Author: Dom Stevens

£13 million to help jobseekers and boost economy

14th July 2016

A £13 million funding package to help the long term-unemployed, young workers, those looking to progress in their career and to boost the economy is now available, via the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership. D2N2 is the private sector-led partnership which promotes economic growth and jobs creation across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

The substantial funding is available through four programmes; which project organisers can bid for to tackle a range of issues relating to business growth by providing training and skills, helping the long term unemployed to find work, and aiding young people termed NEETs (not in education, employment or training).

The programmes that are being funded include:

EMPLOY Local that will focus on help those unemployed for a long period of time; by helping them access additional support and gain basic work skills, to assist them in competing for jobs.

CAREERS Local which looks at helping young people aged 15 to 25 – particularly those termed as NEETs, or who are at risk of becoming NEET – to participate in the jobs market and in further learning. This is done providing them with information, and giving advice and guidance to increase the number of young people in employment, education and training.

The Youth Engagement Initiative that is about increasing employed people’s skills levels to help them progression their careers, and increase the number of people with technical and job specific skills. It will also address the basic skills needs of employed people – particularly in small and medium sized (SME) enterprises and micro-businesses – to help people go on to higher and advanced level apprenticeships, to support business growth.

SKILLS Local which will look to support business growth across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire by providing training and skills which will benefit the existing workforce.

David Ralph, Chief Executive of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said:-

“The aspiration is to support D2N2’s employment and growth needs, and have in place an easily accessible system, from which employers and individuals can all benefit.”

Organisations have to be on the national Skills Funding Agency’s ‘Register of Training Organisations’ to apply. They can view further details about these funding opportunities and complete a funding application online, on the SFA e-Tendering portal at https://skillsfundingagency.bravosolution.co.uk

Free information sessions for organisations interested in bidding and delivering programmes’ projects, will be held next week, click here for more information.

Posted in About Chesterfield

New owners for Chesterfield Antiques Centre

14th July 2016

Two years after they first rented space in Chesterfield Antiques Centre, Bob & Wendi Lindsay have recently bought the centre.

The Antique Centre has over 50 dealers renting spaces and cabinets over 2 floors and the newly taken over Grey’s Café serves Barista Coffee, Teas & snacks in a contemporary setting.

The centre sells Antiques and Vintage including collectables like Star Wars figures to Die Cast Vehicles to Beswick and Doulton, names such as Moorcroft, Clarice Cliff & Royal Worcester. Vintage Jewellery & Silver. Exquisite tea sets, furniture and stylish accessories. Vintage clothing, vinyl singles and LP’s, militaria, medals and mantiques! African tribal masks and handcrafted items, ephemera including Edwardian postcards, luggage and much more!

Wendy Lindsay said ” We love our hometown of Chesterfield and the Flea Market on Thursday which is a stroll away from the centre! Buying and selling antiques is very addictive and a real buzz! Young and old visit the centre with a big trend for the younger generation wanting a piece of history or the vintage and retro look in their homes!”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Chesterfield businesses call for action in wake of referendum

13th July 2016

Businesses across the Sheffield City Region are calling for stability, clarity and action from Government as the UK navigates its withdrawal from the UK.

They made the call at a meeting in Chesterfield, which was held to check the mood of local businesses following the outcome of the EU Referendum. More than 80 local business leaders attended the event, which took place at Ringwood Hall.

The event was facilitated by East Midlands Chamber and sponsored by RBS, in partnership with the Barnsley and Rotherham, Doncaster and Sheffield Chambers of Commerce and the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.

It was aimed at giving business leaders the chance to talk openly about concerns they have following the outcome of the EU Referendum.

Focusing on stability and investment in the SCR economy, a panel featuring Scott Knowles – the Chamber’s Chief Executive, Nigel Brewster – Vice-Chair of Sheffield City Region LEP, John Burrows – Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, Martin McKervey – of Nabarro and Steve Roberts – Director of Fripp Design and Research, talked about the immediate impacts on the regional economy of the vote to leave.

Also on the agenda was a panel discussion on the importance to business of superfast broadband and the progress of the Government’s programme to roll it out across the country, along with a consultation on devolution, with a focus on the Sheffield City Region.

