LATEST NEWS
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...
CDEMN MEMBER HELPING TO MAKE THE WORKPLACE SAFER
Business is full of risk, but a Sunderland-based firm is helping companies develop a safety-first approach by tackling alcohol and substance misuse. Trevor Hall and Gordon Angus are making workplaces safer places. Their firm, Hall & Angus, is at the forefront of...
OKTOBERFEST INCUBATOR ZONE EXHIBITORS WIN CONTRACTS
Exhibitors who participated in a new programme at the region’s biggest engineering and manufacturing expo have secured more than 10 new contracts worth over £200,000 between them. Twenty one companies from across County Durham signed up to the very first Incubator...
DIGITAL TRAINING TO HELP BUSINESSES CRACK OVERSEAS MARKETS
A series of free training courses have been designed to enable businesses to crack overseas markets digitally. The pilot project is part-funded by the European Commission’s European Regional Development Fund and the UK’s Department for International Trade. Courses are...
BELTING OKTOBERFEST FOR MANUFACTURING FIRM GB
A manufacturing company which makes belting products for a diverse range of sectors has secured two significant contracts after exhibiting at Durham Oktoberfest. GB Belting, which exports its products to over 70 countries worldwide, was involved in the manufacturing...
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...
BUSINESSES PLANNING THEIR OKTOBERFEST 2018 RETURN
Dozens of exhibitors including one of Europe’s leading train builders are planning their Durham Oktoberfest 2018 return. The event, held at the Xcel Centre on October 19, was the most successful yet with over 100 companies showcasing their products and services to an...
GREAT YEAR FOR DYER AS GROWTH CONTINUES
Dyer Engineering has been changing over the last four years under the astute leadership of Graeme Parkins who spoke to Insider about recent milestones. Revenues, production, staff numbers and profits have all increased since Graeme took over the business from previous...
BUSINESSES PURSUING LEADS AFTER OKTOBERFEST INCUBATOR ZONE
Businesses who participated in the very first Incubator Zone at this year’s Durham Oktoberfest have secured new contracts and are following up dozens of promising leads. Twenty-one companies from across County Durham exhibited as part of a Durham Business...
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE OKTOBERFEST 2017 THE BEST YET
This year’s Durham Oktoberfest event has received some fantastic feedback and many of you are already planning to return next year. There’s so many people who made our event successful, but a special thank you goes to our sponsors and partners: Business Durham Stadler...
DURHAM OKTOBERFEST 2017 OPENS ITS DOORS
Durham Oktoberfest 2017 has opened its doors to hundreds of people ready to network and do business. The event – the tenth since the show launched – was opened by County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Chairman David Land and Phil Wilson MP. Around 1,000 people...
RAIL SEMINAR TO PROMOTE SECTOR OPPORTUNITIES AT OKTOBERFEST
OPPORTUNITIES for regional firms to capitalise on the growth of the rail sector are to be outlined at this year’s Durham Oktoberfest. Since the arrival of Hitachi to Newton Aycliffe, the sector has undergone major growth with many companies from the rail industry’s...
ASSOCIATE MEMBER TAIT WALKER MOVES INTO DURHAM
Associate member Tait Walker has opened offices in Durham. The company new base will bridge the gap between their Newcastle, Morpeth and Teesside offices that are home to 155 staff, giving full coverage of the region. Tait Walker’s new office, situated at Salvus House...
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...
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...
OKTOBERFEST INCUBATOR ZONE TO SUPPORT MICRO FIRMS AND SMES
MICRO and growing firms that make parts or provide a service to the engineering and manufacturing sectors are being given a unique chance to be part of this year’s Oktoberfest. For the first time ever, there will be a dedicated Incubator Zone for companies who employ...
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...
PARAGON BECOMES THE FIRST UK PRODUCTION PARTNER FOR CARBON
Paragon Rapid Technologies has teamed up with US-based Additive Manufacturing experts Carbon to introduce their groundbreaking 3D Manufacturing technology into the UK market. The addition of Carbon’s proprietary Digital Light Synthesis™ (DLS) technology complements...
HELP AVAILABLE FOR BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY CARILLION COLLAPSE
Businesses in County Durham who have been affected by the collapse of construction giant Carillion are being offered help. Business Durham is working with the County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network (CDEMN) to determine the affect it will have on the...
6,000 JOBS FOR COUNTY DURHAM IF NEW BUSINESS DISTRICT IS APPROVED
Plans to attract more than 6,000 private sector jobs delivering a £400 million boost for County Durham’s economy could take a very significant step forward next week (17 January). Hailed as a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to help transform the county’s economic...
INDUSTRY 4.0 SUBJECT OF TAIT WALKER ANNUAL EVENT
An accountancy firm’s annual round table brought together manufacturing and technology leaders to debate matters affecting the industry, with the spotlight on how businesses can prosper from Industry 4.0. Tait Walker’s event, chaired by managing partner Andrew Moorby,...
