ďťżďťż

About Chesterfield

Giraffe Graphics upscales to new office

Chesterfield print and embroidery company, Giraffe Graphics has expanded into new headquarters.

The new office, which is located at Dunston Place, has allowed the company to increase capacity and take on the print and embroidery industry from a fresh perspective.

From the humble beginnings of a spare-bedroom-business, Giraffe Graphics has seen rapid growth over the last 5 years.

Like many other business owners, Chris and Rebecca Blackwell made the difficult decision to close during the beginning of lockdown. Once the appropriate safety measures were put in place, and it was deemed safe to turn on the embroidery machines once more, Giraffe saw demand soar for workwear, paper print, design, and signage.

This proved timely, as the company had plans for new premises in the pipeline, as co-director Rebecca explained: “We were beginning to reach the limits of what we could achieve as a business within our previous office space, and were eager to expand.

“Naturally at the beginning of March, these aspirations seemed to become a little far-fetched! But thankfully, we have a great bunch of loyal, returning customers and friends who appreciate our services and keep coming back!

“We spent time refining our website, and tried to ensure that despite the difficult circumstances, our clients could still reach us. We’re so grateful to those who have supported us through the years, and we’re excited to see how Giraffe continues to grow in our new HQ!’”

Looking to expand or relocate your business to Chesterfield?  Search commercial property in Chesterfield here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home

Mentoring scheme launched to support female leaders and managers in the construction sector

A key milestone has been celebrated at the new Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre in Chesterfield. The building’s floor slabs and roof have been carefully poured into place using approximately 925 tonnes of concrete.

The significant step was marked during UK Construction Week, by leaders from the construction company, Robert Woodhead Limited, Chesterfield Borough Council and project architects Whittam Cox. Chesterfield Borough Council will be supporting the scheme which will see female leaders and managers from across the construction industry support young women from Chesterfield.

The partners will come together and deliver an innovative mentoring programme to build on the success of the recently launched online gateway “My Future.” It will provide real life support to help local young women into the construction industry. By linking with the D2N2 North Derbyshire Careers Hub and Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Forum, the programme will offer school and college students the opportunity to work with female leaders from across a broad range of disciplines in the construction sector.

The programme is a result of Woodhead’s employment and skills commitments to deliver a lasting legacy and social value whilst on site.

Councilor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Improving the skills and work readiness of people in Chesterfield is our top priority because it will help ensure our ambition to create a thriving borough. We require all new developments to commit to supporting the local economy through both skills development and opportunities for local businesses.

“This programme is a great example of how by working with our partners we can strengthen the links between education and business, which will help ensure that more school leavers are developing the skills they need to enter the workplace. We want to raise aspirations in Chesterfield and show that it is a great place plan your future and build a successful career. Working with young women in sectors where they are underrepresented is key to ensuring our success. Women currently make up around 14% of professional roles within the construction industry, this number can only be set to rise with more and more women choosing construction jobs. Misconceptions about gender specific roles are diminishing with the growing number of women choosing a career in construction.

The council has a strong track record on supporting female leadership, of the nine positions in our senior leadership and corporate management teams four are held by women, we also have an all-female leadership of the council and this further demonstrates the important role women have in the future of Chesterfield.”

The new Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre is a highly sustainable building that will provide 32 high-quality offices for the town. As the mentoring programme gathers momentum, it is hoped that the young women will also be able to participate in site visits to see the building take shape.

Robert Woodhead ltd, Chesterfield Borough Council and Whitham Cox Architects supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

(L-R) Kerri Grocock, Teresa Westwood, Duncan McKenzie, Cllr Tricia Gilby and Andy Dabbs.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home

Chesterfield Theatres and Chesterfield Museum receive lifeline grant from Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund

Chesterfield Theatres and Chesterfield Museum have been awarded more than £400,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future; the Culture Secretary has announced today.

A total of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support including a Real Time Live in Chesterfield.   £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.

The Grade II-listed theatres, the Pomegranate Theatre and The Winding Wheel Theatre, are proudly owned and managed by Chesterfield Borough Council. The theatres have received £249,000 from the Culture Recovery Fund.

The Theatres’ broad range of events, which includes drama, musicals, dance, comedy, concerts, talks and cinema came to an abrupt halt midway through March due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In July, the Theatres reintroduced cinema screenings, followed by live theatre performances in October. The previous closure and the current requirements for events to take place with a reduced seating capacity has been challenging for the venues whose income from ticket sales, bar sales and venue hire are integral to the Theatres’ survival.

