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Festive Finale at Ushaw: Christmas Quiz, Magical Surroundings, and Bringing a Guest for Free

We are thrilled to round off the year in truly magical fashion at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens. Moved to December to take advantage of the festive season, Ushaw is beautifully decorated at Christmas time, making it a wonderful sight to look forward to. To make our final gathering extra special, we will be hosting our end-of-year Christmas quiz complete with prizes, which is always great fun and a brilliant way to celebrate our community's achievements.Morning Itinerary8:30 AM – 9:...

October networking at Beamish Museum

We are excited to announce that our networking meeting on Tuesday 20th October will see us returning to Beamish Museum. These meetings are always a highlight in the Do Business Network calendar, and this upcoming session promises to be particularly special as we gather at one of the museum's newest exhibits in the 1820s Landscape: The Drovers Tavern.To add a bit of historical context to our morning, a member of Beamish staff will be sharing insights about the story of droving and ...

Wrapping Up 2026 in Style: The Last Three Do Business Network Events You Don't Want to Miss

As the year draws to a close, it is time for the final big push before Christmas. For local business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs across County Durham, the festive season is not just about winding down—it is about finishing strong, strengthening local connections, and setting the groundwork for the year ahead.The Do Business Network has lined up three fantastic networking events to close out 2026. While a few adjustments to the schedule have been made due to unforeseen circumstances,...

November Networking at Derwentside College

We are absolutely thrilled to head to the college for our November gathering. While this is a change to our original schedule, we are really excited to be back at Derwentside College at the Steel House Bistro and to be looked after by Angelo and his catering students. (Just FYI, Angelo makes the best coffees and the catering team always do an absolute belter of a bacon butty!)Morning Itinerary8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Arrival, networking, coffee, and bacon butties9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Welcome, guest s...

Peer-Led Training: Supporting Growth Through Shared Expertise

Running a business can sometimes feel like a continuous cycle of reacting to the day-to-day. That is why community support and continuous learning are so vital for growth.At the Do Business Network, we do not just connect local business owners—we invest in helping each other level up through practical, peer-led training.Putting Marketing in PerspectiveA shining example of this collaboration came from our September session, where Allison Dore from Hello Friday delivered an engaging, pressure-fr...

From a Ten-Year-Old Disco to the Edinburgh Fringe: The Mark Sillett Story

Every business owner has an origin story, but few start quite as early as Mark Sillett.At just ten years old, Mark ran a disco for his class. That single event led to a request for a Year Six disco, prompting him to source his first set of speakers. From those modest beginnings, Mark Sillett Lighting, Sound and Entertainment has steadily evolved. Today, at twenty-eight years old, Mark's portfolio includes local highlights like the Consett Christmas Tree Festival, alongside major technical work a...

Equipping Your Business for Growth: Free Autumn Training Courses from Business Durham

Navigating the challenges of scaling a business requires continuous learning and practical insight. For members of the Do Business Network (DBN), staying ahead means regularly reviewing strategies, refining your presence, and uncovering new ways to connect with clients.While these training courses are not exclusive to DBN members, we are delighted to highlight them because they are being delivered by Business Durham, who is a valued DBN member. These hands-on sessions provide practical takeaways...

A huge DBN welcome to our newest member, This Is Me Agency!

We are delighted to welcome Michelle Dobson from This Is Me Agency, to the Do Business Network.Based in Consett at the Derwentside Business Centre and serving the whole of the UK, Michelle brings a wealth of expertise and tailored support to our business community.Championing Workplace Accessibility & SupportEvery workplace should be accessible, but standard office setups and generic HR policies don’t always meet everyone's needs. Whether someone is self-employed, an employee, or an employ...

Video Marketing That Drives Real Results for Small Businesses

When it comes to elevating a brand, professional videography is a game-changer. Working with an expert like James Ibbitson from Visual Punch brings high-end production value, creative direction, and striking visual storytelling that completely transforms how a business connects with its audience.However, alongside high-production campaigns, everyday social media presence requires a steady stream of content. The good news is that business owners do not need a professional crew for every single po...

Women in Leadership: An Introduction

Supporting our community's growth and creating spaces for peer learning is at the heart of what we do. That is why we are pleased to share details of an upcoming opportunity brought to us by the Social Enterprise Academy.The North East BIC in Sunderland is hosting a one-day event on 30th September focusing entirely on women in leadership.This session is facilitated by Kate Duffy from Junction Point, an exceptional trainer and a fantastic female leader in business whose expertise makes this a bri...

Exclusive DBN Member Offer: 30% Off Meeting Room Hire at The Greenhouse

We love sharing fantastic opportunities from our network community, and Nanci and the team at The Greenhouse in Stanley have put together a brilliant exclusive offer for DBN members.As we head into the final stretch of the year, getting your team together in a fresh, inspiring space can make all the difference for planning, strategy, and refocusing. To help make that easier, The Greenhouse is offering all DBN members 30% off meeting room hire right through until the end of the year.The Special R...

Kicking Off September: Networking at Beamish Hall Hotel

We had a lovely morning at Beamish Hall Hotel for our September networking meeting, and being our first get-together back after the summer break, it was wonderful to reconnect and see everyone again.After grabbing a coffee and a bacon buttie, we sat down for a brilliant talk by Gillian Keogh from Gillian Keogh Coaching. Entitled "Brains, Behaviour, and Business," Gillian dived into the science behind our brain chemistry—touching on dopamine and endorphins—and cleverly linked it back to how w...

