Derby College has launched the risual Autodesk Academy at the Roundhouse to upskill teachers and students in the latest Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology software.

IT software and hardware has been installed in a dedicated learning suite at the College to support the study programmes for further education and higher education Professional Construction and Engineering staff and students as well as apprentices and employees at local and regional businesses.

Extra public swimming sessions are being held at two Derby pools next week to encourage young people and their families to keep visiting once Moorways Pool shuts next month.
Lonsdale Pool in Mickleover and Gayton Pool in Littleover will be organising extra daytime sessions during half term next week which are usually taken by school swimming groups during term time.

Derby College has expanded its ‘Learning for Leisure’ programme of short evening courses aimed at enabling people to take up a new hobby.

Leading UK triathlon wetsuit, clothing and accessories specialists HUUB Design have supported Radio 1 DJ Greg James and physical activity guru Professor Greg Whyte OBE in their gruelling Sport Relief challenge.

Both will be sporting the latest HUUB Archimedes II wetsuits as well as HUUB triathlon kit which has been designed in Derby by HUUB for their triathlon challenge which will see them undertake a triathlon a day in five different UK cities, starting in Belfast on February 8.

A record number of early bird entrants have signed up for Derby’s Spring Classic Sportive event this May. More than 300 people have already signed up to take part in the event on Sunday 1st May, starting and finishing in Markeaton Park. Riders will take on one of three routes – 40km, 80km or 160km around Derbyshire and East Staffordshire.

Derbyshire farm shop Croots is marking Breakfast Week with a series of special offers and promotions.

The farm shop, at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, Duffield, regularly supports the annual national event, which aims to raise awareness of the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast and demonstrate the wealth of wonderful breakfast produce available around the country. This year Breakfast Week runs from 24th to 30th January and the award-winning Croots Farm Shop has lined up a string of deals and offers to mark the occasion.

The work of Pinxton musician Graham Hall will take centre stage at Sinfonia Viva’s ‘Timeless Classics’ concert at Derby Cathedral on Wednesday March 2 with the premiere of  orchestrations of two well-known pieces. Graham is Sinfonia Viva’s Principal Timpanist and an accomplished arranger and orchestrator.

Derby-based regional dance house Déda will hold a special Valentine’s event on Saturday February 13 to inspire people of all ages and abilities to fall in love with dancing. The Social Dance event will be held at the Chapel Street studios starting at 8pm and hosted by Déda’s team of tutors who specialise in a wide range of dance styles from Rock ‘n’ Roll and Rumba to Argentine Tango and Foxtrot.

Allison Pennington grew up in the Derbyshire countryside and after spending some wander years experiencing the world, returned home where she has based herself ever since. She has written stories and poetry for children since her her early teens, which often include glimpses of her own childhood immersed in nature, humour and commentary on the quirkiness of life as seen through a child's eyes. She resides in a Derbyshire village with her husband, two gorgeous teenagers  and an over friendly labrador.

Awarding winning Derbyshire short horror film, In Limbo will soon be available for viewing on a new on demand channel www.vimeo.com/anonmotionpictures from the 1st Feb 2016.