Skills and people in Chesterfield: Building futures, celebrating success
Explore how Chesterfield is investing in skills and people, from award-winning training hubs and apprenticeship success to inspiring events connecting young people with industry.
Construction Skills Hub highly commended at East Midlands Property Awards
Chesterfield’s Construction Skills Hub has been highly commended in the Regeneration and Restoration Project of the Year category at Insider Media’s East Midlands Property Awards 2025, recognising its innovative approach to tackling the construction industry’s skills shortage.
Located on a live construction site in Mastin Moor, the Hub provides hands-on training in groundworks, brickwork, and joinery. It is delivered through a partnership between Chesterfield Borough Council, Chesterfield College, the University of Derby, and the Devonshire Group, and is funded by the Staveley Town Deal.
Over the next decade, the Hub aims to support more than 5,000 learners, offering trade-based qualifications and expanding into degree-level apprenticeships in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, and Civil Engineering.
Future plans also include training in retrofit and green technologies, ensuring learners gain future-ready skills aligned with industry needs.
Mitchells celebrates apprenticeship success at Chesterfield College AAT Awards
Mitchells Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers celebrated a proud moment at the first annual AAT Awards hosted by Chesterfield College, recognising the achievements of their talented apprentices.
Two Mitchells apprentices received top honours:
- Jordon Langley – Level 4 Apprentice of the Year
- Aiden Siddall – Level 2 Apprentice of the Year
Mitchells also received the award for Services to the Development of Apprenticeships, highlighting the firm’s long-standing commitment to nurturing future talent in the accounting profession.
“Their hard work, commitment, and excellent progress are truly inspiring,” said Andrew McDaid, Partner at Mitchells. “This recognition reflects our belief in the power of apprenticeships to build careers and strengthen our profession.”
Discover more about how apprentices can support your business
Made in Chesterfield launch inspires future talent and innovation
The Made in Chesterfield festival was officially launched at an event at Chesterfield College on 8 October 2025, celebrating the town’s manufacturing and engineering sector and its impact on young people.
Since 2014, the initiative has supported over 4,000 young people, connecting them with real-world experiences in advanced manufacturing, engineering, and construction. Organised by Destination Chesterfield and Direct Education Business Partnership (DEBP) and sponsored by Chesterfield College, the festival continues to build a strong pipeline of future talent.
New for 2025 was the Innovation Challenge, introduced to mark National Manufacturing Day, where students teamed up with local manufacturers to solve real-world problems.
The event also showcased Chesterfield College’s new Advanced Manufacturing and Life Sciences Centre, and the college launched a new partnership framework to strengthen employer engagement in education.
DEBP introduced the Employer Standards Framework, a tool to help businesses deliver consistent and meaningful experiences for young people. Learn more at Debp.org/portfolio/employer-standards.
In Chesterfield, there is a commitment to developing talent, fostering innovation, and building strong partnerships between education and industry.
From apprenticeships and award-winning training hubs to inspiring events, Chesterfield continues to invest in its people, shaping a future where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Discover more about developing skills in your business and supporting careers initiatives at https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/business-support/skills/
