November 2017

Christmas at Cromford Mills

Cromford Mills is hosting two days of festive fun for all the family with its Christmas Weekend on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10th December, 10am-4pm.

There will be donkey rides in the mill yard, a Christmas tree trail with prizes to be won, and a selection of games to play all weekend including giant games, traditional games, and Christmas themed games. There will also be face painting (11am-4pm).

Festive cheer with Buxton Fringe!

In what has become an annual event, Buxton Fringe is inviting everyone to celebrate the opening of entries to the 2018 Fringe with a festive village carols sing-along.

The exciting Christmas Party, hosted by Buxton’s Green Man Gallery, will take place on Saturday December 9 from 7 to 9.30pm with Derbyshire Village Carols from 7.30-9pm. Wine and light refreshments will be provided with all donations going to the Fringe.

Derby Hospital Jingle Jog

For those who are feeling energetic, there will be a Free Park run and Junior Park run taking place during the Family Festivities weekends and the Derby Hospital Jingle Jog will take place on Sunday 3 December. This is a 5km run around Markeaton Park, dressed as Santa! The fun run is for adults, children and dogs alike and there is also a children’s 1.5km fun run. The Jingle jog costs £10 to take part and is free to watch and support. To join visit derbyhospitalscharity.org.uk/events/jingle-jog.

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Ways to get outside in Derby

Despite the weather turning colder there are many ways to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with family and friends getting active outside and enjoying the festive season in Derby.

Derby Concert Band’s Christmas Festival Concert

 7.30pm at Broadway Baptist Church, Broadway, Derby DE22 1BP.This is our traditional Christmas concert with special guests Voices Choir, featuring festive treats and seasonal favourites with plenty of carols to sing along to.

Tickets are available from Foulds music shop on Irongate in Derby, or from any band member, or at the door.

Stanage Edge - paintings by Kristan Baggaley

gallerytop, Rowsley Derbyshire have a group of new paintings of Stanage Edge by Kristan Baggaley. These are typical of his signature work on the Derbyshire Peak District, with his characteristic palette of cadmium orange, yellow ochre and burnt umber. These paintings bring the grit stone edges alive in a way unique to his style and vision. 

Art Workshops 2018

We offer a variety of art workshops by accomplished artists, which include drawing and sketching, working in acrylics, watercolour, mixed media, collage, digital art, photography & jewellery.
All workshops are suitable for beginners and intermediates.
The cost of our workshops is £80 per day, which includes refreshments and lunch from our café.
Gift vouchers are available if you want to book a workshop for a friend or loved one.

Crackers, Hares, Mince Pies and Wine!

We would like to invite you to an exhibition of work by Jeremy James -sculpture & prints, Josie Walter -pots for cooking and John Wheeldon- tableware.
Join us for pots, sculptures, prints & cards, mince pies and mulled wine!

Calling all musicians in Years 12 & 13

Do you want the chance for your music to earn you £400?

Then you might want to know that on Saturday 7th. April 2018  a music competition will be held at The Strutts Centre, in Belper.

There will be a prize of £400 for the winning student, a prize of £150 for the student in second place, and a third prize of £75.

The competition is sponsored by the Dalesmen Male Voice Choir.

Competition details

Artcore visual arts charity

Artcore is a visual arts charity organisation that delivers visual arts based community projects in the heart of Derby City. Our aim is to strengthen community cohesion and provide opportunities for personal growth.

Join us on Thursday 7th December for festive fun and cheer!

St Peters Quarter Live

Music and dance performances will entertain visitors to Derby city centre on Saturday December 2 with the return of St Peters Quarter Live to the St Peters Cross entertainment area.

The free street entertainment, organised by St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District (BID), will start at 11am and run through until 3pm.

The day will include Derby singer Michael Upton from Normanton who this summer won the chance of a lifetime to support Razorlight at the O2 Arena.

Derby College Animal Unit Gets into the Christmas Mood

The Animal Unit at Derby College’s Broomfield Hall in Morley will be getting visitors into the Christmas mood on Sunday December 10 with a festive open day between 10am and 4pm.

Youngsters will be able to join students and staff to feed the meerkats, goats and alpacas. There will also be the opportunity to get hands on and handle some of the animals.

