Stylists will be offering free haircuts in return for donations for the trust fund set up for the two-year-old from Spondon who was born with a mystery condition which has left her with multiple health problems, including being unable to suck, swallow or smile.

Other fund raising activities will include a fancy dress competition, hair art, cake stall, face painting, hair art, nail painting a magician and raffle.

Blend owner Jon Leonard said: “Members of Harriet’s family are regular clients at the salon and we were only too delighted to organise a fun day to raise money for the trust for her care and any possible future Stemcell treatment, which is now the main goal for Harriet.

“Many of the other local businesses in the Cathedral Quarter are supporting us through raffle prizes and we hope that this will be a very busy day to raise money for a very worthwhile cause.”

Harriet’s father Jason Gregory said: “We are extremely grateful for Blend’s support of the Help Harriet Trust and hope to attend ourselves on the day to lend our support and thank everyone for their hard work.”
For more information about Harriet’s trust or to donate, visit www.helpharriet.org

The company, whose head office is in Canal Street, Derby, with further operations in Nottingham and Leicester, has invested nearly £10,000 in the latest equipment.

The Gutter Vac uses video monitoring to survey guttering and then high powered suction to unblock and clean gutters to a height of 50ft – enabling it to identify problem areas and eliminating the need for access equipment or ladders.

Clean Slate Managing Director Mike Armitage said: “Gutter cleaning may sound like a simple task but it has, in the past, been an expensive service due to the need for scaffolding, roof access and ladders.

“The combination of video monitoring technology and the extended reach of this new equipment now make gutter cleaning more effective and affordable for property owners and landlords. 

“The consequences of ignoring this maintenance are that gutters and cladding become eroded by rotting leaves and moss and then need to be replaced at a considerable cost.

“It is therefore a simple system to save businesses thousands of pounds in repair work.”
Clean Slate, which has been operating in the region for the past 60 years, has 150 staff operating throughout the region and already specialises in commercial property cleaning internally and externally with clients ranging from offices and hotels to schools and GP surgeries.

To arrange a free gutter cleaning quote, please call Clean Slate on 08001 577 477 or visit www.clean-slate.co.uk

Trident, which specialises in design and print management, already has a number of international clients, based in Canada, the USA, Australia and South Africa.

The family-run business based in Druid Street is now working with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to formulate an international sales strategy and identify potential customers overseas.

Trident’s largest overseas customer currently is Canadian adventure travel company
G Adventures – the international market leader.

Trident has worked for the company for the past four years – handling the print for
G Adventures’ glossy travel brochures which are targeted at the rapidly-expanding European markets.

Trident Director Adam Burrage explained: “We met the company at an exhibition and they were so impressed with the first job that we did for them that we now handle more than £ ¼ million for them per anum.

“The travel business is fast changing and G Adventures recognise that they need to be responsive to customer needs.  It would be too time consuming for them to print the European brochures in Canada and then ship them over so they work with us to handle the print and delivery to keep timescales shorter and costs lower.”

It is a similar story for Trident’s other international clients including an Canadian Agency and an Australian surfing company – both of which work with Trident to print their marketing literature in the UK which is then distributed to European customers.

Trident Managing Director Chris Burrage continued: “We have a proven track record in working with international clients which is where we see some of our growth over the next five years and are very excited about tapping into the expertise of UKTI to expand our customer base world-wide.

“Working with customers abroad obviously brings its own set of challenges, not least the time differences, but by adopting a flexible approach and a can-do attitude, we have proved that we can source the best quality print at the most competitive prices and organise distribution to their European markets in the timescale that works for them.

“It is important that we now capitalise on that experience and expertise so we plan to build this international client base substantially both in the short and longer terms with the support of UKTI.”

Derby College is working with developers Cedar House to construct a 3,000 sq metre building on land currently owned by the Homes and Communities Agency and originally earmarked by the former East Midlands Developments Agency for the Railway Technical Centre.

It will house 650 full time and part time students as well as apprentices in bricklaying, joinery and carpentry, painting and decorating and plastering.

Further development on the site is then planned in coming years to accommodate plumbing and electrical installation programmes at the new building.

Head of Faculty Dawn Kemp explained: “We are very excited that work has started on the new Construction Academy which has already attracted a great deal of interest in potential learners looking to come to College in September to learn a trade.

