News from producers around Derbyshire

Derby Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) has re-launched its popular loyalty scheme with additional features making it easier for those who work and visit the area to benefit from special offers at local businesses.

Under the previous BID programme, there were more than 3,700 cardholders who were entitled to benefits such as discounts, special promotions and exclusive offers from businesses in the Cathedral Quarter including shops, cafès and restaurants, salons, entertainment venues and professional services.

Students from Derby College who are recent arrivals to Derby from across the world have compiled a book of stories about their first experiences and impressions of Derby for a new book launched at this year’s annual Derby Book Festival.

More local businesses have joined forces to work with Derby City Council and secure the return of this year’s Hannells Darley Park outdoor classical music concert on Sunday September 2.

Headline sponsor Hannells Estate Agents alongside HUUB, Mortgage Advice Bureau, PKF Cooper Parry, Flint Bishop solicitors and Stratstone BMW Derby enabled the City Council to bring the much-loved concert back to the city last year.

These companies have again pledged their support for the concert this year and have been joined by Redrow Homes and Invictus Communications.

Two Derby College Art & Design students have won bursaries from Arts Society Derby to support their move into Higher Education.

UAL Art Foundation Diploma students Lauren Jones and Georgia Brown have won £400 and £200 respectively after being shortlisted for the annual Bryan Harris Bursary award – named after the Society’s founder and former chairman who died three years ago.

Family-owned funeral directors G Wathall & Son recently held an open day at its head office in Macklin Street, Derby, to show the public how times have changed in how people in Derby have said farewell to their loved ones over the past 160 years.

The company, which is the city’s longest established independent funeral directors, celebrates its 160^th anniversary this year and has been collecting photographs, documents and memories from its archives, previous and current long-serving staff and from local families.

Derby's Cathedral Quarter will have a festival feel on Saturday July 21 when a number of artists take to the stage ahead of their appearances at summer festivals across the Midlands.

The free music extravaganza CQ Saturdays Knickerbocker Glorious has been organised by the Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) with a number of acts performing in the Market Place between 11am and 3pm.

Musicians performing at CQ Saturdays Knickerbocker Glorious include Jodie Rose who is heavily influenced by country, rock and pop music.

Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust are on the home strait to securing the necessary funds for a major volunteer restoration project to take place at the end of July.

The Trust launched a £4,000 Crowdfunder appeal last month to fund restoration work at the Borrowash Lock.

They are just £300 shy of their total – thanks to a match funding pledge from Derby City Council and further support in building the Crowdfunder from Community Action Derby.

Students at Derby College’s Joseph Wright Centre have created an exhibition at Sudbury Hall to celebrate the lives and achievements of women associated with the 17^th century National Trust country house.

Art & Design, Games Development and Music students have created a number of different pieces from paintings and sculptures to audio and 3D animations which have been placed around the hall for visitors to explore.

Primary schools across Derby and Derbyshire are being invited to a free sporting event at Allestree Woodlands School on Wednesday 26th September – organised by the charitable foundation set up by triathlon stars Alistair and Jonny Brownlee.

The Brownlee Foundation aims to provide children across the UK with a positive sporting experience and to encourage regular participation in sport.

A Derby College IT student involved in the organisation’s innovative Employer Academy programme has secured an apprenticeship with the company that provided him and others with valuable work experience as part of their study programme.

Brandon Bariana (19) joined the RDS Global Technology Academy earlier this year – spending 15 weeks learning about the different career opportunities available in the IT Industry.

 All eight students on the Academy were invited to apply for apprenticeships at the end of their study programme and Brandon was successful.