Author: Donna Hill

New Leaf Derby, a specialist counselling and therapy service, has relocated to Kings Chambers.

Founded by Hazel Green, a BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited therapist, New Leaf Derby offers compassionate, client-focused counselling services in a safe and supportive environment.

Hazel and her team specialise in a range of therapeutic modalities, including Compassion Focused Therapy, which incorporates Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Attachment Theory, and Polyvagal Theory.

Hazel is also a qualified trauma therapist, trained in delivering trauma-sensitive interventions. Over the past eight years, she has worked extensively with clients dealing with childhood trauma, domestic abuse, and complex grief. She has also served as a Specialist Palliative Care and Bereavement Counsellor for NHS Derby.

The move to Kings Chambers offers New Leaf Derby a platform to expand its services. In addition to individual counselling, the practice now provides clinical supervision for qualified and trainee counsellors, along with access to meeting rooms for group work and training sessions, which provides a supportive environment for professional growth.

Previously based at The Wendy Centre on Wilson Street in the city, New Leaf Derby’s new location in the heart of the city brings significant benefits, including improved accessibility via public transport, ample parking, and modern amenities.

Commenting on making a new home at Kings Chambers, Hazel Green said:

“I am thrilled to join the Kings Chambers community. Not only does the space foster a professional and calming atmosphere for therapy, it also offers improved amenities which will enable us to better serve our clients and make therapy more accessible to people in the Derby area.

“The move to Kings Chambers has been incredibly smooth, thanks to the supportive and responsive Connect Derby staff. I feel safe and secure in this new space, and I’m excited about the opportunities this move brings for New Leaf Derby and our clients.”

Sonia Kang, operations manager at Connect Derby, added:

“We are delighted to welcome New Leaf Derby to our thriving community at Kings Chambers. Hazel’s dedication to mental health aligns with our mission of creating an environment where local businesses can flourish. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of her work on our city.”

A number of offices are currently available at Kings Chambers and can accommodate a range of businesses.

For further information, contact Sonia Kang on 01332 742700 or email [email protected].

Connect Derby has celebrated ten years of inspiring creativity and growth in the city.

With the help of Derby City Council, our pioneering managed workspace initiative was launched in 2014 to support businesses in the region, following the success of our flagship building at Friar Gate Studios, which was launched in 2006 to serve Derby’s creative industries.

The three-storey new build at Sadler Bridge Studios opened its doors in 2014. Kings Chambers reopened in June 2014, followed by Riverside Chambers in September 2014 and the historic Shot Tower in March 2015, all following multi-million pound refurbishment programmes.

The iconic former Rolls-Royce building Marble Hall on Nightingale Road in Osmaston joined the Connect Derby portfolio in 2016, following a £4m refurbishment and was officially opened later that year by HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO.

This was followed by the £12.8m iHub innovation centre on Infinity Park in September 2016, which went on to be named best commercial project at the RICS awards 2017 East Midlands.

Over the past decade, Connect Derby has been home to some of the region’s biggest business success stories, many of whom has outgrown its facilities and set up new bases across the city.

We have continued to evolve to meet the changing needs of businesses, with the introduction of new and flexible ways of working, including conventional offices, studios, hot-desking facilities, and virtual tenancies.

A range of flexible working packages have been introduced to give businesses the flexibility to choose how and where they work. These include hybrid offices, furnished offices and pay as you go options.

This has enabled new and existing tenants to tailor their workspace to meet their specific needs and attracted large numbers of businesses back into the city centre.

Speaking about the success of Connect Derby, Cllr Kathy Kozlowski, Cabinet Member for Governance and Finance said:

“I would like to congratulate the Connect Derby team on this key milestone. They have helped a wide range of businesses grow and succeed. By offering flexible and affordable workspaces, Connect Derby supports both new and established businesses to stay resilient and adapt to change.

“We’re very proud of the impact Connect Derby has had – not just in driving growth, but in building a lively, connected business community in the heart of Derby.”

Sonia Kang, operations manager at Connect Derby added:

“Ten years on and Connect Derby continues to provide exactly the kind of diverse, high quality, workspace that is in high demand in Derby.

“One of the reasons for Connect Derby’s success is its ability to attract businesses from a diverse range of sectors – from professional services to IT, digital and creative industries. This mix of industries fosters a dynamic environment where ideas can flourish, and partnerships can thrive.

“Connect Derby remains a hub of innovation, and we will continue to innovate as we help businesses face the new challenges presented by the evolving nature of the world of work.”

Hot-desking services, furnished offices and virtual office services are also available.

