In a bid to drive clean-air initiatives, the Government announced in July that the sale of new diesel and petrol cars will be banned in the UK from 2040.

It also set aside £255m to help local authorities develop policies to improve air quality in towns and cities, which could include the banning during peak hours of diesel-powered cars and vans from some centres within the next two years and the introduction of punitive daytime ‘toxin taxes’ to discourage their use.

A similarly-timed but apparently contradictory announcement, however, stopped electrification of the Midland Main Line and promised new diesel-powered trains for routes through Derby, Nottingham and Leicester for the foreseeable future. Derby and Nottingham are thought to be leading the ‘toxin tax’ charge.

East Midlands Chamber reacted to the announcement by calling on Government to create a proper, fully-costed, cohesive 50-year energy strategy to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of green technology.

And it is now asking businesses in the East Midlands to take part in research which, through lobbying activities, could help shape a national energy strategy.

Chris Hobson, the Chamber’s Director of Policy, said:-

“Energy costs, security and availability perennially rank among the top concerns of our members. We have been saying for some time that the UK needs a proper, costed, 50-year energy strategy and now we are inviting regional firms to take part in our Quarterly Economic Survey so that we can collate information to help drive this initiative.

“The East Midlands has the potential to lead the world in the field of the new technologies that will be needed to deliver the Government’s clean air pledges. The Government has to make sure the businesses that will drive the technology get all the support they need.”

The Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey for quarter three of 2017 is currently live and is asking firms across the region how much of their turnover is currently generated by supplying low carbon goods or services and to what extent firms have invested this year to reduce their carbon footprint.

The results will feed into future work carried out by the Chamber to encourage Government to invest in a 50-year energy strategy.

To take part in the survey, visit http://bit.ly/2fYTN9c.

Chamber strategic partner bmi regional is offering two return flights from Birmingham to Nuremburg as a draw prize for completing the Q3 QES. The winners will be advised on 14 September and the tickets will be valid until 31 March.

For the third successive year, BRM Solicitors has joined forces with Macmillan Cancer Support to exclusively offer a free will writing service during September and October to support Macmillan in Chesterfield.

Including Gift Aid donations, the Chesterfield law firm has so far raised over £30,000 for the Macmillan appeal to help build the NGS Macmillan Unit Appeal, at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. With the centre now open, the firm is continuing its support by getting behind Macmillan’s ongoing work in the region to provide better cancer care.

Over the two months, BRM Solicitors will waive its fees, and instead will encourage clients to make a voluntary donation of £75 per single will and £150 per double will to the Chesterfield Royal Macmillan Cancer Centre.

Over the next few years, Macmillan will be investing a significant amount of money to fund new projects and health professionals at Chesterfield Royal Hospital and elsewhere in Derbyshire. For example,  funding the Welfare Rights Service at the new NGS Macmillan Unit.

Rob Woodhead, Head of Wills and Probate at BRM Solicitors, says:-

“We are very proud that BRM and its clients were able to make a significant contribution in funding the construction of the new centre. Now that the doors are open, we hope that our partnership with Macmillan can help to improve the services and support available to local people affected by cancer.”

Due to the overwhelming success of the partnership between the two Champion organisations, the firm has committed to run the free wills service alongside Macmillan Cancer Support in September and October, for the next two years.

Rob Turner, Local Fundraising Manager at Macmillan, says:-

“For every person who takes part in this scheme, your donations will automatically be restricted to fund the Macmillan Services based at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, or on Macmillan grants to people living with cancer in the Chesterfield area.”

World-leading creative and innovative projects which can tap into a new £15million cultural regeneration fund are being called for by the Sheffield City Region (SCR).

The SCR’S business arm, the Local Enterprise Partnership, today put out a ‘call’ for proposals to access the Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund and help build a lasting regional legacy from the Great Exhibition of the North next year.

The fund will make grants of up to £4 million for major cultural and tech projects to be included in next year’s exhibition, helping pave the way for future investment in the Northern Powerhouse.

The Great Exhibition, in Newcastle from next June to September, is set to be the biggest event in England in 2018. It will showcase world-class art, culture, design and innovation from the North.

It will demonstrate to the world how the North of England’s great art and culture, design and innovation has shaped our lives and is building the economy of tomorrow.

The Local Enterprise Partnership has been asked by the Government to co-ordinate proposals locally.

Sir Nigel Knowles, Chair of the Local Enterprise Partnership said:-

“This fund can make a huge contribution to the cultural and creative offer of the City Region.

“We’re a region blessed with outstanding creative and cultural talent and are quite rightly recognised for the contribution this sector makes to the economy and our communities.

“But we’re also a city region that doesn’t have some of the iconic physical cultural and creative assets that other parts of the country boast – which means the talent and the opportunity that abounds here don’t always play as central a role as they could do.

“This fund can help us develop some of those assets. We’re entirely open to ideas from across the city region – and the LEP Board looks forward to considering the proposals that come forward”.

Jake Berry, Northern Powerhouse Minister, said:-

“The North is a cultural powerhouse, as well an economic one, and this £15 million fund will give a boost to the region’s vibrant culture and tech sectors.”

Chesterfield Champions, Handelsbanken Chesterfield, has appointed a new Individual Banking Manager in response to increasing demand for its local relationship banking services.

Samantha Halifax has joined the fast-growing relationship bank and will be involved in developing existing customer relationships as well as welcoming new customers to Handelsbanken’s bespoke approach to local banking.

A strong focus on long-term relationships and high levels of personal service has seen the bank rated top for customer satisfaction eight years running in an independent survey of British banks’ personal and business customers. Branches are responsible for making all day-to-day banking decisions based solely on their customers’ requirements, free from product and lending targets or bonus incentives.

Samantha commented:-

“What attracted me to Handelsbanken was its strong culture and high sense of customer value. Our customers appreciate a long-term banking relationship, where decisions are made locally in the branch and where they are always made to feel valued. We constantly strive to satisfy customers with high levels of service and sensible, bespoke solutions.”

The branch, established in 2012 and located on Spire Walk Business Park, has developed a reputation for traditional banking, financial strength and high standards within the local business and professional services community.

Phil Walker, Branch Manager at Handelsbanken Chesterfield, added:-

“I am very pleased to welcome Sam to our team. It is great to be able to give this opportunity to someone who has always lived in Chesterfield and therefore knows the town so well, as our customers value local, personal relationships.

“Her appointment means that we can continue to meet the growing needs of both existing and new customers in our area, whilst maintaining the high levels of service for which we are renowned.”

Originally from Sweden, Handelsbanken now has over 800 branches in more than 20 countries and was named the world’s fourth safest commercial bank, by Global Finance magazine.