A networking group set up to support women in all walks of business life has inspired a Derby entrepreneur to share her branding expertise.

Derbys Finest was formed in 2017 to celebrate and support women across Derbyshire who make an impact in their business or who make a positive contribution to the wider community.

The group recently held a virtual coffee morning to enable businesswomen to share experiences during lockdown and provide mutual support.

A comprehensive programme of free support co-ordinated by Bondholder Derby City Council will help workers facing redundancy to find new jobs, develop skills or start their own businesses.

Was your home or business affected by the November 2019 or February 2020 floods? 

If so, you can apply for funding to help prevent damage should you be flooded in the future.

Local people took the opportunity to book free taster sessions for the adult learning options available at Derby College Group’s Community College in Ilkeston.

LUXURY doughnut makers Project D have won an award for innovation after impressing Derby’s business community with their entrepreneurial spirit during lockdown.

The company, which sells handcrafted, brightly coloured and Instagram-friendly doughnuts across the region, was given the accolade by Marketing Derby - an agency which promotes the city and the wider county to attract investment.

Businesses in the city were invited to pitch their innovative ways of working, or new products and services, to fellow bondholders who voted for the ultimate winner.

LoveLit is working with awarding-winning poet Helen Mort to offer a relaxed night of poetry, conversation, and celebration Poems of Hope: a celebration for National Poetry Day at 7.00 pm on Thursday 1st October. Helen will also launch a new Derbyshire poetry project Ticket to Hope which people who live, work or study in Derbyshire will be invited to get involved with. The event will be on Zoom and tickets are priced at £6, booking is essential.

Made in Wirksworth: Virtual Art & Architecture Trail – a celebration of Wirksworth Festival’s annual event. 

Derby Swap Shop – the brainchild of three Derby businesses – has celebrated its expansion into Leicester with a raft of awards finals, and an appearance on the BBC

The free to trade platform – offering skills and services swaps for small business and charities – was created at the start of lockdown in May 2020 by Ask the Chameleon, Huub and think3.

Fast forward a mere 4 months, and the Swap Shop has 260 members, over 80 active swaps, and has expanded beyond Derbyshire, into Nottingham and Leicester.

Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills Gillian Keegan MP has visited Derby College Group (DCG), which is the first FE provider in the East Midlands to launch the new T-Level qualifications, to see for herself how the study programmes will develop.

The first students to enrol in the new Digital Production, Design and Development T-Level at Derby College Group (DCG) have joined an extended employer induction programme at the Joseph Wright post-16 Academic and Arts college.