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THE LAND OF OAK & IRON - NOVEMBER 2025

Date & Time - Saturday, 1st November 2025 - 10:00-16:00Come and meet Natalie from Awesome Botanical at the Heritage Centre for another of our ‘Meet the Maker’ events.“Our story starts at the dining room table in 2020, Natalie had nothing but a passion and a dream to create indulgent naturally scented bath & body care products.All of her products are handmade in Gateshead.  From Energising Whipped Soaps, to nourishing lip balms.  It’s a time to give your skin the spa-lik...

BUILDING SELF-BELIEF OCTOBER NEWSLETTER

Renovation of the community centre is thanks to £13,000 of funding from Karbon Homes’ Unlocking Social Value Fund.  Karbon has proudly partnered with Building Self-Belief for several years, supporting the charity with a number of its projects and services.CEO of Building Self Belief, Christine Thomas, said: “The centre means we now have an identity and a consistent presence, putting us at the heart of the community. We’ve been based in Consett since 2018 but not h...

USHAW - NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2025

Marvel at the traditionally decorated Main House and Chapels, and discover enchanting displays - from magnificent trees and handcrafted book-inspired installations to joyful artwork created by over 1,000 local schoolchildren.Daily throughout December - 10:00am - 4:00pm.EVENTS DURING THE CHRISTMAS PERIODChristmas Gift Fair - Saturday, 8th & Sunday, 9th NovemberDiscover over 50 of the region’s finest crafters and local artisans, showcasing unique creations and stunning gift inspiration. ...

CHRISTMAS 2025 AT USHAW

Step into the magic of Ushaw Historic House this Christmas and experience a celebration filled with tradition, creativity, and community spirit.Discover a sparkling line-up of festive events, from creative workshops and joyful concerts to family fun with Father Christmas himself!...

Tired of networking that doesn't deliver?

The Do Business Network (DBN) is a dynamic community built on practical support and real results. Our focus is on helping small businesses in the North East not just network, but genuinely do business.The Value is Clear: Over 90% of our members do business with each other. That’s the proven return on investment you get from an active, trusted business community.What a DBN Membership Gives Your Business (Just £130 Annually):Practical Expertise: Access to 1-to-1 business coaching, member-to-mem...

Sweet Success: Networking at Beamish Museum

We had a fantastic networking morning at Beamish Museum today! It was brilliant to see so many familiar faces and to connect with the Business Friends of Beamish too! We kicked off the event with a relaxed cuppa, where we were warmly welcomed by Lisa Powell and Sam Appleby from Beamish. To mark the season, we enjoyed some delicious, spooky-themed shortbread, baked fresh at the famous Beamish Bakery—a treat that certainly set a positive tone for the morning!The room quickly filled with energy a...

BEAMISH HALL - FOREST OF LIGHT 2025

The North East’s Leading Winter Light Trail is almost fully booked for weekend and peak-season evenings in December!...

HALF TERM AT USHAW - OCTOBER 2025

Thursday, 30 October, Friday, 31st October & Saturday, 1 November 2025Step through the stone gates and leave the everyday behind . . . if you dare.  This spooky season, Ushaw’s historic grounds transform into a haunting illuminated trail, filled with wonder, mystery, and a touch of fright.Book now....

OCTOBER HALF TERM AT BEAMISH

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NORTHERN CANCER VOICES - FIRST FUNDRAISER!

This weekend marked a major milestone for Northern Cancer Voices as Northern Cancer Voices held their very first fundraising event - and what a challenge it was!Eight incredible fundraisers took on the Yorkshire Two Peaks (yes, not three!) in a demanding hike led by their brilliant guide Orange John. Battling tough terrain and unpredictable weather, the team tackled Ingleborough (723m) and pushed on to Whernside (736m) - with four determined walkers making it t...

DISCOVER KAFFEEHAUS' NEW LIMITED EDITION COFFEE!

Discovery is KAFFEEHAUS' rotational limited edition coffee allowing them to bring you some exciting new flavours to sample.  The current Discovery is a coffee from the wonderful Brazilian producer Mio.The coffee that has been chosen is a bean which has undergone a 72h volcanic fermentation process resulting in a deliciously sweet and juicy cup.  Roasted to a medium light profile, the Discovery limited edition coffee produces a soft sweetness with notes of yellow fruits and macadamia an...

CONSETT ROTARY CLUB

Consett Rotary continues to grow its membership as people are increasingly become aware of the community service ethos of the Club. Formed in 1942 Rotary has been serving the people of Consett for over 80 years.Four new members joined at a recent meeting bringing the new membership total since July to eight.Consett Rotary would like to extend an invitation to all DBN members to come along to one of our meetings to see what we get up to.In July, for example, the Rotary Club ra...

AUTUMN MAGIC AWAITS AT BEAMISH HALL!

2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th November 2025Get ready for a night of sparkle and excitement - their much-loved Fireworks Extravaganza is back next month, and this year promises to be the biggest, brightest, and most magical yet!Tickets are flying!  Don’t miss your chance to be part of the magic - book now before they’re gone.Book your tickets here....

