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Latest News

All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.

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Format: 29-12-2023
Format: 30-12-2023
Go North East Survey Industry

Go North East Survey

18 May 2022

Due to changes in lifestyles, including home working and online shopping, Go North East is seeking feedback to ensure services are adapted to efficiently meet new patterns of demand. Help shape the future of their bus network by completing the survey - the closing date for responses is 31st May...

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Crowdfunder appeal Industry

Crowdfunder appeal

11 May 2022

The Weardale Museum is looking to restore High House Chapel and create a new Heritage Centre with a view to preserving Weardale history. They have started a Crowdfunder to raise the final £10,500 needed to help preserve the Grade 2 Listed property, ensuring it continues to play a focal part in...

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National Accessible Scheme Industry

National Accessible Scheme

11 May 2022

VisitEngland is undertaking a review of the National Accessible Scheme (NAS). The NAS is a long-running voluntary scheme that helps accommodation proprietors in England to develop and promote their true level of accessibility. They are keen to receive the views of suppliers and others working in...

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Ramside Spa named one of the best in the country Industry

Ramside Spa named one of the best in the country

11 May 2022

County Durham's luxurious Ramside Spa has been named one of the best in the UK at the beauty industry’s equivalent of the Oscars.  The spa, at Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa, took ‘Highly Commended’ in the Large Spa of the Year category at the British Association of Beauty Therapy and...

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Name for new County Durham history centre revealed Industry

Name for new County Durham history centre revealed

9 May 2022

The name for a new history centre for County Durham has been revealed. The centre, which is currently under construction and due to open to the public in 2023, is to be called The Story at Mount Oswald. The project brings the Grade II listed Mount Oswald Manor House back into use, while the...

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Trader pitch applications deadline Industry

Trader pitch applications deadline

5 May 2022

Seaham Food Festival 2022 is taking place Saturday 6th August and Sunday 7th August and there is still time for Traders to secure a pitch at the festival. Applications are welcome from Traders who offer quality artisan products that will appeal to festival visitors. The food festival is a popular...

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National consumer sentiment tracker Industry

National consumer sentiment tracker

5 May 2022

Wave 45 of the VisitEngland commissioned national Consumer Sentiment Tracker has been published covering fieldwork undertaken 1st-7th April. The survey addresses such areas as current attitude to travel and when visitors plan to book. Headline results show 60% of UK adults are planning on taking an...

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Financial Wellbeing Programme Industry

Financial Wellbeing Programme

27 Apr 2022

The Financial Ability project works closely with County Durham businesses to help improve the financial wellbeing of their staff. The project helps businesses formalise the work they are often already doing around staff wellbeing but includes financial resilience. T o find out more and arrange for...

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Carbon Calculator launched Industry

Carbon Calculator launched

27 Apr 2022

In collaboration with UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association, The Zero Carbon Forum has launched a Hospitality and Brewing Calculator and Toolkit powered by Sky Zero. The calculator allows hospitality businesses to calculate their current carbon emissions to then produce a report...

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Local school children become Raby Rebels for the afternoon with exclusive first visit to new adventure playground Industry

Local school children become Raby Rebels for the afternoon with exclusive first visit to new adventure playground

26 Apr 2022

An entire class of students from Cockfield Primary School in Bishop Auckland were the first children in the county to test drive Raby Castle’s much-awaited new playground in the trees, The Plotters’ Forest, before it opens to the public at Easter.   Over thirty Class 4 students and their...

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PAM Assist Industry

PAM Assist

13 Apr 2022

PAM Assist, supported by Durham County Council, provides businesses in the county with access to the free PAM Assist confidential employee assistance programme for their employees. Trained counsellors are on hand to help with a range of topics, including wellbeing and financial concerns. Call...

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Poised for playtime - The Plotters' Forest to open on Friday 15 April Industry

Poised for playtime - The Plotters' Forest to open on Friday 15 April

7 Apr 2022

Raby Castle’s new highly anticipated adventure playground, The Plotters’ Forest, opens to the public on Friday 15th April, in time for the Easter weekend. Towering amongst the trees in the castle’s Christmas tree plantation, the playground offers an exciting mix of challenge, discovery and...

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ALVA visitor figures update Industry

ALVA visitor figures update

6 Apr 2022

The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) has released the visitor figures of its members for 2021. The total number of visits to ALVA sites in 2021 was 67.8 million, which was a 25% increase on the previous year, but represented an annual decline of 57% on the 156.6 million visits in...

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Struggling to recruit staff? Industry

Struggling to recruit staff?

6 Apr 2022

Reed in Partnership invite County Durham employers to join them at their upcoming career fairs. Meet and interview participants and hear about the service Reed in Partnership offer through the delivery of the DWP funded Restart Scheme. Two career fairs have been announced for Peterlee 27th April...

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Anticipation builds for reimagined cultural venue Industry

Anticipation builds for reimagined cultural venue

6 Apr 2022

A first glimpse of an exciting new cultural venue for County Durham has been revealed. Durham County Council has released a visualisation of what the former DLI Museum and Gallery will look like after it is transformed into a vibrant exhibition centre, gallery and café. The move closely follows...

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