Durham Business Group - February News

Greetings!

We've caught our breath to bring the member news, it's shaping up to be another extraordinary year, with a record turnout at the January Showcase at Ramside Hall (captured by Graham Soult above). Followed in February by a more intimate affair as Crowne Plaza Newcastle hosted us, complete with gin tasting from WL Distillery, delicious food and entertainment.

Breakfast networking views didn't come much better than The Boat House Durham during the first Durham Restaurant Week, and we can't wait to showcase the latest addition to the Auckland Project, the newly refurbished Park Head Hotel this week!

January also brought us a new Office Manager, Aprile Field, we were delighted to introduce Aprile and she and has well and truly fitted in as another excellent member of the team, check out our introduction to Aprile below.

We're proud and privileged to have such amazing strength in our business community, not least, the overwhelming support given for County Durham Community Foundation Poverty Hurts Appeal . After setting the challenge of a Friendly Forty project to mark our 40th year, we're delighted to be half way there with 20 businesses pledging financial support towards their £1m target!

Here are just some of those amazing people and proud businesses..

Happy Networking!

Alison

Alison Gittins

CEO, Durham Business Group

Tel. 0191 3755700

Aspects Wellbeing

Bowe Digital Ltd

George F. White

Insight Finance Directors

Mirror Finish Detailing

Northern Stage

Performa IT

Pink Spaghetti PA Services

Richard Harkness Coaching

Snackfully

The Lawn Man

And to Aprile...

Aprile Field has been appointed Office Manager at Durham Business Group, Aprile will manage Durham Office Services arm, which covers call answering, registered office addresses, mail management, meeting room and hot desk hire, and two floors of managed office tenants.

Taking on this new role after 12 years’ retail management experience, Aprile is thrilled about her career move: “I’m absolutely delighted to be part of the dynamic team and so excited to be on my new adventure, supporting and networking with all these fabulous businesses.

“As a busy mum I’m really excited to be getting out to attend Durham Business Club events, explore new venues, and meet our members. I already live locally, and this opportunity means I can now also be part of the County Durham business community.”

Aprile will work alongside CEO, Alison Gittins, who added: “Aprile was introduced through our brilliant network, and I’m confident she’ll be an excellent addition to our team, bringing enthusiasm, communication skills, and a real passion for people.

“Those are the kind of qualities we cherish as we look to build on the 41-year reputation and values of the organisation, and promote Portland House as the hub of Durham Business Group activity, and the perfect place to meet, work and network. Exciting times ahead, and a wonderful start to 2023!”

DBC EVENTS

De-stressing Distress with Leonard Curtis

Durham Cricket, Chester-le-Street, Tuesday 14 March, 6 pm - 9 pm

Spring is around the corner, a time of growth and renewal. Where better to welcome the new season than the wonderful setting of The Castle View Suite at Durham Cricket. The venue is also the perfect match for Iain Nairn MBE of Leonard Curtis Business Solutions Group who received the Queen's Honour for services to Physical Disabilities Cricket.

Iain, who now heads up Leonard Curtis in the North East, has recently been joined by long standing club member, Sarah Gray. Iain and Sarah will share a unique perspective of how they can help business owners deal with challenging times. Far from tales of doom and gloom, the session will be informative, positive and we expect very helpful for business owners and professional advisers alike.

The focus of the night will be taking the stress out of difficult situations. Resilience Coach Karl Beckett will take us off the treadmill and guide us to lead and make positive improvements to help you and your teams to grow and flourish. Register Here

Azets Budget Briefing Breakfast

Bede House, Belmont Business Park, Thursday 30 March, 9 am - 11 am

Following the Spring Budget, we invite you to join us at our friend and neighbour here in Belmont, in the fabulous offices of Azets Accountants, Bede House. Azets is the largest regional top 10 SME accountancy and Business Advisory firm, delivering accounting, tax, audit business and advisory services in the UK and internationally.

Following the Chancellor’s Budget announcement on Wednesday 15 March 2023, join their North East tax specialists for a round-up of the key updates and how they will affect you and your business.

Join Azets for practical guidance from their experts to help you prepare and manage the impact of the announcements. Register Here

Welcomes Sarah Gray..

