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

Durham’s visitor economy hits £1 billion milestone

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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...

Visit County Durham

Tourism Sentiment Report

27 Apr 2022

The Visit County Durham commissioned Tourism Sentiment report for March is now available, providing valuable insights for the county's tourism businesses. The score measures Durham's ability to generate positive word of mouth about our tourism offer through online conversations. This month, the...

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...

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...

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...

Visit County Durham

T-Stats Webinar

13 Apr 2022

Do you currently provide your occupancy data or visitor numbers to us? If so, join us for a webinar on Thursday 28th April from 11am - 12 noon to learn more about the features and benefits of the system so you can get the most out of it for your business. If you would like to attend or […]

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...

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...

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...

Visit County Durham

Special offer for VCD Partners

6 Apr 2022

Inspirational speakers representing all areas of hotel marketing will take the stage at this year's National Hotel Marketing Conference, organised in partnership with the Hotel Marketing Association. Expected to attract up to 200 hotel marketing and sales personnel, GMs and owners, and top...

Visit County Durham

Check your inbox!

6 Apr 2022

Our VCD Partnership renewal process is underway for 2022-23 and we'd like to say a big 'thank you' to the many businesses that have renewed already. Please remember to check your spam/junk folder if you have not yet received your Partnership quote or get in touch with the team. VCD Partnership...

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...

Visit County Durham

Rural broadband connectivity

30 Mar 2022

The National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise is collaborating with Building Digital UK, part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, to find out the views and experiences of SMEs about rural broadband connectivity and the effect this has on their business in...

Visit County Durham

Celebrating the industry

30 Mar 2022

Last week the North East tourism family came together to celebrate the region's visitor economy at The North East England Tourism Awards 2022. Very proud that County Durham businesses picked up awards and congratulations to partners Seaham Hall, Hotel Indigo Durham and Vindomora Country Lodges on...

Visit County Durham

Welcome back!

30 Mar 2022

Wonderful news for the city and county that the National Trust has acquired Crook Hall & Gardens which can once again add its weight to our growing tourism offer. The gardens, cafe and parts of the house, including the medieval hall, will re-open in summer 2022, with the date still to be...