The Culture Recovery Fund will ensure the theatres can continue entertaining audiences in the current climate.

Chesterfield Museum tells the story of Chesterfield, from its beginnings as a Roman fort, the expansion of the Market and the Industrial Revolution, which brought ‘Father of the Railways’, George Stephenson, to town. The Museum, which is owned and managed by Chesterfield Borough Council has received £165,000 from the Culture Recovery Fund.

The Museum regularly holds a wide range of events for the whole family to enjoy. It also holds regular special exhibitions that explore different areas of history.

Whilst the Museum has still not reopened since closing in March, the team have continued to create online events and activities to help people connect with the history of Chesterfield.

The Culture Recovery Fund will ensure that the museum can continue to maintain its impressive collection and will be able to reopen when it is safe to do so.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said “This funding is vital to ensuring the future of our historic theatres and museum which are an important part of our town’s cultural identity. Despite the theatres reopening in July we have still faced a number of challenges because of the reduced seating capacity but this funding will ensure we can continue to deliver performances for the people of Chesterfield and help to support the theatre industry. Unfortunately, we are still unable to reopen Chesterfield Museum due to social distancing requirements, but this funding will ensure we can continue to care for our collections and reopen them to the public when it is safe to do so.”

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said “This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery.   These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.”

Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said “Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages. This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.”

Check out cultural events happening in Chesterfield.

Festival of Remembrance

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Augmented reality fly-through brings Chesterfield Waterside to life

Ahead of construction starting on the new seven storey office block at Chesterfield Waterside on 19 October, Chesterfield’s £340million mixed-use regeneration scheme has been brought to life in a new augmented reality film created by local company Oasis Studio.

Combining drone footage with illustrations, the film brings to life the 16-hectare Chesterfield Waterside site which is located on the edge of the A61 corridor adjacent to the River Rother and Chesterfield Canal.

Existing drone footage of the site has been overlaid with the five colour-coded neighbourhoods which make up the scheme, to show what Waterside will look like and how it will sit within the local environment once complete.

The fly through details each of the five neighbourhoods – Waterside Quarter, Basin Square, Waterfront, Riverside East and Station Place – and the buildings which will be constructed in each of them. The construction phase alone is expected to create up to 2,000 jobs.

Tony Buck, Associate Director of Oasis Studios, commented: “It’s the first time we’ve combined real life moving drone footage with superimposed buildings but we are delighted with the result. It takes the conceptual stage of the project to another level.”

Tom Swallow, Development Manager at Bolsterstone Group Plc which is leading the Chesterfield Waterside scheme, instructed and worked alongside the team at Oasis to create the flyover animation.

He added: “The film is an important element of the marketing campaign for Waterside. Rather than just seeing a patch of land, potential investors can now see the scale of the scheme and understand its significance to the town. It also gives a clear picture of the scheme’s prominent location, adjacent to both the town centre and train station. Chesterfield Waterside will completely regenerate the north east side of the town centre creating an attractive environment in which to both live and work.”

Recognised as being one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects, Chesterfield Waterside is being led by Chesterfield-based Bolsterstone Group Plc working in conjunction with Arnold Laver Group and Chesterfield Borough Council.

Last month it was announced that Chesterfield Borough Council has secured a forward funding agreement with Chesterfield Waterside Ltd, to bring forward construction of No.1 Waterside Place in the Basin Square neighbourhood of the development.

Britcon (UK) Ltd, a leading Civil Engineering, Building and Steel Frame Solutions company, has been appointed as the main contractor to construct the office building and will start on site on Monday 19 October. The building is being marketed by property agents Knight Frank FHP.

Already, construction at Waterside Quarter is underway. House builder Avant Homes began construction of 173 two, three and four bedroom homes in the neighbourhood and in August the showhomes were opened to the public. Avant Homes is reporting strong interest in the development.

Avant Homes Central Managing Director, Stuart Rowlands, said: “Waterside Quarter is a hugely important development for us.

“Waterside Quarter is a development that we believe will be ideal for a number of different buyers such as those looking for their first home and young families. As well as quality, attainable, design-led homes for those living in Chesterfield, we believe that it will also help bring other buyers to the area, further boosting the town.”

In addition to the office accommodation Basin Square, the first commercial element of Chesterfield Waterside, will comprise Grade A office accommodation, 350 Built-to-Rent apartments, a hotel and multi-storey car park, all sited around a high quality public realm area overlooking the newly constructed canal basin.

