The latest Innovate Magazine is on the ball!

On the back of a summer of football, Marketing Derby’s latest edition of Innovate Magazine delves into the world of grassroots football.

For our cover story we meet up with Liam Rooney, chief executive of Derbyshire FA, who explains why football is about far more than the game itself – and why its greatest victories are measured not in trophies, but in stronger communities.

Derbyshire FA is one of England’s 50 County Football Associations, responsible for supporting more than 360 affiliated clubs and around 2,000 teams across the county.

Liam talks about the key role football plays in bringing people together, creating community cohesion.

Community is at the heart of Ryan Duckett’s mission after being appointed as the independent chair of the Pride in Place, Chaddesden West Board.

The board has been set up to drive forward £20 million of community-led improvements as part of the Government’s Pride in Place Strategy.

In his interview, Ryan, who is chief executive of Derbyshire County Cricket Club – an organisation with a strong connection with the Chaddesden West Area – talks about his role, helping to guide this ten-year initiative to improve lives in one of Derby’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

A firm that has embedded itself in the Derby community is Canadian company Ergo Advantage.

The company, which manufactures modular ergonomic flooring designed primarily for workplaces, decided to establish its UK operation in Derby – with Karen Clark chosen to lead its expansion.

As well as her place of work Karen has made Derby home after swapping Ontario for an apartment in the city centre.

She gives Innovate a fascinating insight into her new life and why Derby is a ‘home from home’.

In this edition, we also go behind the scenes at strategic marketing agency Purpose Media – a company which over the last 18 years has evolved with the industry.

We find out how the business has adapted to client demands – and why producing a new brochure, website or a promotional is not the end of the story – it is the beginning.

Innovate discovers how the Purpose approach delves deeper – helping clients get the most out of their handiwork, resulting in new customers and a healthier bottom line.

In business, reputation is everything – and it is something that really matters to Steve O’Brien, the managing director of S O’Brien Heating Solutions.

In his interview, Steve tells us how he has built a business based on trust.

After years working for others, Steve decided to go it alone – and has enjoyed incredible success ever since thanks to its core values of respect, honesty, relationships and family.

And in this edition, we meet Dan Holford, head of national markets at SEGRO plc, talking about SmartParc SEGRO Derby – a £300 million development, situated on a 155-acre regenerated brownfield site, focused on food manufacturing and distribution.

The site is already home to giants such as HelloFresh and Greggs – and this summer, catering giant Compass Group UK & Ireland announced plans to open a 107,639 sq ft ‘Cuisine Centre’ at the site, producing more than 70 million meals a year for schools, hospitals and workplaces across the UK.

In his interview, Dan explains the premise behind SmartParc SEGRO Derby and how it can make food production more sustainable – and improve food security.

This edition’s Talking Business Live is a very special one.

Marketing Derby is in its 20th year – and for this discussion we brought together representatives from organisations who have been Bondholders since our inception, to talk about what two decades of partnership have delivered – and how it will shape the future.

Finally, Robin Johnson, Marketing Derby’s press and PR executive, discusses the importance of strengthening the connection between people and place in Derby, through concerted public realm interventions.

To read a digital version of the latest Innovate Magazine, click here.