£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...
MORALBOX IS FIRST COMPANY TO BENEFIT FROM FINANCE DURHAM FUND
A new investment fund, managed by Maven Capital Partners, has completed its first incubator investment. Moralbox, a Seaham-based technology start-up which helps employers and employees work together to manage training records, has received £40,000 from the Finance...
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...
CDEMN MEMBER SAGETECH TARGETS EXPORT MARKET
A County Durham machinery firm hopes a factory switch can be the catalyst for export growth across South Africa and the US. Sagetech Machinery has moved to a larger unit on Chilton Industrial Estate, near Ferryhill, in a bid to extend its market presence. The business...
INCUBATOR ZONE FULLY BOOKED AS OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATES 10 YEARS
Twenty-one companies from across County Durham have booked their place at the inaugural Durham Oktoberfest Incubator Zone. The companies, who are either core engineers and manufacturers or directly supply products or services to the industry, will join 100 other...
BUSINESS LEADERS TO DEBATE BRITAIN’S EXIT FROM EU
Regional business experts and politicians will debate the challenges and opportunities facing industry as Britain prepares for its exit from the EU. As part of this year’s Durham Oktoberfest event, there will be a panel debate and question and answer session where...
AMAP FORUM TO FOCUS ON PROMOTING BEST PRACTICE
The University of Sunderland’s Institute for Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP) is again holding one of its North East Maintenance Forum sessions after the success of last year’s seminar. The forum was the most popular of all of the themed workshops...
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,...
AFFILIATE MEMBER LEC AWARDED INCUBATOR ZONE CONTRACT
A growing communications consultancy has announced its latest business win. LEC Communications and Design has been awarded a three-year contract to deliver the Durham Oktoberfest Incubator Zone project. The Incubator Zone, which is being managed by Business Durham’s...
COUNTY MICRO FIRMS SOUGHT FOR INCUBATOR ZONE
County Durham new starts, micro firms and growing SMEs are being given a unique chance to be part of 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 companies who have...
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...
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...
£50M EMERGENCY FUND TO SUPPORT CARILLION’S SUPPLY CHAIN
Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) has announced a £50 million package of support to its small business customers, as part of a range of emergency measures for those businesses within Carillion’s supply chain which are now in financial difficulty, as a result of Carillion’s...
MAVEN CLINICS TO HELP BUDDING ENTREPRENEURS TO GROW A BUSINESS
Budding entrepreneurs from County Durham are being offered free help to turn their idea into a viable business. Maven Capital Partners, the Fund Manager for the Finance Durham Fund, are offering 1-2-1 sessions with a member of the North East investment team for people...
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...
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...
OKTOBERFEST 2018: BOOK TO EXHIBIT NOW
Do you want the opportunity to forge new relationships and win new work? If the answer is yes, then you should be booking your spot as an exhibitor at our 2018 event. Durham Oktoberfest is the perfect platform to showcase your business to an audience of over 1,000...
STILLER EMBARKING ON £2M EXPANSION
A family transport firm is embarking upon a £2m expansion bosses say could create up to 25 jobs. Stiller Warehousing and Distribution is building a new delivery centre. The company, based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, says the 50,000sq ft base will help it cope...
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...
BUSINESSES PURSUING LEADS AFTER SUCCESSFUL TENTH OKTOBERFEST
Hundreds of businesses are following up leads after the tenth Durham Oktoberfest, held in Newton Aycliffe last week. The engineering and manufacturing expo attracted record exhibitors and footfall as companies large and small met new contacts, refreshed old...
MESSAGE FROM BEN GILHESPY: OKTOBERFST 2017 SOLD OUT
With just two days to go until this year’s Durham Oktoberfest, it’s pleasing to say that all the exhibitor stands have been sold. However such is the popularity of our expo that in the last few days we have continued to receive enquiries from companies hoping to...
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...
CDEMN MEMBER MECAPLAST REBRANDS AS NOVARES
One of the world’s leading automotive manufacturing groups has revealed its new identity. French-owened Mecaplast Group and US firm Key Plastics will be called Novares, following their merger earlier this year. The rebranding exercise reflects both the evolution and...
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...
DYER TARGETS INCREASED TURNOVER
County Durham-based Dyer Engineering has outlined plans to increase turnover to the £20m mark by 2020 as it celebrates 40 years in business. Founded in 1977 by father and son John and Paul Dyer, the company originally manufactured pipe fittings and supported the local...
MEMBER NEWS: JACKSON HOGG ANNOUNCEMENT SENIOR APPOINTMENT
Wallsend-based Jackson Hogg Recruitment has made a senior appointment to its growing team. Aoife Owens, who relocated to Newcastle to complete a masters' degree in law at Northumbria University, has been appointed to the role of senior consultant She specialises in...