Andrea Stephenson

Plans to transform a former County Durham primary school into business units and a community hub have been approved.Rookhope Primary School, which has been vacant since it closed in August 2024, will be converted into four small business units and a community hub.According to the approved proposal, the refurbishment will maintain the building's original stone and steel rail fencing, preserving its historic appearance.Durham County Council granted planning permission on January 13, subject to sev

Are you a business eager to connect with major buyers in the energy, construction, and sustainability sectors? Then mark your calendar for 19th February and join us at the Get Set Green event, where you'll have the chance to showcase your goods and services to prominent organisations with substantial pipelines of work and investment.The Meet the Buyer sessions will connect suppliers with leading organisations, including OnPath Energy, New College Durham, and Durham County Council/County Durham P

A famous lawnmower brand with its factory in County Durham turns 60 this year.Flymos have been manufactured in Newton Aycliffe since the 1970s - and it continues to be a source of pride in the community.Julie Blades, Flymo product manager, joked that she "bleeds orange" and revealed that she had become an undercover shopper to get customer feedback.Read more

Are you ready to kickstart your business connections in 2025? The Bishop Auckland and Shildon Business Network invites you to a fantastic networking event on Thursday, 13 February 2025, at the stunning Manor House Hotel & Spa in West Auckland. This is your chance to make meaningful connections, uncover exciting opportunities, and raise your profile in the local business community.The event takes place from 8:30am to 10:30am, and best of all, it’s completely free. With plenty of friendly faces an

The business support arm of Durham County Council is supporting the 2025 Aycliffe Make Your Mark Awards by being a category sponsor.Business Durham is again sponsoring the Small Business of the Year category for the awards event being held at Hardwick Hall Hotel on May 8, in association with Senstronics.The local authority joins Husqvarna, GEM Partnership and Moonrise 24hr Recruitment as category sponsors so far, as well as headline sponsor Senstronics.Kerry Walker, business growth director at B

Plans for a new MOT centre in a County Durham town have been approved.Proposals for SRS Recovery, Rock Road, Spennymoor, include two workshop/storage buildings to expand their current services, with new facilities allowing for MOT testing.This expansion is particularly important following the closure of another MOT service in Spennymoor, according to the planning statement.Read more

Artichoke has announced dates for Lumiere Durham 2025, the UK’s light art biennial. The hugely popular event will take place over three evenings this autumn, from Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 November 2025.Produced and curated by Artichoke and commissioned by Durham County Council, Lumiere has attracted over 1.3 million visitors and boosted the local economy by more than £43 million since it began in 2009. Today it stands as a landmark event in the cultural calendar of the North East, and has put

A County Durham college principal has said he hopes a newly renovated town centre building can become the beating heart of the community again.Shaun Hope, Bishop Auckland College principal, has spoken about the reopening of the McIntyre Centre, which has undergone renovations to transform it into a community hub.The Grade II listed building, on Newgate Street, was previously a shoe shop and leather goods store for more than 100 years before it was left vacant.However, it has now been brought bac

Dozens of local children have joined members of local charities and community groups in helping to create a new 18-hectare woodland on the site of a former County Durham surface mine.North East employer Banks Mining enhanced the original restoration plan for its former Bradley surface mine site, which sits between Leadgate and Dipton, to include the planting of 36,000 new trees and shrubs on the site.To help increase the community’s involvement with the project, which covers part of an area that

Your Guide to County Durham’s Premier Sustainability EventAs the green revolution gains momentum, the Get Set Green event offers a fantastic opportunity to explore the cutting-edge technologies, sustainable solutions, and collaborative networks driving change. Hosted in County Durham and funded through the Durham Business Growth Programme this event gathers an impressive lineup of exhibitors dedicated to fostering sustainability, innovation, and economic growth. Here’s why you can’t afford to mi