Find out more about Chesterfield Waterside

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home

Ashgate Hospicecare launches ‘The Life and Death Podcast’

Ashgate Hospicecare, which provides specialist palliative and end of life care to adults and their families across North Derbyshire, has launched its first ever podcast series in order to highlight the importance of good end of life support.

The series is called ‘The Life and Death Podcast’, and it launches on Friday 9th October as Hospice Care Week draws to a close.

The series will be hosted by Stephen Rumford, senior physiotherapist at Ashgate Hospicecare, and will feature frank and honest conversations around death and what ‘dying well’ really means. Each episode will welcome both givers and receivers of end of life care, to discuss their unique relationships, hospice life, and how death affects the living.

Ashgate Hospicecare is hoping that, in launching ‘The Life and Death Podcast’, listeners will feel more comfortable discussing this often sensitive, awkward and often brushed over topic.

Stephen, who has spent over ten years’ in his current role at Ashgate Hospicecare, believes that now is the perfect time to be launching a podcast such as this – referring to how, despite people seeing each other less during COVID-19, a death and its lasting effect on those left behind remains just as devastating for those involved.

The first episode, which airs today, features Ashgate Hospicecare patient – Roy – who is a father, a grandfather and recently a great-grandfather. Roy starts by reminiscing on his childhood, before changing the discussion to how hospice life is for Stephen. At one point, further into the episode, Roy turns to Stephen and remarks: “It’s one’s duty to live, to bring pleasure to those around you. It’s why you’re on this earth.”

When speaking about the podcast, Stephen said: “I’m really looking forward to hosting the podcast – it’s going to be an exciting project! I’ll be talking about my experience of working in palliative care, working with the dying and giving an insight into Ashgate Hospicecare and our patients’ lives. Every day I see the impact Ashgate is having on families and I can’t wait to share some of those stories.”

The podcast can be listened to here, through your desired podcast platform, or on Ashgate’s website and social media. With a new podcast airing every two weeks, make sure you subscribe too. Please rate and review the episode if you can and let Ashgate know what you thought!

Ashgate Hospicecare supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home

East Midlands Chamber comments on Government’s extension to Job Support Scheme

Responding to the Government’s extension to the Job Support Scheme to support businesses forced to close due to lockdown restrictions, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) director of policy and external affairs Chris Hobson said: “While the Government is yet to confirm any further lockdown restrictions, the targeted extension to the Job Support Scheme sets a clear trajectory of decision-making that could have a significant impact on the beleaguered hospitality industry.

“For affected businesses, it is good news that they won’t need to cover the cost of wages or make redundancies when they’re forced to shut. It’s also a welcome development for employers to be aware of the financial support available to them before any restrictions are imposed, which hasn’t always been the case during this pandemic.

“However, it’s important to note that businesses in the hospitality industry – and their supply chains, which won’t necessarily be covered be this – work to very tight margins.

“Many will lose money they have spent on perishable goods, as well as on implementing safety procedures, not to mention the ongoing costs of running a business and having a property. For many, the £3,000 monthly grant will only go part way to covering losses incurred.

“Ultimately for business, there is no amount of support that is an adequate substitute for being able to open and operate safely. Government focus and efforts must be placed on putting in place the necessary measures that will allow the economy to get open and stay open.”

East Midlands Chamber supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home

Eleventh Hour Gin to support the Royal British Legion produced by Derbyshire Distillery

The directors at Chesterfield-based Derbyshire Distillery are delighted to announce a corporate partnership with The Royal British Legion to produce Eleventh Hour Gin. ÂŁ3 from the sale of each bottle of the new gin will go directly to the charity.

The label has been designed in association with acclaimed British fashion designer, Nigel Cabourn — famous for his menswear collections that are influenced by military dress and vintage clothing.

The concept for the new gin was the brainchild of ex-serviceman, Richard Aspinall, sales manager at Derbyshire Distillery, who wanted to do something with the company to help support the work of this charity.

Having served in the British Army for five years, Richard has had first hand experience of The Royal British Legion and how they support ex-service personnel and their families: “I have lost good friends and have seen how some injuries can change the life of those that served alongside me.

“The Royal British Legion is always there for the Armed Forces community and I was keen to do something to help, especially this year where every donation and every poppy really does count. As an employee of a gin distillery the idea just came to me: why not create a new gin that would help to raise funds for this worthy cause? Gin remains very popular, so I just put the two together.”

