MEMBERNEWS IN BRIEF
RDS Global students celebrate graduation
East Midlands-based IT company and Chamber patron RDS Global is celebrating the graduation of its Technology Employer Academy students, who joined the company in a 17-week placement to enhance their studies and gain invaluable experience. Alfie, Yusuf, Qasim, Dylan and
Brandon have all successfully received their certificates of completion and will now resume their studies at Derby College, but with the added experience that allows them to focus on specific areas they may wish to pursue in their future career paths. RDS Global’s Director Phil
Harvey said: “The students that come and work with us are already engaged in a core study programme in IT, but that only covers a fraction of what the industry is all about. “Our aim is to help students
truly understand the workings of the industry, not just from a practical standpoint, but from the customer and the employer perspective also. That’s why we get the students heavily involved in all areas, from technical implementation and setup, right through to marketing and customer service. “We’re extremely proud of the
hard work and commitment put in by our academy students. They have demonstrated tremendous aptitude. Everybody at RDS wishes them all the best in their future endeavours.”
Hinckley & Rugby to build on years of growth
Hinckley & Rugby Building Society added more than £50m to its mortgage book in 2018, driven by new advances and high levels of borrower retention. The eight per cent rise to
£672m in the society’s latest financial year brought growth in the past three years to more than 40%. Chief Executive Colin Fyfe said:
“We started 2019 on the very firm foundations left by my predecessor Chris White and look forward to a year of further growth. We’re continuing to invest in our people, our premises and our proposition – the products and services we offer to our current and future members. ‘We will grow our staff again in
2019 and enhance their skills as we strive to be an ever more attractive employer. “Forging partnerships will be a
key theme of 2019 and beyond. Developing what we offer and
how we provide it will evolve significantly as we work with fintech service pioneers.”
12 business network March 2019
University of Derby climbs Stonewall Equality Index
The University of Derby has risen almost 200 places in the Stonewall UK Workplace Equality Index, the LGBT organisation has confirmed; climbing 189 places to 131st in the 2019 index. The index assesses employers’ achievements and
progress on the delivery of LGBT+ equality in the workplace. The improvement in the University of Derby’s position has been welcomed by its Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Dr Jo Bishton. Dr Bishton said: “It is wonderful to see that what
we have done to make the University of Derby a more inclusive place to work and study has been recognised by such a large rise in this hugely important index. The role of the LGBT+ Staff Network at the university has been instrumental to our success. “We aim to create an environment which
is open, diverse and safe, and respects the rights and dignity of all people. The university is working with more LGBT+ agencies to provide placements for our students.” Over the past 12 months, the university
has hosted the Derbyshire LGBT+ Network conference, where the network’s role models booklet was launched. It will again host the conference in 2019.
‘We aim to create an environment which is open, diverse and safe, and respects the rights and dignity of all people’
Kathryn Mitchell Office expansion ignites a spark
Digital marketing and web design firm Frogspark is celebrating a bumper 12 months after opening an office in Nottingham. The firm, headquartered in
Derby, posted a 37% increase in revenue last year – something director Rob Twells puts down to expanding the firm’s offering in the East Midlands. He said: “We are very well
established in Derby having built up the business there over the past five years, but we’d had an eye on Nottingham for a while as a location for a new office as we believed there was potential for growth by expanding across the East Midlands. “Our client base had already
started growing in Nottingham and we were getting quite a few enquiries from clients in and around the city, so we knew there was an appetite for a business like us in the market and decided to take the plunge and commit to the new space in Hockley.
University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kathryn
Mitchell, and the Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean of the College of Health and Social Care, Dr Paula Holt, are both allies for the Derbyshire LGBT+ Network, alongside Derbyshire Chief Constable Peter Goodman, Chief Fire Officer Terry McDermott, the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Hardyal Dhindsa, among others from health and local authorities. Members of the university’s LGBT+ Staff Network, chaired by senior lecturer Sarah Barley-McMullen, celebrated the contribution of the LGBT+ community by representing the university at the Pride event in Derby. Staff induction processes and training increase LGBT+ awareness, while the university has flown the flags of LGBT+ communities at its campuses to mark IDAHOTB Day
(International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia). Dr Bishton added: “One of
the most pleasing developments is the support that hundreds of our staff are showing for LGBT+ equality every day by wearing the University of Derby’s rainbow lanyard for their identity passes. We are also working with our Union of Students to ensure we have one voice on LGBT+ issues.”
The Frogspark team “It felt the right time and I’m
delighted we did; the results really speak for themselves.” Frogspark works with clients
based across Nottinghamshire as well as a number throughout Derbyshire and further afield. The firm offers a range of digital
marketing and web design and development solutions.
Rob added: “The business has
grown year-on-year since we set it up five years ago, and we are always looking for new ways to grow and provide the very best service we can to our clients. Our new base in Nottingham has played an important part in that strategy and we are excited to see what the future holds.”
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