Chris Hobson, the Chamber’s Director of Policy, said:-

“Businesses at the event made clear that what they want to see is stability, clarity and action from Government, which must work to bring stability to markets, clarity on the timetable for changes to our relationship with Europe, and action on the many issues that matter for growth.

“While nothing will change in the immediate term, this event made clear that businesses across the Sheffield City Region want speedy clarity around fundamental issues such as the future trade deals the UK will seek, the type of legislative framework that may be introduced and the broader vision for a successful UK outside of the EU.

“And given the disconnect between the way London voted in the referendum compared with other parts of the UK, including the Sheffield City Region, there is a general consensus that devolution to our region should be viewed as a huge opportunity.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Ernie Moss charity match cheque presented at the Proact

13th July 2016

A cheque for £14,000 from funds raised at the Ernie Moss Charity Match has been presented at the Proact Stadium.

Ernie, who is suffering from a form of dementia called Pick’s Disease, was at the presentation together with his wife Jenny and one of his daughters, Sarah.

Sarah Moss, thanked the Chesterfield fans for their generosity. She said:-

“It’s absolutely fantastic. We hoped we could get about £10,000, so to get £14,000 is absolutely unbelievable. It was a fantastic turnout on the day and it just proved to us how much the Spireites love Dad and respect and support him.

“We want to raise awareness of dementia to help fight this vile disease for future generations and we’d just like to thank the Spireites immensely for what they have done.”

The Proact hosted the fundraising match in May between a Chesterfield legends side and the Once Upon a Smile team, comprising of soap stars and other celebrities. The money raised will be split between Dementia UK and the Once Upon a Smile charity.

Former Spireites star Phill Walker, who also helped organised the event, spoke of his admiration for Ernie, who is Chesterfield’s record goalscorer. He said:-

”We are trying to get a road named something like ‘Ernie Moss Drive’ to pay respect to Ernie. They say no one is bigger than a club, but I think Ernie must come very close.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure

Chesterfield schools among winners at Derbyshire School Games

13th July 2016

Teams from Brockwell Junior School, St Mary’s Catholic High School, Hasland Hall Community School, Brampton Primary School and Holly House School were among the winners at the Derbyshire School Games event at Mount St Mary’s College, attended by 1,000 young people.

The multi-sport event saw around 800 school children from Derbyshire’s nine school sport partnerships compete in 12 events across eight different sports – cycling, cricket, tennis, QuadKids athletics, golf, rounders, Boccia and football.

A further 200 young leaders volunteered as event officials, marshals and media leaders to ensure the smooth running of the event.

Each of the teams taking part had already excelled to get through to this stage, having qualified by winning their district competition, and on the day they were cheered on by sporting stars and special guests Gail Emms and Sophie Bradley-Auckland.

Posted in About Chesterfield

University campus on track for completion this autumn

12th July 2016

Construction of the University of Derby’s new Chesterfield Campus is on track, with completion due for autumn 2016 when the first students will be welcomed to the St Helena building on Sheffield Road. Opening the new campus will broaden the range of health and social care courses the University already offers in Chesterfield and allow collaborations with partner organisations to introduce new ways of learning and education relevant to Chesterfield’s economy, particularly for engineering, IT and business courses.

The new campus will provide businesses with access to facilities and support services through the Innovation Centre, which is supported by the Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering (IISE). Here the University will have a laboratory containing the latest product development and testing equipment to support SMEs and business start-ups along with incubation units, access to expertise, funding, knowledge transfer partnerships and student talent to facilitate accelerated growth. Professional development and accreditation of in-company training programmes will also be available.

The University of Derby’s new Chesterfield Campus has received investment from partners including £3.48million from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (promoting economic growth across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire). Funding and support from the European Regional Development Fund is contributing to the costs of equipment and support of the Innovation Centre at the Chesterfield Campus, to support innovation and business growth (as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in the D2N2 area).

The University’s Business Development Team can provide access to funding to help support business growth. For instance, the Invest to Grow programme is designed to support private sector businesses to innovate, grow and create jobs. In the East Midlands, there is £16m of Regional Growth Fund available to businesses.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield

University fund available to ‘give back’ to Chesterfield community

12th July 2016

As the University of Derby prepares to open its brand new campus in Chesterfield this autumn, they are delighted to introduce a Community Fund available to the town and surrounding areas.