From Corporate Leadership to Founder Realities with Angela Blake of Y19 Management

When a thirty-year corporate background teaches you how businesses run, starting fresh on your own comes with a completely different set of rules. In this episode, Melanie Cant sits down with Angela Blake of Y19 Management—a fantastic new member of Do Business Network—to talk about the realities of building a business from the ground up.Angela brings a wealth of hard-earned operational experience to the table, and their conversation cuts straight through the noise. They get into the actual c...

Get Found in 2027: AI Search Optimisation for Small Businesses

We are delighted to welcome James Miller from UMi—a fellow DBN member—to deliver a fantastic online training session for our community.Search is changing rapidly. Increasingly, people are asking questions directly to AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity instead of browsing through pages of traditional search results. These platforms use AI to find, interpret, and recommend information from across the web, meaning businesses need to think beyond con...

Welcoming Gill Rice from Collingwood Business Development to DBN

We are delighted to welcome Gill Rice and her company, Collingwood Business Development, to the Do Business Network.With a rich background in technical leadership, manufacturing, and engineering support across the region, Gill brings a wealth of hands-on experience and strategic insight to our business community. A Proven Track Record in Technical LeadershipGill’s expertise in the manufacturing sector runs deep. A Licentiate of the London School of Polymer Technology, she p...

Paws, Pavement, and Community: Our Latest DBN Wag and Walk

Summer is prime time for holidays, but that does not mean business networking stops entirely. Earlier this week, a dedicated group of Do Business Network (DBN) members shrugged off the holiday lull to get outdoors, stretch their legs, and enjoy some proper connection during our latest netwalk—or as we love to call it, a wag and walk, complete with a few four-legged friends coming along to join the fun.We gathered at the Land of Oak and Iron, based in Swalwell, Gateshead—a brilliant heritage ...

Driving Regional Growth: How Strategic Funding Transforms Local Businesses

When regional businesses secure the right support, the ripple effects are felt across the entire local economy. A recent milestone from Renovo Tool Group highlights exactly how targeted investment can accelerate growth, boost productivity, and champion sustainability in manufacturing.Based in Stanley, Renovo Tool Group utilised a comprehensive funding package—including support from the Durham Business Growth programme delivered in partnership with UMi, Business Durham, and RTC North, alongside...

Septembers guest speaker: Gillian Keogh, founder of Gillian Keogh Coaching

Our next Do Business Network meeting is coming up on Tuesday, 8th September at Beamish Hall Hotel, and we are very pleased to announce our guest speaker for the morning.Recent new member Gillian Keogh, founder of Gillian Keogh Coaching, will be taking the floor. With over 24 years of corporate leadership experience, Gillian works with SMEs and larger organisations to help business owners build sustainable commercial performance and navigate periods of change.Her session will be full of practical...

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...

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...

Member Spotlight: Why Making a Will Matters: Protecting Your Family’s Future

Life gets busy, and it is all too easy to put off sorting out a Will. Many of us assume that our loved ones will automatically inherit everything if the worst happens, or we simply feel it is not relevant to us at this particular time.However, the reality—as highlighted by the team at Jan Cook Wills and Trusts—is that delaying your Will can create significant complications for the people you leave behind. If you do not leave a valid Will, you are considered to have died "intestate," and the ...

Celebrating Member Success: Double Award Recognition for Visual Punch

At Do Business Network, we always take pride in celebrating the milestones and achievements of our members. Today, we want to extend our warmest congratulations to James Ibbitson, founder of Visual Punch, on securing two prestigious awards:Northern Video Company of the Year at the Prestige AwardsVideography Studio of the Year at the My Local Hero AwardsIndustry recognition is a wonderful achievement, but what makes this accomplishment particularly noteworthy is the philosophy behind the work. Be...

UMi’s Claire Hinde Shortlisted for National Industry Award

We are delighted to share that Claire Hinde, Business Funding Executive at UMi, has been shortlisted for Unsung Hero of the Year at the 2026 NACFB Commercial Broker Awards.The award recognises the individuals working behind the scenes in commercial finance whose dedication, resilience and expertise make a real difference to both client outcomes and organisational success. Open to professionals in areas such as operations, compliance, client support and marketing, it celebrates those whose contri...

Member Success Story: Double Award Win & New Launch for Kaffeehaus Coffee Roasters

We love seeing our members recognised for their hard work, craftsmanship, and dedication to quality.We are thrilled to share some fantastic news from Bernhard and Carina at Kaffeehaus Coffee Roasters, who have recently scooped up two prestigious industry awards!Celebrating Local ExcellenceBernhard and Carina’s commitment to roasting exceptional specialty coffee has earned them two brilliant accolades:Coffee Roaster Of The Year for County Durham – North England Prestige AwardsBest Independent...

Member Success Story: DBN Member Mark Sillett Heads to London’s West End

Nothing makes us prouder than seeing our local members hit major milestones and take their expertise to new heights.We are thrilled to share a massive success story from one of our own: Mark Sillett, founder of Mark Sillett Lighting and Sound.Mark has officially been contracted for his very first West End show in London this September!From the North East to the West EndMark will be taking his technical talent to The Other Palace in London to manage the lighting design for Shamilton—the hugely ...