Author: CrushDesign

Wanted – judges for Chesterfield’s brand new Food and Drink Awards

Wanted – Two fabulous foodies to join the judging panel of Chesterfield’s inaugural Food and Drink Awards.

If food and Chesterfield are your passion, then this could be the job for you. The town’s marketing campaign, Destination Chesterfield, is in search of two people to join its panel of judges and search out its finest eateries and locally-produced food.

The town’s very own Food and Drink Awards launch later this year and are designed to uncover our gourmet gems. The judges will be required to visit the nominated food outlets and rate them according to a set criterion.

Destination Chesterfield Manager Dominic Stevens commented: “Whether it’s a sandwich, a takeaway or a three course gourmet meal,Chesterfield’s food outlets offer something to suit all tastes – literally – and we want to find and recognise the best. To do this, we need a strong judging panel so we’re reaching out to all food lovers and inviting them to join us.”

As well as tasting the food, judges will be getting out and about and sampling the service, ambiance, cleanliness, etc. of the entrants.

If you want to get involved and put yourself forward as a judge, you need to tell Destination Chesterfield, in less than 200 words, why you are Chesterfield’s best foodie.  To enter visitwww.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards or send your entry by post to:

Food and Drink Awards Competition,

Destination Chesterfield

Chesterfield Commerce Centre

CanalWharf

Chesterfield

S41 7NA

The closing date for entries is Monday 22nd July 2013.

The awards ceremony, which will be held in autumn, promises to be a glittering affair. If any businesses are interested in becoming a sponsor of the new awards contact Dominic Stevens on 01246 207207 or emaildom.stevens@chesterfield.co.uk.

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield

More great job news for Chesterfield

Henry Boot Developments Ltd, has joined forces with Euro Garages Ltd to table plans for a petrol filling station and Starbucks Drive Thru Coffee Shop at Markham Vale off M1 junction 29A near Chesterfield.

The filling station will include a convenience store, Subway sandwich bar, public toilets and a cash machine while the Starbucks will have 65 indoor seats and 10 outside for customers not wishing to use the drive-through facility.

The 1.5 acre site will have 53 parking spaces of which three will be for disabled motorists. The site will be landscaped with 10 trees and substantial shrub planting.

The filling station and convenience store will create 22 jobs while the Subway and Starbucks will create 15 and 26 jobs respectively. Of the 63 total jobs, 37 will be full time.

All operations will be open 24 hours a day.

Councillor Joan Dixon, Derbyshire County Council, Cabinet Member for Jobs, the Economy and Transport, said:

This latest investment in Markham Vale underlines again the value of having a bespoke site in the middle of England that’s served by its own motorway junction and has excellent transport links.

“The new development comes just days after Ready Egg Products Ltd submitted plans to move to the site, and brings to 323 the number of new jobs secured for the local economy by Markham Vale in the last eight months.”

Ready Egg Products Ltd wants to build its new manufacturing plant at Markham Vale in a move that will create 50 jobs over two years.

Ready Egg is a key player in the egg processing industry and supplies both UK and Irish food manufacturing markets.

The firm sees the European Union as a growing market but transport costs to and from its current location put it at a commercial disadvantage.

The Euro Garages and Ready Egg applications will both be determined by Chesterfield Borough Council.

Last month (April) saw the opening of a £905,000 stretch of road linking the A632 at Long Duckmanton with the M1. The link road unlocks a further 40 acres of land for development.

Markham Vale has been granted Enterprise Zone status by the Government, meaning firms moving to some areas of the site can apply for Enhanced Capital Allowances − offering tax relief for major investment in plant and machinery.

Source:Derbyshire County Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

Skills and innovation to be focus of June date of Chesterfield’s Manufacturing and Engineering Forum

Members of Chesterfield and North Derbyshire’s manufacturing business community, that wish to develop the skills of their workforce will hear first-hand how the new AMRC Training Centre, which opens this autumn, can help them do just that.

Graeme Ashcroft, the recently appointed director of the new centre, will be the keynote speaker at the Chesterfield Manufacturing and Engineering Forum, which is taking place on Wednesday 5th June at Calabria on Glumangate in the town centre from 8.00am – 9.30am.