Over the next year, the University will be handing out grants to inspirational projects that seek to benefit the community. Such projects could be conservation, wellbeing programmes or youth work. Anything that benefits the local community.

John Phillips, Community Liaison Officer at the University of Derby, said:-

“The University of Derby’s Community Fund was launched in September 2014 as a way to ‘give back’ to local people through grants for inspiring projects that benefit the local community.

“Since then, the University has contributed around £20k to community groups throughout Derby and Derbyshire. With the opening of our new Chesterfield Campus scheduled for autumn 2016, we are encouraging charitable organisations within Chesterfield to apply for our Community Fund,”

For more information about the Community Fund visit derby.ac.uk/communityfund

The University are holding a drop in session to discuss projects on July 27, click here for more information.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Manufacturing

Still time left to sign up for county’s largest careers event

12th July 2016

Employers, colleges, training providers and voluntary organisations are encouraged to book their place at this year’s Derbyshire Skills Festival. The festival is the largest careers event for young people in Derbyshire, last year attracting 11,000 people.

The event, which will be held at Queens Park Sports Centre on 15 September, is aimed at students aged 15 to 19, including those in Year 11 who are considering their options after school. There will also be sessions for young people with special educational needs and disabilities and young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) will also be invited.

Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Deputy Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:-

“Lots of employers, colleges, training providers and voluntary organisations have already signed up for this year’s Skills Festival but we do still have a few places left.

“Last year, more than 11,000 people came along to the festival over three fantastic days and we’re getting ready for another great year so don’t forget to book your place.”

The festival is an opportunity for young people leaving school or college or looking for a job with training to talk to the experts and get all the information and guidance they need under one roof. Visitors to the event will also be able to take part in have-a-go sessions to test their skills and give them an idea what different careers might be like.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Manufacturing

Craft company to open new store in Chesterfield

11th July 2016

International craft supplies company, Crafter’s Companion, has unveiled its plans to open a new retail outlet in Chesterfield this September.

The new store, which will be housed within the Dobbies Chesterfield Garden Centre and Shopping Village, represents a £250K investment from the company and is expected to create 14 new jobs in the area.

Focusing on education, enjoyment and inspiration, the 5,500 sq ft outlet will include themed shopping areas covering papercraft, arts, sewing, home décor and haberdashery, along with demonstration areas for workshops and group sessions.

The outlet will give both craft enthusiasts and people who are trying the hobby for the first time the opportunity to learn about craft and get to know the brand.

Sara Davies, who founded Crafter’s Companion in 2005, is hoping that the store will make a positive addition to the centre, which already has an established presence within the local community and attracts customers from as far afield as Sheffield, Nottingham, Manchester and Leeds.

She said:

“Dobbies is a great brand and renowned for providing quality products to loyal customers. Naturally we are thrilled to be partnering with them on this project and hope that it’s the start of a great relationship.

“The company’s established retail presence and customer demographics fit perfectly with our own, making Chesterfield the perfect location for us. We’re sure our store can help to attract even more customers from the catchment area and craft enthusiasts from further afield.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Chatsworth Hits Peak Quality

11th July 2016

Chatsworth has been awarded the Peak District Environmental Quality Mark (EQM) – the Peak District National Park Authority’s award for sustainability.

The award is only given to organisations that can demonstrate they operate sustainably, support communities, promote the Peak District and work to reduce their impact on the environment. It applies to the 12,000 acres around Chatsworth House and includes the farmyard, adventure playground, holiday accommodation, farm shop, ancient woodlands and ancient grasslands.

The Citation noted the “strong evidence of leadership” from the Duke of Devonshire’s son Lord Burlington regarding the installation of biomass boilers around the estate; the soon to be commissioned combined heat and power unit for the house; and, the proposed hydro-electric scheme for the River Derwent, which will all help move the estate towards energy self-sufficiency. Chatsworth’s work to broaden educational access and involve hard-to-reach groups in the estate was also praised.

Faith Johnson of the Peak District National Park Authority said:-

“Their knowledge and enthusiasm was really inspiring and I was really impressed with how committed they all were to looking after and investing in the local and global environment, people and communities, local businesses and the local economy, and of course the very special places of Chatsworth and the Peak District National Park.”

