The number of people in work in the East Midlands has increased by 13,339 and the number of people out of work has fallen by 9,620 over the past year, according to figures released this morning.

The latest regional employment bulletin from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that between December 2015 and February 2016, there were 2.25 million people in jobs and 106,146 people unemployed across the region.

It means the East Midlands’ employment rate currently stands at 59.9%, while the region’s unemployment rate of 4.5% remains well below the national 5.1% and is the fourth lowest of all UK regions.

In terms of out of work claimants, there was a monthly decrease of 630, to 31,990 across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire between January and February, and there were 6,005 fewer claimants across the three counties than there were in March 2015.

In Chesterfield there were 1,140 out of work claimants in March, a slight increase from the figure reported in February (1,130), however 265 lower than the same month last year (1,405). The current percentage of the population claiming the benefit now stands at 1.7% and is below the national average of 1.9%.

Chris Hobson, Director of Policy at East Midlands Chamber, said: “The local labour market has stabilised following the usual seasonal spike in unemployment as temporary contracts came to an end after the Christmas period and these figures are once again positive and further demonstrate just how robust the East Midlands is when it comes to creating jobs and driving the economy.

“However, we need to be mindful of future uncertainties which may affect business confidence and prompt employers to put their investment recruitment plans on hold until stability returns.

“Changes to apprenticeships funding, the introduction of a National Living Wage and the continued rollout of auto-enrolment mean that employers are also facing increasing up-front costs.

“It’s vital that business policy continues to provide the right support and environment to facilitate job creation, particularly in the production sectors, where the East Midlands’ real strength lies.”

Almost 650 years of service with the NHS has been clocked up by staff at Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

The trust held its first celebratory event last month to recognise colleagues who have been employed by the NHS for 20, 30 and 40 years.

Joyce Allen, Senior II Physiotherapist and Stephen Bacon, Mechanical Team Leader both celebrated four decades of service.

Stephen Bacon has the distinction of being the longest-serving person at Chesterfield Royal Hospital; a title he’s likely to hold for some time.

Eleven members of staff celebrated 30 years and eleven celebrated 20 years.

Stephen Bacon explains: “I actually started at this site in Calow in 1982, two years before it opened, to work on what was then a new build. I joined the trust in 1975 as the first of a set of apprentices, the current head of facilities, Chris Tann was in the final batch.

“I was a mechanical craftsman at the old Royal, working my way up to Mechanical Maintenance Manager and when I got offered the job of Energy Manager I couldn’t turn it down.

“People often ask me what’s kept me here but in truth I’ve been trying to leave for 30 years but great opportunities keep coming up that I couldn’t turn down. But seriously it’s the people and staff who work here, there are some real characters within the Estates team and I’ve had a very good 40 years here.”

The occasion also marked Interim Chief Executive, Tony Campbell’s first public event. Commending employees during celebrations, Tony said: “This event is for you; it’s a token of thanks for all of the effort and commitment you have shown this hospital and all of those who use and work in it for such an extraordinary length of time.

“To be in the company of 650 years of experience is incredible and it’s at times such as those within which we find ourselves that we need you to bring that level of experience to bear.”

Chesterfield Royal Hospital’s first long-service celebration took place on Friday 18th March and was organised by the trust’s Voluntary Services Co-Ordinato,r Helen Kirkwood. The full list of those recognised can be seen below.

Celebrating 20 years of service:-

Janice Kirk – Patient Services Assistant
Claire Metcalfe – Assistant General Manager
Deborah Crofts – Newborn Hearing Screener
Suzanne Yates – Patient Records Clerk
Mary Fry – Patient Services Assistant
Deborah Farr – Adult Audiology Manager
Sarah Crockett – Theatre Storekeeper
Tina McCall – Hearing Screener
Catherine Smith – Senior Physiotherapist
Karen Gibbons – Assistant Practitioner
Vicky Glossop – Support Worker

Celebrating 30 years of service:-

Kirsten Grafton – Microbiology Assistant
Denise Penney – Sister
Sally Burr – Staff Nurse
Sarah Adams – Nurse Practitioner
Michael Boulton – Pathology Van Driver
Patricia Eland – Senior Midwifery Sister
Yvonne Hawkins – Midwife
Wendy Hill – Management Accountant
Nicky Payne – Senior Staff Nurse
Florence Powell – Sister
Philip Raynor – Consultant Anaesthetist

Celebrating 40 years of service:-

Joyce Allen – Senior II Physiotherapist
Stephen Bacon – Mechanical Team Leader

Young people in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire are being offered a boost to their employability skills and being helped onto a fulfilling career path thanks to new funding.

A total of four projects have received a total of £141,000 after successfully bidding from the Careers and Enterprise Fund, which is administered through the Government–backed Careers and Enterprise Company and works to build closer links between schools and employers.