Alongside Graeme Ashcroft, speakers at the event will also include Paul Stuart from Chesterfield Borough Council’s Innovation Support Programme and representatives from Sheffield City Region City Deal and its ‘Skills made Easy’ programme.

Organised by the town’s marketing campaign, Destination Chesterfield, The forum is chaired by United Cast Bar Managing Director and Chesterfield Champion James Brand.

He said: “Engineering and manufacturing is thriving in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, however it is not often talked about. The forum is an opportunity for firms in these industries from across the area to get together and share our success and access the information and advice to grow and prosper further.”

The June event will focus on skills and training and is being supported by NatWest as well as United Cast Bar.

The event is free to attend for Manufacturing and Engineering Businesses in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire; however places are limited and are on a strictly first-come, first-served basis. To reserve a place, email dom.stevens@chesterfield.co.uk.

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in Business

Markham Vale jobs boost for Chesterfield

A Northern Ireland-based company is to move to our flagship employment site bringing the number of new jobs created to 260 in the last eight months.

Ready Egg Products Ltd has selected Markham Vale off M1 junction 29A near Chesterfield to locate its new manufacturing facility which will create 50 new jobs over two years.

Ready Egg is a key player in the egg processing industry and supplies both UK and Irish food manufacturing markets.

The firm sees the European Union as a growing market but transport costs to and from its current location puts it at a commercial disadvantage.

Derbyshire County Council’s Joan Dixon, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Economy and Transport, said:

“More and more companies are making Markham Vale their home because of its location in the centre of England and excellent transport links afforded by its purpose-built junction 29A just off the M1.”

Ready Egg’s vote of confidence in Markham Vale follows last autumn’s decision by car parts distributor Andrew Page to base its new national distribution centre there in a move that is expected to create 120 jobs.

And fast food restaurant McDonald’s created 90 jobs when it opened a drive-through restaurant on the site last September.

There was more good news for Markham Vale last month (April) with the opening of a £905,000 stretch of road linking the A632 at Long Duckmanton with the M1. The link road unlocks a further 40 acres of land for development.

Ready Egg Products plans to build a 34,700 sq. ft. warehouse on nearly three acres of land. A planning application for the development will be made by Henry Boot Developments Ltd which is managing and marketing the site for us.

The application will be determined by Chesterfield Borough Council.

Markham Vale has been granted Enterprise Zone status by the Government, meaning firms moving to some areas of the site can apply for Enhanced Capital Allowances − offering tax relief for major investment in plant and machinery.

Councillor Dixon added:

“This announcement by Ready Egg Products further underlines Markham Vale’s importance to the local economy as a catalyst for inward investment and job creation.”

Source:Derbyshire County Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

Chesterfield wins a national tourism award

Chesterfield has been voted Coach Friendly Town or City of the Year at the annual Coach Tourism Awards.

The national awards scheme – organised by trade magazine Coach Monthly, and hosted by television presenter and travel and tourism expert, Judith Chalmers – recognises excellence and innovation across the coach tourism industry and includes tourist destinations and attractions.

The award follows Chesterfield also being awarded coach friendly status by the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK in February.

Chesterfield Borough Council provides reserved parking for coaches, town centre guides for visitors as well as proper rest facilities for drivers.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s executive member for leisure, culture and tourism, received the award in front of more than 450 tourism industry professionals.

She said: “With its rich heritage, Chesterfield has long been a destination for tourists from across the UK and the world.

“This award, and the recent coach friendly status from the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK, consolidates the tremendous work carried out by our staff to provide good facilities for coach parties and make the town clean and attractive for both residents and visitors.”

For more details about coach parties, call into the Visitor Information Centre in Rykneld Square or call 01246 345777.

Stuart Render, editor of Coach Monthly, added: “The Coach Tourism Awards is the only national awards scheme to focus specifically on the coach tourism community.

“Delivering a quality welcome to coaches, their drivers and their groups is becoming more and more important as destinations or attractions look to encourage more visitors and customers.

“Chesterfield was up against many of the UK’s leading destinations and visitor attractions so this is therefore a well-deserved and a significant achievement.

