Durham-UK

Home > home_page

home_page

by

Future is bright for The Light following opening weekend

The Light opening weekend

Visitors of all ages took their first steps into The Light, Durham’s brand-new cultural attraction, as it officially opened its doors to the public.

An unforgettable programme of activities was held across Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August to celebrate the launch of the Durham County Council venue, which serves as the region’s latest destination for culture, creativity and community.

Officially opened by the council’s Chairman, Cllr Robbie Roddiss, the building’s celebrations brought live performances, including music from Pittington Brass Band, acrobatics by Cequin Circus, and live sets from some of the North East’s talented singer-songwriters.

Children and their families also got to explore new sights and experiences with science inspired lawn games.

Inside The Light, visitors made their mark on the venue by contributing to a collaborative illuminated sculpture inspired by moths drawn to light.

They were also invited to experiment with fluorescent materials within a glowing creative playground, where their drawings and messages will become part of an ever-changing light installation.

And guests got to see the venue’s inaugural exhibitions for the very first time – We Are The Durhams: The Durham Light Infantry Exhibition and Victory Over the Sun: Encounters with Light.

Cllr Robbie Rodiss, Chairman of Durham County Council, said: “This has been a long-anticipated day for Durham City and I’m pleased to say that the opening celebrations for The Light have been a huge success.

“The Light is a venue that not only honours the building’s past, but showcases its future as a centre for art, innovation, and history. This has been a significant investment into Durham’s cultural offering, and we are delighted to have already received an incredibly positive response from visitors.

“We can’t wait to welcome more people into The Light and inspire them through an amazing programme that is planned for the rest of the year and beyond.”

Victory Over the Sun: Encounters with Light brings together groundbreaking works by artists who use light in extraordinary ways, including Tracey Emin, Dan Flavin, Olafur Eliasson, and Chila Burman. Running until Sunday 17 January, it explores light as both subject and material, sparking questions of perception, nature and the cosmos.

Visitors to The Light will also have the chance to discover more about the DLI at a fascinating new permanent exhibition. Featuring images, sounds, hands-on activities and rich sensory experiences, We Are The Durhams builds upon the venue’s military heritage to tell a deeply human story of identity, belonging and community.

The opening weekend celebrations will continue into the final weeks of the summer holidays with a packed programme of artist-led workshops and creative activities inspired by light, colour, perception, and imagination.

Details of The Light’s autumn/winter programme will be announced soon.

For more information visit www.thelightdurham.org.uk To stay up to date with the latest news and events, follow @thelightdurham on Facebook and Instagram.

by

Chester-le-EATS reveals biggest line-up yet as festival celebrates fifth birthday

The crowd at Chester-le-EATS

More traders, brand-new Masterclasses and a packed weekend of live entertainment are coming to Chester-le-Street this September as Chester-le-EATS celebrates its biggest ever festival for its fifth birthday.

The Food, Drink and Music Festival will take over Banks Homes Riverside, Chester-le-Street, on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September, with organisers Durham Cricket promising the best yet.

Ythan Sale, Events Manager at Durham Cricket, said: “It’s difficult to believe Chester-le-EATS is five years old. What started as an idea to bring great food, drink, music and people together at Durham Cricket has grown beyond anything we could have imagined, and the support from traders, performers and thousands of visitors over those five years has been incredible.

“For our fifth birthday, we didn’t simply want to do the same festival again. We wanted to celebrate how far we’ve come while making this our biggest year yet with the most traders, new experiences, a fantastic entertainment programme and for the first time, our Masterclasses.”

Running from 11am until 5pm on both days, entry is completely FREE for adults and children, making it an affordable day out for families looking for something to do together.

Visitors will be able to explore Chester-le-EATS’ biggest trader line-up to date, with street food from around the world, independent food and drink producers, sweet treats, artisan stalls and gifts filling the home of Durham Cricket across the weekend.

Those arriving hungry will have plenty to choose from, with hot food traders including Chicken Ting, Flankman Tacos, Geordie Banger Co, Grandpa’s Fish Bar, Redheads Mac ‘N’ Cheese, Spud Gun Loaded Fries and Burgers, The Big Banh and The Loaded Dawg. 

There will be plenty for those with a sweet tooth too, with the likes of The Dessert Hub, The Hedgehog Bakery, The Little Poffertje Pancake Shack, Le Mini Macaron and The Sunrise Patisserie, alongside coffee from Bass Notes Coffee. 

Visitors looking to take something home can browse a selection of artisan food, drink and gift producers, including Great British Cheese Company, Sawley Kitchen, Clarence Spirits, Prohibition Distillery, WL Distillery, Fat Rabbit Crafts and Pevs Prints.

For those wanting to add something extra to their visit, the fifth anniversary festival will also introduce three new bookable food and drink Masterclasses.

