As part of the sixth national Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Week, Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust will host an event for staff across the hospital – designed to celebrate equality and diversity in the workplace and to recognise the role it plays in supporting excellent patient care and a great place to work.

Zoe Lintin, Director of Workforce & Organisational Development, comments:-

“Equality and diversity plays a really important part of being a first-class hospital for the 400,000 people we serve in North Derbyshire and the 3,800 staff who are part of our team.  A diverse workforce and an organisation with fair processes and procedures, is a good place to work – and supports high-quality patient care.  Staff who feel they are treated equally and who are valued and recognised provide the best possible care to our patients. We were delighted to be accepted on to the NHS Employers Equality and Diversity Partnership Network for the second year. ”

Chesterfield Royal Hospital will be confirming its commitment to equality and diversity by hosting a three-hour education session that will give staff at all levels an opportunity to think about the role equality and diversity plays in their own job, in how their team works together and in how the Trust operates as a large, busy organisation.

Zoe continues:-

“It’s the chance to share ideas about how we can all make equality and diversity part of what we do, so it becomes second nature.  We will be  celebrating what we have achieved so far and looking at what we can in future to improve and make a difference.”

Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Week 2017 takes place from May 15-19 and is co-ordinated by NHS Employers to ‘shines a light on the great work going on across the NHS to ensure that it continues to meet the diverse needs of local populations’. Find out more on the NHS Employers website here.

Budding entrepreneurs and start-up business owners based throughout the Sheffield City Region are being urged to take advantage of a new, free of charge programme aimed at giving them the best possible start on their business journey.

Developed by Launchpad, which forms part of the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub, the unique scheme helps new entrepreneurs and business owners which have been trading for less than two years to access a comprehensive range of free resources including access to training events, as well as working with an experienced business mentor.

The mentoring programme has formally been launched across the Sheffield City Region at a special event which took place at Sheffield Central Library’s Business and IP Centre, which saw over twenty new business owners and experienced entrepreneurs come together to celebrate the launch of the new service.

During the event, delegates were given the opportunity to hear from business owners Jack Brzuz, found of the SME Business Academy and Dawn Bates, who shared their own experiences of how a business mentor can help to make a big difference to small business owners.

Participants of the mentoring programme are paired with an existing SCR business mentor who most meets their business needs and benefit from support and advice such as one to one meetings, training, coaching and events and workshops hosted throughout the City Region. All mentors are experienced entrepreneurs and business owners in their own right, looking to support, nurture and inspire the next generation of start-up successes.

Launchpad is available to all new business owners which have been trading for less than two years who are based in the Sheffield City Region; from Barnsley and Bassetlaw to Doncaster and the Derbyshire Dales.

Irshad Akbar, Business Mentoring Manager at Launchpad, said:

“Launchpad’s Mentoring programme is a tailored programme designed to support new business owners as they take the first steps on their business journey. It brings them together with individuals who have stood in their shoes, offering an opportunity to share the knowledge and expertise they have developed during their own business journey.

“The programme follows a tried and tested formula which helps to give new business owners confidence to grow and develop their ideas, as well as offering a chance to share concerns their business is currently facing. Our mentors come from many different backgrounds, but they share a passion to help others succeed. As a result many of our mentors and mentees become good friends and have built a strong professional relationship once the mentoring sessions were completed, with some even doing business together.”

Jack Brzuz, Founder and CEO, SME Business Academy, said:

“I became a mentor in the Launchpad Mentoring programme because I wanted to be able to provide advice and support for those who, like me, might be stuck at a point on their business journey and not know where to turn. Running a business can be a lonely experience and it’s easy to make the wrong decisions for what are often the right reasons at the time.

“Working with a mentor provides a sounding board and an opportunity to step outside of the day-to-day running of the business to look at the bigger picture. It can be invaluable for both parties. You form a relationship and have a desire to see them achieve and succeed. It’s an experience I’d recommend to any business owner.

“Sometimes when running a business, it’s the little things that really matter and a mentor can help to discuss different challenges and opportunities they face, often drawing on their own experiences.”

Launchpad currently has opportunities for new business owners interested in working with a business mentor and is also looking for experienced business owners based within the Sheffield City Region to join its mentoring programme.

To support a 14 week summer campaign which begins with the celebration of all things Mexican, Cinco de Mayo, Amigos Tequila Beer have created a limited edition pack featuring a competition to encourage consumer purchase over the summer.

Amigos Tequila Beer, which is distributed by Chesterfield business Global Brands, is best sold during the summer with an uplift in the off trade of +36% during the warmer months*. The new packaging is bright, vibrant and instantly eye catching on shelf. Illustrated with a warm, evocative sun emblazoned with a ‘Start the Summer’ call to action, the pack drives home the link between sunnier weather and increased consumer spending.

The beer with Mexican spirit, Amigos is inspired by Mexican culture and Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of these traditions. The pack has been officially released on the 17^th April ahead of the May celebration to mark the beginning of the season whilst continuously attracting attention on shelf throughout the summer.

The limited edition pack encourages consumers to purchase the 4-pack with a nationwide competition. The prizes offered through the promotion include 20 individuals winning a full case of Amigos as well as the one lucky winner receiving two tickets to the British Touring Car Championship race meet of their choice. After purchasing a pack, consumers simply head to Amigos website to enter.

Christian Sarginson, Senior brand manager, said:-

“Following the success of our limited edition Dia de los Muertos pack this new wrap has been designed to really stand out on shelf and catch consumers attention to start off our summer campaign. This season is a massive time for Amigos so to encourage our consumers to start the summer with us is our inclusive way of introducing the new pack. There are also great prizes available to our consumers which ties in with our fantastic motorsport activity”.

