http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.dobusinessnetwork.com en-us Sun, 01 Nov 2026 05:58:04 +0000 Rocketspark http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/post/27403/why-you-should-attend-the-tees-valley-erf-meet-the-buyer-event/ Major regional infrastructure projects offer significant opportunities for local businesses, and the upcoming Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility (TV ERF) project is a key example.If you want to secure supply chain contracts, build direct relationships with main contractors, or expand your market across the North East, save the date for Tuesday, 10th November 2026.Event DetailsDate: Tuesday, 10th November 2026Times: Morning Session (09:00 – 12:00) | Afternoon Session (13:00 – 16:00)Venue: C... Tue, 27 Oct 2026 11:20:28 +0000 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/#post27403 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/post/27354/what-a-fantastic-turnout-at-beamish-museum/ After a lovely walk through the grounds, we made our way round to the Drovers Tavern, where we were welcomed by a roaring open fire, piping hot tea and coffee, and delicious homemade shortbread baked fresh right on site at the museum's town centre bakery.Honesty, Self-Reflection, and Business GrowthOur guest speaker for the morning was Angela Blake from Y19 Management, who led us through an insightful, practical session.Angela had everyone complete a self-assessment questionnaire, encouraging us... Tue, 20 Oct 2026 14:13:10 +0100 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/#post27354 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/post/27349/if-you-are-a-sole-trader-or-a-landlord-you-may-have-seen-hmrcs-recent-campaign-warning-that-the-tax-system-is-changing/ From 6 April 2027, Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax Self Assessment will become mandatory for individuals with qualifying turnover above £30,000. Over one million business owners and property owners across the UK will be brought into this phase.While 2027 might feel a long way off, the decisions you make now regarding your record-keeping will determine how seamless or stressful this transition becomes.What Is Changing Under MTD for Income Tax?Under the current system, most sole traders a... Mon, 19 Oct 2026 17:21:54 +0100 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/#post27349 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/post/27324/investing-in-your-team-how-pcp-and-the-better-health-at-work-award-transform-workplace-wellbeing/ We recently sat down to record an episode of the DBN podcast with Bobby Hewitson and Karen Stobbart from the Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) to discuss how local businesses across the North East and Cumbria can improve their workplace culture.In this episode, Bobby and Karen break down how the fully funded Better Health at Work Award helps companies of all sizes support their employees through everything from mental health and physical activity to cancer awareness and financial wellbeing.We ta... Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:12:33 +0100 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/#post27324 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/post/27300/november-networking-at-derwentside-college/ We are absolutely thrilled to head to the college for our November gathering. While this is a change to our original schedule, we are really excited to be back at Derwentside College at the Steel House Bistro and to be looked after by Angelo and his catering students. (Just FYI, Angelo makes the best coffees and the catering team always do an absolute belter of a bacon butty!)Morning Itinerary8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Arrival, networking, coffee, and bacon butties9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Welcome, guest s... Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/#post27300 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/post/27302/festive-finale-at-ushaw-christmas-quiz-magical-surroundings-and-bringing-a-guest-for-free/ We are thrilled to round off the year in truly magical fashion at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens. Moved to December to take advantage of the festive season, Ushaw is beautifully decorated at Christmas time, making it a wonderful sight to look forward to. To make our final gathering extra special, we will be hosting our end-of-year Christmas quiz complete with prizes, which is always great fun and a brilliant way to celebrate our community's achievements.Morning Itinerary8:30 AM – 9:... Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:38:22 +0100 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/#post27302 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/post/26745/october-networking-at-beamish-museum/ We are excited to announce that our networking meeting on Tuesday 20th October will see us returning to Beamish Museum. These meetings are always a highlight in the Do Business Network calendar, and this upcoming session promises to be particularly special as we gather at one of the museum's newest exhibits in the 1820s Landscape: The Drovers Tavern.To add a bit of historical context to our morning, a member of Beamish staff will be sharing insights about the story of droving and ... Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/#post26745 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/post/27292/wrapping-up-2026-in-style-the-last-three-do-business-network-events-you-dont-want-to-miss/ As the year draws to a close, it is time for the final big push before Christmas. For local business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs across County Durham, the festive season is not just about winding down—it is about finishing strong, strengthening local connections, and setting the groundwork for the year ahead.The Do Business Network has lined up three fantastic networking events to close out 2026. While a few adjustments to the schedule have been made due to unforeseen circumstances,... Tue, 06 Oct 2026 14:00:00 +0100 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/#post27292 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/post/27275/peer-led-training-supporting-growth-through-shared-expertise/ Running a business can sometimes feel like a continuous cycle of reacting to the day-to-day. That is why community support and continuous learning are so vital for growth.At the Do Business Network, we do not just connect local business owners—we invest in helping each other level up through practical, peer-led training.Putting Marketing in PerspectiveA shining example of this collaboration came from our September session, where Allison Dore from Hello Friday delivered an engaging, pressure-fr... Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:12 +0100 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/#post27275 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/post/27273/from-a-ten-year-old-disco-to-the-edinburgh-fringe-the-mark-sillett-story/ Every business owner has an origin story, but few start quite as early as Mark Sillett.At just ten years old, Mark ran a disco for his class. That single event led to a request for a Year Six disco, prompting him to source his first set of speakers. From those modest beginnings, Mark Sillett Lighting, Sound and Entertainment has steadily evolved. Today, at twenty-eight years old, Mark's portfolio includes local highlights like the Consett Christmas Tree Festival, alongside major technical work a... Fri, 02 Oct 2026 11:05:53 +0100 http://www.dobusinessnetwork.com/blog/#post27273