People: Octavian Security UK; Enterprise for Education

Emily James

Octavian Security UK, the Nottingham-based security provider, has uneviled a new face on its board.

Emily James steps up as operations director less than two years after joining the company from Bretherton Solicitors, where she spent 27 years. She was previously the business and compliance manager at Octavian.

Reshma Sheikh, managing director of Octavian, said: “Emily joined us during the first lockdown period of the pandemic, and over the last two years has shone brightly. This difficult time for everyone has brought to the fore some truly talented people, and Emily’s promotion to the board is well-deserved. She will be a huge asset, bringing her vast experience and knowledge to the table and I’m looking forward to working closely with her as we look forward to the post-pandemic era.”

James said: “I’m extremely proud of this promotion and would like to thank Reshma and the other directors for the opportunity.  It has been an extremely busy time at Octavian since I joined in March 2020 and the challenges have been great, but the team has shown time and time again that we can bring solutions to our clients.  I am now looking forward to using these experiences as we look to grow in 2022 and beyond.”

A careers initiative which has helped thousands of secondary school pupils across Derby has welcomed a new chair.

Louise Pigden

Enterprise for Education (E4E) has appointed Louise Pigden, deputy dean of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Derby, to the role. She replaces Mike Copestake, who has been involved with the Derby City Council-backed scheme since it was launched in 2014.

E4E was created in a bid to link employers with secondary schools and students in the city. The public-private sector organisation offers mock interviews, CV workshops and mentoring, with employees from organisations in Derby – including Rolls-Royce, Alstrom, Toyota and the University – all volunteering their time.

Pigden said: “I have some big boots to fill; Mike has done a brilliant job for the past eight years and he was the person who suggested I join the board at E4E because of my background in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.)

“I have a keen interest in outreach work and do a lot of that for the University. The core mission of E4E has always been to inspire the school children of Derby to achieve great things, open their eyes to opportunities, and to do this by introducing them to fantastic volunteers from Derby’s employers.

“And, as a volunteer, I have witnessed first-hand how impactful it can be; it is a joy to talk to young people about their aspirations, to positively influence them, give them ideas or a little bit of practice by taking part in mock interviews or CV Workshops.

“I’m looking forward to taking on this position, which aligns to the University’s wider civic agenda, helping to transform people’s lives and creative positive impact.”

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