East Durham Business Network Meeting

East Durham Business Network, which was launched three years ago to support the area’s thriving economy and stimulate growth, is to expand.

The expansion will officially open up the network to areas including Belmont, Bowburn, Sedgefield, the Trimdons and Durham City.

An event to roll out the expansion will take place on Wednesday, October 2, at the Radisson Blu hotel in Durham.

The larger network will be led by existing co-chairmen Ranj Gill and Gursh Kahlon, directors of commercial property company Clearwater Developments, and Leanne Fawcett, owner of communication and design agency LEC.

Business Durham will provide ongoing support to the network, but it will be driven by the business community and plans for the creation of a steering group to drive its continued development are being discussed.

Gursh Kahlon said: “Over the past year or so East Durham Business Network has grown rapidly, attracting businesses from across County Durham and the wider North East area.

“In response to that, and our dialogue with employers from the likes of Bemont and Bowburn, it has become clear that there is a desire to form a larger network which will support County Durham’s economic growth and encourage businesses to work together to create a stronger community which nurtures home-grown firms and provides innovative global companies and our larger inward investors with the perfect location from which to grow.

“However, the expansion of the network must be driven by the business community so this launch event will look to see what sort of appetite there is for it.”

The event will also look at the possibility of rolling out the flagship East Durham Business magazine, which was launched four years ago and has become firmly established as one of the leading business publications in the North East.

Leanne Fawcett said: “There is real potential to expand the reach of East Durham Business magazine, in line with the expansion of our network, but as with the network, it must be driven by demand from the business community.

“We rely on sponsorship and advertising revenue to cover production costs, so if businesses are prepared to support it we will look to expand. The magazine is an excellent platform to showcase the many diverse and innovative companies that call County Durham their home, so we really do hope they get behind it and make it their own.”

EVENT INFO

You are invited to the official expansion of East Durham Business Network, which was launched three years ago to stimulate economic growth and support County Durham’s thriving business community.

On Wednesday, October 2, at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Durham City, full details about the roll out will be unveiled.

The new-look East Durham Business Network will cover a number of areas which currently don’t have a designated business support group, including Belmont, Bowburn, the Trimdons, Sedgefield and Durham City.

Speakers include:

. Peter Williams, Smart Manufacturing Solutions 

· Ranj Gill and Gursh Kahlon from Clearwater Developments, who will be the network’s co-chairmen

· Kerry Walker, Business Durham’s Business Growth Director

· Scott Bullock, new principal of East Durham College

· X business owner/director

Leanne Fawcett from communications and design company LEC will also give an update on plans to grow East Durham Business magazine.

If you wish to attend, please register via this web page.