Issue 2 of the newsletter High peak Business Connect is now out, designed to update you on work that is taking place in the Borough to assist business growth.

There are articles on: Growing your business with the help of a personal business mentor; Historic Building Grants; New grant schemes for High Peak businesses; Leader Local Development Strategy 2008 - 2013; Environmental business support; High Peak Employment Land Review; Creativity in the Peak District.

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From art to architecture, music to marketing, the creative industries sector is growing at a healthy rate across all counties in the East Midlands, according to a recent report by BOP Consulting. Over the period surveyed (2001-2005), Derbyshire demonstrated the greatest growth in the region with the number of creative businesses increasing by 35.5%, compared to 19% for the East Midlands as a whole. Employment figures rose 17.5% compared to 8%.

The study found that in 2005, the creative industries accounted for 8.3% of all businesses in the East Midlands, a similar figure to the national average. A separate nationwide report also recently reported the creative sector contributes £60 billion a year – 7.3% - to the UK economy, and that over the past decade, the creative sector has grown at twice the rate of the economy as a whole.

In the East Midlands, the number of creative industries businesses and jobs grew by a greater degree in rural areas than in urban areas. The greatest growth was experienced in the visual arts and design sub sector of the creative industries, followed by the audio-visual sector, the books and press sector, and the performance sector.

Source: www.creativegreenhouse.org.uk

MentoringforAll East Midlands is designed to help business owners access the knowledge and expertise of another business leader to develop their own skills and competencies. Using a business mentor can help you focus on your longer term development needs, unlock creativity to solve problems, make you aware of support and resources, and provide you with increased motivation.

Mentors are drawn from an extensive pool of experienced business leaders and matched according to your needs. The programme is designed around a plan of 10 mentoring sessions over a 12 month period at times and locations to suit you.

The mentoring sessions can be used to discuss any issue relating to the management or operation of your business – what is discussed is up to you. The mentor acts as a sounding board, offering an experienced point of view.

The initiative is open to all businesses in the East Midlands that have been trading for around one year and that employ no more than 250 people. For businesses that have been trading for less than 12 months, support is available through Business Link’s Mentoring Scheme for Start up Businesses.

The cost of the programme is heavily subsidised and will cost businesses just £250 (plus VAT).

For further information visit www.mentoringeastmidlands.co.uk or telephone 0115 970 5550.

Source: High Peak Business Connect

First Impression, the Glossop based marketing and printing company have produced an informative and easy to use guide to help people starting out in business. To receive a copy of the guide, which provides sources of information and useful web links, contact First Impression on 01457 857111 or download it from www.firstimpression.co.uk.

To support innovation, workforce development and business growth, the Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership (DDEP) has launched the Enterprise Development Fund to support small and medium sized businesses.

Chief Executive of DDEP, Kevin Edwards, explains the purpose of the scheme; “The fund is designed to provide funding for ICT, workforce development, business growth and innovation, so that businesses in Derbyshire, particularly in rural areas, can compete on an equal footing with the rest of the East Midlands and the whole of the UK”.

ICT - Grants are available to assist businesses with the purchase of ICT equipment; to invest in technology to enable staff to work from home or be mobile workers; and to develop effective e-commerce solutions allowing businesses to trade online. The ICT grants are designed to help businesses to become more effective, and encourage skilled workers to stay in rural areas as well as helping businesses to develop new areas of trade.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT - Funding is available for expanding businesses to help develop their workforces through courses and training programmes. This training should also help develop the business, for example through new practices and processes. Support is available for both existing businesses and those moving into the area. This strand complements the Train to Gain initiative.

BUSINESS INNOVATION - Grants are available towards new equipment that will allow businesses to diversify through the introduction of new products or develop new ways of working. Funding is also available towards the use of external consultants within specific sectors to allow businesses introduce lean manufacturing methods and to make the supply chain more efficient and profitable.

The Enterprise Development Fund is managed on behalf of DDEP by Business Link East Midlands. For further information telephone 0845 058 6644 or visit www.businesslinkeastmidlands.co.uk

Source: High Peak Business Connect

Derbyshire firms are being asked to put forward issues they want raised by a delegation from the region when it meets a Government organisation which encourages exporting.

Representatives of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber's international trade forum will form part of a delegation to go to the House of Commons next month to meet the chief executive of UK Trade and Investment, Andrew Cahn.

Head of the chamber's international trade team David Hood said: "Among the issues we'll be raising will be the reduced financial support to help exporters, how documentation can be authenticated and the thorny issue of VAT exemption - many companies have to carry a heavy financial burden while they claim back their VAT."

Source: This Is Derbyshire

A New report shows that Derbyshire has "the strongest creative industries business growth" in the East Midlands.

From art to architecture, music to marketing, the creative industries sector is growing at a healthy rate, according to a recent report by BOP Consulting.

Over the period surveyed, from 2001 to 2005, Derbyshire demonstrated the greatest growth in the region with the number of creative businesses increasing by 35.5 per cent, compared with 19 per cent for the East Midlands as a whole.

The number of creative business in Derbyshire went up from 2,200 to 3,000.

Source: This Is Derbyshire

Nine Derbyshire businesses have been accepted for a new scheme aimed at boosting the success of high-growth companies in the East Midlands.

The £3.7m HighGrowth East Midlands scheme, launched by East Midlands Development Agency, is designed to offer world-class advice and coaching with the aim of increasing the profitability of businesses.

One of the companies that has been accepted onto the programme is Derwent Water Systems, of Somercotes, which manufactures water treatment equipment.

Managing director Chris Watkins said: "We have already grown by 85% in the last three years and we have a plan to continue at a slightly more modest rate but aiming for growth of 75 per cent from where we are now. This programme is very relevant to us."

Other companies in Derbyshire chosen are The Spiderlift Company, of Chesterfield; Clean Estates, of Ashbourne; Critical Skills (UK), of Chesterfield; Greenbank Group, in Swadlincote; Pentagon Development Services, of Derby; Railway Electrical Services, at Ilkeston and Transvac Systems, of Alfreton.

Source: This Is Derbyshire

Small businesses in Derbyshire have been awarded a share of £9000 as part of a grant scheme to boost the county's creative economy. Artists, designers and a photographer are among the successful companies to receive the money from the Derbyshire Arts Partnership, supported by the county council.

Councillor Bob Janes, cabinet member for cultural services, said: "These grants provide a much-needed boost to small creative companies to enable them to expand and develop by funding vital marketing activity that they might not otherwise be able to afford."

Grants of up to £500 are available for a wide range of marketing including new publicity material, advertising and website development.

The successful companies include: Woodturning at Christmas Cottage, Youlgreave; Interior Visuals, Whaley Bridge; Claire Elsworth, Whaley Bridge; Peak District Products, High Peak; Sandra Orme, Harpur Hill.

Source: Buxton Advertiser

A website and leaflets giving advice about recreational use of the countryside by 4x4s and trail bikes have been launched by the Peak District National Park Authority.

The website gives information for motorists and residents about the authority's role in protecting the countryside from illegal 'off-roading', while managing legal access for motor vehicles to unsurfaced countryside routes that are classified as roads.

Trail bike riders and 4x4 drivers can log on the website at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/vehicles to find out the routes they should avoid using.