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Latest News
All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.
Industry
Archbishop blesses new water fountain
8 Nov 2023
A new drinking water fountain in Bishop Auckland has been blessed by the Archbishop of York. The Archbishop of York blessed the water fountain in a small ceremony as part of his walking tour of the Diocese of Durham with the Bishop of Durham. The Life Way Water fountain was gifted to Durham County...
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Industry
Raby Estates hires manager to deliver sustainability vision
30 Oct 2023
Raby Estates has appointed a sustainability manager in a new role to set and deliver ambitious targets for environmental enhancement and meet the challenge of climate change. Victoria Cadman, an environmental scientist with over 25 years consulting and advisory experience for private and public...
Read More about Raby Estates hires manager to deliver sustainability visionVisitor economy businesses urged to have their say on pressing workforce skills challenges
30 Oct 2023
As the North East gears up to achieve ambitious plans to double the size of the visitor economy in the next decade, recruitment and retention challenges also loom large. To ensure the industry is equipped with the skills it needs to thrive, businesses across the region are being urged to feed into...
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Industry
Romans spotted in Hardwick Park!
26 Oct 2023
A County Durham park is now home to a Roman village…of the virtual variety. The new augmented reality attraction, in Sedgefield’s Hardwick Park, gives visitors the opportunity to meet Roman characters, view buildings, solve puzzles, and make iron tools. It’s all experienced through a mobile...
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Industry
Largest ever peatland project completed in the North Pennines
26 Oct 2023
The North Pennines AONB Partnership is celebrating the completion of its largest and most complex peatland restoration project to date, as part of the Great North Bog initiative. Working in partnership with the landowner, Raby Estates, and tenant farmer, John Bell, the AONB team has completed a...
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Industry
Tapestry bid
25 Oct 2023
The Auckland Project is campaigning to save Henry VIII's extraordinary lost tapestry for the nation. The vast, golden tapestry was ordered by Henry VIII when he declared himself Head of the Church of England, forever changing our national faith and history. One opportunity exists to bring it back...
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Industry
New VisitEngland website
25 Oct 2023
VisitBritain/VisitEngland have launched their new industry website. The new website's design and functionality has been driven by accessibility best practices, user data and discovery research to learn what content would be most useful to partners across the visitor economy, including destinations,...
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Industry
Purple Tuesday
25 Oct 2023
A reminder that Purple Tuesday returns on 7th November 2023. The initiative inspires leadership and staff of organisations from all sectors and sizes to foster awareness, deepen understanding, and implement solutions for enhanced accessibility in their customer environments.
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Industry
Training opportunity
18 Oct 2023
Taking England to the World is aimed at helping your business reach new customers and grow your revenue. The session is delivered by industry experts providing information on insights and research, marketing, product development, distribution and partnerships. Being held 30th November between...
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Industry
Durham Business Growth
18 Oct 2023
Durham Business Growth, a new £8.16 million initiative funded through UK Shared Prosperity Fund, has been launched to support 900 local businesses until March 2025. It focuses on strengthening the local economy and creating jobs. Businesses of all sizes and sectors are welcome to participate. The...
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Industry
Green light for boost to County Durham’s culture and regeneration programme
12 Oct 2023
Councillors have pledged £2million towards plans for an enhanced three-year programme of world-class events and community-led activities across County Durham. Durham County Council will now work with partners to progress bids to secure at least the same sum, creating a minimum budget of £4million...
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Industry
Tourism Sentiment Tracker
12 Oct 2023
VisitEngland has published the September 2023 domestic Sentiment Tracker showing its highest improvement in perception of the cost of living crisis with 45% of UK adults surveyed stated that the 'worst is still to come', compared to 50% in August and July and 49% in June. In terms of domestic...
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Industry
Tourism Awards Shortlist
12 Oct 2023
The shortlist for the 2024 North East England Tourism awards has been announced. The awards play a major role in showcasing the diverse and innovative businesses in North East England. Congratulations to all the shortlisted businesses who will be vying for Gold at the awards ceremony in Spring next...
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Industry
The Faith Museum opened its doors to the public for the first time this weekend
10 Oct 2023
The Faith Museum explores the myriad ways in which faith has shaped lives and communities across Britain, through rarely seen objects, personal testimonies, and contemporary commissions. The Faith Museum is part of the wider restoration and redevelopment of Auckland Castle, which has been made...
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Industry
1950s homes opening at Beamish Museum to help people living with dementia and other long-term health conditions
5 Oct 2023
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North is opening 1950s aged mineworkers’ homes that provide a space for innovative work with people living with dementia and other long-term health conditions. The facilities, in a replica of cottages from Marsden Road, South Shields, will open this Friday, 6th...
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