“Our winners are at the forefront in delivering excellence across all sectors of the industry, helping to raise the quality of customer service and quality across coach operators, destinations, visitor attractions and tourism industry suppliers.”

For details of all the winners and finalists go to www.coachtourism-awards.com

 

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield

Chesterfield’s manufacturing and engineering companies invited to exclusive event at AMRC

Destination Chesterfield, the town’s marketing campaign, is offering Chesterfield and North Derbyshire’s manufacturing and engineering businesses the opportunity to become involved with The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, a world-class centre for advanced machining and materials research for high-value manufacturing sectors.

Information on how to get involved, as well the latest funding and training opportunities across the region, will be presented by the campaign’s Manufacturing and Engineering Forum, which is holding its next event at the AMRC with Boeing in Catcliffe,Rotherham.

Only 15 places are available at the free event, which is being held on Thursday 2nd May at 9.30am and includes a tour of the world-class facility.

James Brand, Chair of the Manufacturing and Engineering Forum and also managing director of Chesterfieldmanufacturing company United Cast Bar, said: “The region’s manufacturing and engineering sector is an important part of Chesterfield’s heritage. Like any industry, we cannot afford to be complacent and we must be at the forefront of developments within it. The Forum gives companies a platform to share best practice as well as develop partnerships with industry-leading organisations, like AMRC, which will help ensure our presence remains inChesterfield for many more years to come.”

The Forum was established in 2011, to represent the views of the manufacturing and engineering sector inChesterfieldto ensure it is being represented withinChesterfield, SCR and D2n2LEP.

The AMRC was established in 2001 as a £15 million collaboration between theUniversityofSheffieldand aerospace giant Boeing, with support from Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund.

The AMRC now forms the core of the University of Sheffield AMRC group, along with the Nuclear AMRC, which is applying the same collaborative research model to the civil nuclear manufacturing supply chain; Namtec, which provides training and consultancy to the UK metals manufacturing supply chain; the Knowledge Transfer Centre, which opened in early 2012 to help us engage businesses along the manufacturing supply chain; and the new AMRC Training Centre, which will provide advanced apprenticeship and higher training from autumn 2013.

To reserve a place email dom.stevens@chesterfield.co.uk

For further information about Destination Chesterfield, or to become a Chesterfield Champion, visit www.chesterfield.co.uk.

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in Destination Chesterfield

Businesses called on to support Town’s marketing campaign beyond 2015

Destination Chesterfield has called on businesses to take a more active role in supporting the Town’s marketing campaign as well as have a greater say in how it is promoted.

The appeal was made at the Celebrate Chesterfield event held at the Proact Stadium on Thursday 28th March, where more than 200 members of Chesterfield’s business community gathered to celebrate the success of the marketing campaign. At the event, Destination Chesterfield announced a number of future marketing initiatives showcasing the town’s retail, food and drink and manufacturing sectors as well as support for new businesses.

Chesterfield Champion Vittorio Risorto, owner of Calabria restaurant on Glumangate, welcomed the marketing initiatives for the town’s food and drink sector. He said: “Chesterfield’s restaurant culture is steadily growing, with an increasing range of places to eat as well as some excellent local breweries and bars. They play a critical role in the local economy. I welcome any marketing initiatives that will promote our food and drink sector, both within the town and further afield.”

Since Destination Chesterfield launched in September 2010 against the backdrop of a cool financial climate, the town has shown growth across the board and bucked the national trend for declining high streets.

Cllr John Burrows, Vice Chair of Destination Chesterfield, praised the town’s go-getting attitude to marketing itself in a tough financial climate, saying: “We could have chosen to bunker down and ride out the recession, but we didn’t. We chose to be proactive and forge ahead with our marketing plans and this shows in the recent employment, tourism and retail figures.”

