Media Room
Latest News
All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.
Industry
Campaign aims to boost independent businesses in Durham City
14 Nov 2023
Durham shoppers will have the chance to win a share of £2,500 worth of vouchers thanks to an initiative aimed at supporting the city’s independent businesses. Durham BID’s Independent campaign will take place from November 17to December 22 – and more than 40 businesses have already signed up...
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Industry
Raby Estates explores sustainable future or ground breaking Rising development
14 Nov 2023
Raby Castle and Estate, in the heart of County Durham, is committed to sustainability as part of its highly ambitious two-year redevelopment and restoration plan, known locally as The Rising. The Estate has drilled two exploratory geothermal boreholes to identify whether a renewable energy source...
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Visit County Durham
Campaign encourages visitors to ‘Do Durham Differently’
8 Nov 2023
Durham’s unique and diverse experiences, world-class attractions and eclectic accommodation are the inspiration behind a new campaign aimed at boosting the county’s visitor economy.
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Industry
Celebrating and protecting County Durham’s heritage
8 Nov 2023
Victorian gates from Euston Station, two ice houses and a deserted medieval village. All are among 340 heritage assets across County Durham that are to be promoted and afforded increased protection, having been put forward for inclusion in a local authority project. Durham County Council’s Local...
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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...
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Industry
Visitor 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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Visit County Durham
Research reveals Memorable Moments marketing campaign generated millions in visitor spend
24 Oct 2023
Visit County Durham’s national destination marketing campaign, Memorable Moments, generated £86.6 million in visitor spend, research has revealed. The campaign, which ran from October 2022 to April 2023 and was delivered in partnership with the county’s tourism businesses, reached over 2.25...
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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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