Author: Dom Stevens

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

Chesterfield College’s African Adventure has a big impact

7th July 2016

A group of 9 students and 2 staff from Chesterfield College have just returned from a volunteering expedition, and trip of a lifetime, to Ghana with ‘African Adventures.’

The trip was made possible following a year of fundraising events, including a Santa Dash, a cycle to Africa fitness challenge and a quiz night. Overall, the team generated over £3000 through fundraising events to help them on their way to Ghana.

Whilst in Ghana, the team worked alongside local people to renovate a building at Tegbi Primary School to provide a safe and comfortable environment for the children to learn in. Some of the students also took the opportunity to plan and deliver Maths, English, Science and Art lessons to the Ghanaian pupils.

The Headmaster and school pupils from Tegbi Primary School held a special ceremony to say thank you to the College team for their hard work, and donations of educational resources, toys and clothing. At the ceremony the children also taught the College students Ghanaian songs and dances.

When sports student, Emily Bottom returned from her African adventure she said:-

“We were excited to learn about new cultures and work with the young people in Ghana but I don’t think any of us appreciated how much of an impact the trip would have on us before we went. We were really taken out of our comfort zone but it has helped us to understand different cultures and given us experiences we will never forget.”

Stuart Allen, Director of Learning for the Health, Wellbeing and Society Directorate at Chesterfield College and main organiser of the trip, said:-

“We are truly thankful to anyone who supported an event, donated prizes, and donated funds or their time to make this African Adventure become a reality. The work the volunteers did in Ghana leaves such a lasting footprint for the local people and also inspires the students to add value to their own communities.”

Chesterfield College is planning another African adventure next academic year to allow more students the chance to take part in such an inspiring and life-changing experience.

Chesterfield College

Posted in About Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Uncategorised

Chamber Unveils Business Awards Finalists

6th July 2016

The finalists of East Midlands Chamber’s 2016 Business Awards in Derbyshire have been unveiled.

There are eleven categories this year and the winner of the overall Business of the Year award will be chosen from among the individual category winners.

Chesterfield businesses, including Mitchells Chartered Accountants, NLT Training Services, Cathelco and Banner Jones Solicitors, have been nominated for awards, that will be presented at a black-tie gala dinner at The Roundhouse, Derby, on 16 September. Winners will go on to compete in the British Chambers of Commerce’s regional business awards for the East Midlands, with those that win then progressing into the British Chamber of Commerce’s national awards in November.

Scott Knowles, the Chamber’s Chief Executive, said:-

“Congratulations to all of the shortlisted finalists. As always, we had a bumper crop of entries and our sponsors had a difficult task in whittling the entrants in each category down to a final three. We have a good cross-section of businesses represented this year and they all deserve their place on the list.

“The fact that so many businesses, from a wide range of different sectors, are doing so well is a strong indication of the robustness of the private sector and the Chamber is proud to be able to highlight not only their successes but also the strength of business here in the East Midlands.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield

Up to £4.7m to tackle businesses’ growth and boost workers’ skills

6th July 2016

Up to £4.7million will be provided to support employers wanting to grow their business and boost their employees’ skills, including provision of apprenticeship routes, via the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

The SKILLS Local programme will support business growth across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire through providing training and skills which will benefit the existing workforce.

It will be funded through the European Social Fund (ESF) managed by D2N2; the private sector-led Partnership which promotes economic growth and jobs creation in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

David Ralph, Chief Executive of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The SKILLS Local programme aims to put in place an integrated system of employment and skills support for businesses and employees.

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

Organisations can now bid for funding for the £4.7m SKILLS Local programme, which will be delivered across the D2N2 area. Information on the programme and how to apply to deliver it can be found on the Government Contracts finder website.

Applications to deliver the SKILLS Local programme will be reviewed by the Skills Funding Agency, which is providing match funding and who will be managing the programme for D2N2. Successful applicants will be expected to start delivering the programme by the end of 2016 and funding will be available for up to two years. The deadline for organisations to apply for the SKILLS Local programme is August 1, 2016.

Free information sessions for organisations interested in bidding and delivering the SKILLS Local programme, and other ESF programmes including EMPLOY Local, CAREERS Local and Youth Engagement D2N1 shortly to be announced, will be held later this month (July). The sessions will set out the priorities of D2N2’s ESF programme.

An information session will be held from 10am to 2pm (lunch will be included) on Tuesday July 19 – At the Winding Wheel, 13 Holywell St, Chesterfield (S41 7SA)

The event is free to attend but places are limited and must be booked in advance. To book a place at one of the events contact Hannah Gamble, Business Administration Officer at the D2N2 LEP, on email hannah.gamble@d2n2lep.org, or phone 01159 578757.

