NEWS
Crafter ’ s Companion founder Sara Davies in the firm ’ s new purpose-built TV studio on Aycliffe Business Park .
ADVICE
LIGHTS , CAMERA …
Crafter ’ s Companion has unveiled a
brand new studio area for its global digital platform , Crafter ’ s TV .
The new space , within Crafter ’ s Aycliffe Business Park site , houses two state-of-the-art studios and a green room , in addition to pre and post production rooms .
With people spending more time at home this year , Crafter ’ s TV has seen a surge in demand for its service .
The platform ’ s international viewers have outgrown its UK viewers , with audiences tuning in from countries such as Germany , Australia , Canada and the United States .
The shows regularly experience viewers commenting at 3am in California , to after midnight in Australia .
The digital channel has created a bigger and better studio space than ever before , to meet the needs of its ever-growing online craft community .
Crafter ’ s TV recently celebrated its first anniversary , after bolstering its programme to
Crafter ’ s Companion converts part of Aycliffe site into TV studio
seven days a week , with two live shows every day .
The platform has always held the unique position of being the only craft outlet to engage viewers 100 per cent of the time through live and constant conversation .
Now , with some creative features in the new studio , such as aspirational living environments , its talented team of on-air craft experts and presenters are set to take audience interaction to the next level , further immersing them into the live studio experience .
Creative director and company founder , Sara Davies , said : “ Crafter ’ s Companion has grown in a phenomenal way since I established the company 15 years ago .
“ Launching Crafter ’ s TV was a huge milestone for us last year and it has gone from strength to strength .
“ Our new studio is a very important step on our journey to bring our family of crafters together and it has taken a tremendous amount of hard work to realise our vision .”
COUNCIL SHARES KNOWLEDGE ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Durham County Council has been
sharing its knowledge on improving energy efficiency in businesses at an international conference .
Since 2016 , the local authority has contributed to the LOCARBO project , an interregional cooperation project which has been looking at ways to improve low-carbon economic policies .
Led by the Municipality of Potenza , Italy , it involves partners from Italy ( Basilicata Region ), Hungary ( Mi6 ), Lithuania ( University of Kaunas ), Romania ( Alba Iulia Municipality ), Portugal ( Municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia ), and the UK ( County Durham ).
Its aim is to improve EU policy to increase energy efficiency and the use of renewables in buildings through innovative methods .
The council ’ s involvement in LOCARBO has been led by its low carbon economy team , with a particular focus on improving energy efficiency within small businesses .
Specifically , the team has been working to enhance the effectiveness of the existing European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) project it manages – the Business Energy Efficiency Project ( BEEP ).
Throughout the LOCARBO exchange , a conference has been hosted every six months in one of the partnering countries involved in the project , with the latest event – due to be held in Portugal – streaming online , signalling the end of the LOCARBO project .
For more information about the LOCARBO initiative , visit durham . gov . uk / locarbo .
ARE YOU ADAPTABLE ?
In the midst of another coronavirus lockdown , adaptability is crucial .
Being adaptable means you ’ re better able to handle any changes in your life , support your colleagues and manage the impact of this crisis .
Here are five characteristics of people with high levels of ‘ adaptability ’. How many can you see in yourself ? 1 Adaptable people experiment Just because we do things in a certain way doesn ’ t mean it ’ s right . For example , most of us have been working from home and have adapted by experimenting with new ways of communication . An adaptable person is always willing to try new ways of working . 2 Adaptable people are resourceful They will always find solutions to problems , never dwelling on the lack of resources at hand . They will adapt other resources and create methods of dealing with any situation .
3 Adaptable people see the bigger picture
They see the wider goal of being able to come out of the other side of the crisis with minimal damage . This gives them insight of how to make things work for the better and motivates them to find solutions . 4 Adaptable people are curious They always ask ‘ what if ?’. They investigate new opportunities and find out what happens if we change the way we do something . This gives them a greater awareness , meaning they can adapt to change quickly and efficiently . 5 Adaptable people are positive A positive approach helps you focus on what you need to do now , rather than worrying about the future .
Developing these characteristics will help you become adaptable and handle more effectively the changes we are seeing in our lives . Arron Stoutt Director , LemonTop Creative
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 21