200 young people supported by Careers Made in Chesterfield
Chesterfield is investing in the future of its workforce through the continued success of the Careers Made in Chesterfield (CMiC) programme, a key part of the borough’s Skills Action Plan.
Funded by Chesterfield Borough Council and delivered by Direct Education Business Partnership (DEBP), this year’s initiative has engaged over 200 young people through hands-on workshops and real-world work experience.
Now in its second year, CMiC is helping to build a stronger local talent pipeline by connecting students with employers across Chesterfield’s key growth sectors. The programme has delivered 20 work experience placements and reached 214 students through interactive, sector-themed workshops.
“CMiC introduces students to a broad range of career opportunities within Chesterfield’s key growth sectors,” said Paula Symonds, Projects Manager at DEBP. “In year one, we focused on Property and Construction. Now in year two, we’ve expanded to include Health, Science and Social Care, and Engineering and Manufacturing.
Workshops were delivered at Parkside Community School, Springwell Community College, and Whittington Green School. Students worked in teams to tackle a simulated flooding emergency, designing flood prevention measures and planning a temporary hospital. The challenge encouraged them to explore transferable skills and career pathways across multiple sectors.
A student from Whittington Green School shared: “The best part was working with friends to create something that may help in the future.”
Students also took part in employer site visits, gaining valuable insight into local industries:
- Springwell students visited Triton Construction at Staveley Canal Basin.
- Chesterfield Youth Hub customers toured United Cast Bar and Thomas Bow City Asphalt, with one participant securing an apprenticeship.
- Ashgate Croft students visited Stepnell at Spire Lodge and Thomas Bow City Asphalt at Chesterfield Market Place.
“The students thought their visit was interesting, learning about Thomas Bow’s company history and seeing the builders in action,” said Vicky Bridge, Gateway 1 Teacher at Ashgate Croft School. “They go to Chesterfield town centre every week, so it was great to see the progress on the market renovation.”
Fifteen local employers have supported CMiC this year, including: EcoTech Engineers Ltd, Environment Agency, Fortem, Frank Shaw Associates, Jackson Civil Engineering, Met Office, MSE Hiller, O’Brien Construction Ltd, Rodgers Leask Limited Consulting Engineers, Stepnell, Thomas Bow City Asphalt, Tim Jones Consulting, Triton Construction, and United Cast Bar.
Support has also come from Chesterfield College, Nottingham Trent University, and the University of Derby.
Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, said: “The Careers Made in Chesterfield programme has had another successful year. The interactive workshops and work experience opportunities are an excellent way of young people gaining knowledge about local businesses and provide inspiration in terms of future career paths that could be followed.
“By working with employers, we can ensure that skills provision in the borough meets their future needs. I look forward to seeing how this programme continues to progress and hearing from young people about how it has helped them.”
Careers Made in Chesterfield is a vital part of Chesterfield’s long-term vision to ensure local people have the skills needed to thrive in the borough’s evolving economy. Businesses play a crucial role in this mission.
Employers interested in supporting the next generation – whether through site visits, mentoring, or work experience – are encouraged to get in touch with DEBP at enquiries@debp.org.
If you are a business and would like to receive regular email updates on initiatives to support careers guidance and advice, you can sign up here.
DEBP, Ecotech Engineers, Forem, Frank Shaw Associates, MSE Hiller, Rodgers Leask, Stepnall, United Cast Bar, Chesterfield College and the University of Derby support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 230 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
