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NEW WILLOW BURN CHARITY SHOP IN CONSETT MAKES RECORD-BREAKING SALES ON FIRST DAY OF TRADING!

A new charity shop in Consett has made record-breaking sales when it opened its doors for the first time on Thursday, the 14th October.Located on Victoria Road in the town centre, the shop was launched by Willow Burn Hospice to generate income to fund hospice care in Derwentside.  The new shop was officially opened by long service volunteer, Maureen Gallagher, who has volunteered for the charity for over 20 years.  Shoppers were treated to goody bags and Bucks Fizz as they joined the t...

CALENDARS MAKE GREAT GIFTS!

My 2022 calendar is selling fast and it includes six landscapes and six wildlife photos.  Just click here to order your calendar.Although you will need to book them this year, I'll be exhibiting at the following:Saturday, 4th and Sunday, 5th December - Linskill Christmas FayreI'm also now doing high end textured wallpaper murals of any of my work.Please contact me for more details. Best wishesPhil Benton, Phil Benton Photography...

THE PROACTIVE GUIDE TO R&D OPPORTUNITIES

Research and development opportunities can be lucrative for your business. If you’re a business in any sector creating new products, processes and services (or modifying existing ones), you may well qualify for funding. You’d be surprised just how much ‘everyday’ activity can qualify for R&D tax relief, particularly if your business is regularly working in the face of uncertainties.But HMRC isn’t going to come to you.In a nutshell, it’s all about knowing what HMRC are looking for, an...

THANK YOU DAVID VICKERS!

I just want to say thank you to David Vickers from Rand Rocket, who has offered to store some boxes of football gear for Liberia in his warehouse.  I boxed up 12 over the last week and will be delivering them to the warehouse by the end of this week.  (I also had a great offer from Craig of MAC Security & Fire, but David got in just before him!)I've also been promoting the appeal via Facebook and have had loads of interest from people who want to give boots, footballs and kit.  I'...

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP INTO LATE-LIFE WEDDED BLISS!

Marriage and remarriage in later life can have a significant impact on your financial situation and what you leave to your beneficiaries.  It can create potential for conflict over assets when one person dies, especially where multiple sets of children are involved.  Marriage or civil partnership automatically invalidates any previous wills, except in Scotland.  You can, of course, write new wills together with your spouse, but these can be changed after a partner dies leaving you...

JUSTIN CHILTON & SYNERGY

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TAKE A BREAK WITH NATHALIE!

I was looking for a book that I could use with little ones (2-5 year olds) when I had them for a storytelling session of 30 minutes or more - for a story that would get them moving.  I came across this book, ordered it and I am very glad that I did!I too am mindful that staff and pupils need breaks from their learning and work.  To this effect, I love using this book: we get to do a little yoga and still listen to French! Please remember to take those breaks if you can! I find that whe...

IT MAY BE SNOWING TODAY, BUT SUMMER IS COMING!

Well, after a week of rain I’m missing the summer already. This summer I worked on a project where I filmed across 55 North East based locations and I think when I filmed this video I experienced every weather possible. This is a video I created for the Northern Saints Trail and I just wanted to share a little glimpse of the North East I experienced.  Sitting in my office seeing the rain pour down made me long for those summer days and this video epitomises the summer for me. The Northern...

BLACK, ASIAN & MINORITY BUSINESS LEADERS INVITED TO SHARE VIEWS ON NORTH EAST BUSINESS SUPPORT

North East Local Enterprise PartnershipBlack, Asian and Minority Ethnic business owners in the North East are being invited to a consultation meeting with MP Chi Onwurah to share their views about any barriers they face when trying to access business advice.The meeting will be held on Tuesday, 30th November at 14:00-15:30 as a ‘Question Time’ style panel discussion via Zoom.Expert PanelChi Onwurah will be joined by a panel of business support experts including Yvonne Gale, CEO of N...

DIT TRADE MISSION TO IRELAND - FEBRUARY 2022

DATES: Tuesday, 8th - Thursday, 10th February 2022 VENUE: Dublin, Ireland The Department for International Trade (DIT) is delighted to invite new and inexperienced exporters from multiple sectors across the Northern Powerhouse to join our Trade Mission to Dublin, Ireland*. Ireland is a good place for UK businesses to start exporting for the first time, as business practices, laws, systems of finance and broader culture are similar to the UK. There is a long history of strong trade between the U...

PERSONALISED PICTURE BOOKS & CHRISTMAS CARDS BY NORIKOART

Would you like to treat your loved ones with special gifts this Christmas?  Picture books for little ones, art prints for art lovers, greeting cards for everyone.  You choose!  You can now buy gift cards if you can’t think of what to get! The picture books are written and illustrated by Noriko Matsubara.  As you are buying directly from Noriko, they can be personalised with a unique message of your choice such as ‘To Karen with love’ or ‘Merry Christmas Steve!’. The...

WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

We really enjoy being active members of our local community and we were proud to sponsor another local business, Consett Ale Works, at the recent Corbridge Beer Festival.   As part of the sponsorship, we had to drink beer, enjoy some great food and listen to bands.  It’s a tough life sometimes . . .We also sponsored Consett Hiking Group (of which Brenda is a Trustee) at their recent flagship event the ‘Steel Town 20’ being a fabulous 20 mile walk around the Derwent Valley, t...

CALLING ALL YOU KNITTERS AND CROCHET MAGICIANS!

Perrera Dogs UK are asking for help in making some puppy jumpers.  Winters in Romania typically reach -3 to -15 and puppies often struggle, even in a shelter.If you're local, I can pretty much guarantee I can gather up some wool for you to use, or Poundland stock it. Free patterns by clicking here, can you help please? Joanne Rowland...

