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Welcoming Fran Williams of Steeltown Business Services to DBN

At Do Business Network, we are always proud to welcome professionals who bring genuine expertise, a wealth of practical experience, and a real passion for supporting the small business community. We have been incredibly busy growing our community recently, and Fran is one of seven fantastic new members to join the network over the last few weeks. We are absolutely delighted to introduce one of our newest members, Fran Williams, founder of Steeltown Business Services.For many small business owner...

Real Business Insights, Shared by Real Experts: Launching Our Peer-Led Training This September

When you run a business, there is no shortage of advice out there. But there is a massive difference between textbook theories and the practical, lived experience of someone who is actually doing the work day in, day out.At Do Business Network, we have always believed that our greatest asset is the collective knowledge of our members. That is why, starting this September, we are launching a brand-new series of accessible, peer-led training sessions designed to bridge knowledge gaps, share practi...

DBN Wag & Walk: Join Us at the Land of Oak & Iron

In August, we have our annual Wag & Walk—a great opportunity to bring along your four-legged friend for a nice walk and meet other business owners in a more relaxed environment.We are meeting on Tuesday 18th August at the Land of Oak & Iron in Winlaton Mill for a morning of fresh air, a gentle walk, and good conversation.The summer months are ideal for getting away from the desk, and these informal walks offer a brilliant, pressure-free environment to catch up with familiar faces and m...

Join Us at Beamish Hall Hotel This September

September will be here before we know it. The end of the summer holidays is a fantastic time to refocus, shake off the holiday routine, and connect with fellow business owners as everyone gets back to business.Our September networking meeting is taking place on Tuesday 8th September at the beautiful Beamish Hall Hotel.Whether you are a regular face at our events or thinking about joining us for the very first time, you can expect a warm welcome, practical insights, and plenty of opportunities to...

How a Chance Introduction at DBN Led to Corporate Sponsorship for Blue Spirit

One of the most rewarding aspects of running a business community is watching organic connections grow into something that makes a tangible difference. A fantastic example of this happened recently right here at the Do Business Network. Earlier this year, Carol Smith, representing local charity Blue Spirit, attended a DBN meeting. Because of the collaborative nature of our community, she was introduced to Mary Jallow from Utility Warehouse (UW). During their conversation, Mary shared more about...

Defeating the Business 'Time Thief': Highlights from Our AI Training Workshop

Yesterday, the Do Business Network community hosted an incredibly insightful training workshop: Defeating the Business 'Time Thief' with AI.We had a fantastic turn-out, with a full room of attendees eager to explore how artificial intelligence can act as a highly effective assistant in the modern workplace. It was a brilliant, high-energy day filled with engaging discussions.The training itself was delivered by Pascal Fintoni, who as always gave a masterclass that was bang on point. For those w...

Can you help Secure Vital Support for Blue Spirit?

As a community, one of our greatest strengths at the Do Business Network is our ability to rally behind one another and support projects that make a real difference in the North East. Today, we want to highlight the vital work being done by one of our own members, Carol Smith.Many of you know Carol through her business, Simply Support Mentoring. Alongside her mentoring work, Carol dedicates her expertise to the trustees of local youth charity Blue Spirit, driving their funding bids and rais...

Burgers, Boats, and Business: The DBN Summer BBQ is Back!

Following the incredible success of our inaugural summer event last year, the Do Business Network community is heading back to the water. We are absolutely excited to invite you all to our 2026 Summer BBQ at the Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club (DRSC) on Wednesday, 15th July.If you missed out last year, or if you are new to our community, here is a look back at what made it so special and a preview of what we have lined up for this summer.A Look Back: Clear Skies and Great ConversationLast year, o...

Welcoming Drovers Studio to the DBN Business Community

There is something incredibly exciting about seeing a local space reinvented, especially when it is dedicated to health, wellness, and movement.As part of our growing business community, we are thrilled to welcome Anna Marie Reid, the founder of Drovers Studio, to the Do Business Network. Based at The Byre, Redwell Hills Farm in Leadgate (DH8 7SH)—the premises formerly known as the House of Botanics—Anna Marie is bringing a fresh, expert-led approach to physical wellbeing in County Durham.To...

Will O'Burn and the Friends Who Remember

Yesterday afternoon, the local community came together at Willow Burn Hospice for a deeply moving occasion: the official launch of a beautiful new book, Will O'Burn and the Friends Who Remember.Written by Victoria Downes and illustrated by Helen Turner, this special book is designed to help children navigate the complex landscape of grief, offering them a gentle way to understand their feelings after losing a loved one.A Community United by a Vital CauseThe launch event brought together numerous...

Mapping Out Business Funding Across the North East: Durham, Northumberland, Newcastle and Sunderland

Securing funding to scale a business often feels like a balancing act. Between managing day-to-day operations and deciphering complex eligibility criteria, many business owners miss out on available capital simply because they do not know where to look or which hub applies to their exact postcode.The funding landscape across the North East is highly localised. Available grants and support structures are determined strictly by where your trading premises are registered.To help clarify the regiona...

A Celebration of Community Spirit: The Launch of Benfieldside Community Garden

The British summer weather is always unpredictable, but this afternoon, the sun made a very welcome appearance just in time for a wonderful community milestone.Today marked the official opening of the Benfieldside Community Garden in Consett. This fantastic initiative, driven by the local charity Building Self-Belief , was launched with a special visit from Dame Sue Snowdon, who officially opened the garden.Building Self-Belief does incredible work across the North East, focusing on improvi...

Welcoming Angela Blake to the Do Business Network

We are absolutely delighted to welcome our newest member, Angela Blake, founder of Y19 Management, to the Do Business Network community.Angela brings a wealth of hands-on, real-world experience to our network, with a career rooted in operational management, senior leadership, and business development. She has dedicated her expertise to helping small business owners across various sectors streamline their operations, build motivated teams, and achieve sustainable growth.What makes Angela’s appr...

