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Need help with a business issue?

If you have a problem affecting your business finding the right person to speak to can sometimes be difficult, whether within the county council or one of our partner organisations.

The Business Development Team has adopted an area based approach to supporting business so that we can be your first port of call to help resolve an issue that might be affecting your business.

If you want to speak to one of the team their contact details are:


Andrea McGuigan Business Development Manager (North)

Telephone: 03000 261255
Mobile: 07993916427
E Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Covers an area west of the A167, from Spennymoor northwards, including Chester le Street, Staley & Consett).


Joanne Urquart Arnold Business Development Manager (East)

Telephone: 03000 261259
Mobile: 07834941249
E Mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Covers as an area east of A167, including Durham City, Peterlee)


John Parnell Business Development Manager (South/West)

Telephone: 0300261253
Mobile: 07500817806
E Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Covers an area south and west of Spennymoor, including Bishop Auckland, Aycliffe, Teesdale and Weardale)


How can we help?

  • Assessing business needs and sourcing business support.
  • Providing routes to financial support
  • Finding the right premises or land
  • Acting as a first point of contact
  • Providing an easier route to County Council services that you might need to access, e.g. planning, environmental health, licensing, business rates
  • Helping you do business with the council
  • Helping you develop your plans

 

Business Continuity

Durham County Council has a responsibility to provide advice and assistance to local businesses and voluntary organisations about business continuity management.

Any incident - whether it is large or small - can cause major disruption to your business. However, if you plan in advance you will be able to help your day-to-day business recover more quickly.Business Continuity Planning (BCP) can help you prepare to cope with disruptions and continue to deliver your business activities and reduce potential harm to staff.Make sure your organisation is prepared. To find out more visit www.durham.gov.uk/businesscontinuity 

 

Procurement

Durham County Council has produced the How To Do Business guide which is designed to help suppliers and contractors who wish to supply us with goods, materials, services or works. 

 The How To Do Business guide helps by:

 outlining the rules and regulations that we must follow in purchasing goods and services

  • alerting suppliers and contractors to the opportunities available to supply the council
  • examining how to bid for council work and also what information will be required
  • highlighting contact points which will provide help to suppliers on issues covered within the guide.

You can download the guide by following the link here

 

HMRC

HMRC offer a full range of educational services, including “off the shelf” products.   

Below are details of some of the training products available:-

Workshops - presentations or seminars – subjects include tax, National Insurance, VAT. 

Webinars –  live webinars these are now shown via the HMRC website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/webinars.

E Learning – e learning packages available including a generic Starting in Business, the Construction Industry Scheme, and some trade specific self employment guides for Foster Carers, Childminders, Driving Instructor and hair and beauty. 

Visit the generic URL link for the “Starting in Business” training – www.hmrc.gov.uk/courses/syob/syob/index.html

For the construction industry visit: - http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/courses/syob/ci/index.html

 

 

Other sources of advice and support

Business and Enterprise Group - http://www.be-group.co.uk/

Federation of Small Business - http://www.fsb.org.uk/