“The Construction Academy will be easy to get to – very close to the city centre, bus station and railway station – and will be particularly convenient for learners from throughout the Derby and Burton areas.”

The 2012 hours to go clock started ticking on Saturday morning (May 5) at 4am so students held their event in anticipation of this momentous countdown.

Students took part in teams from different countries in each continent and competed in a range of minority sports – designed to celebrate the Olympic values of respect, excellence and friendship and the Paralympic values of inspiration, courage, determination and equality.

Throughout the day, teams competed in table tennis, volley ball, hockey, football, indoor canoeing and basketball as well as Paralympic sport Boccia – a sport resembling bowls of which Derby College are East Midlands champions.  The day finished with a medal ceremony complete with the national anthems of the winning countries.

Among the organisers were Sports student Jodie Payen (18) and Jordan Butler (18) who are both from Littleover.

Jodie said: “There has been a real buzz in the sports hall with a wide range of students taking part in the activities.

“We wanted to organise something that would highlight the more under represented sports in the Olympics and Paralympics and make this an inclusive event that gives everybody the chance to take part.”

Jordan Butler added: “Everybody is really excited about the Olympics with many of us either going to see events or volunteering at venues.

“London 2012 is only really around the corner and event like this shows just how close we are to the greatest show on earth coming here to the UK.”

Derby College is part The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) Get Set network, in recognition of their commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic values through the London 2012 education programme.

Derby College’s work to earn the Get Set network status has included working with young people and teachers in Malawi, setting up a Sportsability Club at the College to provide a range of sporting opportunities for students with disabilities and running the Sports Fusion European student event at the College.

Derby College Assistant Principal, Sport and Leisure Peter Gordon, said: “As a College we are totally committed to the Olympic and Paralympic values and wanted to mark the 2012 hours countdown which would bring together students at all levels of their development.

“This event has therefore been designed by the students themselves to highlight minority sports within the College, bring students of different ability levels together and remind us all that, from the following morning that there are just 2012 hours to go until the start of the games.

“We are all proud that London is hosting the Olympic Games and we want to make sure that this is one to remember for all of our students and for the surrounding communities.”

“The next major Olympics event for the College will be our Celebration Week in June which brings together students across the College to mark their achievements, with an Olympics theme.

“And we are also very involved in the plans for the Olympics Torch Relay coming to the city on June 29 with more than 130 of our Public Services students helping to marshall the route and celebration events in the city.”

The businesses, who all joined together to form a Business Improvement District in September 2011, have developed the branding and campaign message ‘take a fresh look’ which forms part of the design of this new guide. 

The Mini Guide was highlighted in the BID’s original business plan as an important tool to promote the St Peter’s Quarter amongst existing and potential customers.

It includes information about the various parts of the BID area from Riverlights to Green Lane as well as contact information for all the 400 businesses in the area.

An initial print run of 30,000 of these pocket sized Mini Guides  have been produced, which are available from the Rangers who regularly patrol the area, as well as a wide range of businesses, other key locations in the city, such as the Tourist Information Centre, libraries and hotels, and then further afield.

Gary Johnson from Derby Theatre, who chairs the St Peter’s Quarter promotions group, explained: “We are delighted with the quality and content of our first Mini Guide and I am confident that it will help to put this unique area firmly on the map.
 
“It includes information on all the businesses and organisations in the St Peter’s Quarter so will greatly increase awareness of the diversity of what this area has to offer and encourage visitors old and new to take a fresh look at this popular part of the city centre.

“The Mini Guide also includes a map of the St Peter’s Quarter itself, main routes into the area and car parking information, so it has all the information that anyone planning a trip here for whatever reason could want.”

For a copy of the directory, please contact 01332 419050.

Both companies have a long association internationally, not least because B&O sound systems are used in Aston Martin’s iconic cars including James Bond’s latest DBS coupe.

Stratstone Aston Martin of Derby will display one of their Cygnet city commuter cars in the showroom which used to be part of the Kennings depot and car showrooms from Friday March 9^th. Whilst smaller than the sportscar range the Cygnet can be specified with the same range of luxury interiors.

Chesterfield-based F Kenning and Sons officially opened its Derby branch in July 1930 displaying, among others, the classic commuter car of the era – the Morris Minor costing £135.

And this will be the first of a number of events and promotions to celebrate Bang & Olufsen’s fifth year in business in the Cathedral Quarter.