Commenting on the new concept, Phil Meakin, a founding director at the distillery, said: “The Royal British Legion has been very supportive of the new gin from the outset. During the last few months we have been refining the gin, developing the brand and sourcing bottles, and we’re now ready to launch the gin.

“It is such a worthy cause and we’re delighted that Richard took the initiative to develop the idea that will help to support the charity that he will be a part of for the rest of his life.”

The Eleventh Hour Gin is a traditional dry gin distilled with a unique blend of botanicals, including juniper, coriander, angelica, orris root, cassia, ginger, sour cherry, lemon and poppy seeds.

Every bottle purchased will contribute to supporting those from the Armed Forces community past and present, aiding The Royal British Legion to make a difference and enabling people to show their support in 2020.

Derbyshire Distillery supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Photos: Simon Turton

Gin

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home

Derbyshire’s Test and Trace making positive connections

Derbyshire’s public health team is hitting the phones to protect residents in the fight against coronavirus.

By following up on the work of the national NHS Test and Trace programme, the team can build up a detailed picture of what is happening across the county.

Residents who are contacted will be asked more in-depth questions about their movements and who they’ve been in contact with and it’s important everyone gives all the correct information to protect their friends and loved ones.

This vital work will help Derbyshire County Council’s public health team, together with district and borough councils, build up a comprehensive picture of where transmissions are happening across Derbyshire.

And it means they can make important links between cases allowing them to respond more quickly to local outbreaks and put effective measures in place – possibly avoiding the need for a local lockdown.

Derbyshire’s Director of Public Health Dean Wallace said:

“It is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.

“Although these residents will already have been contacted by the national Test and Trace programme our work in Derbyshire is helping is to create a more detailed picture of what’s happening locally.

“This all means that we will be able to respond more quickly and efficiently when we see a pattern of outbreaks occurring.

“By responding earlier to identified outbreaks, it could avoid the need for any extra lockdown restrictions in a particular area. So I’d urge anyone who is contacted by members of my team to do the right thing and give all the correct information.

“It is important to remember that this virus hasn’t gone away. We all want to get back to doing the things we love and by working together we can do that more quickly.”

People are urged to continue to follow the guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus by:

  • washing their hands regularly
  • staying 2m apart
  • wearing a face covering when required, unless exempt
  • keeping social gatherings to no more than 6 people – including children – both indoors and outdoors

If anyone develops any of the main symptoms – a new, continuous cough, high temperature or change or loss to your sense of smell or taste – they should immediately self-isolate for 10 days.

They should book a free test online or by calling NHS 119 and continue to self-isolate until they get their results.

People who test positive will be contacted by the NHS Test and Trace team by email, text or phone and any close contacts will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

Under new laws, it is an offence to knowingly provide false information about close contacts to NHS Test and Trace.

Like the national test and trace programme, public health staff will never ask for payment or bank details.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home

Chesterfield secures funding to deliver Green Homes

Chesterfield Borough Council has secured ÂŁ500,000 of funding to enable energy efficiency improvements for local residents.

The funding comes from the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery scheme and will allow the council to support owner occupiers and landlords whose homes have a low rating in terms of energy efficiency.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “This funding will help tackle the ongoing issue of fuel poverty in Chesterfield while also ensuring that the we can meet our objective of creating a carbon neutral Borough by 2050. In Chesterfield almost 60% of annual greenhouse gas emissions are from buildings, by ensuring buildings are more energy efficient this will lead to a significant reduction in emissions. To help tackle the emissions from homes we will work with homeowners and landlords to deliver this funding where it is most needed.

“I want to remind residents who are homeowners and landlords that they can also now apply for the Green Homes Grant directly from the government, which can be used to support a wide variety of energy efficiency improvements. However, the timescales are very tight, so it is crucial that they apply for this funding as soon as possible.”

Chesterfield Borough Council will use its funding to enable improvements to homes that currently have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E or below but the national scheme is open to homes with higher ratings.

The funding covers a wide range of retrofit measures including insulation, double or triple glazing, new thermal efficient doors and the installation of heat pumps or other low carbon heating solutions.

If you are a private tenant, please speak with your landlord about improvements that can be made and highlight how they can apply for funding to help improve the energy efficiency of the home you rent.

Chesterfield Borough Council will release more details about how homeowners and landlords can access funding from the council to improve energy efficiency in the next few weeks. Details will be released on the council’s website and social media channels.

