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PODCASTS

Our podcasts are proving to be very popular and to see you through until the next newsletter we have two brand new episodes for you. In our latest podcasts, Melanie chats with Matthew Glover of Duchy Software about how wanting to know the rugby score led to a business idea, how apps are solving business problems and how a family love for bingo became a great business opportunity in Australia and New Zealand.  And, in the next podcast Melanie chats with Moira Barnes about boosting your sales...

DBN UPDATE - 2nd OCTOBER 2020

Last week we said it would be a month before our next newsletter but in a "senior" moment last week we forgot to include a super festive offer from one of our lovely members and some extra news items have come through. So we thought we'd send out a "bitesize" update!Please don't forget to book for Moira Barnes Customer Journey Workshop next week. It will give you a fresh perspective on how you can interact and build relationships with your customers. Later this month, Melanie will be running a M...

NORIKO'S LATEST CARTOON

Naomi loves school meals.  This might be the reason why she is so eager to go to school. She says school meals are more yummy than mummy’s food.  Well, I suppose she’s got more western taste than Japanese taste (I have to admit I’m not the best cook in the world . . .). “So what did you have for lunch today?” I asked.Naomi said, “Finger of fish!” in Japanese. Here is this week’s cartoon.Noriko...

#DOBUSINESSLOCAL

#DOBUSINESSLOCAL is our campaign to support small businesses and help to boost the local economy.Small businesses have played a massive role in helping their local communities during the crisis.  They have demonstrated amazing resilience and adaptability throughout and we want to encourage organisations and individuals to support them. #DOBUSINESSLOCAL has three main aims:To work in partnership with Local Authorities and other public and private sector organisations to help them identify gr...

APPLY FOR THE GOVERNMENT KICKSTART SCHEME

The Kickstart Scheme was announced in July as part of the Chancellor’s Plan for Jobs.  The scheme aims to create thousands of high-quality six-month work placements for young people aged 16 to 24 who are claiming Universal Credit and are at risk of long term unemployment. Under the scheme, the Government will cover 100 per cent of employment costs for 25 hours a week.  This includes the employee's salary at the appropriate minimum wage for their age, as well as National Insurance and...

BRITISH BUSINESS BANK: ENTREPRENEURSHIP & DIVERSITY IN THE UK

The British Business Bank, in collaboration with Oliver Wyman, is today publishing a landmark study: “Alone, together: Entrepreneurship and Diversity in the UK”.  This report shows in detail the challenges facing the UK’s entrepreneurs. Looking at ethnicity, gender, place and money, a sobering picture emerges that calls for commitment and action.  The research will feed into the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities established by the Prime Minister. Key findings: Black entre...

BEAMISH MUSEUM

Working windscreen wipers - check!Good-to-go goggles - check!Waterproof jackets - check! The rain hasn't dampened our spirits as we're having a wheely great day seeing our veteran motorcycles and some visiting vintage cars in action at the museum!...

EXPERIENCE SÉANCE LIVE AT BEAMISH HALL

Sam came down to the hall to give us a live demonstration of Séance Live and we are now super excited for you to experience this exhilarating event!The night will to recreate the experience of a true Victorian séance.  Our expert denies all belief in an afterlife, and yet, using age old techniques, will demonstrate how mediums and psychics have for decades convinced audiences of their skills, before attempting a genuine séance experience. Limited tickets available. Please click here...

OFFER TIME AT DERWENT MANOR HOTEL BW PREMIER COLLECTION

Available 28th September to 31st October Sunday Savers - £89Monday to Thursdays - £99Friday - £109Saturday - £129FREE Bottle wine on arrivalDinner three course in PregoOvernight stay in Standard RoomNorthumberland BreakfastUse of Leisure Club (pre booking) To book use the following link entering promo code REOP....

WILLOW BURN HOSPICE NOW RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS

Café Assistants, LanchesterGardeners, LanchesterRetail Assistants, Various LocationsFind out more by clicking here....

HIGHSTREET BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMME

We have developed a range of subsidised training courses and events for retail businesses in the county covering digital marketing, health and safety, customer services, window displays and food safety. Do you run a business and want to become more digitally savvy?Durham Employment and Skills have teamed up with our Community Economic Development team to provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills, ability and confidence with a Digital Media in Business course.  The three virtua...

VIRTUAL DABS FESTIVAL

Virtual DABS Festival of Enterprise to celebrate entrepreneurship across County DurhamOn Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd of October, Durham Ambitious Business Start-ups (DABS) will be hosting a virtual Festival of Enterprise, showcasing a fantastic line up of successful business owners and skills trainers who will help to inspire, motivate and educate anyone thinking of starting their own business journey.  Whether you are already in business, thinking of starting your own busine...