The application process involved collating information from across Chatsworth, looking at how it sources products, how it supports local communities and what it does for the local and global environment. Chatsworth will hold the certificate for two years after which it will undergo another audit.

Chatsworth

Posted in About Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield

Possible HS2 rail stop for Chesterfield welcomed

7th July 2016

Revised plans for the HS2 rail link, that could mean two high speed trains an hour stopping in Chesterfield, have been welcomed by town leaders.

Chesterfield Borough Council leader Councillor John Burrows, says the recommendation by HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins to change the original route to include a link via the Midland Mainline that could stop in Chesterfield, is great news for the town’s economic future.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, the town’s marketing campaign, has also welcomed the news as it would deliver 79-minute train journeys to London and shorter journey times to Leeds and other towns and cities in the north and Midlands.

Chesterfield Borough Council will now be seeking further detail on the proposals and, in particular, looking for reassurance the route will not impact on the restoration of Chesterfield Canal, as well as finding out more about what it means to the planned maintenance depot at Staveley, which would create jobs for the borough.

Councillor John Burrows, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said:-

“This will further strengthen Chesterfield’s position as a place to do business. We now need the Government to make a quick decision that there will definitely be a stop in Chesterfield as is being recommended to them and then get on with building the HS2 route.

“The report recognises the importance of the Chesterfield economy to the wider Sheffield City Region and its potential for growth as part of the devolution deal agreed by the Government.

“To deliver this we will work with our partners in Sheffield City Region, and those across Derbyshire and the East Midlands, to get the maximum benefit for Chesterfield from these proposals.

“Using the Midland Mainline and diverting the main HS2 line to the east should reduce the impact of the route construction on the area, but we still need to see the detailed plans for the maintenance depot at Staveley to assess what impact that could have on local communities and the plans for the Chesterfield Canal restoration.”

The announcement by HS2 has also been welcomed by Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield. He said:-

“HS2 represents a fantastic opportunity for Chesterfield in terms of both the option of a stop on the route and the previously announced maintenance depot.

“The journey time to London by rail is already good but having an HS2 stop would increase this, further benefiting the local economy and attractiveness of the town and new developments like Chesterfield Waterside and Peak Resort, to investors.

“While we do not yet have the detail, Staveley is perfectly positioned for the depot and it could contribute significantly to regeneration of the area in terms of employment during construction and beyond.”

The new HS2 option proposes that services could take a spur off the new north-south high speed line, using the Midland Mainline from Clay Cross. If this happened trains would go to Sheffield Midland station, with two trains an hour stopping at Chesterfield on the way. There is also the possibility of these trains continuing past Sheffield to the existing Meadowhall station, Barnsley and Rotherham.

The proposed route changes are intended to take the rail line through less populated areas and to make £1 billion of savings compared to the original plans. The main HS2 line would instead follow a route further east than originally planned, largely going alongside the M18.

Chis Hobson, Director of Policy at East Midlands Chamber, said: “Uncertainties around Sheffield’s options for HS2 have held up progress on the Eastern Leg, particularly when compared to how the Western Leg has been developed.

“Now that we have firm proposals and recommendations which have broad support across the Sheffield City Region and will make the project cheaper to deliver, we need confirmation and delivery of this phase of the scheme without delay.

“The opportunity to connect the East Midlands to Leeds via a hub station at Toton, along with the option to connect to businesses in Sheffield and through Chesterfield, would be a massive boon to businesses in both regions. Furthermore, the service depot at Staveley will create hundreds of jobs and underline the region’s traditional strengths and expertise in rail manufacturing and related services.

“In the current post-referendum climate, the Government has a golden opportunity to be really bold in terms of its infrastructure spending, to deliver a world-class UK transport network which will drive economic growth, make the UK an attractive place to invest and make it far easier for firms to move their goods and people to global markets.

“HS2 is a crucial part of the solution to boost connectivity north to south and east to west, which will also deliver the enhanced capacity we need in the long term.

“High speed rail is the best way to achieve a more sustainable, rebalanced economic future not just for the region, but for the nation as a whole and we are hopeful that today’s announcement will pave the way for that to be confirmed as quickly as possible.”

HS2 will hold a public consultation event in the Speedwell Rooms, Inkersall Road, Staveley from 12.30pm to 8pm on Wednesday 20 July so residents can find out more about the proposals for the Staveley maintenance depot.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development