Bondholders collaborate to help make positive impact on city

Vibrant Accountancy is collaborating with Down To Earth Derby to help make a positive impact on the city.

The community-interest company behind the Electric Daisy community garden and event space, which currently occupies the former Prince’s supermarket site, in Bold Lane, was chosen by Vibrant as winners of its Community Growth programme.

The firm opened up entries for the programme earlier this year, offering to mentor and support companies, charities and non-profit organisations making a positive impact in Derby.

Down To Earth Derby, which has links with Cornwall’s Eden Project, is committed to sustainable and community-focused urban regeneration.

It aims to transform city spaces to enhance community well-being and environmental health through a range of activities such as educational programmes, events and promoting close interaction with nature.

Bev Wakefield, founder of Vibrant Accountancy, said: “We will be supporting Down To Earth with tailored business support that includes strategic planning sessions, cash flow forecasting, mentoring and regular profit and cash flow improvement meetings.

“For us, Down To Earth tick so many boxes. They are a sustainable organisation at the heart of the community, and we feel that, with the support that we are giving them at Vibrant Accountancy, they will be able to put their visionary plans into action.

“Like us, Down To Earth are disruptors and we are looking forward to working with them as they continue their excellent work in Derby city.”

Jamie Quince-Starkey, from Down To Earth Derby, said: “Our aim is to make Derby one of the top 10 ‘green’ cities in the UK through various projects and programmes.

“Derby has all the pieces of the jigsaw in place, our role as an independent catalyst is to pull all the different stakeholder pieces together.

“Everyone has a place at the table, and we want to bring all the right people in the city together, supporting local businesses with nature-based projects.”

Co-founder Ross Nicholson said: “We can’t look up and scale Down To Earth without having the backing of trusted partners.

“Vibrant can help with that. They share our vision and values and having them onboard frees up our time to join up the dots and push on with what we want to do.”