Here, in his latest column reflecting on the news over the past month, our Press and PR Executive Robin Johnson looks at the headlines.<\/p>\n
We all have our favourite brands whether it\u2019s baked beans, cornflakes or aero engines (that last one\u2019s an odd one but stick with it!).<\/p>\n
For example, my favourite drink is tea \u2013 but I will only ever drink one brand.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not going to tell you the name of it because I don\u2019t want to be accused of giving them free advertising (unless they want to send me a year\u2019s supply).<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s just say it\u2019s named after a county that borders Derbyshire!<\/p>\n
Then there\u2019s my wife. She refuses to eat any baked beans other than the ones that come in a turquoise tin and have the marketing slogan \u201957 varieties\u2019.<\/p>\n
Some brands have a comforting familiarity about them. We may have grown up with them \u2013 or maybe we just like them because they are, in our eyes, the best.<\/p>\n
So, why am I talking about brands? This week, we reported a story in which the Intellectual Property Office surveyed the British public on what they thought was the UK\u2019s most iconic trade mark.<\/p>\n
So, who came top? Yes, that\u2019s right, Rolls-Royce<\/a>.<\/p>\n For generations, Rolls-Royce has embodied quality \u2013 the best of the best.<\/p>\n It is even something that has crept into our everyday language. If I say, \u201cThat\u2019s a Rolls-Royce cup of tea,\u201d you know it\u2019s pretty good.<\/p>\n Rolls-Royce topping that survey it is something I believe Derby folk should feel pretty pleased about.<\/p>\n Why? Because they have played \u2013 and are continuing to play \u2013 an integral role in ensuring Rolls-Royce continues to set the benchmark.<\/p>\n Today, the engineering giant continues to go from strength to strength on a number of fronts, the latest is securing a deal that paves the way for it to produce the UK\u2019s first \u2018mini\u2019 nuclear power stations.<\/p>\n As you might have gathered by now \u2013 and expect from someone born in Derby \u2013 Rolls-Royce is one of my favourite brands.<\/p>\n I\u2019m not the best flyer. Every time I\u2019m forced to fly, I\u2019m always looking to see whether the aircraft has that familiar blue logo on the side of its engines.<\/p>\n When it does, I relax. As I say, brands can be comforting. They can also open doors.<\/p>\n Sometimes, you come across people who have no idea about Derby (shame on them) \u2013 but you soon get their attention when you mention it is home to Rolls-Royce.<\/p>\n I\u2019m sure the ears of one or two American investors pricked up when Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves was in Washington DC last month, extolling the virtues of Derby and the East Midlands.<\/p>\n