The optional £35 sessions include Flight!, a beer and chicken wing experience with Hen & Hops; Uncorked!, a wine tasting experience with Durham’s Crush Wine Bar owner and expert sommelier, Daniel Jonberger; and Distilled, a gin, cheese and charcuterie experience hosted by the Ginologists from Tin of Sardines.

The Masterclasses are an additional paid experience and tickets must be purchased for these. However, no advance booking is required to attend the main Chester-le-EATS festival.

The festival has been designed as a full family day out, with plenty of children’s activities and a dedicated Family Zone joining the food, drink and entertainment across the weekend.

There will also be a packed programme of live music and performances, delivered in partnership with Proper Mint Concerts, with entertainment running throughout both Saturday and Sunday.

The popular Rock Choir will return to the festival on Saturday, performing twice during the day, while musicians, theatre and dance performers will take to the stage across the weekend.

Saturday 26 September

11.30am – Luke Palmer
12.30pm – Rock Choir & Live Theatre
1pm – To Hell or Verona
2pm – Rock Choir
2.30pm – Matty Fenny
3.30pm – Patrick Kelly

Sunday 27 September

11.30am – Annis Rallis
12.30pm – Live Theatre
1pm – Liv & Jon
2.15pm – Jamie Lee Harrison
3pm – Channy Dance Academy

Chester-le-EATS was created to showcase brilliant food, drink and entertainment while bringing people together at Durham Cricket’s Banks Homes Riverside ground. 

It takes place at Banks Homes Riverside, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, DH3 3QR, from 11am to 5pm on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September 2026. Entry is FREE for everyone.

The latest festival information, full trader line-up, and to book tickets for the Masterclasses.

by

Durham physicists part of mission to chart space and time

Our physicists are part of one of the most ambitious studies of the Universe ever undertaken.

The NSF-DOE Vera C Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) digital camera will allow our researchers to better understand our cosmic origins.

A massive international collaboration, the LSST, began taking images. It will spend 10 years capturing the entire southern sky to create an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition time-lapse survey of our Universe.

It could solve some of the biggest mysteries of space including the nature of dark energy, and the evolution of our solar system and galaxies, including the Milky Way.

by

East Durham College Celebrates Top 10 National Apprenticeship Ranking as Employer Partnerships and Campus Investment Drive Growth

Heleana student East Durham College

East Durham College has been recognised as one of the country’s leading apprenticeship providers after achieving a 75% apprenticeship achievement rate, significantly above the national average of 65.7% placing the college among the top 10 college providers nationally for apprenticeship achievement.

The latest Department for Education National Achievement Rate Tables also come as East Durham College continues to expand its apprenticeship offer, becoming the fastest-growing college provider of apprentices in the North East based on apprenticeship starts between August 2025 and January 2026 compared with the same period in the previous year.

The achievement reflects the college’s commitment to delivering high-quality training that equips apprentices with the skills, experience and confidence needed to succeed, while helping employers develop the workforce they need for the future.

Scott Bullock, Principal and CEO of East Durham College, said:

“These results are a fantastic endorsement of the hard work and dedication shown by our apprentices, staff and employer partners. To be recognised among the top-performing colleges nationally while also being the fastest-growing college provider of apprentices in the North East demonstrates the strength of our apprenticeship provision and the impact it is having across the region.”

The college works with employers across a wide range of sectors, creating opportunities for learners to gain valuable workplace experience while earning and developing industry-recognised skills.

One example is the college’s Developing Futures partnership with Robertson Homes, which provides students with access to industry masterclasses, mentoring and work experience opportunities across the construction sector. The initiative has already helped learners progress into apprenticeships in areas including brickwork, joinery, electrical installation, painting and decorating, supported by a network of employer partners and supply chain businesses.

The college is also committed to widening participation in apprenticeships and supporting learners into sectors where they have traditionally been underrepresented, including creating opportunities for women pursuing careers in skilled trades such as painting and decorating.

The impact of the Developing Futures Programme can be seen through learners like Heleana, the first Painting and Decorating apprentice recruited through the programme with Paul Bertram Painting & Decorating. Through the programme, she accessed a supported route into industry-led learning, gained valuable hands-on experience, and secured a pathway into a skilled profession.

Reflecting on her journey, Heleana said: “The Developing Futures Programme gave me the opportunity to start a career in painting and decorating with the support and experience I needed to build my confidence. It’s opened the door to a future I’m excited about.” Her success demonstrates how the programme is helping talented individuals access sustainable employment while meeting the skills needs of local employers.

The success comes as East Durham College continues to invest in the future of technical and vocational education through significant developments at its Houghall Campus.

Houghall Campus has already benefited from a previous multi-million-pound investment, completed in 2016 and officially opened in 2017, which delivered industry-standard facilities including specialist animal care centres, agricultural training facilities, STEM laboratories, veterinary nursing facilities, IT suites and one of the region’s leading equine centres. Building on this investment, East Durham College is now transforming Houghall Campus for the future of green and rural skills through a major redevelopment programme, due for completion in April 2027.

