Destination Chesterfield

A number of the town’s business leaders and figureheads started their careers as former apprentices in Chesterfield, including former Chesterfield Borough Council’s Leader Cllr John Burrows, who began his career as an apprentice with the National Coal Board.

Former apprentices in Chesterfield are now making waves nationally, including Marcus Leverton, director of Leverton UK, and the youngest ever person to become a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) in 2014.

Liz Fisher, Head of Tax at Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers last year scooped top honours in a national Chartered Institute of Taxation exam. She beat more than 1000 candidates to gain the highest marks and was awarded the prestigious Ronald Ison Medal and the CCH Prize for the highest distinction mark awarded in the UK.

As a former apprentice himself, David Penk understands the value that apprentices bring to a business and has employed more than 20 since he established Penk Insurance in Chesterfield in 1989.

Abigail Denman started as an apprentice Financial Services Administrator at Rosewood Wealth Management and in 2022 started a new role as Mortgage Administrator at the company.

Eve Bennett is a more recent former apprentice, having completed her Level 2 and Level 3 Mechanical Engineer apprenticeship in 2021. She is currently employed as a Mechanical Engineer at MSE Hiller.