Ian Walters, a partner in the business, said: “It is very appropriate that, as we approach our fifth birthday, we celebrate the past and take the showroom back to its beginnings.

“We understand that Kennings were the main dealers for Morris cars and the dealership in Derby was a state of the art facility opened by Sir William Morris and Sir George Kenning so it is fantastic that we will be turning heads again along Queen Street and showcasing an Aston Martin – today’s ultimate British car brand.

 “In addition to demonstrating several new B&O products including sound docks for use with Apple products and the latest 3D televisions, we look forward to giving people another reason to come and see us here in the Cathedral Quarter.”

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Media enquiries:

Sarah Jenkin-Jones, JJPR, Tel: 01332 515102/07951 945 665; sarah@jjpublicrelations.co.uk

The area is currently finalising its priority plans for the coming year and looking forward to a re-ballot of the businesses in February 2013 who will decide whether to continue as a BID for a further five years.

The Cathedral Quarter incorporates more 380 businesses in an area bounded by the inner ring road, the River Derwent, Albert Street, Victoria Street and Friar Gate who pay a levy based on their rateable value into the BID and which amounts to around £180,000 a year which also enables additional funds and value in kind to be used to deliver projects based on the business plan.  .

The Cathedral Quarter Company was set up as a not for profit company in February 2008 to boost the performance and profitability of businesses in the area through  the agreed projects  which are also prioritised by the businesses each year.

Strategic direction is determined by the Board and the activities are driven forward by a management group and then five working groups – all made up of representatives from local businesses who volunteer their time – who work on activities under the five priorities of increasing awareness, improving access, extending length of stay, improving the sense of welcome, safety and security in the area and increasing inward investment.

The Cathedral Quarter is now an established brand and is actively targeting the city’s broadening catchment area.  Derby has the highest average salary in the UK outside London and a higher than average wealthy catchment area. 

CACI research also highlights that the Cathedral Quarter has the largest proportion of premium brand retailers in the city and there has been a net gain of 26 businesses in the area in the past year.

Key successes in the past year have included:

Increasing Awareness

• The CQ website www.derbycathedralquarter.co.uk has been re-designed – making it more user friendly and giving businesses far more options to update their profiles.
• Three editions of CQ Life were produced including the largest ever edition in Christmas 2011 when28,500 copies of the 20 page magazine were distributed to CQ loyalty card holders, as an insert in Derbyshire Life & Countryside and to Derbyshire County Cricket Club and QUAD members
• An average of £7,000 a month (advertising equivalent value) of free editorial coverage has been generated by the BID with the local media
• A week long radio and on-line promotion was organised with regional radio stations GEM 206 – reaching thousands of people across the East Midlands every day
• A 36 page feature was negotiated with the Derbyshire magazine with reduced advertising rates for local businesses

 Extending Length of Stay

• Highlights in the events calendar have included the return of the giant observation wheel and the  CQ Derby Feste Splash event at Blacksmith Yard part of Derby Feste – both of which boosted footfall in the area significantly
• Audio tours, which can be downloaded from the website and from i-tags on the new wayfinding signs in the area have been developed by the BID and created by CQ business Word of Mouth in Friar Gate Studios
• Christmas events and promotions included the Santa in Sadler Gate activity including a Dickensian Christmas grotto, live music and stalls; and sponsorship and joint promotion of the ice rink
• New Christmas lights were erected in the Cornmarket, St James Street and trees in the Wardwick adding to the already classic high quality lights erected the year before in Iron Gate, the Strand and Sadler Gate.

Improving Access

• The BID has worked closely with Derby City Council on the Wayfinding strategy with signage throughout the area reflecting the CQ branding
• Cathedral Quarter logos have been added to the 120 existing and new light-weight pavement planters – encouraging movement of footfall through the area
• Specially-designed badges have been erected on buildings at key points in the Cathedral Quarter – heralding a sense of arrival
• The Cathedral Quarter teamed up with Parksafe to introduce a new smart card with discounts on parking in addition to the benefits of ‘I Love the Cathedral Quarter’ loyalty card.
• A campaign by the BID and local businesses led to a re-think on changes to the city centre road layout in Cheapside, Bold Lane and St Mary’s Gate.