Sarah Gray landed a dream job with Leonard Curtis after meeting Iain Nairn MBE at Durham Business Club and shared some kind words with us...

"If you are a member that means you have now acquired a tight knit ‘work family’. I have known DBC since my retailing days in Durham many moons ago and I am so lucky that throughout my career there after I have re-engaged with them. DBC not only provides you with a hareem of supportive business minded individuals to liaise with but within that network it can provide you with unconscious opportunities, such as my recent exciting position with Leonard Curtis. I have a lot to thank DBG for and I look forward to their ever imaginative networking events in 2023" Read more

Another record year for Azets Corporate Finance in the NE

The Corporate Finance team in the North East at UK top 10 Accountancy firm Azets is celebrating after delivering a second successive year of record results. This follows the news that the team were also ranked 2nd in the Experian M&A review of most active North East financial advisors, and 5th in the UK standings.

2022 saw a range of transactions for the team including several sales of local businesses to overseas buyers and continued prevalence of Venture Capital and Private Equity in their deal flow. Read more

Azets Targets 500+ New Apprentices in 2023

with 22 for the NE

Azets has announced plans to recruit more than 500 apprentices, graduates and school leavers in 2023 with 22 vacancies in the North East.

The UK Top 10 accountancy firm currently has 650 apprentices, graduates and school leavers across England, with 331 having joined in August 2022.

Azets is offering another 531 early careers opportunities for September 2023, to take the total to nearly 1,200 by the end of this year.

In 2017, Azets had just 30 apprentices, reflecting the firm’s rapid growth and ongoing investment in talent development over the past six years. Read more

This month we celebrate nine years of The Executive Group, we kicked off the year with an action packed lunch at The 5th Battalion Royal Regiment HQ, Anzio House on Newcastle Quayside. This was a unique opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the British Army; who they are, what they do and how they contribute to society and the Nation's defence. It was also an opportunity to learn more about the Armed Forces Covenant and Employer Recognition Scheme and to hear how Durham Business Group proudly achieved the Gold Award. Lots of fun and our members rose to the challenges!

We look forward to our next lunch at Coarse Restaurant Durham, after winning praise for its imaginative menu, boasting locally-sourced produce and has now come to the attention of Michelin inspectors, including Coarse in the prestigious restaurant and hotel guide.

Please give the Executive Group a follow on its new dedicated LinkedIn page.

Growth continues apace at Swinburne Maddison

Five further appointments follow a raft of new work. With an unprecedented demand for its services across all areas of the firm following some significant new instructions, Durham City’s leading law firm, Swinburne Maddison LLP has appointed five new lawyers to its team.

Commenting on these latest appointments, managing partner, Jonathan Moreland, explains that Swinburne Maddison has been actively recruiting across all areas of the firm.

He said: “At the start of our 2021/22 financial year, we set out an ambitious three-year growth plan. In order to realise our aspirations, we recognised the need to invest heavily to bring in quality new people to join our fantastic team. Our recent performance has seen Turnover grow by almost 20% on last year and, to help us continue to support existing clients and bring in new work, we have grown our headcount by almost 25% in the same period." Read more

North East Chartered Accountants to Accelerate Growth in 2023

with New Partner Appointment

Following a sustained period of growth, a team of chartered accountants has appointed an experienced new partner to its Durham City office. Lesley Stabler is a certified chartered accountant with more than 20 years’ experience in a senior role and has joined Ribchesters Chartered Accountants from Tait Walker/Azets.

Having worked in the North-East throughout her career, Lesley has gained her experience working with a wide range of clients, predominantly with owner managed businesses including those in the property, retail, agriculture and pharmaceutics sectors. Read more at Wear Business

J&B Recycling Win Contract to Provide Sustainable Waste Management Solution for World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm

Waste management specialists J&B Recycling, a company of the Urbaser Group, have been awarded a 3-year contract by GE Renewable Energy to provide a sustainable waste solution for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which is located just off the North East coast.

The Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm when it is completed, capable of powering 6 million British homes.

Charlie Payne, Sales Manager at J&B Recycling, says: “We are thrilled to have been awarded the contract for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm. It is an incredibly exciting project for the North East, especially for a company like J&B Recycling, who have championed green solutions since the 1990s.”