Why Derby’s success is built on the strength of our education institutions

Here’s a question for you – can you remember the first record you ever bought?

I can. It was Pink Floyd’s ‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)’. Well, when I say I bought it, that’s not true.

I asked my mum to buy it for me because it was 1979 and I was just coming up to my fifth birthday at the time.

I’d seen the video for the song (which would go on to be that year’s Christmas number one) on Top of the Pops and my young brain had been snared by its catchy guitar hook and the ‘We don’t need no education’ refrain.

My plan was to have it played at the primary school Christmas disco – and watch the look on the teachers’ faces when it reached the lyric ‘Hey, teacher! Leave those kids alone!”.

I went through with said plan – and I remember the teachers smirking at my mischievousness.

Ultimately, the ruse backfired as my teachers had the temerity to get up and dance to the song.

As I grew up, I learned the track was in fact a protest against corporal punishment (something which did not take place at my primary school, I hasten to add).

And despite what the song says, of course, we all need education – which finally brings me on to the headlines for August, which was a great month for our education institutions.

Derby College Group, Derby High School and Repton School all celebrated stellar A Level results for their students.

They then followed this up with an equally impressive set of GCSE results.

And there was further reason to celebrate at Derby College Group after it was selected to become a Construction Technical Excellence College (CTEC).

Becoming a CTEC means that the college has been recognised by the Department for Education as a national leader in delivering high-quality, industry-relevant construction training.

This status brings additional investment, collaboration opportunities and influence in shaping the future of skills provision.

Meanwhile, over the other side of the city, the University of Derby received the keys to its stunning £75 million Cavendish Building, which will be the new home of the Derby International Business School.

Going back to Derby College Group, its Roundhouse campus is housed in what is believed to be the world’s first surviving railway roundhouse, built in 1839 by Robert Stephenson for the North Midland Railway.

Derby’s connection with the rail industry runs deep – which was spectacularly demonstrated at The Greatest Gathering, which was held over three days at Alstom’s historic Litchurch Lane Works.

More than 40,000 people from far and wide came to ‘let off some steam’ and marvel at the 100-plus exhibits at what was the largest rail festival of its kind in the world.

I know people are still talking about how great the event was even now.

Congratulations to the Alstom team – and all of its partners – for putting on such a great show, the legacy of which is still being felt.

As well as the main event, a number of satellite events took place, including at Derby Museums’ Museum of Making.

The museum is currently exhibiting a forgotten piece of art, which was discovered at Litchurch Lane during preparations for The Greatest Gathering.

If you’re into your trains, it’s well worth a look.

Now, August is traditionally a time that business writers like me dread as the major news stories tend to dry up as everyone takes a well-deserved break.

However, here at Marketing Derby, we’ve continued to be as busy as ever.

For example, in August, we announced the finalists for this year’s Marketing Derby Food and Drink Awards.

I think you’ll agree we have a really great mix of nominees this year – congratulations and the best of luck to all of them.

We also published the third edition of ‘Engage’ – Derby City Lab’s very own newspaper.

Yes, while seven-inch vinyl records may now be a thing of the past, newspapers still do exist!

Engage contains all the latest news about the lab, which has so far received an incredible response since opening in the revamped Derby Market Hall.

Thousands of people have already flocked through its doors – and I’d invite you to do the same and pick up your free copy of Engage while you’re there.

The aim of Derby City Lab is to inform and engage the public in Derby’s exciting regeneration story.

New chapters in this story seem to be written almost every month – the latest being Derbion’s announcement that a new skateboarding facility and padel centre will be created on the former Eagle Market site.

Both will be a welcome addition – although as a child of the 70s, I fear my skateboarding days may be well behind me. I have a bad back – that’s my excuse, what’s yours?

Another key chapter that is currently being written – and at some pace – is the transformation of Friar Gate Goods Yard.

Even older than my record collection, this eyesore of a site had stood empty since 1967 (the year Pink Floyd released their first album!).

Since Wavensmere Homes moved in, progress to breathe new life into the site has been rapid, with more than £20 million invested already.

New houses are starting to rise out of the ground at the site – and pretty soon another piece of Derby’s regeneration jigsaw will be complete.

Or should that be another brick in the wall?

Anyway, have a safe and productive September and I look forward to catching up with you again soon.