World Skills Triumph For Derby College Students

22nd November 2017 

Derby College students have been flying the flag for vocational careers at the Skills Show at Birmingham’s NEC – the UK’s largest skills, apprenticeships and careers event.

Firstly mature student Haralds Jonans (37) clinched the silver medal in the senior Plastering competition.

The Mayor and Santa go for a cruise

The Mayor of Chesterfield joined Santa for a trip along the Chesterfield Canal.

It was the first Santa Special cruise of the season run by the Chesterfield Canal Trust on their tripboat John Varley.

They were joined by the Chairs of Derbyshire County Council and North East Derbyshire District Council, plus friends and family. After getting on board at Tapton Lock, there was a photo opportunity and then they set off down the canal. The children were all given a present by Santa, whilst the adults relaxed with mince pies and mulled wine.

Derby County Team Up With G.Wathall & Son

Derby County Football Club has teamed with the city’s oldest independent firm of funeral directors to offer supporters the opportunity of unique funeral services.

G Wathall & Son has created a bespoke package of funeral options for Derby County supporters. They include dedicated services held at Pride Park stadium, special floral tribute and coffin sprays featuring the Ram mascot or team shirts and a unique coffin depicting the main stand at the stadium.

Students' Fashion Fundraising

Fashion Retail students at Derby College's Joseph Wright Centre have been raising money for Children in Need by holding a clothes swap and cake sale.  

The students have been collecting unwanted clothes and accessories from friends and family to sell to fellow students and staff at the city centre campus - learning essential customer service and retail skills at the same time.

Second Servings For CQ Saturdays Knickerbocker Glorious

Derby Cathedral Quarter is stepping up its programme of free street entertainment in the run up to Christmas with a second November serving of the popular CQ Saturdays Knickerbocker Glorious.

Musical acts of all genres will take to the Waterfall stage in the Market Place on Saturday November 25 between 11am and 3pm.

Then every Saturday throughout December, the Cathedral Quarter will be organising weekly Knickerbocker Glorious entertainment as well as festive street entertainment around the area.

Derby College Apprentice Wins County Award

A trainee Quantity Surveyor who has recently completed an apprenticeship with Derby College has been hailed Apprentice of the Year in the Derbyshire Times Business Awards 2017.

Matthew Hitchcock (19) from West Hallam works for Keyclad in Heage which is part of the Bowmer & Kirkland Group.

Derby College Student To Compete in World Sled Dogs Championships

An Animal Care student at Derby College’s Broomfield Hall campus in Morley is gearing up to compete in the International Sled Dogs Sports Federation dryland world championships in Poland this weekend (Nov 24-26)

Shauna Leigh Ward (16) from Eastwood will compete in the junior section of the event – racing with a team of four Siberian Huskies against competitors from across the world.

BMX track lights up at Alvaston Park

Derby BMX Club have been operating for over 10 years at Alvaston Park and have been involved in a partnership project with Derby City Council to undertake extensive improvements to the track. 

THOUSANDS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

The 2017 Christmas Lights Switch-On lit up Derby and kicked off the festive season. Thousands of people joined the celebrations that took place on Saturday 18 November organised by Derby LIVE and presented by Gem, who are the official radio station for the event.

In Derby Christmas Gift Guide.

Christmas is nearly upon us and with that comes the task of finding wonderful and exciting gifts for your loved ones. This year, why not treat them to something a little different? Together, In Derby have been ‘making a list’ and ‘checking it twice’ to provide you with endless gift inspiration that your friends and family will adore!

Are you interested in cycling?

Active Derbyshire, Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council and a number of other organisations and cycling groups have been working together to draw up a Derbyshire Key Cycle Network.

The key cycle network will be made up of new and existing routes and will be the main routes needed to help people cycle around the county, whether it’s to get to and from work or just for fun.

Story Mine Roles

Heritage Community Engagement Worker – We are seeking an experienced heritage community engagement professional to take on a vital coordinating role. Beam has recently been  working with Derbyshire County Council and a community working group to secure a Heritage Lottery grant to support ‘The Story Mine’ project.  Research into the lives of the thousands of men who worked at Markham Colliery between 1882 and 1993 will be carried out as part of the project and shared through a new website and series of events, supported by lottery players contributions.