Headline facts and figures about the town at the Celebrate Chesterfield event included:

·         Unemployment decreased by 0.5%

·         11% increase in jobs in the tourism sector

·         1000 jobs to be created on the town centre’s extension, the Northern Gateway site

·         £3.1m funding secured to start the first phases of residential and commercial development at Waterside

·         11% increase in tourism spend in the local economy

·         An additional £1/2 million spent in local economy as a direct result of the Christmas marketing campaign

·         100 new Ambassadors on board to ensure visitors to the town receive a warm welcome

·         More than 120 business have joined the Chesterfield Champions scheme

Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, welcomed the news commenting: “We’re still a challenged town and Borough; however the figures show that we are moving in the right direction. That is why Destination Chesterfield is so critical in actively communicating everything we have to offer to potential inward investors, whether it’s excellent transport links, a good choice of commercial property or a burgeoning local economy. By marketing what the town has to offer and supporting the businesses already here we can create stable, fulfilling employment opportunities.”

At the event Mr Bowen called on businesses to actively support the marketing campaign by becoming Chesterfield Champions. He said: “Our Chesterfield Champions scheme enables us to harness the confidence in our business sector and promote the positive news within it to a wider audience.”

With funding secured from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) until December 2015, Destination Chesterfield is keen to get as many businesses on board with its Champions scheme to ensure the marketing campaign’s on-going success.

The Chesterfield Champions scheme is open to all businesses and offers a number of benefits, including PR and marketing support and networking support. Companies interested in joining Destination Chesterfield’s Champions scheme should visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/champions or contact Dominic Stevens on 01246 207207 or email info@chesterfield.co.uk

 

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield

Gateway improvement sites in Chesterfield chosen

Two entry points into Chesterfield will get a £500,000 facelift after being selected for improvements by Chesterfield Borough Council following a public consultation.

The improvements will happen at the Hornsbridge roundabout and the Railway Station Link – which includes Crow Lane from the railway station past the Chesterfield Hotel and across the public footbridge, which links to Corporation Street and the town centre.

The work will be carried out using funding from Barratt Homes and the European Regional Development Fund in a project designed to improve the attractiveness of entry points into the town.

They were chosen by public vote from a list that also included West Bars roundabout, Lordsmill roundabout, Saltergate, the bus station and Markham Road.

Partner organisations including Destination Chesterfield,Chesterfield College, Chesterfield Civic Society and the Town Centre Forum were also asked their views and a two day public consultation was held in the Pavements Shopping Centre in January.

Councillor John Burrows, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “There was already a strong consensus that the Hornsbridge roundabout needed improving and the Railway Station Link came out the clear winner in the public consultation as it is the first impression people get of the town when arriving by train.

“The whole purpose of the Chesterfield Gateways project is to respond to requests from business leaders for us to do more to make the approach routes into town more appealing to potential investors, visitors and our own residents.

“The best thing is that we can use external funding to make these improvements without any impact on the core services the council provides to Chesterfield residents.”

The council, working with project managers TEP, will now appoint designers and artists to begin work on the project, which is due to be completed by December 2014.

Examples of things they could do at the two sites include installing new direction signs, lighting, paving, planting, sculptures, art installation or interpretation.

Members of the public will be consulted about the design ideas to get their views before any actual work takes place at either of the two sites.

Peter Swallow, chair of Destination Chesterfield, the town’s marketing campaign, said: “We very much welcome the news of improvements to the Hornsbridge roundabout and Railway Station Link.

“Both are key gateways to Chesterfield and play an important role in ensuring a sense of arrival and welcome, whether visitors stay in the town or pass through us to the Peak District.”

The announcement of the improvement sites was made today (Thursday 28 March) by Chesterfield Borough Council chief executive Huw Bowen during the Celebrate Chesterfield event held by Destination Chesterfield at the ProAct Stadium.

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

Posted in Development

Talk up our town on Twitter for national ‘Retweet for Towns Day’

Chesterfield’s very own marketing organisation, Destination Chesterfield, is asking local residents and businesses to talk-up their town on Twitter and tell the world what’s great about it on Thursday 21st March as part of national Retweet for Towns Day.

Last year 130 towns and cities across the UK took part in the inaugural Retweet for Towns Day. This year, Destination Chesterfield wants to get the town trending on Twitter and is calling on people to tweet what they love about Chesterfield, whether it’s living, working or shopping here, the town’s nightlife, football team or even our iconic crooked spire.

