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HOW CAN DBN HELP YOUR BUSINESS?

What mentoring and training support does your business need in 2019?  We need your input please!  In recent years we have delivered mentoring and training to give practical, hands-on support for our members.  We'd like to offer more of this going forward but first we need to know more about the support you need. Please can you complete the short survey by clicking here or on the logo below before 19th March if possible please.  This will help us plan how we can...

DBN BLOGWATCH

Several of our members maintain excellent blogs filled with really useful tips and interesting information.  Here are our recommended blogs for March.  Please take a few minutes to read through them and let us know if you would like your blog to be featured in the next newsletter. Nathalie's Book BlogMedia Borne on Brand IdentityElm Marketing on Planning a new WebsiteVindomora Hagg Community Archaeology Project...

Department for International Trade - The Brexit Deal Explained

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is at the heart of EU Exit delivery. We are responsible for helping businesses export, driving inward and outward investment, preparing to negotiate market access and trade deals, and championing free trade.  To help the British public and businesses understand what the deal will deliver, Her Majesty’s Government has launched the ‘Brexit Deal Explained’ website. This website explains the Withdrawal Agreement, which sets out the te...

Preparing for Brexit

The North East Chamber of Commerce reported recently that 47.2% of businesses felt underprepared for Brexit, with most taking little or no action to prepare. With this in mind, and with the 29 March 2019 looming, it’s essential that businesses begin to make preparations. We’ve brought together business support and access to finance schemes, resources and events to help your business prepare for Brexit. Also, if you are a non-UK staff employer, please take our survey ...

OVER £4M OF TAX RECLAIM SHOWS INNOVATION BLOSSOMED IN 2018

Durham-based research and development (R&D) tax specialists, Lumo, are hailing 2018 ‘the year of innovation’ in the North East following a significant increase in successful tax relief claims for inventive projects and solutions across the region and beyond. The last 12 months has seen R&D tax relief claims handled by Lumo rise over 160 per cent, across diverse sectors, including life sciences, food and drink, science and technology and manufacturing. Local projects have included a waterfall...

ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR BUSINESS ENERGY? GREAT ANNUAL SAVINGS CAN HELP YOU.

Our main goal is to ensure you make savings in the easiest, simplest, hassle-free way. We understand that most businesses don’t have time to go through a long drawn out process and that is why our team of experts are here to do the hard work for you.  We possess more expertise across the spectrum of commercial running costs than any other cost reduction consultancy in the country. This includes energy procurement and management; waste management; telecoms; business insurance; water manage...

THE LABEL OF SUCCESS - CAN YOU HELP ROBSON PRINT?

2018 was a great year for Robson Print we invested in a new press which allows us to print white and create some pretty fancy finishing and we are continuing our growth for 2019. We are producing an increasing number of labels for our customers (that’s what happens when you have the amazing Fentimans on your doorstep) so we are looking to invest in a label printing equipment. To ensure we can satisfy the requirements of future customers as well as those we already produce labels for I am condu...

THE STEADFAST GROUP UNVEILED AS NEW SPONSORS OF CONSETT FC

The Steadfast Group has announced a sponsorship of Consett FC as the Northern League Division One side bids for promotion. The company is supporting the table-topping North West Durham side in what is hoped will be a successful season but is already in talks over a long-term commitment to the Steelmen. Steadfast’s business development manager Mike McGaun, believes the move will be important in raising the company’s profile west of the city of Durham. He said: “I come from out that way and ...

LINDA HAS DESIGNS FOR YOUR HOME AND BUSINESS

At a recent DBN meeting we asked Linda Lewis how she started her decorating and design business Decorelle. Linda told us, "I started my business in May 2008 after being persuaded and encouraged by family and friends. I had been interested in decorating and design as a hobby in my teens and helped friends, neighbours and colleagues over many years. I was lucky to do a City and Guilds course in Interiors in 1994 and really loved it. I can offer advice on colour schemes and budg...

PRODUCTS THAT ARE UNIQUELY YOURS

Designs Unique have recently invested in new state of the art sublimation printing equipment to expand their range of products to compliment their greeting card ranges. They are now offering this service to businesses, artists and individuals. The type of products that can be produced are mugs (ideal as business promotion or staff gifts), notebooks, wooden plaques, coasters, tote bags, hip flasks, cushions to name but a few. To view some of the products simply click on the image above. All ...

CONGRATULATIONS!

Huge congratulations to Nicola and Mike from all your friends at DBN.  The wonderful photo says it all! ...

BUILDING SELF-BELIEF LAUNCH IS A GREAT SUCCESS

Alongside their work in supporting schools, Christine and Peter Thomas recently launched Building Self-Belief, a charity which uses their skills in teaching to develop and deliver programmes where the arts, teaching skills and motivational techniques help to build resilience and self-esteem in young people. Christine told us "Our programmes are proving to be a great success and to celebrate this in full we organised a launch to ensure as many people as possible could share in our success. W...

IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME TO JUMP ON VIDEO - IT'S NOW. 2019 IS THE YEAR OF THE VIDEO . . .

