In a move to drive growth, Chesterfield-based UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) has appointed Craig Evans to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer.

Formerly the General Manager of UKATA, one of the leading authorities on asbestos training provision in the UK, Craig’s new appointment as Chief Operating Officer (COO) reflects the role he has played in developing the organisation over the last six years.

Established in 2008, UKATA, which is based at Markham Vale,  has gone from strength to strength over the last decade and now numbers 180 member organisations throughout the UK.

Craig, who lives in Chesterfield, now takes on the strategic COO role working closely with the UKATA board in an advisory capacity to help the organisation achieve its membership growth aspirations and elevate UKATA’s reputation further within the industry.

Within the newly created role, Craig will also take on more public-facing engagements in order to free up board members’ time and respond to increasing industry demand for UKATA’s services.

The new COO role was announced at UKATA’s Annual General Meeting which marked UKATA’s tenth anniversary, this was followed by UKATA Excellence Awards which were hosted by the Olympic sporting legend Kriss Akabusi.

Commenting on Craig’s appointment, UKATA Chair, Graham O’Mahony explained: “Craig shares UKATA’s drive and focus to maintain and improve the industry’s understanding of the dangers of asbestos and reduce the risks surrounding the material.

“He is a highly respected member of the team and his extensive knowledge of the industry as well as his strategic planning skills will be key in the future development of the association.”

Craig added: “I am delighted to accept the role of Chief Operating Officer with UKATA.  Having pushed the association forward over the last six years I am looking forward to further expanding UKATA and developing the team.”

He added: “I am very excited by our future plans to expand further and develop new syllabi in order for members to continue to deliver high-quality asbestos safety training to even more people and ultimately reduce injury caused by asbestos exposure.”

A former winner of Business Person of the Year at the prestigious Derbyshire Times Business Awards, Craig has more than 10 years’ experience in leadership and management roles.

The East Midlands Chamber’s Head of International Trade, Laura Howard, has appeared in videos designed to encourage exporting.

They were shot by David James, a specialist in business and strategic communications and producer of the UK Export Advice podcast, with the support of East Midlands Airport.

In each of the videos, Laura talks about the help the Chamber can give to companies looking to increase sales by moving into overseas markets.

The videos were filmed to coincide with the airport’s announcement of record-breaking quantities of freight handling in the year ending March 2018.

In the previous 12 months the airport, Britain’s busiest for dedicated freight handling, saw almost £10bn worth of non-EU goods pass through it and in total 358,477 tonnes of cargo were exported or imported through the airport – 9.7% higher than the previous year.

Laura appears alongside Sir John Peace – Chairman at Midlands Engine, Ian Harrison – Director of Exports at the Department for International Trade, Adriaan Vickery – Chair of the Board of Directors at the East Midlands International Trade Association and Howard Ebison – Commercial Director at East Midlands Airport.

Also featured in the videos are Dr Nik Kotecha, Chief Executive at Morningside Pharmaceuticals and Chair of the Chamber’s Brexit Business Advisory Group, and Ximena Shelton, Director at Shelton’s Coffee. Both businesses are Chamber members and exporters.

One of the points Laura makes in the videos is that the Chamber is a vast “network of businesses, many of which have already gone down the export route and are more than willing to share, peer to peer, their knowledge and experience of the export journey”.

Laura said: “Britain is currently a net importer of materials, goods and services. It would significantly help our balance of payments if we could become a net exporter and there are huge opportunities on the global stage for those willing to take the first step and explore overseas markets.

“If you have a product or service to sell, why restrict yourself to small domestic markets when there is so much help available to steer you through your exporting journey.”

To see the videos, visit here for advice on how to get exporting, here for the Morningside Pharmaceuticals and Shelton Coffee case studies and here for East Midlands Airport’s freight handling story.

Banner Jones Solicitors has become the latest business to officially sign up to the TUC Dying to Work Charter, an initiative put in place to highlight the firm’s commitment to treating its staff with respect and dignity should they receive a terminal diagnosis.

The first law firm to sign up to the charter, Banner Jones, a law firm operating across South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and the East Midlands, is proud to be supporting its workers in a way that enables them freedom of choice with regards to their career should they be diagnosed with a terminal illness.

In the UK, there is currently no protection from dismissal for people with terminal illnesses and so the Dying to Work Charter is instrumental in ensuring workers get the support they require.

The Charter is part of the TUC’s wider Dying to Work campaign which is seeking greater security for terminally ill workers where they cannot be dismissed as a result of their condition. Whilst, in some situations, a person may decide that they do not want to continue working, in other cases, workers with a terminal illness may elect to continue working for as long as they can, whether it be for financial security or as a valuable distraction.

Dying to Work was taken forward by the TUC following the case of Jacci Woodcook, an area sales manager from Derbyshire, who was forced out of her job three years ago after being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.

Lisa Gill, HR Manager at Banner Jones, commented:

“We have always endeavoured to support our employees in the best way possible and so, by signing up to the Dying to Work Charter, we are demonstrating our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our team.

“The Charter sets out an agreed way in which our employees will be supported, protected and guided throughout their employment following diagnosis of a terminal illness and I would encourage every firm to make this pledge.”

Lee Barron, TUC Midlands Regional Secretary, commented:

“Your job should be the least of your worries when you get a terminal diagnosis.

“I’m delighted that Banner Jones have shown real leadership in this area, working with unions to guarantee fair treatment for terminally-ill workers.

“600,000 workers are now covered by the Dying to Work charter across the country, and we expect more employers to commit in the coming months.”

HR Manager Lisa Gill and Executive Director, Chris Sellars

On July 18^th 2018, Chesterfield-based training provider One to One Support Services, Training Academy held its annual Celebration of Learning event in Hasland. This event recognised the achievements and successess of learners, along with their employers and partners who have supported with the students’ progression.

This year’s winner for Apprentice of the Year 16-18 was Toni Raynes from Chantreyland Children’s Nursery. Last December she completed her Level 2 Childcare qualification. The team she works with were so impressed with her level of commitment they put them onto her Level 3 childcare qualification as soon as possible.

The Outstand Performer Award went to Barry Green of One to One Support Services. He had overcome extreme fears about completing a qualification, his tutor says he has never missed an appointment; he is always on time and willing to spend the time to develop his knowledge. Even his manager says he is a confident worker who you can always depend on. He has overcome all of his worries and completed his qualification with flying colours.

The Employer of the Year award winner was the Chantreyland Children’s Nursery. One to One has worked with them for some time and always find they have gone the extra mile, they are always willing and open for our tutors to spend time with the learners. By allowing this in turn this develops the apprentice allowing the workplace to benefit from the skills that they go on to develop.

Another winner of the day was Bisharo Omar. She won the Level 1 Development Award for Sheffield. Bisharo had joined the City and Guilds accredited Level 1 in Health and Social Care/Children and Young People course ran by the Training Academy team and managed to secure a position at One to One Support Services. She supports a number of our clients and since joining One to One as a Community Care Assistant everyone only has fantastic things to say about her. Her manager describes her as a confident woman who uses her own initiative and has become a fantastic part of the team.

The celebration also honoured employers who have given learners the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in their place of work and contributed to their practical skills learning.

Melanie Ulyatt MBE, Managing Director comments on the event: “This year’s celebration was a really special moment for us as a Training Academy as we enjoyed welcoming our learner’s friends and families to come and join us and celebrate their achievements. Over the past year, we have become a prime provider and we now have our own contract with the Education and Skills Funding Agency.