Author: CrushDesign

Duke of Devonshire officially opens Chesterfield Market Hall

Chesterfield Market Hall has been officially re-opened by the Duke of Devonshire.

The market hall underwent a £4.3 million redevelopment last year and traders returned in October.

The main retail hall was opened up and transformed by the installation of a glazed atrium above first floor level providing natural light and the 1970s extension on New Square was redesigned to be more in keeping with the original market hall.

In addition to providing a modern and colourful shopping mall downstairs there are 20 offices on the first and second floors, alongside the historic Assembly Rooms, which were also refurbished.

The project was paid for by £2.1 million of grants from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Heritage Lottery and the Derbyshire Economic Partnership, with the remaining cost being met by Chesterfield Borough Council.

As he unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening, the Duke of Devonshire, said: “What a tremendous achievement to manage the market hall in a commercial way but in the interests of everyone who lives and works in Chesterfield.

“It’s the beating heart of this great town – and means that Chesterfield will have even more appeal to visitors. Jobs have been created and it is something to be very proud of.”

Councillor John Burrows, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “I am proud that at a time of cuts, when many councils have been forced to scale down their markets, we have been able to invest in the market hall and the independent traders who have a key role to play in the success of Chesterfield.”

Around half of the £4.3 million cost was spent on refurbishing the historic Assembly Rooms on the first floor of the market hall building and creating a suite of around 20 offices on the first and second floors.

The market hall has 43 retail units, of which 91 per cent have already been let.  Many of the previous stall holders in the market hall have returned, along with some new businesses.

The original market hall offices have been updated and all nine of these have been let. The new studio offices on the first floor have also all been let.

The Duke of Devonshire said: “One of the businesses I have spoken to today has taken on 16 people since moving here. Success stories like that can only be good for the town.”

Photo caption: The Duke of Devonshire (right) with Chesterfield Borough Council leader, Councillor John Burrows, and the plaque to mark the official reopening of Chesterfield Market Hall.

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Visiting

Increase in jobs at Markham Vale development

The latest jobs figures for Markham Vale have been revealed – with a further 200 still to come.

The site, which is situated next to junction 29A of the M1, is currently home to 28 businesses and has so far helped to create 565 jobs – an increase of 208 on the previous year.

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

“We are delighted that Markham Vale is going from strength to strength and helped to create many jobs in the last year for local people.

“We are committed to building a strong Derbyshire economy that creates jobs and grows businesses and Markham Vale plays a key role in helping us achieve this.

“The long-term aim is to help create 5,000 jobs and we will continue to work hard to attract more companies to reach this goal.”

New businesses which have recently opened or are set to in the next few months will help to create an extra 200 jobs.

These include Northern Ireland’s biggest egg processor Ready Egg Products which is developing a manufacturing facility and Derbyshire food company Holdsworth which set up a base on Markham Vale four years ago and is building a new warehouse and cold store.

And thanks to funding of £14.2 million from the Government and £12.5m from the county council’s private sector developer Henry Boot Developments Ltd, work has started to unlock a further 81 acres of land on the former Seymour Colliery site.

The work is expected to generate £82 million of private sector investment and create capacity to bring an estimated 2,100 jobs to the area.

Source:Derbyshire County Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

Free workshop to help local businesses get online

Chesterfield businesses are being given the chance to learn first-hand from the experts and set up their own website, in a free workshop being delivered by Chesterfield Champion Magnifica, a leading software agency.

The workshop, organised by Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council’s Innovation Support Project, will be held on Wednesday 21st May, at Dunston Innovation Centre, from 9.30am-12.30pm, with lunch included.

The workshop is available to any Chesterfield business, with up to two participants each.  It comprises of one three hour session, focusing on learning digital codes with the end of the session seeing participants build their own webpage.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager, said: “The course is all part of our commitment to help small businesses in Chesterfield thrive and develop.  It’s not just about having a high street presence or office addresses any more.  It’s about having a strong online presence too.  The workshop, which is being delivered by experts in the field, will give people simple and practical skills to help them do exactly this.”

