HEROtsc today launched its new operations centre on Pride Park only weeks after announcing its intention to invest in the city.

The company will initially bring over 800 new jobs into Derby which will act as a centre for direct contact with Sky customers on both service and sales related enquiries.

At the opening HEROtsc Chief Executive David Turner revealed that a key factor in choosing Derby was a belief that there was a ‘vibrant and talented’ labour market available in the area.

David Turner also thanked "Derby City Council, Marketing Derby and especially Sky without whom this investment would have not happened."

Over 2,500 applications for employment have been received and 200 people have already been appointed with some commencing the HEROtsc Management University programme. 

Operations at the centre started in late January with over 1,000 calls being taken on the first day and the current phase of recruitment will be complete by July.

The investment is the city’s largest since the arrival of Toyota in 1989 and was seen as an essential part of Derby’s strategy to replace the jobs lost with the sale of Egg last year.

Plans are being drawn up by Marketing Derby Bondholder the University of Derby, to create a new £9 million sports development to serve both students and the community.

The scheme will include a sports hall and a football and tennis arena, overlooked by a two-storey pavilion. It will be built at the Kedleston Road campus.

Vice-Chancellor Professor John Coyne said, "We want to show everyone that the university is really going places. There is every intention of opening up the complex to the community and particularly people living in the surrounding area in Allestree.”

The sports development is the latest in a series of major projects by the University, which include acquiring Derby Theatre and opening a business arm called University of Derby Corporate in Bridge Street.

The University also announced last week it had invested seven-figure sum into buying Lonsdale House, and with the property being nearby its Enterprise Centre and Banks Mill Studios, Ian Willgoose, Director of Estates for the University of Derby said Lonsdale House is a “good fit” for the University.

"We are finalising our plans for the building's uses but it is well suited to a number of our activities, including the opportunity to expand the commercial work we already do with local companies or increase the range of spaces we provide for start-up businesses looking to rent at reasonable rates."

Fellow Marketing Derby Bondholders Salloway, Raybould & Sons and Innes England help secure the deal.

Marketing Derby Bondholder Denby Pottery, have announced plans to expand their visitor centre creating up to 600 jobs.

The current retail and tourist facilities on the site will be increased, with plans for an 80-bedroom hotel, a "village inn" and an outdoor activity centre also included.

Norman Bull, Ward Councillor for Amber Valley welcomed the plans for the extended visitors centre.

"I have known about the plans for the Denby centre for some time now and I am pleased they have been submitted to the council for consideration. We have many tourist attractions in the Amber Valley and another will only improve on the number of visitors each year.”

Denby Pottery has been based on the site since 1809. As well as making their own range of cookware, Denby took over Stoke-on-Trent-based pottery firm Burgess, Dorling and Leigh Limited in July 2010 and after reviving it, the company is doing well and wants to expand.

In last week's Sunday Times, Derby was listed as being the 7th happiest city in the UK.

The report by online property portal Rightmove collected 25,000 responses to their questionnaire which probed people's contentment from their home's safety, value and size, as well as the friendliness of their neighbours and the quality of local amenities.

The unhappiest parts of the UK included Harrow, and the North and West sides of London.

In other "happy" news for Derby, the skate park situated on Bass Recreation Ground has been given a one-off award for its importance to young people in the city.

The accolade was presented as part of the Derby Civic Society's annual George Larkin Awards Ceremony held last week, in which the skate park was acknowledged for making Derby a "brighter city".

Other awards were given to recognise outstanding restorations in the city. That included the work of architects MMA Design who restored the frontage of the one of the world's oldest department stores, Bennetts on Iron Gate.

Marketing Derby Bondholders QUAD and Derby City Council have come together to create Derby Soap Opera, and they need you!

This is your chance to be part of one of the world's largest and most ambitious film projects, directed by the internationall renowned artist Marinella Senatore.

As well as needing help on set during filming, local resident's stories, opinions and thoughts will become the script. Artists, actors and photographers are also needed too.

To get involved with the project, Marinella will talk about her work at the QUAD next Tuesday. Following on, pop-up workshops will take place around Derby in February and March to expand the project further.

•Company Name: The Conference Works
•Web Address: www.theconferenceworks.co.uk
•Tel No: 01332 865441
•Email address: sales@theconferenceworks.co.uk
•Location: Derby
•What do you do/ what is your mission statement? The conference and events professionals
•When did your business start? 2006
•Why have you become a Bondholder?  To get involved
•What do you think of the scheme? Very good
•How do you see business shaping Derby's future? Its getting better