Chesterfield Apprentices from Learning Unlimited (part of the Chesterfield College Group) have been declared the winners of a 4 day challenge designed to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week.

Battling against business students from Chesterfield College, the two teams – LU Mugs Creations and i-Wear Baby Grows were each given £150 to create and sell a product to shoppers at Chesterfield Market.

The most profitable product on the day was a Mother’s Day mug – created by LU Mugs Creations, which raised over £230 for local charity Ashgate Hospicecare.

Holly Thompson, team captain and sales apprentice at Learning Unlimited said:-

“It’s been fantastic taking part in the competition. It was great fun selling on the market and seeing the project through from having an idea to raising a good amount of money for Ashgate Hospicecare. Hats off to my team mates who worked really hard in their spare time whilst working during the day on their apprenticeships.”

Runners up, i-Wear Baby Grows raised over £80 of profit which has been donated to Ashgate Hospicecare.

Business student and captain of  i-Wear Baby Grows, Katie Lambert said:-

“It’s been so much fun selling on Chesterfield market. To put a lot of what we learn in theory into practice has been such an eye opener. I’d love to do something like this again, we actually had enquiries for further orders so who knows we might take this business further!”

During the week the teams put their business, marketing, finance and production skills to the test, highlighting how apprenticeships can prepare young people for a successful career in business.

Paul Champion, Operations Director from Learning Unlimited said: “Putting apprentices to the test like this proves what they are capable of when they have had the chance to earn and learn in a real business situation.”

A delegation of local business and authority leaders is heading down to London today to negotiate a ground-breaking devolution deal for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

The consortium of representatives will meet with Greg Clark MP, Minister for Cities, to discuss how the area can take control of key economic drivers including jobs, skills and transport.

If accepted, the proposed devolution deal has the potential to create 55,000 new jobs and 77,000 affordable new homes, transform the area’s digital and transport infrastructure and speed up the planning process and make it more flexible.  It could also lead to the formation of a new £1bn regional business investment bank.

The proposed combined authority will be the first two-tier area to get to this position and, if successful, it could be a model for the future for the rest of the UK.

East Midlands Chamber – the Chamber of Commerce for Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire – coordinated the response from business to several of the initiatives included in the pitch.

Chamber Chief Executive George Cowcher said: “The proposed Devolution Deal for D2N2 is a bold and ambitious pitch from business and local authority partners in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire which, if accepted by Government, will position this part of the East Midlands as a regional powerhouse capable of competing with the likes of Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds.

“The Chamber has played a role in developing and stating the business case for these proposals and ensuring that any key decisions were taken with the interests of local companies in mind.

“What these proposed measures seek to do is maximise the potential of this area. The East Midlands has got one of the UK’s fastest-growing economies which has largely been driven by the businesses we have here in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

“The deal being pitched for will help to harness and accelerate that growth and in turn, deliver the new jobs, wealth and prosperity that the Government is looking for.”

Councillor Jon Collins, leader of Nottingham City Council, on behalf of Nottinghamshire councils said:

“This level of ambition shows that the region is pushing to be seen alongside the likes of Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds as a regional powerhouse.

“It will give greater influence to local people over decisions which have real affect over their lives and prosperity − decisions which are currently taken in London, often by people with little knowledge of the issues facing local residents and businesses.”

Speaking on behalf of all Derbyshire authorities, Councillor Anne Western, leader of Derbyshire County Council, said:

“The Government needs a better way to work with two tiers of local government and this could be that way.

“It is important to stress that this is not about reorganisation of local councils, nor is it about us asking for additional funding. It is about making sure that the money that is raised locally, is used and invested based on local rather than national priorities. We will work collaboratively to ensure that we have the powers that will give the local area real growth with real jobs and real prosperity.”

Devolution deals are being offered by Government to combined authorities, and Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire are currently seeking to create two new combined authorities covering Derby and Derbyshire and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire by the end of the year.

Any new devolved powers would not be developed until 2017.

Find out more about the proposed Derby and Derbyshire Combined Authority