It’s been a busy spring for DBG CEO Alison and the rest of the team at Portland House, with three successful Durham Business Club events in the last four weeks.
Lots to learn at New College Durham
Our networking breakfast at the beautiful Hotel Indigo in Durham just snuck into April (falling on the last day of the month), while May’s evening Club meeting headed over to New College Durham – our founder member back in 1981, and still just as engaged with the local business community 38 years later.
We were truly spoilt with wine and canapes on arrival at New College, and a delicious buffet (and more wine) at the end – the catering and hospitality students did a fantastic job, not just in preparing the dishes but being warm and welcoming hosts as well.
On Tuesday night our catering and hospitality students were a credit to the college when we hosted @Durham_Business monthly meeting. ?Amazing food and brilliant service!?? #poweredbypeople #durhambusinessgroup #networking pic.twitter.com/nNoSAaWJpY
— New College Durham (@NCDOfficial) May 16, 2019
Between all the eating and drinking, the main event of the evening was pretty good too!
We got all the latest updates from the College Principal, John Widdowson, on the exciting campus development plans – as it celebrates being the lead institution for one of only 12 new “Institutes of Technology” across the UK – while Vice Principal Dawn Fairlamb reiterated the role that the College can play in supporting businesses and being a source of motivated and highly qualified new talent.
Sunshine did not stop play as we enjoyed wonderful hospitality @NCDOfficial and an excellent presentation @soult sharing #LinkedIn tips ??#Networking pic.twitter.com/Ys6lYGJCbO
— Durham Business Club (@Durham_Business) May 14, 2019
We then turned to DBG Director and social media whizz Graham Soult from CannyInsights.com, who gave a very well-received presentation on “Making the most of LinkedIn: 10 top tips”. Lots of members were listening intently and making notes, and took away plenty of ideas for improving their personal profiles and business pages.
You can download Graham’s slides here, and he’s working on a more detailed blog post for the DBG website which we’ll publish and share as soon as we have it.
Deeply Dippy at the Great North Museum: Hancock
Just a week later we were networking again, this time for breakfast on the other side of the water at the splendid Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle.
Dippy the Diplodocus was a famous site at the Natural History Museum for a century, but is now in the midst of a tour of some of the UK’s best-loved family-friendly museums. We were delighted to be the first business group to get a glimpse of Dippy on Tour in Newcastle, and the huge skeleton cast – 21.3 metres long, 4.3 metres wide, and 4.25 metres high – certainly provided a unique backdrop for networking, and lots of photo opportunities, of course.
Don’t know how we will top this guest at the next DBC Breakfast ? @DippyOnTour you were amazing, standing proud @GNM_Hancock fantastic hospitality, thanks @SophiaStovall & team ? pic.twitter.com/MIVTkpiXYo
— Durham Business Club (@Durham_Business) May 21, 2019
Sophia Stovall, the Head of Development at DBC member Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums – of which the Hancock is part – offered a warm welcome to our members and guests, and spoke about the opportunities for businesses to support TWAM’s work and make use of its iconic venues across the region.
Great to introduce @Durham_Business members to #DippyOnTour ? @GNM_Hancock @TWAMmuseums for our 1st business breakfast thank you @alisongittins for my first birthday present with a definite Dino theme! pic.twitter.com/aeNHuM0agP
— Sophia Stovall (@SophiaStovall) May 21, 2019
It was certainly a memorable morning, and we’re sure that many of our members will return to see Dippy with their own families before he heads off to Cardiff in October!
What’s next?
We have another busy month in June, kicking off with the evening Durham Business Club meeting at Kynren in Bishop Auckland on Tuesday 11 June, where we are delighted to have teamed up for a joint event with Tees Valley Business Club.
Two weeks later, on Wednesday 26 June, we’re heading to the Botanic Garden in Durham for our monthly breakfast, where Club member Event Durham will be our host.
As ever, Durham Business Club networking events – of which there are usually 20 a year – are free for members, while guests can try up to two events for £10 per visit. All the details about membership and the benefits it offers are available here.
Meanwhile, our Executive Group members will also be off to Beamish Museum in June – another fantastic member venue – for an informal networking lunch. Bringing together North East senior directors and decision-makers in a relaxed, non-sales environment, you can find out all about The Executive Group and its eligibility criteria here.
Whether you’re coming to our events or just engaging on social media, we look forward to seeing and hearing from you in the weeks ahead!
