NEWS
Host Sian Lloyd ( left ) presents Durham County Council ’ s business development officer Katie Gowland and business development manager John Hallam with the award .
COMMENT
INNOVATION GONG
Council wins award at national ceremony
Durham County Council has scooped an honour at an annual awards ceremony which celebrates the work of public services . The local authority won the Best Innovation or Demand Management Initiative Award at the Association for Public Service Excellence ( APSE ) Awards .
The trophy was presented by TV presenter Sian Lloyd and Nadira Hussain , of the Society for Innovation , Technology and Modernisation .
The council was also shortlisted in a total of seven categories on the night .
Cllr James Rowlandson , the council ’ s cabinet member for resources , investments and assets , said : “ It is great to see that we are improving the speed and effectiveness with which we can carry out repairs on our buildings and facilities , while also being able to maintain our high health and safety standards .
SUPPORTING COUNTY DURHAM COMPANIES TO GROW
An international partnership is helping companies from County Durham to promote their products overseas .
Durham County Council ’ s international relations team is instrumental in building partnerships around the world to promote economic development and cultural opportunities .
Its work with Durham , North Carolina , has seen the two areas come together to boost their economies , develop university links and take part in exchange projects with groups of musicians and young people .
“ This shows that we are constantly striving to be innovative and always improving on our practices .”
The council ’ s award submission focused on its mobile repairs system app , which has been developed in-house initially for the authority ’ s building repairs and maintenance teams . The longer-term aim is to roll out versions of the app across the council ’ s buildings and facilities management service .
The award recognised that the council has enhanced its service delivery through listening and adapting to the needs of customers , tradespeople and service managers .
The APSE Awards are specific to frontline services provided by local authorities . The awards are agreed by a panel of expert judges .
This year , the ceremony included 22 categories , covering the vast majority of local services .
The latest project has brought brewers from the twinned communities together , with four craft breweries from each side of the Atlantic partnering up for a festival .
Brewers from County Durham have shared recipes for their own ales with their American counterparts who , in turn , have produced the drinks to their specification ready for the event .
Caps Off , Hops and Dots , Aycliffe-based Steam Machine and Durham Brewery will all have their beers sampled alongside four craft breweries from our sister city .
AYCLIFFE BUSINESS BIRTHDAY !
Aycliffe Business celebrates its 10th anniversary in December .
And many of you reading this , particularly those who have been reading Aycliffe Business since its inception , will probably be wondering where the years have gone .
We ’ re very proud of Aycliffe Business ’ track record of promoting hundreds of businesses in these pages over the last decade , and shouting about our success stories .
I was brought up in Newton Aycliffe and , for many years , I became frustrated that local residents and other businesses didn ’ t get to hear enough about the good news – the jobs being created , the technology being developed , or the positive impacts businesses were having on the local community .
I was inspired , and hugely encouraged , by the former MP Phil Wilson , and the legendary Aycliffe Labour MP John Clare . When I told them about my idea of a business magazine for Aycliffe , they both offered me great encouragement and valuable advice .
Of course , there were some doubters . Some people questioned whether there ’ d be enough ‘ news ’ from Aycliffe Business Park to warrant a regular magazine .
Well , in December , we ’ ll publish our 60th issue of Aycliffe Business !
We ’ re planning some nostalgic features in this issue , looking back on not just the last 10 years of Aycliffe Business , but the last 60 years of Aycliffe Business Park .
Please do get in touch with us if you ’ d like to book any space and promote your business .
The booking deadline is 5pm on Friday , November 18 .
Email martin @ aycliffetoday . co . uk or give me a call on 01325 728024
Martin Walker Director , Aycliffe Business
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