Collaborative Growth and Workplace Wellbeing: Highlights from Our June DBN Meeting

It was fantastic to see everyone at Consett Rugby Club this morning for our latest Do Business Network meeting. The room was full of positive energy, collaborative discussions, and plenty of opportunities to explore how we can support one another through high-quality business referrals.Prioritising Workplace HealthA major highlight of the morning was an insightful presentation by Bobby Hewitson and Karen Stubbings from Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP), who we are absolutely delighted to welcome...

The Real Deal Small Grants Scheme

Derwentside Enterprise Agency CIC (DEA) launches small grants scheme, which will be known as The Real Deal, to support local businesses.DEA is pleased to announce the launch of its new, discretionary, Small Grants Scheme, designed to support businesses in the former Derwentside Local Authority area to deliver projects that will make a positive difference to the business.The scheme, known as The Real Deal, will provide grants of up to £...

Moving Beyond "Random Acts of Marketing"

Many business owners find themselves caught in a cycle of constant activity—regularly posting on social media, attending networking events, and perhaps even investing in digital ads. Yet, despite the hours spent, these efforts often feel disjointed, failing to translate into a reliable stream of new clients.The issue rarely lies in the hard work being put in; rather, it is the lack of a cohesive, structured system behind it. Without a joined-up approach, valuable marketing activity can quietly...

Celebrating 6 Years of Kaffeehaus Coffee Roasters: A Huge Happy Birthday from Do Business Network!

Here at Do Business Network (DBN), we love nothing more than celebrating the milestones, growth, and achievements of our members. Here at Do Business Network (DBN), we love nothing more than celebrating the milestones, growth, and achievements of our members. Today, we are absolutely thrilled to wish a very Happy 6th Birthday to Bernhard, Carina, and the entire team at Kaffeehaus Coffee Roasters!It is hard to believe it has been six years since they launched as Durham’s very first coffee roast...

Rebuilding, Adapting, and Thriving: Celebrating a Remarkable Six Months for the North East Business Community

There is a distinct kind of resilience found within the North East business community. When faced with shifting economic landscapes, escalating operational costs, and the lingering uncertainties of recent years, regional businesses do not simply wait for conditions to improve. Instead, they look for ways to adapt, collaborate, and support one another across our entire region.At the Do Business Network (DBN), this steadfast spirit is visible in action every single month. As the midpoint of the ye...

Accessing Manufacturing Support via Made Smarter

Navigating the funding and business support landscape can often feel daunting. At our May networking meeting, Paul Hughes from the North East Growth Hub provided welcome clarity on a major regional initiative designed specifically for small and medium-sized manufacturers: the Made Smarter Adoption North East programme.If your business is losing time to manual entry, struggling to meet customer demand, or lacking the real-time data needed to make quick operational decisions, digital technology co...

Welcoming New DBN Member: Bobby Hewitson, Pioneering Care Partnership

The DBN community continues to grow, and we are absolutely delighted to welcome Bobby Hewitson from the Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) to the network.When new members join us, it brings a fresh wave of expertise, energy, and opportunity into the room. Bobby’s work with PCP is a fantastic example of the diverse, impactful organisations that make up our regional business community.Health, Wellbeing, and Learning for AllPioneering Care Partnership is a multi-award-winning charity that has been...

Key Takeaways from the DBN May Meeting

Our May Do Business Network meeting proved to be one of our most dynamic sessions yet. Hosted in partnership with the Northern Tenants Network at the Derwentside Business Centre, the event saw a full house of 50 local businesses coming together for a morning of purposeful conversation and strategic networking.The energy in the room highlighted the strength of our regional business community. Events like these rely on a collaborative effort, and a sincere thank you goes to Stuart Armstrong and Li...

Supporting Our Regional Food, Drink, and Hospitality Sector

At our May networking meeting, we were joined by Steve Wheaton and Ian Pilkington from Food & Drink North East (FADNE). They introduced an exceptional support package designed specifically to help local businesses thrive over the next three years: the Rural Growth Programme, Food & Drink Business Support.Supported by the North East Combined Authority and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, this fully-funded programme is built to strengthen, connect, and scale the entire food, drink, and ho...

Addressing the Lead Leakage Problem: How to stop loosing the leads you've already earned.

At this months networking meeting we welcomed Allison Dore from Hello Friday Consulting as our guest presenter. Allison delivered an insightful session focused on a critical challenge that many businesses face without even realising it: lead leakage.Understanding Lead LeakageMany business owners believe their primary marketing challenge is generating new leads. However, the presentation highlighted that 79% of marketing leads never actually convert. This failure to convert rarely stems from the ...

Regional Recognition for DBN Member Jennifer Hartburn

We are delighted to share some wonderful news from within our Do Business Network community. Jennifer Hartburn, owner of Harrington Brown Independent Estate Agents in Shotley Bridge, was recently featured in the prestigious Women in Business section of North East Living Magazine.The feature celebrates the region's leading female entrepreneurs. It is a testament to Jennifer's reputation and expertise that she was personally approached by the magazine to share her business journey, highlighting he...

Welcoming Gillian Keogh to the Do Business Network

The Do Business Network is delighted to introduce Gillian Keogh, founder of Gillian Keogh Coaching, as one of our newest members.Gillian provides professional leadership and business coaching designed to help organisations, senior leaders, and business owners deliver strong, sustainable performance.  Her approach focuses on achieving commercial results without sacrificing culture, clarity, or workplace wellbeing.With over 24 years of corporate leadership experience across transformation, en...