Chesterfield based Magnifica offers a range of services including web design, ecommerce websites, content management systems, mobile ready apps and bespoke software development.

Rob Gregory, Magnifica’s Co-founder said: “Coding isn’t just about sitting in front of a computer.  In fact, today code is everywhere in both our personal and business lives. Knowing a bit about how to code will give you a unique perspective on understanding and solving all sorts of problems.  It will also give you the confidence to communicate with software people, if and when you need to in the future.”

For more information or to register for the workshop visit:http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/websites

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Contractor appointed for new Queen’s Park Sports Centre in Chesterfield

Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet has approved the appointment of a contractor for the proposed new Queen’s Park Sports Centre.

At their meeting this morning, cabinet members accepted a tender from Morgan Sindall to construct the proposed new centre to be built on the site of Queen’s Park Annexe.

The deal will begin should the project receive planning permission when it goes before councillors on at the planning committee later this month

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s executive member for leisure, culture and tourism, said: “After a rigorous process, we have decided to appoint Morgan Sindall as contractors for the proposed new Queen’s Park Sports Centre.

“Their bid provided the best deal in terms of cost and quality of work. Morgan Sindall is committed to creating opportunities to improve skills within local communities, including creating a number of apprenticeships, and using ‘Meet the Buyer’ events to provide opportunities for local companies to become involved in the project.

“The company also has a good track record in successfully delivering other leisure centre projects, including the Arc Leisure Centre in Matlock.

“We look forward to a close working relationship over the coming months as we progress with the design and build for the centre.”

Cabinet members also approved plans to apply for more than £1 million ofextra funding from Sport England to increase the facilities on offer at the new centre

The current plans for the centre include:

  • Six lane 25m long swimming pool
  • Learner pool with moveable floor and children’s fun water features
  • Café and social space
  • Midwifery centre
  • Six court sports hall
  • Village changing facilities with individual and family cubicles for swimmers
  • Changing facilities for other sports or activities
  • Activity studio
  • 70 to 75 station gym
  • Two squash courts with moveable wall
  • Car parking for approximately 100 cars.

If the bid is successful the extra funding would allow the council to increase the size of the swimming pool from six to eight lanes and increase the size of the sports hall from six to eight courts.

This would enable more activities to take place at the same time than is possible in the current sports centre.

Subject to planning permission being granted, it is anticipated the new centre should be complete by the end of 2015. The current Queen’s Park Sports Centre would remain open until a replacement has been constructed.

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

Posted in Development

Shoppers show their support for first ever Chesterfield Retail Awards

Chesterfield’s shoppers have come out in force to support the town’s first ever Retail Awards. More than 1,000 people have nominated 241 businesses across 14 categories during April, with one lucky person winning a £50 hamper from the Pavements Shopping Centre.

The nominated business have now been asked to complete a short application form which will be considered by a panel of local, regional and national retail experts. The winners in each category will be announced at a grand awards ceremony which is being held at the Assembly Rooms at Chesterfield Market Hall on the 18th June 2014.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager said: “We are overwhelmed with the number of nominations. It’s a fantastic start to the inaugural Retail Awards. With support from the community like this it is no surprise thatChesterfieldis booming as a retail centre.”

The Awards, which are sponsored by Slic Training, celebrate the town’s ongoing success as one of theUK’s top 10 best performing centres with the least vacant shops.  Only 7.7% ofChesterfield’s retail units are currently empty, which is only 0.7% behind the best performing large centre,Cambridge.

The categories include:

·         Hair and Beauty Business of the Year

·         Fashion and Footwear Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Oxspring Technical Ltd

·         Jewellery and Accessories Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by The Pavements Shopping Centre

·         Home and Gifts Retailer of the Year

·         Children’s Clothes, Toys & Accessories Retailer of the Year

·         Food and Drink Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Barber Harrison & Platt

·         Phones and Technology Retailer of the Year

·         Leisure Retailer of the Year (Sports, Hobbies, Crafts or Outdoor)

·         Market Trader of the Year – Sponsored byChesterfieldBorough Council

·         Independent Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Jumble Design

·         National/ Multiple Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by the Source

·         Excellence in Customer Service – Sponsored byChesterfieldCollege

·         Market Hall Business of the Year

·         Best New Store (Opened 2013/2014) – Sponsored by Banner Jones

·         Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire & Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

Other sponsors include Vicar Lane Shopping, The Pavements Shopping Centre, eBusiness Works and the Derbyshire Times.