Join Us for a Joint DBN and Northern Tenants Business Network Event

Don't miss our special joint networking event with the Northern Tenants Business Network! This session is designed to help you boost your business performance and resilience.This is a fantastic opportunity to double your networking reach, connecting not just with your usual DBN members but also with fellow Business Durham tenants and other local business owners. It’s the perfect setting to share experiences and discover new opportunities right here in our community.Introducing Digital Pathfind...

Heritage, Hospitality, and Hitting the Green with Kris Kennedy

In this week's episode of the Do Business network podcast, host Melanie Cant takes a closer look at a local institution with a rich history and an eye firmly on the future: Consett District Golf Club.Melanie sits down with the club's Secretary, Kris Kennedy, who provides a fascinating and candid insight into his vital role and the pride he takes in the club's stunning grounds, affectionately referred to as the "beautiful fairways." Consett Golf Club is clearly more than just a place to play; it'...

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE LAND OF OAK AND IRON - OCTOBER 2025

Saturday, 4th October 2025 - 10:00-14:00Come and meet potter Kate Bosworth of Orchard Grange Pottery at the Heritage Centre for another of our ‘Meet the Maker’ events.Kate’s first love is of the process and set up Orchard Grange Pottery to bring the benefits of making with clay to new people.  The Pottery now hosts up to 30 people each week, of all ages and abilities, with a mission to open up participation to as many people as possible.Kate is a (largely) self-taught ceramic artist b...

SAY GOODBYE TO PAPER BUSINESS CARDS WITH PROFYLE!

Networking doesn’t have to be complicated - or wasteful.  With Profyle, sharing your contact info is instant, smart, and completely carbon-neutral. As an UMi user, you get:Up to 30 days free for up to 3 users20% off your first paid subscriptionA free custom NFC card design when you order 5+ cards UMi uses Profyle themselves and love how easy it makes connecting at events and keeping track of new contacts - no paper piles, no manual data entry. Why y...

The Internet is changing, again!

Amidst headlines about billions of dollars being invested by major US tech firms in the UK, and the release of Sir Tim Berners-Lee’s memoirs, one important story may have slipped under the radar: AI Summaries (or AI Overviews) are set to transform the familiar Google search experience.The impact? A surge in "zero-click" searches, where users get the information they need without ever visiting a website.The challenge? Ensuring your website content is optimised and ready to appear in A...

App of the Month

Stop Hoarding, Start SharingWe’re all guilty of it: snapping hundreds of photos and videos that end up buried in the depths of our phone’s gallery. But what’s the point of capturing those business moments if no one ever gets to see them?Enter Quik, the mobile app that transforms your forgotten footage into visual stories. With just a few taps, Quik automatically edits your clips, adds music, syncs everything to the beat, and delivers a slick video that’s ready to post on your social...

Welcome to DBN, Consett and District Golf Club!

We're delighted to extend a warm welcome to our newest member, Kris Kennedy, the Club Secretary at Consett and District Golf Club.Nestled in the picturesque Derwent Valley, the club has been a cornerstone of the community since 1911. Its stunning 18-hole parkland course, redesigned by the legendary Harry Vardon, is a testament to its commitment to excellence.While celebrated for its top-tier golfing, Consett Golf Club is more than just a course. It's a hub for the community, with a friendly atmo...

Reflecting on CO Training Session with Northern Cancer Voices

Thank you to everyone who attended our recent training session with Northern Cancer Voices. It was an interesting session, and we appreciate the positive feedback we've received.Everyone who came along learnt a great deal. We are grateful to Northern Cancer Voices for delivering this valuable training free of charge. Their expertise made for an informative experience for all who participated.For those who couldn't make it, we are currently in talks to arrange another training session. We are hop...

Jingle & Mingle: Join Us for a Festive DBN Christmas Networking!

As the year draws to a close, it's time to celebrate a year of hard work, collaboration, and growth. It's a cherished tradition for us to end the year at Derwentside College, and we're thrilled to invite you to our final networking event of 2025. It's the perfect opportunity to reflect on your achievements and strengthen the connections that will help your business thrive in the new year.This isn't just about business; it's also about a bit of festive fun. After a productive year of networking, ...

The DBN Business Showcase Event

In today's challenging climate, a strong network is more vital than ever for small businesses to grow. At the Do Business Network, we are here to facilitate opportunities to help you promote your business, gain valuable connections, and establish reliable referral sources. Together, we are stronger. Let's work as a business community to help each other thrive in 2026.This event is designed for every attendee to get the opportunity to showcase their business to everyone in the room. You're welcom...

A MESSAGE FROM OUR MAYOR, KIM McGUINNESS

A statement from Kim McGuinness:"I am delighted to tell you we have today secured an AI Growth Zone for the North East - a partnership with some of the biggest names in global computing and the UK Government which puts us at the forefront of the next technology revolution. "Our AI Growth Zone will help us attract billions of pounds in new investment to the North East and create up to 5,000 new jobs in the long term. It will supercharge our own technology s...

Netwalking at its best!

There’s no better way to network than with a stroll through the beautiful countryside, and our latest Wag & Walk was a perfect example.We started bright and early at Beamish Hall, and once again the weather was on our side as we strolled through the beautiful woodlands. It was great to see everyone enjoying themselves and so were the dogs!A huge thank you to Gareth from Take a Hike for leading us on such a beautiful woodland walk, and to the staff at The Stables for looking after us so wel...