The Derbyshire Brain Game returned to Pride Park Stadium on Thursday 9th October for another memorable evening, raising over £60,000 in support of Marie Curie. Almost 300 guests gathered for the glamorous black-tie quiz night, helping to fund expert care and support for people living with terminal illness and their families.

Now firmly established as a highlight in the region’s charity calendar, The Derbyshire Brain Game continues to blend high-energy entertainment with meaningful fundraising. Held at the home of Derby County Football Club, this year’s event brought together business leaders, community figures, and long-time supporters for an evening of fine dining, fierce competition, and moving testimonies from those impacted by Marie Curie’s vital work.

Matthew Nickson, Marie Curie’s Community Fundraiser for Derbyshire, said:

“The continued generosity and enthusiasm of everyone who attends The Derbyshire Brain Game is truly overwhelming. Every pound raised helps ensure no one faces end of life alone. We are incredibly grateful to all who contribute, especially our sponsors, donors, and volunteers. This year we have raised over £60,000, which will fund approximately 2,640 hours of specialist nursing care. With this year’s total, the event has now raised over £500,000 since its inception in 2012.”

All funds raised go directly to supporting Marie Curie’s range of services, including in-home nursing care, hospices, bereavement counselling, and a free information and support line, all of which provide comfort, dignity, and expert guidance to those navigating the challenges of terminal illness.

Dean Nelson, member of The Derbyshire Brain Game Committee, said:

“I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to our headline sponsors, MasterMover, Work Wallet, and my own firm, PKF Smith Cooper, for their generous support. The continued loyalty of our regular attendees, volunteers, and sponsors is absolutely vital to the success and longevity of this event.

A special thanks must also go to representatives of the Marie Curie Nursing Service and to Coreen Astle, Head of Operations in the Midlands, whose powerful and emotive speech on the night captured the real-life impact of the charity’s work and puts into focus the reason we gather for this event, year on year.

I also want to acknowledge those who helped bring the evening to life, from our auctioneer Steve Salloway, who led a thrilling auction featuring prizes kindly donated by local businesses, to the many organisations who contributed raffle items. Your generosity makes a real difference.”

The committee also recognised the contributions of Adam Buss, who compered the evening with warmth and professionalism, supported behind the scenes by long-standing quiz expert Kirstin Walmsley, who manages the technical delivery of the quiz every year. Appreciation was extended to Co-op for their generous provision of table centrepieces, and to Bowmer and Kirkland for providing all the printed event materials.

The Marie Curie Fundraising Committee for Derbyshire also played a key role in the success of the evening as dedicated ‘Markers’, while Ben Clarkson captured the event through his excellent photography. It was noted that the list of thanks could continue for what seems like an eternity.

While the evening centres around fundraising, the quiz remains highly competitive. After seven tough rounds, Smith Partnership claimed victory and took home the winners’ trophy, a unique design created by Jowita, a talented Derby College student. The trophy, featuring Marie Curie’s iconic branding, was selected as part of an annual student design project led by lecturer Pete Gardner. This collaboration not only highlights the college’s ongoing support but also gives students a valuable opportunity to work on a meaningful, real-world project and of course, the winners take home an actual trophy.

Due to the event’s ongoing success, The Derbyshire Brain Game will return in 2026, with the date already confirmed for Thursday 8th October, once again at Pride Park Stadium. Many tables have already been reserved by returning supporters, and the organising committee is looking forward to welcoming new participants next year.

Each year, the event attracts hundreds of professionals for an unforgettable night of entertainment, connection, and charitable impact. It offers businesses a unique opportunity to engage clients, reward staff, and network, all while supporting a life-changing cause.

The Derbyshire Brain Game is organised entirely by a volunteer committee made up of local business professionals from companies such as PKF Smith Cooper, Work Wallet,  Bowmer and Kirkland, The Red Olive Catering Co., Co-op Group, and Clowes Developments, along with passionate individuals dedicated to supporting Marie Curie’s mission.

For more information about The Derbyshire Brain Game 2026, taking place on Thursday, 8th October 2026 at Pride Park Stadium, please contact the organising team at derbyshirebraingame@gmail.com.

DOGraze in Etwall, Derbyshire has been named as one of the UK’s 100 most inspiring small businesses for 2025 by the Small Business Saturday campaign, as it kicks off its annual call to champion and support the nation’s favourite businesses.