To sponsor the 2014 Chesterfield Retail Awards please visithttp://www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards/ and you can keep up-to-date on Twitter by using the hashtag #retailawards14.

 

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield

Successful Regional Growth Fund bid provides £250,000 of new machinery for Chesterfield manufacturer

Following the completion of its phase two £500,000 investment in 2013, Chesterfield Champion, Corrugated Case Company (CCC) has now unveiled the next round of investment for new equipment.

Securing assistance from the ‘Regional Growth Fund,’ the company has now placed orders for over £250,000 worth of new machinery.

The order includes a FlexiNOVA multi-point gluer and a Hi-Cut Autobox box-making machine – both from UK manufacturer British Converting Solutions Ltd.  The FlexiNOVA will be the first of its kind and will add a new dimension to the company’s product range offering.

CCC has also ordered an environmentally-friendly ink wash-up system from Solutex Ltd, which will ensure all waste water from the printing equipment is free from any contaminants before being recycled.

“Since we announced the first phase of our investment plan at our Chesterfield site in the second half of 2012, it has been really busy here,” explains Mark Wilcockson, Managing Director.

“We have confirmed our orders with the manufacturers and are expecting to take delivery of the new equipment towards the end of the Spring.  This will allow us to continue with our on-going expansion plans.

“In addition to the new equipment, we are about to submit formal plans for the extension to our factory to give us much needed additional manufacturing space and storage for finished goods for our stock and serve operation.”

“But it is not just machinery and buildings that are helping with the company’s growth, as Mr Wilcockson explains:

“With new machinery, you also need good training and additional people. We have recently seen two of our apprentices progress through to full-time operators and we have welcomed a new apprentice in February.

“It is a continuing trend here at Corrugated Case Company to train people specifically for the jobs we need and that way, we keep hold of our people for a decent period of time.

“In addition to the new apprentice, we have recently recruited a new graduate management trainee; a position which will commence in June this year.

“With increases in production capacity comes the need for additional management personnel to ensure everything runs smoothly, from order processing right through production and onto final invoicing.”

Source:The Corrugated Case Company

Posted in Business, Development

Chesterfields independent retailers to be given a helping hand to get online

Riding high on Chesterfield’s national retail success, Destination Chesterfield is offering the town’s independent shop owners the chance to get further ahead and is running a brand new Digital High Street course. The course is the first phase of business support which is being offered through Destination Chesterfield’s Incubation Street campaign.

With only 33% of businesses having an online presence and 14% currently selling their products via the internet, the National Skills Academy for Retail with the Association of Town and City Managers have developed the course to assist small businesses to develop a multi-channel marketing approach.

It is hoped the course will play a role in helping Chesterfield maintain its top 10 position of retail centres with least vacant shops.

Eight-five per cent of the cost of the course is being met by the Portas Pilot Town Team Funding, with a contribution from the Chesterfield Champions. Costing £30 per person, the Digital High Street course is being delivered by the Source in Partnership with Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council.

The course is open to any retail businesses in the Chesterfield Borough and comprises three four hour modules covering key areas of online marketing including, understanding customer and digital marketing, developing business online and using social media to grow business.

Destination Chesterfield Manager,Dominic Stevenssaid: “We are very excited about the Digital High Street course. It represents the start of a network of support that we will be offering new and established independent businesses as part of our Incubation Street campaign during 2014.

“Research has shown that the more digitally enabled a company is, the faster it tends to grow. We have a number of business growth success stories in Chesterfield and courses such as this will help produce more, further bringing the town to the attention of investors.”

Dates for the Digital High Street course run throughout June and July and bookings can be made at Chesterfield Tourist Information Centre in Rykneld Square,Chesterfield.

