with Nathalie.Click here to watch Nathalie's video.Nathalie, Nattalingo...

HAVE YOU GOT ANY SPARE WORKSHOP SPACE?

We often get asked if we know of any small, secure workshop spaces to rent or even buy.  There seems to be a real shortage of available workshop space of around 1000ft2 in our area.  There's plenty of office accommodation but workshops are much harder to find. So if you have (or know of any) premises that are too large and could be sublet to help a local business, please drop us a line.  We thought it would be useful to keep a register of available workspace. And if you are not su...

THIS WEEK'S TOP TIP FROM GILLIAN!

This weeks top tip from Gillian: How to divert your brain from overthinking.  Click here to watch Gillian's video!Gillian Fortune at Feel Good C.I.C....

HAPPY 6th BUSINESS BIRTHDAY TO TOOMEY LEGAL!

When it’s your birthday you need presents.  Welcome to Val Nuttall who joins the team today. Another present planned for Wednesday...Sue Shaw-Toomey, Toomey Legal...

DO YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR WILL?

As part of our service we carry out free Will reviews & we've often found that people don't understand the 'legal speak' in their Wills.  With us you also receive a Will Commentary, which is your Will etc. in plain English . . .  very useful I'm sure you'll agree.Brenda, Brenda Beveridge Wills & Trusts Ltd...

NBSL: Applying for grants

As grant schemes across the North East continue to emerge to help businesses recover from the impact of COVID, we’ve been speaking to John Atkinson, one of our most experienced business advisors to outline some of the few basic principles to make the sourcing and application for grant aid as easy and successful as possible. John confirms that each scheme has a set of criteria that an applicant will be expected to meet therefore recommends that potential applicants read the guidelines for the f...

WHAT IS CLUBHOUSE? DO I REALLY NEED IT? HOW DO I GET AN INVITE?

At first, I raised my eyes to heaven and thought “ugh - not another platform to get my head around”.  I made a decision I wasn’t going to get onto it - thinking ‘shiny new object’ I was going to ignore.But then I got an invite.So I thought, I’ll just check it out.The first time I checked into a room I was terrified people would see and hear me as I was literally ‘tipped’ into that room before I knew it.  So I hit ‘Leave Quietly’ and I was out.But then I did a bit mo...

APPLY FOR A DURHAM BUSINESS RECOVERY GRANT

The Durham Business Recovery Grant is a £5million fund to help County Durham businesses to recover from the effects of Covid-19.Who can apply for a Durham Business Recovery Grant Eligible businesses are those businesses able to demonstrate that they:have a significant operational base, but less than 250 employees in County Durhamwere established before 11 March 2020are set up for profit and registered to pay tax on profit (in any format, eg sole trader, limited company)use a business ...

WILLOW BURN HOSPICE - DERWENTSIDE HOSPICE CARE FOUNDATION

Did you know you can support you local hospice simply by shopping in your local Co-op?  Are you a member?  Would you like to help Willow Burn?The Co-op Local Community Fund supports projects across the UK that our members care about.Every time our members buy selected Co-op branded products and services, we'll give local causes a helping hand.Find our more by clicking here....

THE ROTARY CLUB

Rotary Information Started in Chicago in 1905.  Paul Harris a lawyer had an idea which would get business people to talk with each other.  They met in each other's business premises.  This led to the name Rotary and its symbol the wheel.From a networking club it became focussed on Humanitarian issues.  Clubs grew Globally.The Foundation is the largest charity pot in the world.  Rotary boasts 1.2 Million Members and 35,000 clubs.Rotary began as an all-male business group ...

THE NORTH EAST BUSINESS SUPPORT FUND IS OPEN AGAIN!

Great news.  The North East Business Support Fund has been extended through to March 2023 and is open again for applications.  NBSL have been able to secure further investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to the value of £1.6m to support 730 businesses.  We’re delighted to report that John Atkinson of NBSL has recorded a podcast for DBN about the Support Fund which gives lots of helpful advice and tips on how to ensure you get your grant application right ...

Episode 13: Starting a small business in a pandemic? Meet Allison Dore of Hello Friday.

Is there ever a perfect time to start a new business venture? In this podcast Melanie chats with Allison Dore of Hello Friday about here career journey, why being a second choice for a job wasn't important and about taking that leap into self employment....

Episode 14: Meet Phil Benton, Photographer and how his business helped him to overcome disability.

In this DBN podcast Melanie chats with inspirational Phil Benton whose long battle with M.E. resulted in him setting up his award-winning photography business and how darts and golf all played their part in his business journey.  Listen to the podcast here....

Episode 11: What's your legacy? Meet Jan Cook of Jan Cook Wills and Trusts

In this podcast, Melanie chats with Jan Cook of Jan Cook Wills and Trusts about her career in further education, why early retirement isn't for everyone, how a brand new career was launched, the importance of legacy planning, business networking and how technology and a global pandemic are opening new doors.  Listen to this podcast here....

Episode 10: Bringing a taste of Austrian Cafe Culture to Durham. Meet Bernhard from Durham Coffee.

Bernhard Nausner of Kaffeehaus Amadeus and Durham Coffee chats with Melanie about working with homeless people, a career in theology and then bringing a slice of Austrian café culture and great coffee to North East England.  Bernhard also chats about how premium quality coffee offers a better deal for the growers and how to work successfully with family members.  Click here to listen....

Episode 9: From forklift driver to video maker - Meet James from Visual Punch

In this episode Melanie chats with James Ibbitson of Visual Punch about his business journey, why quality video is important, how to make the most of networking opportunities, the excellence of the small business community and how DBN helped Melanie and James to collaborate . . . Click here to listen to this podcast....

Episode 8: Richard Holden MP: why small businesses, infrastructure and networking matter in North West Durham

In this podcast, Melanie chats with Richard Holden MP for North West Durham about how Members of Parliament can support the small business community, why infrastructure and connectivity are key to local prosperity, the important role of business networks and what type of small business Richard would like to run . . .  You can listen to this podcast here....

Episode 7: Duchy stands for Digital. Matthew Glover chats with Melanie Cant about apps and bingo!

In this DBN podcast, Melanie chats with Matthew Glover of Duchy Software about how wanting to know the rugby score led to a business idea, how apps are solving business problems and how a family love for bingo became a great business opportunity in Australia and New Zealand.  To listen to this podcast, please click here....

Selling from the heart! Moira Barnes chats with Melanie about boosting sales confidence

In this DBN podcast Melanie chats with Moira Barnes about being confident with selling, adapting during Covid, the benefits of networking and celebrating her business birthday with locally sourced birthday cakes!  Listen here....

Ruth at Jacwicks Designs saves the bottom of a national treasure

In this podcast Melanie Cant chats with Ruth Jacobs of Jacwicks Designs about her business, coming up with her business name, developing new products and how she saved the bottom of a national institution from getting damp - hero worship alert!  You can hear this podcast here....

Meet the person behind the pencil at Joanne Rowland Art

In our second podcast interview, Melanie Cant from Elm Marketing Solutions talks to Joanne from Joanne Rowland Art.  Listen to the podcast here....