Former corporate lawyer installed as new High Sheriff for Derbyshire
A former corporate lawyer has been installed as the new High Sheriff for Derbyshire.
Mike Copestake was recently installed during a ceremony at All Saints Church in Turnditch.
Copestake, who spent 26 years with solicitors Freeths, says he wants to help charities that work with young people and support ex-offenders into work following their release from prison.
He also says he intend to help raise career aspirations of primary school pupils.
He said: “When I was vice-chairman of inward investment agency Marketing Derby, we would visit Cannes for the annual MIPIM; a major international property investment show. Most people thought it was a jolly but one of my proudest moments was when the Financial Times voted Derby – little old Derby – as having the best investment strategy in the world, ahead of Hong Kong and New York.
“But while this was an incredible honour, one of the biggest weaknesses in our city and in certain parts of the county is social mobility and a distinct lack of aspiration.
“The Enterprise for Education (E4E) scheme which was launched in 2014 by Derby City Council and of which I was chair until recently, does a brilliant job in helping inspire secondary school pupils with its mock interviews, career talks, mock interviews and CV writing, led by manager Arshad Iqbal.
“However, through the E4E journey we came to realise that career aspirations start at primary school. The success of the London Challenge – a school improvement programme that went a long way in raising standards in the poorest areas in our capital – highlighted this and, starting with a visit to Cherry Tree Primary School in Chaddesden this month, I intend to visit as many primary schools as possible to hopefully inspire others.”
Copestake hopes to visit 100 schools during his year as High Sheriff, where he will tell of a childhood ambition to become a firefighter and introduce youngsters to inspirational people from Derby and Derbyshire; people including Olympic gold medallist Hollie Webb – a former Turnditch Primary School pupil who also worked for HMRC – and ex-Alvaston Moor pupil Clive Lawrence, who grew up in a single-parent household and was awarded an OBE earlier this year for his services to education.
He has plans to become more involved with charities such as Safe and Sound, Enthusiasm and YMCA Derbyshire, who all work with young people, and the police youth engagement team.
Copestake is also encouraging children and young people to enter the High Sheriff’s National Crimebeat Award for the most innovative and successful crime prevention projects carried out by young people.
Finalists will be invited to attend the National Crimebeat Awards Ceremony in London.
Another passion for Copestake is helping to transform the fortunes of others and following visits to Sudbury Prison in Ashbourne, he was inspired to help bridge the gap between ex-offenders leaving prison and finding employment.
