EMN & Affiliate News
BEN GILHESPY BLOG: WHY AREN’T MORE BUSINESSES EXPORTING?
In his latest column, Engineering and Manufacturing Network operations director Ben Gilhespy explores the world of export, analysing why there aren’t more regional companies choosing to sell their products overseas and what support is available to help encourage more...
FINANCE AND CASH FLOW THE THEME OF NEXT EMN EVENT
Two years ago one of our very first events was based around looking at financial options for your business. This revolved around the various options for maximising your cash and identifying ways of improving cash flow, finding ‘hidden’ money, sourcing an exit strategy...
NISSAN TO PULL INFINITI PRODUCTION FROM SUNDERLAND
Infiniti vehicles will no longer be made in Sunderland from the middle of 2019, car giant Nissan has announced. The luxury arm of the Japanese giant will target its "largest growth markets" such as North America and China, and plans to withdraw from Western Europe in...
BEN GILHESPY: HOW DO BUSINESSES WIN WORK FROM BIGGER FIRMS
In his latest column, Ben Gilhespy of the Engineering and Manufacturing Network (EMN) looks at the challenges smaller companies face when trying to win contracts with larger regional and national firms – and what they can do to ensure their time preparing quotes and...
NEW DATE ANNOUNCED FOR EMCON 2019
EMCON, the region’s biggest engineering and manufacturing expo, will return in 2019 on a new date. Historically the networking exhibition has been held on the third Thursday in October, however in response to exhibitor and delegate feedback the event will be now held...
MEMBER MESSAGE: HAPPY NEW YEAR
Here at the Engineering and Manufacturing Network we'd like to wish all of our members, affiliate partners and the region's thriving business community a very happy new year. It's fair to say 2018 has been a year of many many highlights, and we've been delighted to...
BUSINESSES LEADING THE WAY IN INNOVATIVE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Businesses in the North East are leading the way in innovative product development. That’s the message from Ben Gilhespy, operations director at the newly rebranded The Engineering and Manufacturing Network. He believes companies in the North East are becoming more...
OUR RE-BRAND TO THE ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING NETWORK IS CONFIRMED
A network which supports businesses within the engineering and manufacturing sectors has rebranded to reflect its growth regionally. County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network will now be known as The Engineering and Manufacturing Network (EMN). The name...
EMCON 2018: INCUBATOR ZONE EXHIBITING FIRMS PLANNING FOR GROWTH
Companies from across County Durham who exhibited at EMCON for the very first time are putting in place plans to grow. Eighteen new or growing SMEs signed up to participate in this year’s Incubator Zone, which was a key element of EMCON 2018. The programme, which is...
COMPANIES PURSUING WORK AFTER THIS YEAR’S EMCON
This year’s EMCON 2018 has been rated as a huge success, with close to one thousand people passing through the doors. And now, one week on, exhibitors and visitors alike are now following up on leads and new contacts made on the day. The showcase event, which has been...
NATIONAL AWARD WIN FOR CDEMN
County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network (CDEMN) has won a prestigious national award. The support organisation was nominated at the Small Business Awards, which was hosted by CV- Magazine. Operations Director Ben Gilhespy has now been advised that CDEMN...
JACKSON HOGG’S EMCON PANEL DEBATE LINE-UP CONFIRMED
Recruitment specialist Jackson Hogg is hosting a world class panel of industry experts at an event showcasing the best of North East engineering and manufacturing. The question and answer session is being held as part of EMCON 2018 – the Engineering and Manufacturing...
READ BEN GILHESPY’S SUNDERLAND ECHO PORTFOLIO COLUMN HERE
Ben Gilhespy is Operations Director at County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network (CDEMN). The organisation has 250 members from across the North East who want to tap into the network’s support and vast pool of expert partners who can facilitate their plans...
DOZENS OF MANUFACTURING COMPANIES BOOK FOR EMCON
Dozens of manufacturing and engineering companies from around the region have booked their place at this year’s EMCON event. Among those to have confirmed they’ll be exhibiting are Advanced Handling, the Bignall Group, Advance Automation, Tinius Olsen and Hiatco. Also...
COMPANIES BOOK FOR INCUBATOR ZONE
Companies from across County Durham have booked their place at this year's EMCON Incubator Zone. Those that have already signed up are; Beacon 365 Body Engineering Ashgarth Engineering Gil Devlin Business Coach System 88 NCG Solutions Climate Action North East...
CYBER SECURITY THE TOPIC FOR EEF EVENT
Businesses are being invited to attend a free event to raise awareness of the risks of cyber security breaches. EEF has organised the event which is open to members of CDEMN. The event is on Tuesday, July 17, from 9am to 11.30am at EEF House, Queens Park, Queens Way...
