Welcome
GUEST FOREWORD
By Sarah Slaven Interim managing director , Business Durham
At Business Durham we understand
many companies and organisations in County Durham are facing unprecedented challenges , with all of us continuing to be affected by Covid-19 in some way .
As the economic development arm of Durham County Council , Business Durham works with companies across the county providing support , guidance , funding , property and more – and I take great pride in the work my team continues to do with a wide range of businesses to help them address the challenges arising from the pandemic .
Over the past year County Durham businesses have displayed significant resilience , tremendous agility , adaptability and innovation , which has enabled many to diversify to survive by selling to new markets and manufacturing different products , as well as supporting each other through difficult times .
Durham County Council recently launched the £ 5m Durham Business Recovery Grant scheme , managed by Business Durham , which has been introduced to help businesses implement recovery plans to overcome the effects of the pandemic .
The grant scheme offers businesses with a clear recovery plan grants from £ 1,000 up to a maximum of £ 40,000 and will contribute
THE NEW VOICE OF BUSINESS
Wear Business is the perfect way to
promote your successes , products , services and news to your fellow local businesses – and potential customers . Published every quarter , thousands of copies of Wear Business are delivered FREE to the Wear region ’ s business communities in Sunderland , Durham , Seaham , Peterlee , Houghton-le-Spring , Washington and Chester-le-Street .
75 per cent towards eligible recovery plan costs , with the applicants expected to meet a quarter of the project cost .
In addition to the Durham Business Recovery Grant there is a wide variety of support available to firms to help safeguard vital jobs , livelihoods and retain businesses in County Durham . For companies to identify the support that best suits their needs we have created a Covid-19 Business Support Brochure , providing help for them to build their resilience and get back on track .
Details for both the grant and brochure are on our website at businessdurham . co . uk
You can also read more about the various initiatives in these pages of Wear Business , the first issue of 2021 , which is packed full of positive news and features from the County Durham and Wearside regions .
In these difficult times , there is a real need for positive publications like Wear Business to promote all the good news and success stories from our region , and the ways in which our business community continues to work together to support each other .
We hope you enjoy this spring issue .
Sarah Slaven Interim managing director , Business Durham
See our website wear . business for our media pack , with full details of our packages starting at just £ 245 + VAT .
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Call our sales manager Chris Garbutt on 07824 344877 or email chris @ resolutionpublishing . co . uk .
WEAR BUSINESS ISSUE 4 HIGHLIGHTS
75G FUTURE
Pioneering new 5G pilot confirms Sunderland place among global leaders in advanced logistics
18 PEOPLE POWER
Staff wellbeing at heart of Seaham firm ’ s senior appointment
24 LEGAL GUARDIANS
Solicitors ready to go that extra mile for clients across Sunderland and County Durham
28 BOUNCEBACK BOOST
£ 5m grant set to aid recovery of County Durham businesses
35 GROUND BREAKERS
County Durham company makes world-changing Covid-19 testing breakthrough
North East Business & Innovation Centre ( BIC ) Wearfield Enterprise Park East Sunderland SR5 2TA Email : info @ wear . business Web : wear . business
Published and distributed by : Resolution Media & Publishing Editor : Graeme Anderson . Executive Editors : Dave Allan and Martin Walker . Designed by : KINSHIP Contributors : Dave Robson , Ian Willis , Martin Walker , Sarah Slaven , Joanne Regan , Kevin Maddison . Photography : Graeme Rowatt , Tom Banks .
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* All rights reserved . Reproduction , in whole or part without written permission , is strictly prohibited . Wear Business accepts adverts and advertorials in good faith and takes no responsibility for errors and / or omissions . We cannot be held responsible for advertisers offering goods or services . All information is correct , to the best of our knowledge , at the time of publishing .
wear . business – the voice of business for the Wear region
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