Welcoming Safe & Secure

• The Ranger team continues to be a strong presence in the area – working closely with businesses and partners to quickly report and deal with problems and welcoming visitors to the area
• Special activities have included the involvement in a Street Pride event in the Market Place to raise awareness of environmental issues in the city centre
• The Rangers were heavily involved in the pilot monthly tours in partnership with Derby Cathedral and the Museum and Art Gallery
• Major events in the Cathedral Quarter ranging from the Duck Race to Festé have been supported with marketing and ambassadorial support by the Rangers 
• A campaign has also be launched to expand this work with volunteer rangers to support ambassadorial duties and conduct tours

 Inward Investment:

• There has been a net increase in the Cathedral Quarter of 26 businesses in the past year
• The Cathedral Quarter had a high profile at the Derby Property and Business Show – launching a new investment brochure and specially commissioned DVD to companies who were looking to invest in the city

Martin Langsdale, Chair of the Cathedral Quarter Management Group explained: “Our vision when setting up the BID was to establish the Cathedral Quarter as a destination which offers specialist quality retail, a diverse range of quality leisure and cultural activity and established respected professional services in an attractive historical setting.

 “We have achieved a great deal in the past four years and, despite having to be prudent in our financial management, we have ensured that investment in projects have reaped maximum rewards for the Cathedral Quarter and the businesses who operate here.

 “Outline plans for 2012 have been discussed with the businesses and work is now starting to draw these up in more detail and make them a reality.”

Martin continued that, although the Cathedral Quarter has experienced empty premises with businesses closing, there was a net gain of 26 businesses in the area.

 “The combination of falling vacancies and rising footfall figures has been particularly welcome news for the Cathedral Quarter.

 “This is despite the economic situation which has obviously impacted greatly on the retail sector and the floor space limitations of the older historic properties that are available in the Cathedral Quarter.

“Another positive factor has been calibre of the new businesses that have been attracted into the Cathedral Quarter in the past year alone.  This continues to ensure that we are not a faceless high street and have contributed to the individual, diverse and inspiring qualities of the area.

“It is however important that we step up this proactive marketing activity. We have already established that the Cathedral Quarter is about quality but we need to tempt more quality businesses to the area. In turn this will increase quality consumers who will attract more businesses and so on.

“Times continue to be tough for businesses in this economic climate but most agree that they would be suffering even more if we had not gone ahead with the BID and that they are by and large benefiting from the increased profile that the Cathedral Quarter now has.

“Our brand values sum up the special qualities of the Cathedral Quarter: individual, inspiring and diverse – a place with soul.

“Cathedral Quarter businesses are largely independently owned who put customer service at the top of the agenda.  Improvements to the area therefore benefit not only the businesses themselves but also the people who visit this area.”

For more information about the businesses and events in the Cathedral Quarter visit www.derbycathedralquarter.co.uk

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“Nick Clegg recently announced plans to encourage more companies to operate a model closer to the John Lewis’ type where employees are part owners of the business that they work for.  In my opinion these models should be embraced by many more businesses of all sizes and across all sectors. When done well, they improve morale, buy in, productivity and unlock growth.

When you visit a John Lewis store, everyone who serves you is effectively a part owner and I believe that this truly increases their enthusiasm to help you.  Small and medium sized businesses should not be deterred by the size and scale of what John Lewis has achieved – there is scope for companies of all sizes to benefit from employee ownership as Clean Slate has already proved.

Five years ago, we launched the first wave of the employee ownership scheme – offering managers the option to buy shares in the business.  The scheme grew over the next couple of years and we now have eight senior and middle managers who have a financial stake in the business. 

Everyone involved in the scheme actually has a stake in the company and it is in their best interests for us to succeed in order to share the dividends from the profits made.  This translates into real employee engagement in how to do things better and more efficiently and how to win more work.

We would certainly not have experienced the success we have over the past five years – growing the business to one of region’s leading commercial cleaning companies with a turnover of £1.3 million – without staff going more than the proverbial extra mile for the company.

Care does need to be taken when designing a suitable scheme and there has to be a plan of how it will improve the business.  Clean Slate’s scheme was designed as a part of our “massive goal” programme which aimed to transform us from a local Derby family business into a major regional team managed company. 

We have made good progress too in the last few years – we now have opened 2 new offices, in Nottingham and Leicester to add to our Derby base.  The hugely increased workload that everyone now has is viewed by staff as a positive thing, as they benefit from a share of increasing profits.

