The sun was out in full force at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens this morning, providing a spectacular backdrop for our latest DBN gathering. There is something uniquely energising about meeting in such a historic setting, especially when the spring weather decides to cooperate.
The aroma of fresh bacon rolls greeted our attendees as they arrived, setting a welcoming tone for a morning of focused discussion and professional updates. It was a pleasure to welcome so many guests to the group today; we thoroughly enjoyed meeting you all and hope to see you again in the near future.
Planning for the Long Term
A sincere thank you goes to David Hardy and Anthony Cunningham for their insightful presentation on future planning. It is a topic that resonates with everyone in the room, regardless of their industry, as it touches upon the long-term security we all strive for. Their expertise sparked a great deal of engagement and meaningful conversation among the group.
In a generous gesture to the network, David and Anthony are offering any DBN member a no-obligation financial review. If you would like to take them up on this, you can reach out to them directly here:
david.hardy@sjpp.co.uk
a.cunningham@sjpp.co.uk
Navigating the Energy Market
Phil Andrew from 121 Business Links provided a timely briefing on the shifting landscape of the energy sector. With commercial energy costs beginning to rise again, Phil advised those with business premises to consider securing their rates now for the latter half of the year.
For those interested in how these strategies work in practice, you can read the energy-saving case study Phil highlighted regarding our hosts at Ushaw College HERE.
Supporting a Local Treasure
Finally, we owe a debt of gratitude to Sally, Mark, and Andy for being such accommodating hosts. Beyond providing a beautiful space, they shared the impressive range of events held at Ushaw and reminded us of the vital work they do as a charity.
Ushaw relies on its own fundraising efforts to maintain these stunning grounds and buildings. There are several partnership scheme packages available (as shown in the image below), but you can support them in a number of ways—from corporate hire to volunteering. We encourage you to check out their website for more details on how you can help preserve this important site. Visit www.ushaw.org