BELPER ARTS FESTIVAL

BELPER ARTS FESTIVAL will run from Sunday 6 May to Monday 28 May 2018

Already confirmed : ARTS TRAIL 6 -7 MAY / MUSIC FESTIVAL AT ST.PETER'S CHURCH 13 - 20 MAY / BELPER OPEN HOUSES ART 26 - 28 MAY plus 'Nell Gwyn', directed by Larry Waller and 'Shine', the Captive Audience Community Theatre Showcase for children. 

80s Mania

EVENT DETAILS

VENUE: Buxton Opera House    

DATE: 13/01/2018

TIME: 7.30PM   

ADDRESS: Buxton Opera House, Water Street, Buxton, SK17 6XN            

BOX OFFICE: 01298 72190

WEBSITE: www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk

ABOUT THE SHOW

Friday November 17th: Charity Gala Concert

7.30pm Rose Hill United Reformed Church, Rose Hill (Near Town Hall car parks), Chesterfield

A fabulous concert of tuneful, entertaining music to raise money for the Mayor’s Appeal featuring a talented band of local performers:

New appointment at Buxton Fringe AGM

A new treasurer was elected at Buxton Festival Fringe’s recent Annual General Meeting, which bade a fond farewell to longstanding committee member and former treasurer, Barbara Wilson.

Writer who made a killing in Buxton returns to town

Queen of the murder mystery Val McDermid is back on home ground when she returns to Derbyshire for a Crime Writers’ Lunch, one of the highlights of Buxton International Festival’s Book Weekend in November.

Val, who created the Wire in the Blood TV series starring Robson Green, lived in Buxton for 12 years, and set one of her best-selling thrillers, A Place of Execution, in the town.

Creative Writing project

High Peak Community Arts have entered a Creative Writing project into the Aviva Community Fund, which works by a voting system – the projects with the most votes get the funds.  We are in the £1,000 – 5,000 category and hope to raise £5,000.

Our project will be in partnership with Writing East Midlands.

Brexit ‘like the War of the Roses’

Britain’s history proves that the nation will pull together after Brexit just like it did after The War of the Roses, author John Higgs believes after researching his new book, Watling Street: Travels Through Britain and Its Ever-Present Past.

Winter "in the loop"

Christmas is fast approaching and whether you want a handmade Christmas this year at home, want to crochet gifts or treat yourself to some me time... Why not book on a course or workshop to learn something new or get a crafty friend a gift voucher?

JOHN BISHOP WINGS HIS WAY TO DERBY ARENA FOR 2018

Derby LIVE are pleased to announce that Comedy superstar John Bishop is extending his sell out UK tour and bringing his brand new show ‘Winging It’ to more venues across the UK, including Derby Arena. Tickets go on sale on Monday 13 November at 10am.

Network Survey

Contemporary Visual Arts Network East Midlands is more than halfway through a three-year programme of activity. The programme comprises projects called Document, The Start of Something, In Another Place, Meet the Artist and includes our annual events (Things Happen, Make.Practice.Perfect.) and website cvaneastmidlands.co.uk.

CVAN EM's aims are to:

RITA, SUE AND BOB TOO

Derby Theatre are thrilled to play host to the Out of Joint, Octagon Theatre Bolton and the Royal Court Theatre stage production of Rita, Sue and Bob Too, the seminal 1982 play about two teenage friends who embark on an affair with a married man, on at the Theatre from Tuesday 21 u

DERBY FOLK FESTIVAL REACHES MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER BEFORE

The eleventh Derby Folk Festival has proven to be the most successful yet. It reached more people than ever before, with record ticket sales for the event co-produced by Derby LIVE and PR Productions. Visitors came from across the country including Exeter, Leeds, Chester and Oxford demonstrating the benefits of continuing to make derby a vibrant place to visit.

Portrait of an art lover

Art lover Louise Potter has a dream hobby – buying paintings by old masters with other people’s money…

And it’s led to her getting her own portrait hung in London’s National Gallery.

April Young's Exhibition in Sadler Gate

Since opening the gallery and studios to the public in December 2016, April Young has been developing this body of work which examines our relationship with the natural world.

Through direct experience painting in familiar and much loved places including Calke Abbey and Elvaston Castle, as well as a scholarly devotion to the emotive reactions depicted in literature and folklore, her new work is as approachable and charming as ever: full of intrigue, energy and life.

