It’s Good News Friday as we celebrate a double-header of fantastic news from the North West!

Ulster University Magee’s Graduate Medical School opened its doors this week to its first class of 70 students from across the region. The first cohort to enter the graduate medical school is made up of students with a wide range of related and non-scientific backgrounds from politics to investment banking, management consultancy, and even a previous lecturer in Irish at Magee.

After years of campaigning for city partners, it is excellent to see the opening of this School. The expansion of Magee is a key economic priority for the North West, and the School of Medicine plays a big part in this. Speaking on BBC Radio Foyle earlier this week, Chamber President Dawn McLaughlin said the School would be “transformational” and a significant economic driver to our region.

Alongside this exciting news, In Your Space Circus (IYSC) has announced that its flagship circus, arts and music festival, Carnival of Colours, is returning to Derry City Centre for the 14th edition of its feature event!

Taking place next weekend, the Carnival of Colours features a jam-packed programme of the very best international street theatre, workshops in circus and rollerskating, graffiti art demos, music across the city and much more. The headline shows will include acrobatics, juggling, diabolo, comedy, and physical theatre, showcasing the best of the North West’s incredibly talented local artists.

The event ties in with the Cathedral Quarter weekend, with IYSC’s walkabout characters entertaining those roaming the streets around St Columbs Cathedral. Lots of other activity will be taking place across the city including “Sounds of the City”, a music and performance trail featuring the best local musicians, programmed by Music Capital.

The Festival attracts people of all ages from right across the North West, and we are delighted to see it return this year. It is supported by Tourism NI, Derry City and Strabane District Council, and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. For the full Carnival of Colours programme, visit: LINK

As the Summer draws to a close, we’d like to congratulate Chamber members on what has been a very successful trading period for all of us across the North West. With the High Street Voucher Scheme set to rollout on 12 September, we look forward to an even more successful Autumn!