CDEMN MEMBERS ENCOURAGED TO ENTER MINE AWARDS
Insider’s annual celebration of the region’s manufacturing sector, the Made in the North East Awards, are being launched today. Entries are now being sought for the ten awards, which this year includes three new award categories. The Made in the North East Awards are...
NORTH EAST BUSINESS CONFIDENCE CONTINUES TO RISE
Business confidence in the North East has risen seven points since June to 35 per cent, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Companies in the North East report higher economic optimism at 41 per cent, although firms’...
CDEMN SUPPORTING CPI TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP
An innovation company is hosting a workshop to help businesses ramp up cutting-edge technology work to strengthen their marketplace standing. The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) will be offering advice on access to funding and networking opportunities for...
IT REFURBISHMENT COMPANY ACHIEVES MAJOR INDUSTRY STANDARD
An IT refurbishment company from Peterlee has achieved a major industry standard. Protech City, an IT asset retirement and Microsoft-registered refurbishing company based in Peterlee, has recently achieved the ADISA Standard which is a risk assessment of the entire...
CDEMN ANNOUNCED AS ‘MAKE YOUR MARK’ SPONSOR
Hundreds of people are expected to gather for a fourth annual business awards ceremony later this month. PWS were crowned Company of the Year during the 2016-17 Make Your Mark awards final, which is open to companies on Aycliffe Business Park, in County Durham. Seven...
EMCON ANNOUNCES STADLER RAIL UK AS HEADLINE SPONSOR
Engineering and manufacturing expo EMCON has secured one of Europe’s biggest rail manufacturers as its first ever headline sponsor. Stadler Rail, which last year was a gold sponsor alongside long term supporter Business Durham, was so impressed with the event that it...
GALLERY: OFFICIAL EMCON REBRAND LAUNCH
Today, CDEMN was delighted to welcome dozens of people from the North East’s business community for the launch of EMCON. Business leaders, exhibitors, sponsors and stakeholders attended the event at Ramside Hall, which was hosted by Leanne English, MD of LEC...
SUCCESSION PLANNING KEY TO BUSINESS GROWTH
Businesses are being offered advice and support to put in place plans to help them ensure their long- term growth and success. County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network (CDEMN) has teamed up with a number of its affiliate members and partners to deliver an...
JOIN OUR NETWORK TODAY
County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network (CDEMN) is supporting over 200 businesses from across the county, helping them form new relationships, tap into funding pots and sign up for workshops that could help them grow. For a small cost (annual membership is...
REGIONAL FIRMS AMONG THE MOST CONFIDENT NATIONALLY
North East firms are among the most confident in the UK, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Business confidence in the region rose 24 points during February to reach 42 per cent, the second highest in the country, the...
DYER DIRECTOR ADDED TO FINANCE EVENT LINE-UP
Richard Bradley, the finance director at Stanley-based manufacturing company Dyer Engineering, has been confirmed as a speaker at tomorrow's finance event. The event has been organised by South Durham Enterprise Agency supported by CDEMN and gives manufacturing...
CDEMN CHAIRMAN JOINS EBAC TEAM
A manufacturing specialist, David Land has joined Ebac to drive further growth at the County Durham-based electrical goods manufacturer. It is the only British company to produce washing machines, dehumidifiers and water coolers in the UK. David’s remit is to work...
2018 INCUBATOR ZONE OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Are you a micro or small business based in County Durham, with links to the engineering and manufacturing sectors? Are you interested in breaking into new markets but don’t have the budget or resources to exhibit at an event like Durham Oktoberfest? Do you employ less...
BANKING CHIEFS TO ADDRESS MANUFACTURING SECTOR ISSUES
Manufacturing companies in County Durham are being given the chance to learn more about financial issues facing the sector. County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network (CDEMN) is supporting an event organised by South Durham Enterprise Agency which will see...
MAVEN CP: FUNDING GROWTH AND INNOVATION IN THE NORTH EAST
As one of the UK’s most active SME finance providers, Maven has invested over £50 million in manufacturing and engineering businesses and has played a vital role in fuelling growth in these sectors. The UK has a proud history in manufacturing, with the North East...
COUNTY DURHAM’S ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING SECTORS THRIVING
Engineering and manufacturing companies from across County Durham are being given a helping hand thanks to a network created to support growth within the sectors. County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network (CDEMN) was launched two years ago to support these...
NORTH EAST MOST BUSINESS CONFIDENT REGION
Business confidence in the North East is the highest of any UK region but firms’ investment plans have fallen despite their optimistic outlook. That's according to the latest Business in Britain report from Lloyds Bank. Business confidence in the North East –...
