News and Reviews

News: Business Training Project Marks Renewed Partnership
March 2009

Rolls-Royce plc and sinfonia ViVA orchestra have forged a new era in their successful 15-year relationship with the announcement of a community project involving some of its Derby-based graduate and apprentice trainees.

The long-standing relationship between the multi-national company and the region's only professional orchestra was officially recognised last year when an arts-based training programme bringing together members of the submarines division with ViVA musicians won both the prestigious regional and national Arts & Business People Development Awards.

The latest project, which marks a further renewal of the partnership for another three years, will see a group of trainees working with ViVA to look at developing a marketing tool for their business training programmes.

ViVA Chief Executive Peter Helps explained: "We are delighted that the relationship between the Orchestra and Rolls-Royce is moving forward with this exciting project. Our work with Rolls-Royce has developed enormously over the past 15 years. In the same way that ViVA provides a different angle to training for Rolls-Royce, the company has helped strengthen our own management skills by sharing business best practice."

He went on to say: "The company's support of our education programmes and residencies has enabled hundreds of young people every year to work with and then perform on stage alongside professional musicians – engaging them and their families with classical music often for the first time. The company has also enabled the Orchestra to strengthen our innovative development programme to become a truly flexible musical resource for the whole region and enhance our position as a national orchestra based in the East Midlands. Our work now ranges from education and community programmes to performances of specially commissioned orchestral work and International tours."

Helen Bishop, Head of Community Relations at Rolls-Royce, continued: "ViVA continues to be one of our flagship arts partners in the community and our partnership work contributes to our business objective to improve the well-being of the communities in which employees live and work. We have worked with the Orchestra since 1995 and have seen our relationship grow from simple sponsorship to a thriving three-way partnership including Derby City Council as much of the activity is a key feature of the city's cultural programme."

She added: "The recent successes in winning both Arts and Business awards last year have provided a boost to the development of our arts based training work. The award winning Project Ocean which brought together members of the submarines division team and ViVA musicians to compose and perform several percussion pieces as part of their creative problem-solving work. We have also involved trainees in projects with the Orchestra on several occasions over the years including 40 first year engineering apprentices creating different videos on their own interpretation of 'power' back in 2006. This latest project takes the proven model of building creativity, team building, communication and leadership skills to the next level. It is therefore a perfect start to the next phase of our creative partnership with ViVA."

Media enquiries: Sarah Jenkin-Jones - Tel: 01332 515102/07951 945 665 sarah@jjpublicrelations.co.uk