Foundation Year Actor Training starting soon!

We are delighted to have received Arts Council funding which enables us to launch the region’s first learning disabled Actor Training programme. Launchpad is a Foundation year training and has been designed specifically for actors with learning disabilities who want to be part of a vibrant company and potentially work on stage, screen and television.
 
LaunchPad offers training in:

STAGE PRESENCE AND FOCUS
PHYSICAL THEATRE
MOVEMENT
VOICE AND BREATH WORK

Arts Manager, Fleet Arts, Derbyshire

  • Closes 30 November 2017
  • Location: Belper, Derbyshire
  • Type: Part Time
  • Salary:  NJC SCP26 
  • Artform:  managing community arts programme
  • Contact:  Jane Milward  jane@fleet-arts.org

Description

Deadline: 30 November 2017

Salary: £23,398  pro rata (£15.177 per annum)

Hours of work: 24 per week  - days negotiable but must include a Monday or a Wednesday

JOHN KIRKPATRICK “CAROLLING & CRUMPETS”

Taking its title from John’s unforgettable song telling the Nativity story from the point of view of the animals in the stable, this show is a heart-warming look at the timeless rituals found in the folklore and folk music of England at Midwinter. John peels away the commercial gloss of modern Christmas to reveal the powerful pagan urges that race through us all at this time of year, and the life and death struggle that is symbolised in so many traditional songs and customs.

Sister Mary Lazarus Claims Nun of the Match Award

The cast from Sister Act-The Musical played New Mills FC Ladies in a 15-minute game in front of an enthusiastic crowd at New Mills Football club.  This is part of their 'Nun Fun' challenges in the run up to their performances on 15-18 November at New Mills Art Theatre.

Cathedral Quarter Businesses Vote To Renew BID Status

Businesses in Derby Cathedral Quarter have voted to renew the area’s status as a Business Improvement District (BID).

There was a strong turnout for the ballot (49%) with 85 % of businesses and 77% of the aggregate rateable value voting in favour of the BID - giving a clear mandate to continue building upon the achievements of the BID over the next five years.

The new BID will officially launch on March 1 2018 with a budget for the five year programme of £1.5 million – made up of the levy payments and supplemented by voluntary, private and public sector contributions.

The Derby Conference Centre go back to their roots by hosting Women in Rail event

The Derby Conference Centre were delighted to have hosted Women in Rail East Midlands for a second time this year for their ‘First Step to the Next Step’ event on Thursday 12th October. The Derby Conference Centre was the first purpose-built training college for railway staff, which couldn’t be more fitting to host this event, along with their launch which took place at the end of June.

'A Sense of Place' - Opens - 11th November 2017 at The Old Lock Up Gallery

The Old Lock Up Gallery is excited to announce the opening of Heather Duncans' Solo Show 'A Sense of Place' on the 11th November from 5pm - 7pm.
The show then continues until 17th December 2017.

Heathers abstracted landscapes sing loud and true with colour - the gallery is the perfect space for Heathers work: enabling the paintings to be experienced in all their vibrant glory.  
Our gallery cupboard will also house a selection of Heathers beautiful hand thrown utilitarian ceramics.

Derby College Students Share Stay Safe Messages

A group of Derby College students have helped to organise a conference for their peers to share important messages about staying safe.

The group of students on the Level 3 Protective Services study programme, based at Broomfield Hall, have been working with Derbyshire police as ambassadors for Project Zao – an initiative to raise awareness amongst young people of the dangers of carrying a knife.

Partnership Project Tackles Skills Shortages

Derby College has teamed up with colleagues at Gateshead College to launch a research project into the skills shortages and limited engagement in Construction degree courses.

The BRIDGE project has been supported by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEGCE) Catalyst Fund and has been prompted by a Construction Skills Network report which has highlighted a growing skills shortage in the industry.

Sing Viva – Derbyshire Carers Choir Appeals For Public Support

A newly-formed choir made up of local people who are carers are vying for funding to secure its future and are asking the public for help.

Sing Viva  – Derbyshire Carers’ Choir has been set up by Derby-based Sinfonia Viva, the East Midlands’ only professional orchestra, as part of its 35th anniversary programme - enabling more people than ever to experience creative music making.

