How do you like your regeneration – steamed or microwaved?

Here, in his latest monthly column reflecting on the news over the past month, our Press and PR Executive Robin Johnson looks at the headlines.

I always think you can tell a lot about a person from the way they like their Christmas pudding cooked.

Last weekend, I bought ours from the supermarket. Yes, I know it’s an early call – but there’s logic behind it.

Picking up the occasional Christmas item during the weekly ‘big shop’ is a great way of spreading the cost, I find.

Anyway, as I was unpacking the shopping I stopped and examined my pudding.

As the chef of the house, my eyes were drawn to the cooking instructions – steam for one hour or microwave in two and half minutes.

It’s a no-brainer, isn’t it? Or is it? There’s something to be said for both.

Some would argue that steamed tastes better, while others might suggest after the stress of cooking Christmas dinner all day, ‘pinging’ the pudding in the microwave is a welcome respite.

Personally, I believe if the ingredients are of a high enough quality, then the outcome will be positive either way.

It’s a metaphor that could well be applied to regeneration and the overall evolution of Derby.

Some elements have zipped along faster than Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve, such as city centre living.

Meanwhile, others have continued to bubble away in the background – for example, the Assembly Rooms.

However, there were signs in November that some of these will soon be coming to the boil.

We saw long-awaited progress on Great British Railways, which will establish its headquarters in Derby.

And on the subject of rail, East Midlands Railway announced that the first train of its brand-new Intercity fleet will finally begin operating Midland Main Line services this month, with more set to follow in 2026.

The future of the former Assembly Rooms is something that has been on people’s lips for several years.

However, in November, a fresh public consultation launched on the latest vision for the site, with a well-attended exhibition taking place at our very own Derby City Lab, in the Market Hall.

Feedback will help inform an outline planning application due to be submitted early next year, so hopefully there’ll be some tangibles in the not-too-distant future.

The consultation period is still open, and I would encourage you all to get involved, share your views and help make this key project the best it can be.

Of course, in November, the Chancellor delivered her Autumn Budget, and it was encouraging to hear those two magic words ‘Team Derby’ reverberate around the House.

In essence, this means the Government is keen to see Derby as a whole feel the full benefit of investments like the aforementioned Great British Railways – and the billions of pounds of defence spending being invested into Rolls-Royce Submarines.

On the subject of Rolls-Royce, another of its Derby-based divisions, civil aerospace, enjoyed a fruitful November, announcing a number of new deals at the Dubai Air Show.

It’s generally accepted that when Rolls-Royce is doing well, Derby does well – so this all bodes well for 2026 and beyond.

Next year, Derby has a very important landmark to celebrate – 50 years of our twinning arrangement with Osnabruck, in Germany. This will be followed in 2027 by another key anniversary – 50 years since Derby became a city.

The city council has announced Derby will be toasting both landmarks – so keep watching this space.

In terms of our own events, the Marketing Derby team is currently busy organising our 2026 calendar.

First up will be the Annual Business Event at Derby Theatre on 4 February.

An important element of this event is the unveiling of the winner of our Rising Star competition, which aims to give entrepreneurs and fledgling businesses a helping hand.

In November we launched the search for our 2026 Rising Star. Entries close a week from now on 12 December, so anyone who wants to enter needs to get a wriggle on.

Derby Theatre turned 50 this year and is one of our oldest venues. Vaillant Live on the other hand, is our newest venue.

And it was with a sense of pride that I tuned into BBC2 last Saturday night to watch live British heavyweight title boxing hosted by the venue, which looked absolutely resplendent.

Vaillant Live has echoes of what the Assembly Rooms once was in its hey-day – but much, much better.

It’s great that it has already attracted top sporting events like this – and long may that continue.

And it is continuing, with a major snooker tournament set to be held there over the festive period.

And superstars from the world of darts will be descending on the venue in 2026.

There is already evidence that the success of schemes like Vaillant Live are fuelling investor confidence in the Becketwell area of the city.

For example, plans have recently gone in to transform nearby Forester House (the former JobCentre Plus offices) into luxury apartments.

Living so close to Vaillant Live must feel like all your Christmases coming at once!

Anyway, that’s enough from me this year. I’m off to buy some brandy butter. What do you mean, you don’t like Christmas pudding?

Have a safe and productive December and if I don’t see you before have a very Merry Christmas and I look forward to catching up with you again in 2026.