For further information, contact Sonia Kang on 01332 742700 or email [email protected].

Independent financial planning experts, Midland Wealth Solutions, have relocated to new offices at Sadler Bridge Studios.

Midland Wealth Solutions was founded in 2016 by David Bradley and has expanded to become a trusted name in the financial services sector in the Midlands, London, and the South East.

The company provides independent advice to individuals, families, and businesses across a range of areas primarily focusing on lifestyle financial planning which often leads to advice on investments, savings, pensions, tax planning, and financial protection.

David and his team previously occupied a shared office space on St Mary’s Gate in the city and their relocation was driven by the need for a more professional environment that would support the firm’s expansion and cater for its growing client base.

They checked out a number of managed workspaces across the city, but Sadler Bridge Studios came out on top, thanks to its central location, close to shops and car parking, and its high specification office space and complementary facilities, including meeting rooms and in-house café, RASK.

Commenting on joining Sadler Bridge Studios, David Bradley, director of Midland Wealth Solutions, said:

“We’d been on the lookout for a new office in Derby city centre for a while to support our expanding client base.

“We considered several locations, but Sadler Bridge Studios stood out due to its central location and facilities, especially the in-house café, meeting rooms and super-fast broadband.

“The facilities available here are already making a huge difference. The dedicated meeting rooms are perfect for client presentations, and the reception services and post handling are efficient and professional.

“We put our clients at the heart of everything we do and our new offices at Sadler Bridge Studios enable us to do that.”

Sonia Kang, lettings manager at Connect Derby, added:

“We’re delighted to welcome Midland Wealth Solutions to the Connect Derby community. Sadler Bridge Studios’ location is proving increasingly popular with businesses looking for a flexible working environment.

“David and his team have joined a thriving business community that combines traditional creatives with other businesses in creative industries supply chain.

“Midland Wealth Solutions is an exciting business and we’re confident our facilities and services will help them grow and develop.”

A number of offices are currently available at Sadler Gate Studios, which can accommodate anything from a sole trader to larger expanding companies.

For further information, contact Sonia Kang on 01332 742700 or email [email protected].

Free Office Desks And Chairs For New Tenants At Marble Hall And Sadler Bridge Studios

Are you looking for a new workspace that inspires creativity and productivity?

Check out this spooktacular Halloween offer from Connect Derby!

This Halloween, we’re treating all new tenants at Sadler Bridge Studios and Marble Hall to FREE office desks and chairs – no tricks!

Whether you’re a freelancer or a growing business, It’s the perfect chance to join our vibrant community and settle into a workspace designed to foster innovation and collaboration.

Don’t miss this fang-tastic offer to move into a creative, inspiring environment.

Call 01332 258300, email [email protected] or visit www.connectderby.co.uk.

Hurry, this deal vanishes on 30/11/24. Terms and conditions apply.

Our team are also getting into the Halloween spirit – check out some of our staff in their spooky costumes around the office!

We’re excited to share the results of our 2024 business community survey, which reveals increased customer satisfaction across all areas of our operations.

The annual survey measures the levels of service we provide across all areas of our operation – from the quality of our workspaces and IT services to security and operational communication.

There was a 93% response rate from office tenants surveyed across our six diverse buildings in the Connect Derby portfolio – Friar Gate Studios, Kings Chambers, Sadler Bridge Studios, Marble Hall, Riverside Chambers and Shot Tower.

A massive 99% of respondents said operational communications from the Connect Derby teammet or exceeded their expectations.

97% of tenants said that we provide a clean, safe and secure space to work in which meets or exceeds their expectations – an increase of 14% from last year’s results.

96% of tenants reported that Connect Derby meets or exceeds their expectations in the support they provide, with the same number saying the managed workspace provider met and exceeded their overall expectations.

Additionally, 91% noted that our IT and telephony services and support met or surpassed their expectations.

Overall, 97% of tenants said they would recommend Connect Derby to other businesses looking for managed workspace in the city, an impressive 12% rise from the 2023 figures.

These statistics highlight the continuous improvement of our services and facilities, as well as the increasing levels of customer satisfaction.

Over the past 12 months, our team has continued to innovate, with the introduction of a number of new, flexible ways of working. This includes hybrid offices which allow businesses to occupy a permanent office space for up to three days a week, along with Pay As You Go offices and Daily Desk passes, which provide independent workers with the environment, tools and support they need to work at their innovative and productive best.

Speaking on the results of the 2024 annual client survey, Manjit Modare, Operations Manager at Connect Derby, said:

“We are thrilled to have received such overwhelmingly positive feedback from our tenants and would like to thank them for being honest in their assessment of our services.