From James Ibbitson at Visual Punch . . there has never been such a huge demand for video thanks to big social corporations rewarding businesses that use video with reach and clicks. Here’s why you should be using video in 2019: Video makes money – It’s an investment, not a cost. Video on a landing page can increase conversions by 80%. Imagine that. And get this… brands that use video marketing grow their year over year revenue 49% faster than brands that don’t.Getting video ...

CELEBRATE YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE FSB SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS

Last year DBN entered the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards and we won . . . so if we can do it, you can too! The Awards recognise the best small businesses and the self-employed from right across the UK, from every sector and industry and from businesses of all ages and all sizes. They are the leading celebration of small businesses, shining a light on some of the best, most innovative and most determined small businesses. This is why we choose to keep entries to the awards f...

CONGRATULATIONS TO BeeMyHome FOR WINNING PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

BeeMyHome picked up the Silver Award for Best Regional Agency at the prestigious Negotiator Awards at The Grosvenor, London in November.The Negotiator Awards is the UK's leading awards programme and an award from The Negotiator is the highest accolade an agency or property company can receive. With over 750 guests, made up of company directors, senior managers and business owners the event is growing in popularity and stature every year. The Negotiator Awards was held at the ...

HAVE YOU HEARD HOW SIDEWAYS DISINHERITANCE AFFECTS MANY FAMILIES?

Brenda Beveridge talks to us: Sideways Disinheritance is when beneficiaries (often children) don’t inherit their intended share of an estate. Imagine that if you pass away and your partner re-marries and then passes away without making a Will, your children’s intended inheritance could pass to the new family leaving your children with nothing. Also, you could be in a second relationship and only have basic Wills in place, leaving everything to each other and then the children. If y...

HARNESS FUTURE TALENT IN YOUR BUSINESS

The team at FIRST are currently matching enterprising young people with far-sighted SMEs keen to harness future talent. The goal is to place highly skilled students in local SMEs in order to give growing businesses additional support with meaningful, short term projects. The working pattern is designed around both the student and businesses so, if you need an extra pair of hands, read on!  Businesses must be registered in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland or County Durham and have less than 250...

SUE IS THE TOPS!

Sue Smith has achieved a top three ranking in the Gateshead and Durham areas for hypnotherapy. Sue, who has therapy centres in Stanley, Washington and Gateshead, will be adding this accolade to national awards she has already won for hypnotherapy. Sue is a Fellow of the APHP and a Champion of the CNHC and ran a successful Wellbeing Expo at the Greenhouse last Autumn. Sue told us "I have now been recognised as a top therapist in the 'Three Be...

DBN at Beamish Museum

Great video by James from Visual Punch taken at our Festive Meeting last week - thanks James!...

FIRST Face to Face Ltd

The team at FIRST are currently matching enterprising young people with far-sighted SMEs keen to harness future talent. Please see below for more information and get in touch with Zoe (zoe@firstnetwork.co or 07715 547 148) if we can help you fill a temporary talent gap. PLACEMENT OUTLINE: Businesses must be registered in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland or County Durham and have less than 250 staff, and/or a turnover of less than €50MThe placements are 30-50 unpaid hours which can ...

We've gone cardless to make it easier for you to make payments to DBN

We have joined GoCardless to give you more choice when making payments to DBN. Once you complete the GoCardless direct debit form we will be able to take 'one off' payments for your annual membership fee and renewals. You'll find the link on your renewal email or the Join DBN page on our website. Of course we can't take any payments without your permission and GoCardless will notify you 3 working days before any payment is taken. You can still pay us using BACS...

Neil and Kieran join forces to win autism friendly museums contract

Media Arts have joined forces with autism campaigner and blogger Kieran Rose, AKA The Autistic Advocate, to win a contract with Colchester & Ipswich Museums. The collaboration will see Neil and Kieran work together to identify possible trigger points for autistic visitors at two sites and produce a video walkthrough that will be available to watch prior to their visit to help them navigate the best route through the museums.  Neil and Kieran first met in January 2018 through a DBN spon...

Colin writes to support North East charity

DBN member and author Colin Ellis (QC Ellis) is to donate 100% of the royalties from the book, "Stress, Anxiety And The Battle For Your Sanity: Use Mindfulness To Stop The Struggle" to a North East charity. Colin has written the book purposely for people the charity helps. Colin is offering a different approach and new insights because he has experienced the things he writes about.This first book in the series helps you understand the plight of people who are the casualt...

Beamish Park Hotel

Beamish Park Hotel has recently launched its new promotional video as part of Love Beamish and Stanley which is an excellent campaign aimed at showcasing independent traders in the area and the services they offer. ...

NORIKO REVEALS HER HIDDEN CHIGIRI-E ART

Noriko Matsubara launched her website this month to reveal her Japanese Chigiri-e art. Noriko’s picture book series ‘Bocchi and Pocchi,’ stories about a pair of socks, have been captivating preschool children with her soft colour pencil illustrations. Yet, few people have known about her other personality as a Japanese Chigiri-e artist until now. Chigiri-e is a traditional Japanese art created using hand-torn Japanese paper,” Noriko says. "I started practicing Chigiri-e because I wasn’...