What a fantastic morning we had at our recent networking meeting! It was brilliant to see so many smiling faces and feel the buzz in the room, especially as we teamed up with the North Tenants Business Network. These joint events are always a highlight, bringing even more diverse connections and opportunities.
We were lucky to have three excellent guest speakers who provided some truly valuable insights:
First up, a big thank you to Stuart Armstrong from Business Durham. Stuart gave us an incredibly informative run-down on the new business funding opportunities available for SMEs in our region. This is crucial information for so many of our members!
Next, we extended our gratitude to Tom and Ryan from KL Accountants. They did a superb job of guiding us through the recent budget changes and what they mean for businesses. Staying on top of these updates is vital, and Tom and Ryan made a potentially complex topic easy to understand and digest.
Finally, we heard from Ailsa Anderson from the Engineering & Manufacturing Network. Ailsa, who is incredibly passionate about creating opportunities for North East businesses, shared fascinating information about a project she's currently involved in. This initiative aims to get STEM teachers more engaged with STEM outreach activities, a vital step for inspiring the next generation! Ailsa also let us know that she'll be sharing details with DBN about their exciting new YouTube channel, where local businesses can showcase videos of 'how things are made/done' to be shared directly with schools. This is a brilliant way to connect industry with education!
Of course, no networking meeting is complete without some proper connecting! Our speed networking session was as lively as ever, ensuring everyone got a chance to meet new people, exchange ideas, and forge potential collaborations. It's always great to see those initial conversations spark new possibilities.
You can download Stuart's funding slides from the Business Durham presentation right at the bottom of this blog post! Plus, Tom and Ryan's presentation is also available.
We're already looking forward to our next gathering and continuing to build a strong, supportive business community. Remember, "Growth happens when we support each other."