“The fact that 97% of respondents would recommend us to others is really gratifying and reflects the hard work the Connect Derby team has put in over the past 12 months to provide tenants with the highest possible levels of service.

“Our tenants remain at the heart of everything we do, so we will continue to work with our suppliers and internal council services to make improvements where necessary.”

For further information on our services, locations and facilities, contact operations manager Sonia Kang on 01332 742700 or email [email protected].

Turbocharge your productivity throughout the month of May with a FREE Daily Desk pass at Connect Derby!

A Daily Desk pass is the perfect solution for your business if you love the flexibility of where and when you work. Daily Desk passes are cost effective and hassle free and include everything you need to dive straight into your work.

You can access our vibrant hot-desking area, which is designed to inspire creativity and collaboration. Plus, you get all the same benefits as Connect Derby tenants, including FREE high-speed Wi-Fi!

Introductory offer: Get one FREE Daily Desk pass at Friar Gate Studios or Sadler Bridge Studios during May (normally £15 per day). 

Whether you’re a freelancer, entrepreneur, or remote worker, our Daily Desk passes offer the ultimate flexibility.

Offer valid until 31 May 2024. Ts and Cs apply.

Get your FREE Daily Desk pass now! To find out more and to book, visit:

https://www.connectderby.co.uk/services/hot-desking-spaces/.

Today marks International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the social, economic, and cultural achievements of women.

It is a day to recognise the progress made towards gender equality and to highlight the ongoing work that still needs to be done.

In honour of this day, we are thrilled to showcase the incredible work carried out by our predominantly female team.

The 16 strong Connect Derby team are a skilled and experienced, predominantly female group comprising of operations managers, business development managers, customer service assistants and accountants.

Their principal aim is to ensure Connect Derby delivers the highest possible levels of service to tenants across its six managed workspaces and the wider business community in the city who use its additional services, including meeting and conference facilities.

Connect Derby’s female management team succeed in navigating the difficult task of delivering a commercial model to the private sector within the confines of public sector government and decision-making – a task that undoubtedly presents a number of challenges.

This requires a delicate balance of business expertise, strategic thinking, and adaptability throughout the team.

The Connect Derby team demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities and a strategic vision in driving success in a complex environment. They successfully balance the needs of both public and private sectors while fostering collaboration across the team and serve as an inspiration to all women in the workplace.

The team recently demonstrated outstanding leadership in their role supporting Rolls-Royce, the University of Derby and Nuclear AMRC to bring the exciting new Nuclear Skills Academy to the iHub innovation centre on Infinity Park.

The new Academy will ensure new apprentices have access to the best courses and mentors throughout their apprenticeship. It is anticipated that the NSA will train 200 apprentices each year for 10 years, creating a dedicated pipeline of young talent for this fast-growing sector.

The team worked closely with Rolls-Royce, the University of Derby and Nuclear AMRC to provide a home for the Nuclear Skills Academy and worked creatively to find alternative fit-for-purpose locations to rehouse the existing iHub businesses.

The management team at Connect Derby exemplify the spirit of International Women’s Day, demonstrating determination and resilience in all situations. 

They are an excellent example of female leadership in the workplace, delivering a commercial model to the private sector within the confines of public sector governance and decision making.

Looking for a new retail unit in the heart of Derby’s Cathedral Quarter?

A prominent retail space spanning 61.2 sq m/659 sq. ft has just become available at 37 – 38 Queen Street, Derby, DE1 3DS.

Located in a prominent position on the corner of Queen Street and Cathedral Road in the heart of the bustling Cathedral Quarter area of Derby city centre, this retail unit offers an exceptional opportunity for businesses looking to establish themselves in a vibrant and high-traffic location.

It is just a stone’s throw from Sadler Gate, the Market Place and the lively Iron Gate area with its range of restaurants and bars and just a 10-minute walk from the Derbion shopping centre and the Bus Station.

The property comprises a ground floor retail unit with a commanding corner position and return frontage, accompanied by associated ancillary accommodation.

Ground Floor sales: 61.2 Sq M/659 Sq Ft

Ground Floor Ancillary: 26.4 Sq M/28 Sq Ft

Seeking offers in the region of £15,000pa by way of a new five-year lease, directly from the landlord, Derby City Council, with a mutual three months’ written option to break upon notice at any time.

The current classification of the shop is A1 – general retail. Other potential uses will be considered subject to further discussion with Derby City Council and may require planning permission for a change of use.

For more information or to express interest, call Annabel Froggatt on 01332 643343 or via email [email protected].