Amigos continue to support motorsport with sponsorship of driver Tom Ingram in the British Touring Car Championship. With the new season launching last month there’s full planned activation including social and video content to appeal to consumers as well as support Amigos’ #streetcerveza campaign.

Chesterfield-based search engine optimisation and web design company SEO CoPilot, have recently teamed up with Ian Chrichlow of Merlin Fibreglass Flat Roofing, who has announced he will be representing CoPilot at Santa Pod raceway.

The Fossil Fuellers racer and GRP Fibreglass company owner,  had his super bike sponsored by CoPilot and re-sprayed in their company colours with the addition of branding and logos. This partnership started when Ian Chrichlow contacted Guy from SEO CoPilot, looking for a fresh new updated website and SEO Campaign.

Guy Tomlinson, owner of SEO CoPilot, stated:-

“Ian was keen to improve the site and see a better ranking in searches. So, we met and assessed his site, it wasn’t performing well and wasn’t mobile friendly, we made some improvements, focused on SEO and he’s now on page one as a result. But more importantly we clicked and got on well.

“We thought this would be a great time to announce our partnership, as well as show off the new bike to the public.”

The team at SEO CoPilot are now planning to travel down to Santa Pod through the year to support Ian. As part of the sponsorship, the CoPilot team will be also be sporting specially designed apparel for the event, with hoodies showing the CoPilot brand as well as Ian’s Fossil Fuellers Logo.

A sponsorship deal has been agreed with City Taxis which will see the company’s logo feature on the daily training kit worn by Chesterfield players and management.

Paul Gosney, City Taxis’ business development manager, said:-

“Although 2016/17 hasn’t been the best season for the team, CITY Taxis are right behind the management team, board of directors and the players for next season.

“I’m sure everyone will come back for pre-season feeling revitalised and build a great foundation for a much better 2017/18. I feel it essential that local business’ support local teams and here in Chesterfield we have a great fan base and some fantastic companies.”

Jim Brown, Chesterfield FC commercial manager, said:-

“We are grateful for the sponsorship provided by City Taxis and thank them for their valuable support.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the previous sponsor of the training kit, National Windscreens, for their support.”

City Taxis are also the official private hire and taxi service to Chesterfield FC, with a direct phone line available next to all the hospitality lounges at the Proact.

City Taxis have also recently been announced as the official Transport Partner for this years Chesterfield Retail Awards which takes place on the Wednesday 24th May.

Businesses and organisations are being encouraged to bid into a £3million fund to boost the rural economy in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Money for three programmes is now available via the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) portion of D2N2’s current European Union funding. D2N2 LEP is the private-sector led partnership of businesses, local authorities, skills and training providers, and community and voluntary services promoting economic and jobs growth in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Rural businesses looking to improve demand for agricultural and horticultural products, or to create jobs, or companies or organisations wishing to improving countryside cycle networks for tourism or recreation use, can apply for support.

The details of three programmes now open for bids – via the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website – are:

Food Processing – £501,253 to support expansion of food and drink processing businesses.

Priority will be given to projects which:

• create new, higher skilled jobs;
• develop strong supply chains within the D2N2 area;
• support businesses’ growth via export and accessing new international markets, or increase the volume of products exported;
• promote new techniques or processes which increase production or productivity.

Project bids must be for at least £50,000 in grant aid. The maximum grant is £501,253.

The programme will be open until mid-2018, while funding is available.

Business Development – £1.6million has been made available to invest in rural micro and small business ventures, including farm businesses diversifying into non-farming activities (for example, land used for tourism or leisure-based attractions).

Priority will be for projects which:

• Develop high growth businesses around D2N2’s eight key commercial sectors of transport equipment manufacturing, life sciences, food and drink manufacturing, construction, transport and logistics, the visitor economy, creative and digital industries, and low carbon goods and services.
• Create new jobs within the business applying for funding.
• Develop new higher skilled jobs within the applicant business.
• Demonstrate business innovation, boosting productivity by introducing or developing new technologies or processes within the business applying.

Project bids must be for grants of at least £35,000. The maximum grant is £170,000.

The programme will be open for applications until mid-2018, while funding is available.

Rural Tourism Infrastructure – £928,247 will be used to develop rural tourism infrastructure, particularly recreational cycling, in D2N2’s rural areas.

Project bidders can apply for capital funding for schemes which connect rural attractions, and encourage recreational cycling and more visitors to come to those areas.

Priority will be given to projects which:

• Enable new or existing attractions to improve their visitor ‘offer’, encourage longer stays and increase tourism spend in the rural D2N2 LEP area.
• Extend the tourism season beyond the May to October period.
• Improve access links to and between visitor attractions, including through development of multi-user paths.
• Support cycling’s development, building on recent successes such as the 2015 and 2016 ‘Tour of Britain’ cycling events.
• Create new skilled jobs in applicant businesses.
• Develop visitor accommodation where there’s a demand for additional accommodation, as detailed in D2N2’s Destination Management Plan or LEP Tourism Strategy.

Project bidders must apply for at least £50,000 in grant aid. The maximum grant is £170,000. The programme will be open for applications until the end of 2017, while funding is available.

Grants given will only cover a percentage of projects’ costs, with successful bidders expected to also invest.

The D2N2 LEP held a free ‘Rural Means Business Conference’, to give potential applicants more information on the funding, in February (2017).

Peter Richardson, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said:-

“Around a third of jobs in the D2N2 LEP’s area are in rural areas, but employers there tend to have less access to the benefits of infrastructure and business development opportunities in urban areas.

“Targeted funding via D2N2, such as the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development grants now available, help level the playing field; growing jobs and businesses which people living in rural areas rely on.”