Financial support is available to help Derbyshire businesses install superfast broadband.

An extension of the connection voucher scheme means eligible businesses, charities and social enterprises can now apply for up to £3,000 no matter where in the county they’re based.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Support Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, Councillor Paul Dunn said:

“We know the benefits superfast broadband can bring for local firms. A fast and reliable broadband service is as important as good road and rail links for businesses today.

“We’re bringing the technology through Digital Derbyshire and it’s great that we’ve now managed to make sure there’s cash available to help give local businesses access. It means Derbyshire businesses can compete both nationally and globally and bring jobs and prosperity to the county.”

Local firms can apply individually or as a group to connect bigger or more complicated premises such as an office block. If their application is successful, businesses would need to pay for the line rental and VAT.

The broadband Connection Vouchers scheme will be administered locally on behalf of central Government by Derby City Council.

For more information visit Superconnected Derby, tel: 01332 742 540 or email: shane.chaddha@derby.gov.uk.

Banner Jones has welcomed two new members to its growing team of legal advisers.

Abbas Khan joins as a Paralegal in the business legal services team and he will be based within Banner Jones in Chesterfield. Abbas, who has joined from Howells Solicitors in Sheffield says “I’m delighted to be part of the highly successful Business Legal Services team and see this as a fantastic opportunity for me”

Angela McGuckin joins from VL Lawyers in Ashbourne with over 10 years experience in private client law, specialising in the writing of wills, lasting powers of attorney and probate. Angela joins the Banner Jones Group to head up the private client team in the Bilton Hammond Solicitors office, Mansfield. Angela says “I’m looking forward to using my experience and knowledge of Mansfield to further develop the private client offering in this area.”

Chris Sellars, director of Banner Jones Group human resources said “These appointments come at a time of sustained growth for the group and they will allow us to continue to develop our service offering to clients. We would formally like to welcome Abbas and Angela to the business and wish them all the best in their new roles.”

New eco-friendly office space is now available at the Markham Vale Environment Centre following an extension of the facility.

With the original building at full occupancy with 12 small businesses, an investment of £975,000 was agreed in February last year to increase the size of the centre.

There are now several additional units for small firms looking to expand and for those already on the site.  The units are suitable for a range of businesses operating in the environmental and low-carbon sectors for uses ranging from office space to manufacturing.

Councillor Anne Western, Derbyshire County Council’s leader and cabinet member for strategic policy, economic development and budget said:

“The centre’s extension takes us a step further towards our goal of bringing 5,000 new jobs to Derbyshire for local people.

“Since its opening in 2006, the centre has been home to many small businesses and received positive feedback from occupants.

“We look forward to welcoming new businesses and seeing existing ones on site expand as Markham Vale continues to grow.”

The Environment Centre is in a prime location for businesses with easy access to the M1 motorway from junction 29A, Chesterfield.

A total of £611,520 for the extension came from the European Regional Development Fund with the remaining £363,480 contributed by Derbyshire County Council.

Businesses that may be interested in the new offices or units can contact the Markham Vale Environment Centre’s manager Trudi Saxton tel: 01246 826000 for more information.

Perrys are pleased to announce the purchase of GK Group Ltd for an undisclosed sum, in a deal brokered by UHY automotive partner, David Kendrick who represented GK Group.

Perrys Group, a Top 20 dealer group in the AM100 and two-time winner of eBay’s Dealer Group of the Year Award, already operate 46 showrooms in 26 locations across the country; with the addition of GK Group bringing that total to 53 dealerships.

“GK Group is one of the oldest Ford dealer groups in the country and has a very strong reputation,” said Kendrick, “We are delighted to have assisted the shareholders with their exit and I have no doubt that the acquisition will add significant value to Perrys group moving forward.”

Faster broadband delivery across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire is receiving a £4.8million boost, thanks to the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

D2N2 has just agreed the sum – £2.63million for Nottinghamshire’s Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire programme and £2.19m for Derbyshire’s Digital Derbyshire scheme – at its latest Infrastructure and Investment Board (IIB) meeting.

Both counties are improving access to fibre optic-based broadband in line with a national push by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) – part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport – which today (August 12) announced its UK rollout had topped more than three million homes and businesses (338,709 of them in the East Midlands).

By 2017 the Government wants 95% all UK businesses and homes to have access to fibre broadband with download speeds faster than 24mbps (megabits per second), greater than the mbps usually available via standard telephone lines.

Digital Derbyshire’s (DD) scheme will also run over five years, from 2013-2018. On completion, it’s hoped that close to 98% of Derbyshire and Derby City premises will have access to faster broadband through the new fibre optic network; including more than 10,000 business premises.

The two programmes are expected to indirectly create hundreds of jobs through the improved communications technology enabling businesses to improve productivity and expand their operations, and the contract work for local firms installing the broadband infrastructure.

In both Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire the county councils are the lead authority for the broadband schemes; backed by D2N2 and other funding partners including BDUK, the European Regional Development Fund, BT and the counties’ district councils.

Jobs creation and productivity outcomes will be monitored during the life of the two counties’ projects.

David Ralph, Chief Executive of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Widening access to faster, fibre optic-based broadband is a core priority for D2N2.

“Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire and Digital Derbyshire represent an opportunity to boost economic growth and create jobs; for all businesses but we see the programmes as of particular benefit to the creative and digital industries we have identified as a key economic sector in our area.”