Pride Park has been announced as a preferred location for the venue of a 4,000-seater arena capable of hosting concerts and sporting events.

Councillors last night approved plans to build the arena on part of the park-and-ride area. The Conservative cabinet members said the plans would put Derby on the "cultural and sporting map".

The building, which would include a velodrome, would be one of two new sporting hubs in the city, built under the £50 million leisure strategy. The other would be a 50m swimming pool - featuring a "floating floor" – that could be built at Riverlights or the former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary site in London Road.

The major developments are part of £50m proposals to transform the city's sporting facilities. The money is being borrowed by the city council, a move which originally had cross-party support when it was first proposed 18 months ago.

Conservative group leader Harvey Jennings said: "This is much more than just a velodrome.
"It will be a major multi-use arena and the fact a velodrome will be in it is a bonus and it will be only one of four in the country."

Building could start in 2012 to coincide with the Olympics.

This year’s Derby Property & Business Investment Show is being held at Pride Park Stadium on Wednesday 11th May. Delivered by Marketing Derby Bondholder, Business Shows Group, this year’s event includes the exhibition of Derby businesses, the Bondholder Lounge as well as the free seminar.

The Bondholder Lounge has been introduced this year as an opportunity to feature in a designated space in the exhibition. This high profile position within the Pedigree Suite will give Bondholders a base at the event and chance to showcase their activities. Bondholders featuring in the lounge this year are FHP, Birchover Hotel Apartments, The Irongate Group, Essential Marketing Solutions, MX Display and Geldards LLP.

Guests to the seminar will hear from Dave Bullock, CEO Compendium Living - Developer of the £100 million Castleward Urban Village as well as Marc Ward, Group Head of Acquisitions, Gondola Group Ltd.

Entry to the exhibition and seminar is FREE - visit www.businessshowsgroup.co.uk for more information.

Marketing Derby Bondholder, East Midlands Airport, has recently reported its best year ever for cargo in its 45 year history. In 2010, 306,977 tonnes of flown cargo was handled, up 19,203 tonnes on 2009, confirming the status of the airport as the UK’s pure freight hub.

The growth trend has continued into 2011. In February the airport handled 23,116 tonnes of flown cargo with over 1,200 tonnes passing through the airport on a typical weekday night.

East Midlands Airport has a UK market share of nearly 40% of pure freight which is carried in freighter aircraft, as distinct from the so called bellyhold freight that travels beneath the cabin floor of large passenger aircraft from airports such as Heathrow. It’s the main UK hub for express carriers DHL & UPS with daily connections to the USA and Middle/Far East as well as numerous destinations in the UK, Ireland and Europe.

Bill Blanchard, East Midlands Airport Cargo manager said, “East Midlands Airport is a key part of the glue that links together global industry. As the UK comes out of recession, the air freight sector will play an increasingly important role in supporting UK businesses engaged in high value sectors of the economy. Already almost 40% of UK trade with non-EU countries by value is transported by air and East Midlands Airport's prime location, its expertise and enviable reputation will continue to give it a competitive advantage.”

Marketing Derby Bondholder, Rolls-Royce, has announced plans to create a new apprentice academy, doubling the number of trainees it employs each year. The academy, which will be constructed at the Rolls-Royce 'Learning and Career Development Centre' in Derby, will enable the company to recruit up to 200 additional apprentices annually to train for work in its supply chain.

The academy and additional apprenticeship training programme is being developed with £6m of financial support from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Sir John Rose, outgoing chief executive of Rolls-Royce, said: “A highly skilled workforce is essential to high value added manufacturing. This expansion will raise standards in our supply chain and among SMEs who do not have the capacity or experience to develop their own apprentice training.

Meanwhile Rolls-Royce was named Most Popular Graduate Recruiter for Engineering at the TARGETJob Awards, won the Engineering category in The Times newspaper Graduate Recruitment Awards, and maintained a place in their list of Top 100 Graduate employers in the UK.

• Company Name: Uttoxeter Racecourse & Conference Centre
• Web Address: www.uttoxeter-racecourse.co.uk  
• Tel No: 01889 562561
• Email address: info@uttoxeter-racecourse.co.uk
• Location: Uttoxeter
• What do you do/ what is your mission statement? To become the finest sporting and events venue in the Midlands. 
• When did your business start? 1907
• Why have you become a Bondholder?  To promote Uttoxeter Racecourse as the local racecourse and events venue for Derbyshire.  The bondholder scheme will ensure the racecourse gains greater knowledge of the forthcoming developments for the city, allowing the racecourse to become involved at an early stage.
• What do you think of the scheme? It’s a great idea to pull together local companies with a vision to promote Derby and its surrounding area to a regional, national and international audience.
• How do you see business shaping Derby's future? The city itself is growing as a variety of industries choose Derby for its great Midlands location and friendly atmosphere.  In turn, this helps the local economy as the mixture of industries ensures that the city will continue to prosper in all economic climates.
• What are your favourite things about Derby? There is a variety of business and leisure environments all within a small area, ensuring the city has a village feel.  Outside of the city, the great transport links mean that you can reach the rest of the country in a short space of time.