The East Midlands Chamber host the Business Awards every year to celebrate the success and achievements of local business and on the 2nd of August they hosted the finalists event. This event, hosted in The Museum of Making, was well arranged as always and came with great news for us! We are excited to announce that we (Devtank Ltd) are finalists in three categories! Firstly we have Apprentice of the year with our Manufacturing Apprentice Cameron Browne. The next two are both for OpenSmartMonitor, Excellence of Innovation and Environmental Impact. To reach this stage means a lot as there are many other great businesses who were nominated for these awards. We thank the East Midlands Chamber for everything they do for businesses in the midlands and wish all the finalists the best of luck!
Hosting this event in The Museum of Making was very fitting as the museum displays an array of engineering works from many Derbyshire businesses over many years, such as; A Toyota car which has been cleverly suspended in the entrance with it’s components exploded in pieces, many parts of Derbysyhire’s railway history, and a Rolls Royce aircraft engine! Formerly known as Derby Silk Mill, The Museum of Making is steeped in history and makes for a perfect day out within the city center. The history of the building starts in 1700’s when the original structure was built as a water powered silk mill, which is why it can be found next to the River Derwent. The building we see today however was constructed between 1717 and 1721 and was named ‘Lombe’s Mill’ after it’s creator Thomas Lombe. This was England’s first silk throwing factory and quite possibly the world’s first machine factory. During the height of its day, it saw over 300 employees working there. Given the era it wouldn’t have been the best working conditions!
Amanda Solloway appeared at the business awards wearing a giant QR code! This was to promote the Great British Railway competition which is being held to find their new headquarters. With Derby having such a wealth of history involving industrial revolution and railways, we believe it’s the perfect place for the headquarters. Derby’s history of railway goes back to the 1830’s to which we had the biggest railway and station in the country.