The power of the people that drive the productivity and appeal of a place like Durham shouldn’t be underestimated. That’s why Durham County Council has unveiled a brand-new campaign to promote the collective strengths the people of the county bring to the area.
The Powered by People campaign is aimed at giving businesses, developers and employers the chance to sell Durham as a place to work, with the intention of trying to increase investment and jobs across the county. So far, it's involved a number of County Durham’s key businesses, including Milburngate’s joint venture partner Arlington Real Estate, as well as Hitachi, Dyer Engineering and Waterstons.
Council leader councillor Simon Henig said: “Time and time again we’ve heard Durham is a great to do business but we needed something to get that across. This was an opportunity to bring people together and amplify the positivity we see across the county and create a clear message about what a fantastic place Durham is to do business.”
Terry Collins, chief executive of Durham County Council, said: “Despite the uncertainty of the national situation, there’s a lot of positivity about the future. We’re seeing numerous developments going forward and real investment in the county. This is the council’s biggest priority; the economy. We know from the approaches and interest we have had that people really want to come and do business with the county.”
Indeed, the county is bucking the national trend, attracting 40 multinational investors over the past three years, and over £3.4billion worth of planned investment.
Allan Cook, managing director of Arlington Real Estate, said: “I think our future is really bright. We need to get out there and bang the drum for Durham.”
The campaign will be advertised nationally, while businesses are also being urged to share the films online and on social media. The council, together with Durham University, will also host a regional business event at the Radisson Hotel, Durham, on January 31, when entrepreneurs will be invited to look at the role of the North-East in the UK economy.
You can find out more about the #PoweredByPeople campaign here.