For further information, please visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/digital-high-street

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in Destination Chesterfield

Your town needs you! The call goes out for more Chesterfield Ambassadors

Chesterfield is on the hunt for more ambassadors to help promote the town and provide a warm welcome to visitors to the town.

The Chesterfield Ambassadors scheme was established by Destination Chesterfield more than two years ago. Since then it has recruited nearly 150 volunteer residents and front line staff, including taxi drivers, bank workers, sales assistants, council staff and members of the town’s thriving food and drink sector. Together they ensure visitors to the town leave with a positive impression of Chesterfield.

Becoming a Chesterfield Ambassador is simple and involves attending a free two-hour workshop on Thursday 22nd May to learn all about the town and its regeneration plans.

John Burrows, Vice Chair of Destination Chesterfield and Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council said: “The Chesterfield Ambassadors Scheme plays an important role in the continuing growth and success of Chesterfield. Every visitor to our town could be a potential investor, new resident or employee and it’s important that they receive the very best first impression. We want them to return and recommend Chesterfield to their friends, relatives and colleagues.

“Anyone who cares about the future of Chesterfield will find the Ambassador role very rewarding and we’d love them to get in touch and become one of the town’s promoters.”

To reserve your place please visit http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/ambassadors

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Visiting

Brand new office space available soon!

Businesses are invited to express their interest in a new range of offices currently being built as part of the £3.8m restoration programme underway at Staveley Hall.

Launched in 2008, The Heart of Staveley Project is creating Staveley Hall Business Centre, which will provide up to 70 jobs, as well as restoring the historic walled garden by transforming it into a town centre community park.

The first phase of the project, the renovation of the Stable Block, will open in early June 2014, with office space available for 11 small businesses.  The units, which will be fully serviced, range from 210 – 624 sq ft and are available for lease on easy in – easy out terms.

Phase 2 – the Hall – will start on site at the end of August and will be available for occupation in June 2015, providing space for a further 7 businesses to be located on the upper floors.  Meeting rooms and a café will be available on the ground floor.

Launched in 2008, the project has so far secured £3.4m towards the cost of the £3.8 million project and there is a robust fundraising strategy in place to raise the remaining balance over the next few months.

Funding has come from a range of sources including the Heritage Lottery Fund and the European Regional Development Fund.  Staveley Town Council has also borrowed £750,000 from the Public Works Loans Board.

To find out more about office space at Staveley Hall, please contact the letting agent, Alan Terry at Bothams Mitchell and Slaney:- call (01246) 244233 or email alan.terry@bothams.co.uk

Source:Bothams Mitchell and Slaney

Posted in Business

Markham Vale expansion work due to start

Work to expand Derbyshire County Council’s flagship regeneration site, Markham Vale is due to start next month after a visit to Markham Vale by Eric Pickles MP today (Tuesday 22nd April) confirmed Government cash is in the pipeline.

In January, the Government announced Markham Vale was to receive £14.2 million to turn the former Seymour Colliery site into prime economic land with the potential to create more than 2,000 more jobs in the area following a bid drawn-up by the county council and submitted through the Sheffield City Region’s Enterprise Zone.

Added to a £12.5m contribution from the county council’s private sector developer, Henry Boot Developments Ltd, the cash will:

  • Unlock a further 81 acres of land which already has outline planning permission for development
  • Generate a further estimated £82 million of private sector investment
  • Create capacity to bring an estimated 2,100 jobs to the area
  • Carry out earthworks to prepare the ground for development plots capable of generating up to around 145,000 square metres of commercial floor space, as well as putting the relevant infrastructure in place for gas, electricity and water services.
  • Widen the existing Erin Road.
  • Build 100,000 sq ft of new industrial buildings.

In addition to this investment, a link road will also be built in 2015/16 to provide direct access to the site situated next to junction 29A of the M1.  The road is estimated to cost £7.56 million and expected to be funded jointly by the county council and local transport boards for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (D2N2) and Sheffield City Region (SCR).