VACANCY FOR CHEF SUPERVISOR

Land of Oak and Iron Heritage Centre, Winlaton Mill, Gateshead & The Greenhouse Business Centre, Stanley. To aid in the development and provision of an exciting, high quality and profitable catering service to a broad range of customers.  Covering two sister sites and areas of operation at: ‘café shrub @ The Land of Oak and Iron Heritage Centre’ and ‘café shrub @ The Greenhouse’ including catering services for meetings and events held at both The Heritage Centre and The Greenhouse...

FASTER BROADBAND FOR RURAL BUSINESSES IN COUNTY DURHAM

We’re helping rural businesses in County Durham access faster broadband by adding £500,000 to the government's Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS).  The scheme offers a one-off contribution to businesses and residents in rural areas to subsidise the installation costs of a gigabit-capable, full-fibre broadband connection.Properties must have download speeds of less than 30 Megabits per second (Mbps) to be eligible.  The funding will be distributed on a first-come, first-served b...

FOCUS ON RETAIL WITH BOWE DIGITAL

Imagine you are a retail business that needs to process hundreds of transactions a day, but your point of sale system was damaged in an electrical storm, and you can’t process and record transactions.  How will you stay in business?  What will you do? What back up plan do you have in place? Talk to us on 0191 214 1750 for solutions & advice....

NEED OFFICE SPACE AT COMPETITIVE RATES?

Prospect Business Park is based on the outskirts of Consett and offers quality office space to rent at very competitive rates.  They currently have some office vacancies and contacted DBN to see if any of our members would like to be shown around their facilities. Some of our members already occupy offices at Prospect Business Park and have been tenants there for a few years now. They offer easy in, easy out terms.  Rental costs start from £140 per month (depending on the size of...

HELPING A CUSTOMER FROM OUT OF THE AREA

Broken compressor at Asda metro centre!I got this customer away on his journey home down south and as it was just correcting his pressures then I decided this was my good deed for the day today.  It goes a long way helping each other sometimes it's not always about making money and I was passing anyway for the sake of 3 mins to correct the tyre pressures its nice to be nice.Peter, TYRES2U (NE) LTD...

WHY VIDEO MARKETING 'FOR THE MASSES' ISN'T ALWAYS SUCH A BAD IDEA . . .

So often when I’m in the initial stages of planning a project with a client, they’ll ask me whether they should be looking to target their video at a niche group of their business’s audience, or to ‘the masses’. And I always tell them the same thing - “it entirely depends on your business objective”.  If you’re wanting to deliver a specific message tailored to a group of individuals, then the targeted approach is the best to consider.  However, if you’re in the busine...

LAND OF OAK & IRON STILL 'GOOD TO GO'

We're still 'Good to Go'! The Heritage Centre, café shrub and all our events and activities have been fully risk assessed and we are still Covid-19 compliant as a visitor attraction. Our heritage walks and workshops are classed as educational and/or outdoor physical activities - however, for everyone's comfort and peace of mind, each activity is pre booked with a very small group to enable social distancing at all times.  When visiting we ask that you stay within your family 'bubble' of up...

HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE POTTING SHED?

Willow Burn Hospice's new garden and gift shop, The Potting Shed, located at Willow Burn Hospice.  Come along and see the treasures you can find, each visit will be different!All purchases for The Potting Shed can be made in the Willows Café.The shed was kindly funded by Durham Freemasons and Tesco Bags of Help....

SOME DAYS YOUR TECHNOLOGY JUST WON'T DO AS IT'S TOLD!

This is me a few minutes before going live at Digital Drive County Durham Social Media Festival when my computer camera wouldn’t work.  Thankfully Caroline Brown and Claude came to the rescue and I started my presentation on time!Thanks to everyone who came along, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Melanie, Elm Marketing Solutions...

LOOKING TO EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS? DURHAMWORKS CAN HELP

DurhamWorks will work closely with you to find the right young person for the role you have available.  They will support you as the employer and the young person in the early days of recruitment to ensure you both receive the training and advice needed to secure a successful candidate. If you own a SME business, you may be eligible for a DurhamWorks grant of up to £2,500.  The grant is designed to help towards the salary cost of employing a 16 – 24 year old who is on DurhamWorks.&n...

HOW TO CREATE A CORNOAVIRUS NHS QR CODE FOR YOUR VENUE

Just thought I’d highlight this, as I think it may be worthwhile you mailing this link out to the DBN membership? You can register for a free NHS Track and Trace poster with custom QR code.  It's linked to your business premises in registration. CheersTony Liddell, Vindomora Solutions...

NEW RULES FOR HOSPITALITY VENUES

Just a reminder that hospitality venues in England are legally required to enforce the rule of 6 or face a fine of up to £4,000.Designated businesses and organisations, including hospitality, close contact services and leisure venues, will also be legally required to log details of customers, visitors and staff for NHS Test and Trace and from Thursday 24 September they will be required to display official NHS QR code posters under law ahead of the NHS COVID-19 app being rolled out nationally. S...

A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES AT GEORDIES SIGNS

Our Roland RF 640 also known as ‘Baby Beast’ at work!Quick time-lapse of the process behind the scenes that not many of you see!Geordies Signs....