The projects will help schools and students and work alongside the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – the private-sector led group of businesses, local authorities, skills and training providers, community and social groups, which promotes economic growth across the two counties.

The two projects running in Chesterfield include:

 
*IntoUniversity Careers Programmes – This will develop students’ awareness of high quality careers through contact with employers; increasing their knowledge of the career paths and opportunities available to them through contact with employers on Business in FOCUS days, Careers in FOCUS programmes, the Corporate Mentoring scheme, and through internships and work experience. It is aimed at students in the D2N2 area and the Solent, Oxfordshire, Leeds City Region, Coast to Capital, the West of England and London areas.

*Founders4Schools – This nationwide scheme aims to provide teacher training workshops to teachers of Year 9 and 10 students in all schools across the LEP’s area; to help increase the number of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) graduates, to close the skills gap. Workshops will provide materials and deliver training to three teachers per school, on how to get local business leaders to visit the teacher’s classroom as role models to help bring subjects to life.

Ian Greenaway, Employability champion for D2N2’s Skills and Employment Commission, said: “It’s great news that D2N2 area schools will benefit from Careers and Enterprise Company support around careers, enterprise and employability.

“It means young people across the D2N2 area of Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire getting help on developing skills, gaining knowledge and becoming ‘work ready’ at the beginning of their careers. D2N2 and its stakeholders will work with the organisations offering employability training to schools, to provide a joined up solution.”

Mike Hughes, Executive Director at Twenty Twenty, added: “Too many 15 to 18-year-olds in the D2N2 area are struggling to thrive in mainstream education, feel stranded without the qualifications for college or the skills and experience employers require, and don’t know what to do next.

“Our motto is that all young people are resources to be developed not problems to be solved. So we’re really looking forward to working closely with the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, along with the Enterprise Adviser Network, to target support where it’s needed most and make a measurable difference.

Claudia Harris, Chief Executive of the Careers & Enterprise Company, said: “We were delighted to award funding to Think Forward, TwentyTwenty, Into University Careers, and Founders4Schools, as part of our Careers & Enterprise Investment Fund.”

She added: “We believe these outstanding programmes will use our funding to help ensure every young person across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire can transition successfully from education to work.”

The D2N2 LEP is already working with the Careers & Enterprise Company on a £300,000 Enterprise Adviser Network project to match up to 80 schools across its area with a volunteer business advisor in order to champion employability and careers at schools.

For more information about the Careers & Enterprise Company visit www.careersandenterprise.co.uk

To learn more about D2N2’s work on skills see its website at www.d2n2lep.org/skills

Liz Fothergill CBE, Immediate Past President of East Midlands Chamber and Chairman of Derby-based Pennine Healthcare, will be appointment as High Sheriff of Derbyshire today.

Liz started her working life as a librarian but in 1977 found herself between jobs and started helping out in the family company, founded by and named after her father, Ivor Shaw.

The business evolved from engineering, filling stations and car sales and by the end of the 70s was manufacturing a small range of plastic medical disposable products from a new site on Pontefract Street, Derby.

Decades later, Liz still has the manufacturing bug and today the business, now known as Pennine Healthcare, turns over in excess of £30m a year, has 380 employees and produces 250,000 items a day, of which 70% are exported to 70 countries worldwide.

As a keen exporter, Liz is a Catalyst member, a global network of business leaders promoting UK excellence internationally under UK Trade and Investment.

Away from work, Liz gives a lot back to the city and communities of Derby. She is passionate about the positive influence business can have in education and community development.

She was HRH the Prince of Wales’ Ambassador for Business in the Community in the East Midlands from 2012 to 2014. She is Derby City business representative for D2N2 – the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Local Economic Partnership – and a member of Derby Renaissance Board.

Liz was Deputy Chair of the University of Derby from 2003-2013, is Chair of Derwent Stepping Stones (a neighbourhood nursery and training academy). She is a business champion of YMCA Derbyshire and a governor of Landau Forte Moorhead Academy and was formerly Chair of Derbyshire Dales Careline.

She is also Chairman of the Derby Book Festival, which had its very successful first event in 2015 and will stage an even more inclusive and exciting festival in June this year.

Liz said: “I am honoured to have been invited to be High Sheriff for Derbyshire and I hope I will make the most of the opportunity this office presents.

“During my tenure, I would like to really fly the flag for all that is great and good about Derby and Derbyshire, including its businesses, and ensure that the East Midlands remains a flag-bearer for the rest of the UK.”

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “The chamber would like to congratulate Liz on her appointment as High Sheriff for Derbyshire.

“Liz has been the driving force behind Pennine Healthcare, in Derby, and is a very active member of the local community. She is the immediate Past President of the Chamber and remains a very influential member of our Board of Directors.

“I’m sure Liz will take her enthusiasm for business and for Derby and Derbyshire into her new role and we wish her every success.”