NEW PREMISES FOR HEAD TO TOE AESTHETICS

I have some great news to share, I have moved to my very own premises on Durham Road in Blackhill.  We have renovated the old premier shop into an amazing clinic for my business.  Our first day of opening was Monday 1st November and we will be having an open day for people to visit at the end of November hopefully!  It would be great if you could help me spread the word.  My business is Head To Toe Aesthetics.For a full list of services, please click here. Katie Lishman...

WINTER AT LAND OF OAK & IRON

This winter, discover the history and heritage of the Land of Oak & Iron at the Heritage Centre, situated in the beautiful lower Derwent Valley.  Along with access to stunning walks and cycle tracks right on our doorstep, you can take part in events and treat yourself in our lovely café shrub & shop.We have lots of events happening throughout the year, including guided bird and nature walks, creative workshops, art exhibitions, local artist and maker events, music and pizza evenings, book ...

NORIKO ART - ARIGATO CARTOON

Japanese best-selling author Ken Honda, who is also called “Zen Millionaire,” talks about the importance of “gratitude.”  I’ve been following him for a while and recently joined in his online community.Ken gave us a challenge called “Say Arigato 100 times every day” in our community.  “Arigato” is a Japanese word for “Thank you.”  I told my children about this challenge and they were excited to take on this challenge.It’s been a couple of months since we to...

JACWICKS DESIGNS LAUNCHES TWO NEW PRODUCTS!

One thing I love about running my own business is the freedom it gives me to design new products.  This month I am delighted to launch not one but two new products!Pocket Perch Fleece: especially designed for the winter months, this Pocket Perch has a fabulously cosy fleece top and thermal inner to give you more protection and comfort from cold damp winter benches and perching places.Measuring 40x40cm when flat this full cushion size Perch is a must have for those chilly winter walks.Keep y...

WILLOW BURN - FOUR WEEKS OF CHRISTMAS

It has become tradition at Willow Burn Hospice to host a Nurses' Christmas Fair every year so that you can all come and visit our team, as well as enjoy some festive fun.  This event is always extremely popular and is a key date in the Willow Burn diary but due to the ongoing pandemic and to minimise excessive footfall into the hospice, we have made the difficult decision to cancel. But don't worry, you will still get to see our team online throughout December with video messages and photos...

JOANNE'S PET PORTRAIT OF HECTOR!

A huge thank you to Joanne Rowland Art for making Gary's year!  Since moving to Spain, Gary made firm friends with his neighbour's dog Hector.  Hector and his family have now moved to Marbella and Gary has missed him terribly so John contacted Joanne and asked her to draw a portrait of Hector.  Joanne surprised Gary when she presented him with this beautiful portrait of Hector at the Land of Oak and Iron.  What a lovely surprise!...

NORIKO ART - SHOPPING

I’ve been drawing cartoons since lockdown started in March 2020.  Since all lockdown restrictions have been lifted in England during summer (touch wood!), I want to start sharing some of my memories from the pre-COVID period in my cartoon.When Ichi was little, he used to tell me about his memories before he was born.  When I asked him how he chose his daddy and mummy, he said, “I went shopping and bought you.”  “Daddy was very expensive!  He is a game programmer, see?...

STRESS-BUSTING FOR THE WORKPLACE - NO-NONSENSE STRESS-BUSTING FOR THE WORKPLACE

Bespoke online training and video support programmes to help your staff tackle stress, overwhelm and deal with customers.Bespoke 60-minute online training sessions.Because you need to address wellbeing; you want emotionally resilient staff; an effective stress-buster; without breaking the training and welfare budgets.Stress Express online 60-minute training sessions for the Workplace provides a self-help approach through delivery of straightforward, practical and effective techniques to tackle s...

DURHAM COFFEE ROASTERY GRAND OPENING

We're celebrating the opening of our new premises and would love to invite you to the Grand Opening of our Coffee Roastery. Join us for a champagne welcome, a brief introduction to coffee and a look at our wonderful new air motion roaster alongside a short coffee tasting session, enjoy a chance to network and be the first to try our BRAND-NEW Peruvian Coffee which we will be launching on the day! Tuesday, 23rd November – 10:30-12:30 & 15:00-17:00 Durham Coffee, AMR Building, Unit 8, Sacriston ...

BE PART OF TEAM LUMO

Job opportunity for Claims Handler with LUMO, Greencroft, StanleyThis is a rare and exciting opportunity to join a successful and ambitious company whose mission is to support innovation within the UK.Applications for the position of Claims Handler are invited from candidates who have a strong customer service background, who enjoy working with numbers and who have a diligent approach to work that results in leaving no loose ends.Click here to find out more and to apply....

BUTTON METHODOLOGY LEADS TO SIGNIFICANT ORGANIC GROWTH FOR INSURANCE BROKER

Teesside based insurance brokers, Erimus have had their best organic six months ever to the end of 2020 after adopting the button methodology for marketing strategy from My Marketing Button.  The trend looks set to continue with a significant increase in both income and quote activity in Q1 2021. The story began back in 2019 when a broker with no marketing experience was offered an opportunity to grow and develop into a marketing role.  Emma Brown, a bright graduate at Erimus attended ...

PHIL: "CALENDARS MAKE GREAT GIFTS!"

My new 2022 calendar is NOW AVAILABLE it includes six landscapes and six wildlife photos. Just click here to order your calendar. Although you will need to book them this year, I'll be exhibiting at several Christmas Fairs. November: 11th to 14th - Brockbushes Christmas Fayre19th to 21st - Beamish Hall26th to 28th - Spanish City Christmas Fayre December: 4th and 5th - Linskill Christmas Fayre I'm also now doing high end textured wallpaper murals of any of my work. Please contact me for more deta...