The project will create modern, industry-standard learning environments for agriculture, animal management and science, floristry, and environmental management, alongside enhanced agricultural training resources and a new teaching and learning facility.

Designed to reflect the evolving needs of employers and the region’s growing green economy, the redevelopment will strengthen skills, sustainability and opportunity across the North East by supporting training in sustainability, agri-tech and environmental skills that will equip the future workforce.

Scott added:

“Apprenticeships are one of the most effective routes into skilled employment, allowing people to earn while they learn while gaining invaluable workplace experience.

By working closely with employers and continuing to invest in facilities such as those at Houghall Campus, we are ensuring our learners have access to the skills, opportunities and environments they need to thrive.”
 
East Durham College offers apprenticeships across a broad range of sectors, supporting learners at every stage of their career journey while helping employers develop and retain skilled talent. www.edc.ac.uk

 

by

Filtronic Secures Further US Contract as Space Communications Demand Continues to Grow

Filtronics new facility at NETPark (Credit: Filrtonic)

Space North East England member Filtronic has secured a further £400,000 contract with a US customer, reinforcing the growing international demand for it’s specialist communications technologies.

The agreement follows an earlier £6 million contract with the same customer and marks another positive milestone for one of the region’s leading space and telecommunications businesses.

Headquartered at NETPark, Filtronic specialises in advanced radio frequency (RF) technologies that support applications across satellite communications, telecommunications and aerospace markets. The latest contract will see the company supply satellite communications equipment to its US customer, further strengthening its position in a rapidly expanding global market.

The announcement highlights the increasing opportunities available to companies operating within the space and satellite communications sector. As demand for satellite connectivity, data services and next-generation communications infrastructure continues to grow worldwide, businesses with specialist expertise are finding new routes to international markets.

by

North East Space Conference Highlights Region’s Growing Investment Opportunity

A woman giving a presentation

The North East Space Conference 2026 demonstrated the growing strength and ambition of the region’s space sector, bringing together more than 350 delegates from industry, academia, government and the investment community to explore future opportunities for growth, collaboration and inward investment.

Opened by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, the conference highlighted the increasing role the sector is playing in driving innovation, attracting investment and creating high-value jobs across the region.

Hosted by Space North East England at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Durham, the conference focused on a clear ambition: converting the North East’s growing reputation for innovation into increased national and international investment.

While the region’s space sector has developed steadily over the past decade, this year’s event reflected growing confidence that the North East is now positioned to play a much larger role in the UK’s space economy.

A key theme throughout the conference was the strength of the North East’s wider industrial ecosystem and the opportunities this creates for businesses both within and beyond the traditional space sector.

As space technologies become increasingly important to communications, defence, manufacturing and environmental monitoring, opportunities are emerging for companies with capabilities that can be applied across multiple markets. Discussions highlighted how businesses operating in advanced manufacturing, cyber security, artificial intelligence, engineering and defence can diversify into the rapidly growing space economy.

The conference also highlighted the significant supply chain opportunities emerging across the sector. Lockheed Martin’s £100 million proposal to build its UK satellite manufacturing facility at NETPark in County Durham demonstrates growing confidence in the capability of regions such as the North East to support globally significant space activity.

The region is well positioned to capitalise on this growth thanks to its concentration of advanced manufacturing and technology businesses, supported by world-class research and skills assets. Organisations including Durham University’s Space Research Centre (SPARC), Northumbria University’s North East Space Skills and Technology Centre (NESST) and New College Durham’s North East Institute of Technology are helping to develop the talent and innovation pipeline required to support future demand.

Growing links between the space and defence sectors were another key talking point. As satellite technologies become increasingly important to national security and resilient communications, collaboration between the two sectors continues to strengthen.

County Durham is already home to a number of companies operating across both markets, including NETPark-based businesses such as Filtronic, Kromek, RED Scientific and Graphene Composites. Their expertise in advanced materials, semiconductors, communications and defence technologies aligns closely with future space sector requirements.

Alongside innovation and skills, the conference reinforced the North East’s wider proposition for new businesses moving to the region. Businesses can access specialist facilities, connect to strong digital connectivity, a highly skilled workforce and, importantly, the space required to grow and scale.

Speaking after the event, Lisa Mullen, Cluster Director for Space North East England, said: “The North East has established a strong reputation for collaboration, innovation and manufacturing excellence. This year’s conference demonstrated the growing interest from investors and industry leaders who recognise the opportunities our region offers.”

The conference reinforced a clear message: the North East’s space sector is no longer an emerging opportunity. It is becoming an increasingly important contributor to the UK’s space ambitions and a compelling destination for investment, innovation and growth.