DOGraze, which is the UK’s first dog graze box and barkuterie board business was founded by Francesca Pearson in 2020.

Following a nationwide search, the Derbyshire firm has been selected as part of this year’s SmallBiz100 line-up, which showcases the most innovative and admired small businesses across the nation, as part of the count-down to Small Business Saturday on 6 December.

Running in the UK for over a decade, Small Business Saturday is the UK’s most successful small business campaign, which celebrates small businesses and encourages the public to support and spend with small firms.

Founder and owner Francesca Pearson says, “it’s incredibly exciting to be selected as a SmallBiz100, particularly as DOGraze turns 5 on 15 November! What started as a small idea during the pandemic completely snowballed and took over my life. I’m proud to run a successful small business which keeps so many dogs happy, no matter what the occasion”.

DOGraze will be profiled by the campaign on Friday 14 November as part of the 100-day countdown to Small Business Saturday UK.

“Small businesses are the nation’s favourite businesses – bringing immeasurable value to our local communities and powering the wider economy,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday UK.  

“Firms like DOGraze in this year’s SmallBiz100 represent some of the UK’s most-loved small businesses. It is so important that we encourage public support for small businesses up and down the country, as many are still facing a host of challenges as they enter this critical final stretch of the year.”

Small Business Saturday is a grassroots non-commercial campaign that was originally founded by American Express in the U.S. in 2010, and the brand remains the campaign’s principal supporter in the UK.

 Dan Edelman, General Manager, UK Merchant Services at American Express, said: “Through our long-standing support of Small Business Saturday, American Express is proud to champion the nation’s small businesses. Congratulations to this year’s SmallBiz100, which once again showcases the incredible vibrancy and innovation of small firms and the valuable contribution they make to local communities.”

Over the decade it has been running in the UK Small Business Saturday has engaged millions of people and seen billions of pounds spent with small businesses across the UK on Small Business Saturday, with an impact that lasts all year round.

On Small Business Saturday, customers across the UK go out and support all types of small businesses, from independent shops and restaurants, to small service and b2b businesses like plumbers and accountants. Many small businesses take an active role in promoting the day by hosting events and offering promotions.

Last year, the campaign saw support from the Prime Minister, the Mayor of London, as well as the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Over 90% of local councils also supported the campaign, which trended across social media on the day.

A Derby-based technology specialist has scooped a major national award recognising its innovation, teamwork and customer-first approach to IT.

Barron McCann, working in partnership with Retail Assist, has been named Technology Vendor of the Year at the Retail Technology Innovation Hub (RTIH) Awards – a prestigious celebration of the businesses driving change across the retail and hospitality industries.

The accolade follows the success of a nationwide project with Papa John’s, which transformed IT support for more than 400 stores across the UK. The initiative introduced faster call response times, streamlined maintenance and real-time data tracking – ensuring smoother operations for franchisees and better service for customers.

The award comes hot on the heels of the announcement that Barron McCann is a finalist in the Customer Service Award at the Supply Chain Excellence Awards.

Gary Piper, sales director at Barron McCann, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have been recognised at the RTIH Awards as Technology Vendor of the Year. This win reflects the strength of our expertise and combined service offering with Retail Assist and the dedication of both teams.

“Together, we’ve shown how technology, when done right, can make life easier for retailers and their customers alike.”

Field-engineering expert Barron McCann, based in Derby’s Meteor Centre and helpdesk and managed services provider Retail Assist, of Friar Lane, Nottingham, both belong to the Barron McCann group of companies.

The group employs more than 400 staff and is part of a growing East Midlands tech cluster that’s earning national attention.

Based at Meteor Centre in Derby, Barron McCann delivers end-to-end IT support, systems maintenance and digital transformation projects for some of the UK’s best-known retail and hospitality brands.

Managing Director Scott Watson added: “This award is fantastic recognition for everyone at Barron McCann and Retail Assist.

“We’ve always believed that the best partnerships are built on trust and shared ambition, and this project really brought that to life. Our teams work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep businesses running and this shows their efforts are being recognised at the highest level.”

The RTIH Innovation Awards, held in London, celebrate excellence across 18 categories – from sustainability to digital customer experience.

Judges praised Barron McCann and Retail Assist for delivering measurable impact and for their customer-centric approach to technology delivery.

Barron McCann’s win rounds off a strong year for the firm, which continues to expand its services in retail, leisure and hospitality. The team will find out next month whether they have also taken home the Supplier of the Year title.