Retention and productivity at Clean Slate was already high and we have always made visible the financial health of the business through charts and figures on the noticeboards so that they understood the bigger picture.  Now this information is much more closely studied as staff are aware how their well being is directly influenced by the results of the business.

The biggest change that employee ownership has brought about at Clean Slate has been to encourage and reward staff for thinking outside the box.  For example operational staff feed their ideas for potential leads into the sales team who in turn share their own ideas for improving quality of service delivery.  They are certainly prepared to go more than the extra mile which was evident last week when they all turned out and worked extremely hard on a Sunday for a EZE Fitness who required their premises extensively cleaning before their official opening.

A potential stumbling block to Mr Clegg’s vision for ‘responsible capitalism’ through employee ownership is unfortunately the barriers put up by owner managed businesses who make up a large part of our business economy. Around 90% are owned by one person or a small number of family members and many are reluctant to release equity in their business.

They too need to recognise that they can follow the John Lewis model and that, by embracing initiatives such as this, they can raise capital needed to achieve growth as well as fully embracing and engaging with their greatest asset – their own people.  If business success is improved by a scheme, then the owners will too benefit, by earning a smaller portion of a much larger cake.

We have not come across any negatives to introducing and employee ownership scheme and plan to expand it in the future.  I would therefore encourage more businesses, particularly of our size, to follow suit.”

The need for a Ranger team was identified by the businesses in the St Peter’s Quarter as being a key priority and was part of the Business Plan that they voted to approve last year.

The Ranger team works throughout the St Peter’s Quarter BID area which is the commercial core of the city between Westfield and the Cathedral Quarter stretching from the river in the east (including Riverlights) to Green Lane and Macklin Street in the west and the junction of Osmaston Rd and Bradshaw Way in the south.

Their primary role is to support the businesses with face to face contact, be the eyes and ears of the area and work closely with such organisations as Derbyshire Police and Derby City Council Street Pride team.

Darren Meakin, who already coordinates the Cathedral Quarter Rangers, has taken on additional responsibility for the SPQ team, joined by two new Rangers – Janet Field and Nikki Matthews. 

Janet is well known in the area having owned a jewellery and fashion store in Green Lane for many years.  Janet closed the shop last year with a view to embarking on the next stage of her working life.

“I am delighted to be working in the St Peter’s Quarter albeit in a totally different role than previously. I hope to play my part in reassuring businesses in the area that this is the start of the programme to get the area back on its feet and to make it the place in Derby to work, shop and live.”

She is joined by Nikki Matthews who has worked in retail, largely in the city centre, for more than 14 years.

Nikki said: “I am particularly enjoying the opportunities to meet people and help businesses with any issues that they have.  This is an opportunity to see a different side of the area that you wouldn’t normally experience.”

Darren continued: “We recognise that there are issues that the businesses and members of the public face on a daily basis in the St Peter’s Quarter and we already have an excellent working relationship with the statutory authorities to get things sorted out quickly and efficiently.

“My experience in the Cathedral Quarter has ensured that we have been able to ‘hit the streets’ here running and the feedback from the general public and businesses alike has already been extremely positive.”

The new Ranger team is working closely with Derbyshire Police’s city centre team and starts every day with an early morning patrol of the area alongside a member of the police’s PCSO team.

Sergeant Nick Allgood who heads up the city centre team said: “We are delighted that the businesses have voted to make a Ranger presence in the St Peter’s Quarter a priority.

“These are obviously early days for the partnership working between the BID and the police in the St Peter’s Quarter but I am confident that the increased uniformed presence will positively contribute to public reassurance and will be a valuable service to the businesses in the area.

“Although crime and disorder is low in the St Peter’s Quarter, there are issues that need to be tackled and I hope that businesses will work closely with Dawn and the Rangers to feedback any information or concerns that they have.

“The early morning patrols have been well received by businesses and the public and, since they started, have already led to the arrest of a prolific street beggar who had a warrant out for his arrest.”

The primary aim of the St Peter’s Quarter is to develop the area as a destination by providing an alternative and complementary shopping, leisure and commercial area to Westfield and the Cathedral Quarter. 

Activities over the five-year life of the BID will be focused under three project areas – promotion, improving the visitor experience and business growth and investment.

Ends

Media enquiries: Sarah Jenkin-Jones, JJPR, Tel: 01332 515102/07951 945 665; sarah@jjpublicrelations.co.uk