Hubbub Theatre Company Launches Region’s First Learning Disabled Actor Training Programme

Derby-based Hubbub Theatre Company is launching the East Midlands’ first training programme designed specifically for actors with learning disabilities who want to be part of a vibrant company and potentially work on stage, screen and television.

Hubbub Theatre Company is an integrated ensemble of performers with and without learning disabilities, that creates original, devised physical theatre for both indoor and outdoor performance.

Entertainment Spectacular in Derby Cathedral Quarter

CQ Saturdays Knickerbocker Glorious returns to Derby Cathedral Quarter on Saturday November 18 with a free line-up of family entertainment at the Waterfall stage in the Market Place between 11am and 3pm.

The line-up will include Barney Rubblz who are three brothers from Denby playing a range of Indie Rock covers and originals.

Wathall’s Lead the Way in Supporting People With Dementia

Family-owned G.Wathall and Son have become the first funeral directors to qualify for membership of the Derbyshire Dementia Action Alliance.

The company is the city’s oldest independent firm of funeral directors and celebrates its 160th anniversary next year.

All its 30 staff at branches in Macklin Street, Alvaston, Borrowash and Ashbourne have become Dementia Friends as a result of attending awareness sessions to better consider the challenges facing people with dementia.

Glamour and Romance In Store For New Year’s Eve Concert Goers

Celebrated East Midlands’ orchestra Sinfonia Viva will be in a romantic mood for itar annual New Year’s Eve Gala Concert at the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham with a programme full of glitz, theatricality and fun.

Entitled, ‘Always On My Mind’ the programme features timeless musical romances linked to the theme of love. 

These include classic pieces from Tchaikovsky Such as the ‘Rose Adagio’, stirring renditions of Bizet’s ‘Carmen Suite’, Elgar’s ‘Salut d’Amour’ and popular show tunes including the ‘Anthem’ from Chess and the Elvis Presley classic ‘Always on My Mind’.

Christmas events announced for Croots Farm Shop in Derbyshire

Derbyshire-based farm shop Croots has unveiled a Christmas cracker of events leading up to the festive period.

Throughout November and December, Croots Farm Shop near Duffield is set to host a number of festive events, kicking off on Thursday 9th November with a Taste of Christmas Event. This will be the perfect chance to preview Croots new Christmas range with the opportunity to enjoy mulled wine and mince pies, and to sample the wares of local suppliers.

Singer Neil White will be providing entertainment by singing seasonal songs.

BBC Children in Need Main Grant Programme (UK)

The next closing date for applications to the BBC Children in Need Main Grants programme is the 16th January 2018. Grants of over £10,000 per project are available to not for profit organisations and schools that work with young people who are experiencing:

Artists International Development Fund (England)

The next application deadline for the Arts Council England's Artists International Development Fund is 5pm on the 13th December 2017. This funding stream is for artists to develop links with artists, organisations and/or creative producers in other countries. Self-employed and freelance artists can apply for small grants of £1,000 to £5,000 to spend time building these links to broaden your horizons and open their work to other perspectives.

Funding & support for new community businesses (England)

The Community Business Bright Ideas Fund, which supports community groups in England wanting to set up new community businesses will re-open for applications on the 1st November 2017. Grants of up to £15,000, tailored business support as well as learning events will be available to give community groups the support and tools required to start setting up their community business; provide them with the early stage finance to carry out consultations with local people and the opportunity for feasibility studies and to develop a community business idea, that the community wants and needs.

New £4.5 million funding programme to support local social action (England)

A new funding programme supporting communities to take action on issues which matter locally has been launched by the Big Lottery Fund and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The Placed Based Social Action programme will support established partnerships to put social action at the heart of plans to make a positive difference in their local area.

Henry Smith Charity: Improving Lives Grant Programme (UK)

The Henry Smith Charity provides grants of between £20,000 and £60,000 per year for up to three years to charitable organisations that help people when other sources of support have failed, are inappropriate, or are simply not available. The funding is available to cover running costs, salaries and projects of charitable organisations that can demonstrate a track record of success, and evidence the effectiveness of the work.

CreativeXR

A new funding stream that will support arts organisations to experiment with immersive technologies has been launched by Arts Council England and innovation agency Digital Catapult.