CDEMN BOARD END OF YEAR REVIEW
Here we are, approaching the end of another year in the manufacturing and engineering sectors. Generally business is buoyant with some great success stories to be found. And what’s encouraging is that these successes come from a diverse range of companies. Many of the...
CDEMN SUPPORTS NEXT GENERATION OF ENGINEEERS
Where possible CDEMN likes to support the next generation of engineers by encouraging them to look to our sector as an aspirational source of employment. Frequently their embedded belief is still that its an industry steeped in blue overalls and oil (which of course...
£4M DIGITAL SUPPORT PROGRAMME TO LAUNCH FOR SMEs
A £4M programme will help small businesses in County Durham thrive in a digital world by gaining a competitive edge and maximising their growth. Digital Drive County Durham, the first of its kind in the county, will also help companies become more resilient and...
NEW BUSINESS DURHAM MD ANNOUNCED
The new managing director of the economic development organisation for County Durham will be looking to build on the excellent progress made by its team. Brian Archer has joined Business Durham, which is part of Durham County Council, where he will also build on...
BUSINESSES ENCOURAGED TO GROW CLOSER TO HOME
Successful businesses who have established their brand nationally and internationally are being encouraged to look closer to home as they continue to grow. County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network (CDEMN) is working with companies in the area to look at...
FUTURE BUSINESS MAGNATES COMPETITION LAUNCHES
Young entrepreneurs have been set the challenge of thinking ‘smart’ when developing their business ideas for a competition designed to inspire enterprise skills among schoolchildren. Future Business Magnates (FBM) – an annual competition run by Business Durham, the...
WHY COUNTY DURHAM IS THE PLACE TO DO BUSINESS
There has never been a better time to do business in Durham. From the multimillion pound redevelopment plans currently underway in the historic cathedral city, to the £12.6 million expansion of the county’s flagship science park, Durham is buzzing with investment and...
MIGHTY OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW
In his latest blog, our Operations Director Ben Gilhespy looks at why the addition of the Incubator Zone could be the missing link for Durham Oktoberfest. Big companies haven’t always been big, just like small businesses won’t always be small. So how does a company...
COUNTY FIRMS BOOK THEIR INCUBATOR ZONE SPOT
County Durham new starts, micro firms and growing SMEs are targeting new business leads after booking their place at this year’s Oktoberfest. As part of plans to encourage smaller companies to be part of the event, there will be a dedicated Incubator Zone for those...
SEARCH IS ON TO FIND AREA’S MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANY
The search for the most innovative companies in the region is now under way as part of the North East Business Awards. In the 2018 awards, the Innovation Award will be given at heats in Northumberland and Tyneside; Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside; and Teesside,...
COUNTY DURHAM FIRMS OFFERED CHANCE TO EXPLORE IRISH MARKET
County Durham businesses are being offered the chance to explore the Irish market as part of a free trade mission to Dublin. If you are new to exporting or occasionally trade internationally Dublin is an excellent place to familiarise yourself with the Irish market...
COUNTY’S ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING SECTORS THRIVING
Engineering and manufacturing companies across County Durham are expanding and planning for long term investment and job creation. The sectors, which employ thousands of people and contribute millions of pounds to the area’s economy, have undergone major growth in the...
CDEMN MEMBERS MAKE ‘MADE IN THE NORTH EAST AWARDS’ SHORTLIST
The shortlists for Insider's prestigious Made in the North East Awards have been released, with the cream of the region's manufacturing industry battling it out across ten categories. And several of our members are in the running, including EDM Zone, Marmax Products...
BUSINESSES WARNED OF DANGERS OF CYBER CRIME
Businesses are being given the chance to learn more about the dangers of crime at an event being organised by Durham Constabulary. The open evening is aimed at businesses across the area to shed light on the growing risks posed by cyber criminals. Attendees will be...
REGION’S MANUFACTURING SECTOR GROWING FASTER THAN ANYWHERE IN UK
The North East’s manufacturing sector is enjoying a resurgence with new firms launching at a faster rate than anywhere in the UK. A new report issued by manufacturers’ organisation and BDO LLP, the accountancy and business advisory firm, details the considerable...
MADE IN THE NORTH EAST AWARDS DEADLINE EXTENDED
Due to an influx of requests, Insider has extended the deadline for entries to its prestigious Made in the North East awards. The final date for submissions - which can be made here - is now 28 July 2017. Now in their sixth year, the awards recognise and reward...
CDEMN SUPPORTS FUTURE BUSINESS MAGNATES COMPETITION
Talented students from an enterprising school have won a top award with their invention of a board game for Durham. Students from Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College were crowned champions of the Future Business Magnates (FBM) competition – run by Business...