To get involved on the day simply tweet why you like Chesterfield, making sure you include the hashtags #rt4towns and #chesterfield in your tweets.

During the day there will be spot prizes given away, donated by Chesterfield Champions, celebrating the top Tweets.  Prizes include tickets to a Chesterfield FC game, a signed football, a meal at Calabria, a beautiful Patchwork cup from ceramicist Clare Gage, a hamper from Northern Tea Merchants, and Cricket Festival and theatre tickets.

Dominic Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager said: “Chesterfield has quite a Twitter following – there are more than 14,000 followers alone between Chesterfield FC, Chesterfield College and Destination Chesterfield.  Retweet for Towns Day is a great opportunity to bring everybody together to promote all that is great about where we live and work.

“Together we can put Chesterfield on the map for all the right reasons and encourage companies from outside the area to invest here and bring jobs with them.”

The Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM) is also supporting Retweet for Towns Day and is recommending that all members take advantage of the no cost, feel good day of promotion for towns and cities.

Shanaaz Carroll of ATCM said “We are pleased to be involved in #rt4townsagain this year as not enough is said about what is good about our towns and cities. Supporting the initiative via social media is an excellent way to bring some positivity back.”

During the day, and afterwards, all positive tweets, using the #rt4towns and#chesterfield hashtags will be hosted on Destination Chesterfield’s website as a permanent reminder of everything that is good about the town.

Visit http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/rt4towns to find out more about Retweet for Towns Day and the prizes which will be given away on the day.

Follow Destination Chesterfield on Twitter @chesterfieldUK

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in Destination Chesterfield

Businesses invited to celebrate town’s success at a special event

Local businesses are invited to celebrate the success of the town’s marketing organisation, Destination Chesterfield, and hear the exciting plans for the next three years at a special breakfast event being held at the Proact Stadium on Thursday 28th March from 8am – 10.30am.

‘Celebrate Chesterfield’ will outline the achievements of Destination Chesterfield since it was launched at the same venue back in October 2010.

Representatives from two of the area’s more recent success stories, Avoca Systems and Shorts Accountants, will be speaking at the Celebrate Chesterfield event.

Avoca Systems has recently secured a share of the regional growth fund for Sheffield City Region. At Celebrate Chesterfield, Avoca will be outlining its plans to create and safeguard jobs in the local area following the expansion of the company’s provision of exported products and services to theMiddle Easthealthcare market.

The Destination Chesterfield project recently secured further funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to enable it to continue until at least December 2015.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, said: I am very much looking forward to the event. The town has achieved so much since Destination Chesterfield was launched, not least on-going investment, and the jobs it has brought with it. We have more than 100 Chesterfield Champions who are businesses committed to making the area a great place to live, work and invest now and beyond 2015.”

Celebrate Chesterfieldis free to attend however spaces are limited and places should be confirmed online by Friday 22nd March atwww.chesterfield.co.uk/celebrate

 

 

 

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield

New McDonalds open and trading well at Markham Vale

Following the recent opening of McDonald’s at its 200 acre Markham Vale scheme in Chesterfield, Henry Boot Developments Limited is delighted that the restaurant is trading well.

The new 3,556 sq ft McDonald’s is part of the first phase of development at Markham Vale West, where potential new occupiers are in discussions to provide supporting leisure services to cater for the growing number of people being employed at this fast growing business park.

The drive-thru restaurant was constructed in just 18 weeks and is now open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The restaurant is owned by local McDonald’s franchisee Walter Wright who employs 90 full and part time staff at the restaurant.

Commenting on the new restaurant, Walter Wright said: “As a local businessman, I’m keen to ensure continued investment in the area and I’m delighted that the new restaurant has created a significant number of new jobs for local people”.

Vivienne Clements, Director of Henry Boot Developments, commented: “It’s great to see the appeal of Markham Vale go from strength to strength. We are looking to make further announcements regarding supporting retail and leisure operators in the near future. These operators will service the growing numbers of employees based at Markham Vale and the wider community of Duckmanton, Bolsover and Chesterfield.”

Find out more about Markham Vale

Source:Henry Boot

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business