Brampton Mild from Brampton Brewery, has been named the best beer in the Midlands by judges at the SIBA Independent Beer Awards last night, hosted by the Birmingham CAMRA Beer festival.

The awards, run by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), are unique in that the majority of judges are brewers themselves from independent craft breweries across the UK – making them the ‘brewers’ choice awards’ in the industry.

Guy Sheppard, SIBA Chairman said:-

“I would like to congratulate Brampton Brewery on being judged the best beer in the Midlands in these closely fought independent beer awards. The quality of entries this year was extremely high and judges had a difficult job separating the overall winners from a competitive pack. Those named champions in this year’s awards should be hugely proud of their achievement.”

Chris Radford from Chesterfield Champions, Brampton Brewery, accepted the award at the competition, and had this to say on their win:-

“The fact this award is voted for by our peers, by brewers, makes it very special. We brew beer we love and don’t expect to walk away with prizes, but this one means a lot. It’s brewed with love and with passion.”

Tourism continues to have a positive impact on the Peak District and Derbyshire – generating almost £2 billion in 2015.

New research confirms that it remains a key cornerstone of the area’s economy – still performing well despite the exacting financial climate.

The industry’s economic value increased by three per cent from 2014 to 2015, while the number of full-time equivalent jobs it supported stayed steady at 27,754.

Visitor numbers rose by 2.9 per cent to reach 39.9 million, and spending by both day and staying visitors was up overall by 2.9 per cent, at £1.48 billion.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, the area’s official tourist board, said:-

“Tough economic times mean that competition is growing even fiercer in the tourism market, so it’s good to see that the Peak District and Derbyshire is still holding its own in challenging circumstances.

“We’re particularly pleased that, despite the continuing financial squeeze, visitor spending has gone up, bringing more money into the local and regional economy – good news for businesses across the area.

“We’ll be aiming to build on that with a £1.49 million business support programme, financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which will help to boost their competitiveness and create jobs.

“Working closely with council and business partners, we’ll also be developing the Peak District brand and cycling market, promoting Derbyshire products and supporting market towns over the next three years.”

Around 400 businesses and their supply chains are set to benefit from the ERDF-funded project, which will run until the end of March 2019. Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s partners are Business Peak District, Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, High Peak Borough Council and the Peak District National Park Authority.

Jo added:-

“Looking forward, the latest figures from VisitBritain/VisitEngland indicate that, nationally, the number of both overseas and domestic visitors is up, and they are spending more, so we hope the upward trend will continue to benefit the Peak District and Derbyshire in future.”

Heath Education England (HEE) announced on Tuesday, 11th October 2016 that a partnership between healthcare providers and higher education organisations had been successful in its bid to become a ‘test-site’ for putting the new role of Nursing Associate through its paces.

It means that Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Derbyshire Community Health Services, Derbyshire Healthcare and Derby Teaching Hospitals – working with the University of Derby – will lead the way in implementing the new education programme as part of a national pilot for this pioneering route into a nursing career. In the first instance 36 students will be recruited to the training position across the four organisations.

The education and training programme for the role enables them to work within the nursing team at a level which fits between other healthcare support workers and fully qualified nurses. The focus of the role will be to provide hands-on compassionate patient care.

These first students are part of a national cohort of 1,000, and are expected to start their two-year Nursing Associate programme in December 2016.

Lynn Andrews, Director of Nursing & Patient Care at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust comments:-

“We are delighted to be working in partnership as a national test-site. This is an exciting opportunity to give our people the chance to learn and develop front-line nursing skills ‘on the job’. They will strengthen our ward teams and provide safe, high-quality and person-centred care to our patients, through our proud to CARE values of compassion, dignity and respect. To ‘grow your own staff’ through a comprehensive and on-going education programme is the best way to provide support and development, and helps to retain a valuable workforce.”

Carolyn White, Chief Nurse & Director of Quality from Derbyshire Community Services NHS Foundation Trust agrees:-

“This is a pioneering career path and builds on all the options we currently have available that allow progression from the apprenticeship level upwards. As part of this initial pilot, existing staff with care certificates (including health care assistants) will have the opportunity to work towards a Nursing Associate qualification. We are looking forward to being part of this new role’s development and to shape how it will look in future.”

The Government announced its intention to create this new opportunity to work in nursing in 2015, as part of plans to modernise workforce models across the NHS and ensure that the challenge of recruiting much needed nursing staff could be met. A consultation on the proposals was held by the HEE earlier this year, attracting over 1,000 responses from individuals including patients, members of the public and a wide range of professional bodies, trade unions, health care and social care providers and commissioners of healthcare. All these views and opinions have been factored in to the pilot phase, which will be party to on-going review as training progresses.

Cathy Winfield, Director of Nursing at Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says:-

“All our organisations firmly share the view of Health Education England.

“Nursing Associates will augment, supplement and complement qualified nurses, allowing them to use their specialist training to focus on clinical duties and take more of a lead in decisions about patient care. The Nursing Associate pilot offers another route in to nursing and that can only be a positive for patients and the NHS.”

Carolyn Green, Director of Nursing and Patient Experience at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, says:-

“Any opportunities and investment we have to ensure effective family and patient care are very welcome and I am confident that this pilot will bloom in our region. Educational developments and expanding career pathways, whilst evidencing the impact and the adding value to the NHS are core to this development and I am pleased that we have been successful in our joint partnership.”

Chesterfield students were celebrated at the 2016 DSSA Sports Awards held at at Chesterfield FC’s Proact Stadium this week.

Tupton Hall School Under-13 Girls Football Team were awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in the Secondary School Team of the Year. Whilst sisters Alicia Barrett and Ella Barrett, both athletes and from St Mary’s High School, also enjoyed success being awarded highly commended in the Sportsperson of the Year category after exceptional seasons.

The same honour was also bestowed on the Silver Young Ambassadors from The Outwood Academy, Newbold in the Secondary School Young Leader of the Year section.

The evening was supported by DSSA partners the University of Derby, represented by Vice-Chancellor Kath Mitchell, who said:-

“We feel that the link between us at the university and the DSSA is very important in helping to develop sport across the county.

“What we have seen in the award ceremony is that we have so many people, particularly in their schools, committed to supporting sport. We’re hoping to work together even more closely in the future so we can deliver an even better service to our communities.”

The event opened with a performance from the Tintwistle Primary School Cheerleaders and also included interviews with Alfreton’s Chris Cohen CBE, who talked about his officiating at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Swadlincote swimmer Lewis White, who won a Paralympic bronze medal aged 16.