For further information regarding the D2N2 ESIF see website link www.d2n2lep.org/EUFunding OR contact Richard Kirkland, ESIF Coordinator at the D2N2 LEP, on email: Richard.kirkland@d2n2lep.org

Posted in Business

Yorkshire fixture at Chesterfield Festival of Cricket switched to Derby

6th July 2016

Derbyshire Falcons’ NatWest T20 Blast fixture versus Yorkshire Vikings has been moved to The 3aaa County Ground, Derby, to give the game the best chance of going ahead.

Due to a saturated outfield at Queen’s Park, no play was possible on any of the first four days of the Custom Solar Chesterfield Festival of Cricket, in association with Chesterfield Borough Council.

Following an exceptionally wet June, the pitch has been drying out more slowly than expected, despite the last four days of sunshine. As a result, the Club has made the decision today to move the fixture to Derby on Sunday and remains a 2.30pm start.

Chief Executive, Simon Storey said: “Chesterfield is a special venue and everyone puts a huge amount of time, planning and preparation into delivering a successful festival each year.

“Unfortunately, following the recent bad weather over the last few weeks, the outfield has taken on a huge amount of water and is still saturated despite the recent sunshine. In the interest of player safety, no play has been possible.

“With the current conditions, we have determined that we should move this Sunday’s fixture to Derby to give the game the best possible chance of going ahead.

“It’s clearly very disappointing that the weather has beaten us this year but we remain committed to bringing county cricket to Queen’s Park.

“The Festival is so much more than just cricket and helps put Chesterfield on the map. Since county cricket returned to Chesterfield in 2006, we have been able to build strong partnerships with Chesterfield Cricket Club and Chesterfield Borough Council.

“We also work closely with local schools and businesses such as local renewable energy specialists, Custom Solar, to provide a unique annual Festival.

“We look forward to returning next summer as part of our on-going partnership.

“In the meantime, we’re sure that the derby with Yorkshire Vikings at The 3aaa County Ground will be another great occasion.

“Whilst we understand the switch will cause some inconvenience to supporters, we need to make sure we do everything to ensure the game can go ahead.”

The match is an all ticket match. Tickets already purchased for the fixture will be accepted on the gate on Sunday at The 3aaa County Ground, which open at 12.30pm.

Members and Six Pack Ticket holders wishing to attend this Sunday are also reminded that they must claim a ticket, free of charge, in advance of the day of the game from the ticket office.

Posted in Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Sparkle Walk raises £168,371 for Chesterfield-based hospice

4th July 2016

Thousands of walkers geared up over the weekend to take part in the Blundells Sparkle Night Walk for Ashgate Hospicecare. The event, which is now recognised as Chesterfield’s largest, saw 2,000 people walk 10km around Chesterfield on Saturday night, raising a fantastic £168,371 for the local charity.

Organisers from Ashgate Hospicecare, alongside hundreds of volunteers, rallied together to ensure the annual walking event, which has become a significant fixture in the local calendar, ran smoothly and exceeded the thrill and sparkle it did the year before.

Leanne Collings from Clay Cross, Chesterfield who took part in the walk said:-

“The walk was absolutely brilliant. There was so much effort put in from both the organisers and participants. I was so proud to be part of something so fantastic for our community.”

Emma West from Holmewood, Chesterfield who was walking in memory of her uncle, John West, added:-

“I was near the front of the walkers and it was amazing to look back and see the sea of flashing bunny ears. The whole night was high-spirited and luckily, the weather held good and stayed dry.”

A number of local entertainment companies and local businesses all added to the event with an array of performances and giveaways, making the whole event a night to remember and one to go down in the history books.

Ian Appleyard, Director of Blundells Letting and Estate Agents, explained why the event was so important:-

“We are extremely proud to have been the main sponsor of the Sparkle Night Walk this year. Saturday night was just superb and it was great to see all the hard work put in really pay off for the hospice. The organisation of the event was first class, everyone seemed to have a brilliant time and we understand that participation and fundraising exceeded expectations.”

Events Fundraiser, Charlotte Gratton from Ashgate Hospicecare, said:-

“The event was absolutely amazing. To see everyone so excited and having such a great time whilst raising money for patients and their families in North Derbyshire made everything worthwhile.”

The money raised from the Sparkle Night Walk will go towards providing specialist palliative and end of life care across North Derbyshire and the High Peak and Dales. The Hospice provides its services free of charge to patients with any life limiting illness, and extended support to patients’ families.

Sparkle Night Walk

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business