Grants to help new, innovative visual arts projects (UK)

The Elephant Trust has announced the next deadline for applications is the 15th January 2018. The Trust offers grants to artists and for new, innovative visual arts projects. It aims to make it possible for artists and those presenting their work to undertake and complete projects when confronted by lack of funds. The Trust supports projects that develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the fine arts. Priority is given to artists and small organisations and galleries making or producing new work or exhibitions.

Artist/Sessional worker

Location: Artcore and various

Position: Part-Time Artist/ sessional worker (DBS necessary)

Salary/Rate: Various

Purpose: To deliver creative sessions in a range of art mediums designed to engage participants which includes children, youth, adults and elderly.

Writing East Midlands: Job Opportunity – Marketing Executive

Marketing Executive required

P/T (21 Hours/week)

£18,000 – £22,000 pro-rata

Writing East Midlands, the literature development agency for the region, is hiring a Marketing Executive. The role involves providing marketing support for our, and partner, activities which includes promoting writing courses, masterclasses, events, festivals, competitions, and core projects and programmes, through website, e-letters and e-mags, social media and appropriate print.

Lady Misery - the Feminist Twist in the Tale

In an English folk scene currently bursting with bold and innovative folk music, vocal trio Lady Maisery shine brightly. With their unique approach to harmony singing, intelligent and thoughtful arrangements of both traditional repertoire and original compositions, Hazel Askew, Hannah James and Rowan Rheingans harness and celebrate their united voice.

Painting Workshops and Children's Art Club

As some of you may know about 14 years ago I ran a Saturday Art Club for children and I loved it. Some of the girls now have their own children, have grown into beautiful young women and some still wave as they pass me in their cars as they go off to work. My own daughter has gone on to qualify as a Montessori Teacher now working in London.

Artists in Conversation : Wolfgang Buttress, Danica Maier, Aidan Shingler, & Dr Tim Shephard

Still to come

All talks are free and start at 7pm for a 7.30 start.

 

30th November 2017 Danica Maier
Exploring dualities of material and site Danica Maier’s work uses site-specific installations and events to explore ideas of expectations of site, traditional values, ‘women’s work’ and labour. Maier is interested in manipulating a locations expected function and pushing beyond the original intentions.

See The Derbyshire Singers in Ashbourne on 18 November

The Derbyshire Singers with soloists Lesley-Jane Rogers (Soprano), Louise Collett (Mezzo-soprano),  Andrew Mackenzie-Wicks (Tenor), Tim Mirfin (Bass). Organist: John Keys

St John's Church, Ashbourne    

Saturday 18th November 2017    

7.30pm    

Puccini: Messa di Gloria

Mozart: Mass in C Major, Coronation Mass

Christmas at the Art Room, Wilkin Hill, Barlow

Christmas at the Art Room, Wilkin Hill, Barlow, Derbyshire S18 7TE

Saturday 11th - Sunday 19th November 2017 inc

10am - 3.30pm daily

Browse through a selection of interesting and original gifts in the informal atmosphere at the Art Room.

There will be fabulous glassware from Stephanie Platts, quirky textiles from Dawn Ireland, photography by James McColl, rag rugs, Christmas wreaths and decorations from Rachael Rastrick and textiles from Anne Menary and Diane Gilder as well as a wide range of cards and prints.

An exciting new opportunity has arisen for up and coming local Artists

The School of excellence is aimed at local artist who are already working hard on their own genre and style of music production. This free course is designed to give participants the support and industry skills and networks to take it to the next level.

Apply now by completing the form on the link below, and please email us links to your music and social media accounts. Good luck!

Apply here

Write a killer to win a thriller

Crime writers use a killer opening line to bait a trap for their fictional detective’s real quarry: the reader.

Now you can have a go at setting up a mystery in one sentence which will be judged by a top murder mystery author at Buxton International Festival Crime Writers’ Lunch – and win a signed thriller.

Derbyshire Delegation Visit China

Following on from last year's visit to the country, a delegation of Derby and Derbyshire businesses and civic leaders has returned to China as part of a wider Midlands Engine trade and investment mission.

The delegation is visiting China with the aim of furthering civic and economic partnerships with the city of Hefei in Anhui province, which could potentially boost trade and tourism.