Find out more about the Green Home Grant and if your property is eligible by visiting: www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/pages/green-homes-grant

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home

Town leaders secure ÂŁ500,000 cash boost for Staveley community projects

Residents in Staveley are set to benefit from a range of community improvements after town leaders secured ÂŁ500,000 as part of wider plans to regenerate the area.

A new state-of-the-art all-weather sports pitch at Springwell Community College, new play equipment for King George V Playing Field and new CCTV equipment for the town centre are among the projects which will benefit from a cash boost.

The proposal to the government’s Accelerator Fund was submitted by Chesterfield Borough Council on behalf of the Staveley Town Deal Board.

This initial money will be used to kick-start improvements ahead of the Board’s submission of the Staveley Town Investment Plan, which is currently being finalised ahead of submission to the government’s Towns Fund. The Plan aims to secure up to £25m to help build a stronger economy for the area.

Ivan Fomin, Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, Destination Chesterfield board member and managing director of local business MSE Hiller, said: “This initial slug of government funding is great news for the area and signals the start of positive change for Staveley.

“These projects align with the Board’s long-term regeneration plans for Staveley, which we will shortly be setting out for government as part of our ambitious Town Investment Plan.

“Our collective aim is to create new jobs for local people and a stronger and more resilient local economy.”

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice Chair, said: “Being able to invest in grassroots facilities and projects like these now means we can bring real and immediate improvements that will benefit local people.

“These are positive investments in key facilities which support people’s health and well-being at a time when Staveley, like so many towns up and down the country, is struggling to weather the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. It’s about doing all we can to help our communities build back stronger for the future.”

The projects which will receive funding are:

  • George V Playing Field – to provide play spaces and outdoor gym equipment
  • Springwell Community College – installation of a 3G all-weather sports pitch
  • Staveley Miners Welfare Football Club – to provide drainage for three pitches as part of the Club’s wider pitch redevelopment project
  • Staveley town centre – to upgrade CCTV equipment in the area
  • Derbyshire Rail Industry Innovation Vehicle (DRIIVe) project – to support site development for a new rail training and innovation centre at Barrow Hill Roundhouse

The Staveley Town Deal Board has been established to oversee the development and implementation of a long-term Town Investment Plan for the Staveley area.

It is made up of elected members and senior officers from Chesterfield Borough Council, Staveley Town Council and Derbyshire County Council, both local members of parliament, representatives from local charitable organisations, Derbyshire Police, education leaders and representatives of the local business community.

Staveley Hall

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Home

Long-term Covid-19 recovery plan agreed to help Chesterfield communities overcome the impact of coronavirus

Tackling social isolation and supporting young people to overcome the impact of the pandemic are among the top priorities set out in a new long-term recovery plan by Chesterfield Borough Council.

Continuing to work closely with partners and the voluntary and community sector, and ensuring the borough takes the opportunity to promote a ‘green’ recovery, are also at the heart of the Covid-19 Strategic and Community Recovery approach.

The plan, which was adopted on 29 September, builds on the work already set out in the council’s Economic Recovery Plan, which was approved in July.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “While the threat of coronavirus remains very real and we continue to prioritise our response to local need, it’s important that we look at how we move forward as a borough.

“Our community has shown such solidarity and resolve over recent months – standing side-by-side to support and protect the most vulnerable.

“The council will continue to build and support resilient communities and embrace the sense of community that people have demonstrated during this very difficult period.”

Dedicated work programmes will be developed in support of the new priorities, and an initial ÂŁ30,000 Community Wellbeing Fund has been approved to help support this work.

Tackling social isolation, which many people have experienced during the pandemic – especially those who have limited access to technology – is a key focus and the council will now look at how it further supports projects and initiatives which promote social connectedness.

Supporting young people to build their skills and boost their job prospects despite the current challenges is also a top priority. The council will look to build on projects such as the recently-launched My Future platform – an innovative online careers and employability platform, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.

Underlying all of this work is a commitment to a ‘green’ recovery and carbon reduction as part of the council’s climate change pledge.

Councillor Mannion-Brunt added: “Although these last few months have undoubtedly brought huge hardship and challenge to our communities, there are positives that we can build upon and opportunities to make sure key commitments – like tackling climate change – are an integral part of our recovery plans.”

It follows the recent announcement that up to ÂŁ15,000 of neighbourhood funding is now open for applications through the Community Infrastructure Levy. Local charities and community groups in Chesterfield can bid for the cash to help support local community initiatives.

For more information about the neighbourhood funding, contact Wendy Blunt, Health and Wellbeing Officer, wendy.blunt@chesterfield.gov.uk or 01246 959657.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home