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

“Markham Vale has a key role to play in helping to build a strong local economy in Derbyshire that creates jobs, attracts new businesses and provides a future for our young people.

“Derbyshire County Council has invested more than £60 million in the Markham Vale site since it was first launched in 2000 and we’re pleased the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has taken the time to come and see for himself the great strides we’re making in attracting business and investment to our county.

“This Enterprise Zone funding will allow us to develop more of the site, giving us the capacity to continue with our long-term vision of attracting more business and industry, creating 5,000 jobs for local people. We’re pleased we can finally start work to prepare the land and get plots in place for further development by March 2015.”

More than 560 new jobs have already been created at Markham Vale, which is currently home to 28 businesses.  A further 200 jobs have already been announced with the construction of new buildings underway.

Source:Derbyshire County Council

Posted in Development

Last chance to nominate your favourite shops

Shoppers are being called on to nominate their favourite shops and stores for the town’s first Retail Awards before voting closes at the end of the month.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager said: “The success of the 2014 Chesterfield Retail Awards is very much in the hands of the general public.  They need to nominate in order for retailers to be shortlisted.

“The awards are open to every retailer operating in the Chesterfield borough. With our wealth of independent stores and national chains operating here, I am confident there will be no shortage of nominations across all the categories.”

The awards, which are organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with Slic Training, celebrate the town’s ongoing success as one of the UK’s top 10 best performing centres with the least vacant shops.  Only 7.7% of Chesterfield’s retail units are currently empty, which is only 0.7% behind the best performing large centre, Cambridge.

The 2014 Chesterfield Retail Awards nomination process is open throughout April and people can nominate online at www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards/nominate/ or by filling in a form available from retailers throughout town.

There are 14 categories people can nominate across, plus the coveted Retailer of the Year Award, and they may even win a £50 hamper from the Pavements Shopping Centre for their trouble.

The categories include:
• Hair and Beauty Business of the Year
• Fashion and Footwear Retailer of the Year
• Jewellery and Accessories Retailer of the Year
• Home and Gifts Retailer of the Year
• Children’s Clothes, Toys & Accessories Retailer of the Year
• Food and Drink Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Barber Harrison & Platt
• Phones and Technology Retailer of the Year
• Leisure Retailer of the Year (Sports, Hobbies, Crafts or Outdoor)
• Market Trader of the Year – Sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council
• Independent Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Jumble Design
• National/ Multiple Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by the Source
• Excellence in Customer Service – Sponsored by Chesterfield College
• Market Hall Business of the Year
• Best New Store (Opened 2013/2014) – Sponsored by Banner Jones
• Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire & Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

The finalists in each category will be shortlisted from the nominations by a panel of judges.  The winners will be announced at a grand awards ceremony which is being held at the Assembly Rooms at Chesterfield Market Hall on the 18th June 2014.

Ian Benison, Chief Executive, SLIC Training (International), said:

“It is a great pleasure to be the headline sponsor of the Chesterfield Retail Awards.  As a local lad, who started a local company which is now situated in the prestigious Market Hall in town, getting involved with the Retail Awards was an easy decision.

“We see this as an opportunity to give something back to the town, to celebrate all its successes and amazing businesses.  The success of the awards will be based on how the community gets involved; I urge you to nominate your favourite retailer for each category – this is your opportunity to get your much-loved venue or company noticed and acknowledged. “

Chesterfield is becoming the go-to location for developers and we look forward to welcoming new establishments such as Nandos and Boyes to the town centre as well as the recently opened Pan-dora jewellery store gracing the town’s high street.

Other sponsors include Vicar Lane Shopping, The Pavements Shopping Centre, eBusiness Works and the Derbyshire Times.

Councillor John Burrows, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council’s said: “Launching our own Retail Awards demonstrates the continuing strength and attractiveness of Chesterfield as a shopping centre, despite the declining fortunes of high streets across the country. These awards allow us to honour our local businesses and help them to continue to thrive.”

To nominate your favourite retailer, please visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards/nominate/ and you can keep up to date on Twitter by using the hashtag #retailawards14

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield