About Chesterfield

Last few places remain at 2019 Chesterfield Investment Summit

The final speaker line up for the 2019 Chesterfield Investment Summit has now been confirmed.

With less than 20 places remaining at the popular annual business event, which is taking place on Wednesday 11 September, people are being urged not to miss out on booking their free place.

Future investment and development opportunities in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire will be unveiled at the annual event, which is being held at Casa Hotel in Chesterfield from 8.30am – 12 noon.

With one of the 100 most influential women in technology, Polly Barnfield OBE, already leading the speaker line up at the free to attend event, delegates will also hear from a number of other key business figures at the summit.

This year, the full speaker and panellist line up includes:

  • Mark Warrilow, Skills Stakeholder Manager – Phase 2 (Skills Employment and Education) at HS2 Ltd.
  • Peter Storey, Head of Markham Vale at Derbyshire Country Council.
  • Dr. Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council.
  • Mark Jones, Head of Technical at Kier Living.
  • Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council.
  • Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield and Derbyshire Economic Partnership Board member.
  • Cllr Tony King, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, Derbyshire County Council
  • Cllr Amanda Serjeant, Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice Chair of Destination Chesterfield.

The event is organised by Derbyshire Economic Partnership, Destination Chesterfield and Marketing Derby joint partners in the EU funded Invest in D2N2 project with a focus on promoting Derbyshire both nationally and globally as the place to invest for growth and quality of life. The event is also part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Commenting on the event, Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield and who will also be taking part in the question and answer panel at the event, said: “We are delighted to be able to have such great speakers at this year’s Chesterfield Investment Summit. It’s not only an opportunity to learn about the exciting investment plans for the area, but also and opportunity to ask questions and contribute to the direction of the growth and development of Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire.”

To secure one of the final places at the event, please visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/chesterfield-investment-summit/

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Leisure, Visiting

Good weekend for Perez at Thruxton

Amigos Redline Racing star Seb Perez continued his Porsche Carrera Cup GB campaign as he returned to the UK’s fastest circuit, Thruxton last weekend (August 17-18) in the championship after the six week mid season racing break.

The 19-year-old Chesterfield racer got two excellent fourth-place finishes in both races as he continued his attack in the Pro class series, after being crowned Porsche Pro-Am champion last year.

Torrential rain on Friday during the second practice session saw him get as much track time in as he could but having to sit out some of the session with the other teams due to the bad conditions.

Due to this Perez missed out on essential laps on a circuit he hadn’t raced on for four years and the first time for the Porsche championship had visited in six years.

Needless to say and in true Perez style he went out on Saturday morning and gave it all he had got and qualified in 6th place.

A race one rain shower just before the start caused chaos with some cars changing to wet tyres, Perez decided to stay out on slicks which would prove to be the right choice that saw the track dry out over the 20 lap contest.

Staying out was the right decision, Perez had made the right call watching those on wets go in and clawed his way back fending off a late-charging Esmee Hawkey to hold fourth at the end of a challenging race.

Live on ITV 4, A partial reverse grid for Sunday’s second race saw Perez start on the second row in third place alongside his Nottinghamshire Amigos Team mate George Gamble, as the lights went out Perez stormed to a great start avoiding the drama at Campbell Corner where Gamble got mixed up in a tangle with Jamie Orton.

With Gambles misfortune and out of the race Perez gained and snatched the lead, before being caught and passed by Josh Webster and Dan Harper.

Perez now in third was looking at a podium place until in the later stages of the race he ran wide to let Lewis Plato through and settled for a very well placed fourth again.

After a good weekend at the Hampshire circuit Perez commented: “In FP1 the pace was fairly good; the track was greasy, and I hadn’t raced at Thruxton for four years, so it was good to get back into a rhythm. We did six laps in the rain in FP2 to see what it was like in case it was wet over the weekend, which proved to be very useful, but we were also mindful of not damaging the car.”

“In qualifying we had the pace and we were very competitive. I felt we could have been in the top three, but I had traffic on my best lap.”

“Race one was interesting due to it starting wet when we were on slicks. I had flashbacks to Croft and was wondering if we were on the right tyres. We did a second Safety Car lap and the track was wet in sectors one and two but sector three was bone dry.”

“The rain was very heavy, and I thought about stopping but I thought ‘it’s going to blow over and in ten laps time it will be the wrong tyre.’ The three other cars in front of me were on slicks and pulled a gap at the start so I was in no man’s land and finished fourth.”

“I started third on the reverse grid for race two and had an awkward moment into the third corner; Jamie Orton in front braked early so I had contact with him, and he then ran wide into George [Gamble], who went off.

“We led the rest of the lap until Josh [Webster] got a good tow and passed me down the back straight. After that I tried to look after the tyres; we played the long game, but it didn’t quite work out. That said, two fourths is a good result and I’m looking forward to the WEC rounds next.

Perez added: “I’ve already raced on the Silverstone GP track in the Supercup during the Formula 1 weekend so it will be good to get back there and show what we can do.”

Perez leaves the Hampshire circuit in fifth place in the championship with 39 points and Amigos Redline racing third in the Entrants Championship with 222 points.

Next up on the calendar sees the Amigos boys travel to Silverstone (31 August / 1st September) where the series will support the FIA World Endurance Championship, having already competed there in July in a one-off appearance in the Porsche Supercup supporting the British Grand Prix both Perez and Amigos Redline Racing are well versed on the circuit.

This year’s 16 race Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship series is one of the most highly regarded championships in Europe and follows the Kwik-Fit British Touring Car Championship package.

You can follow Seb and the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship live on ITV4

Editorial Paul Horton

Images Dan Bathie/Porsche GB.

Posted in About Chesterfield

Jarvis Cocker in a different class at Chatsworth

The Chatsworth Arts Festival returns for its fifth edition this September with talks, performance, music and film from an eclectic line-up of international artists, curators, collectors and writers working in design, music, theatre, sculpture, painting, dance, textiles, ceramics, books and gardens.

Running from 20-22 September, headline acts for this year’s festival include musician, writer and poet Jarvis Cocker, a figurehead for Britpop as frontman of Pulp and a revered cultural figure; one of the UK’s leading contemporary artists Mark Wallinger who represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2001 and won the Turner Prize in 2007; gardener, cook and tv presenter Sarah Raven; plus Gucci ‘Artist in Residence’ Rachel Feinstein, whose stay at Chatsworth has inspired her recently unveiled, baroque-styled sculpture ‘Britannia’, found in the estate’s garden.

More than 25 artists will fill out the bill for the three-day festival which takes place across the famous house and garden at the Peak District home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, who are passionate supporters of the Arts. The full programme can be found here and this year’s key exhibition is ‘The Dog – A Celebration at Chatsworth’. Artist Ben Long will be giving a talk in the shadow of his 8-metre high Dog Scaffolding Sculpture, which overlooks the festival site.

Supported by Sotheby’s, Laurent-Perrier and Golden Bottle Trust, the festival is the only UK event of its kind, featuring public talks about art, workshops and performances, by artists, makers and designers. Previous festivals have hosted the likes of contemporary artist Grayson Perry CBE, visual artist Cornelia Parker OBE, fashion designer Erdem and garden designer Dan Pearson.

Taking place at locations across the house and garden, this year’s festival-goers will also be able to enjoy the remodelling of the 5-acre Rockery, the first part of the biggest transformation of Chatsworth’s world-famous 105-acre garden for 200 years. The garden project follows the completion in 2018 of the 10-year restoration of the house and its interiors.

Images courtesy of Chatsworth House Trust

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Results show Derbyshire A-level students continue to do county proud

A-level students in Derbyshire schools have continued to do their county proud by achieving good grades.

According to provisional information for the 25 schools and academies in Derbyshire which offer post-16 education:

  • Around 2,100 students have received their Level 3 (A-level and equivalent) results
  • The average grade for a Derbyshire student was C this year
  • The overall pass rate in Derbyshire is 98%

Schools have been working hard to analyse their results issued yesterday and provide information and support for students as they take their next steps towards university, college, employment, apprenticeships or other opportunities.

Our Cabinet Member for Young People Councillor Alex Dale said: “A big congratulations to all students, teachers, staff, governors and parents on their success.”

“We’re really proud of our young people in Derbyshire and we wish them all the best as they choose higher or university education, training, apprenticeships or employment.”

Councillor Dale also reassured students who may be disappointed with their results that support is available.

Students who do not get the grades they hope for should get in touch with their school or college which will be able to help them access support and advice to consider all the alternatives.

Advisers can help students consider their options and decide on the best way forward. That might involve resitting some or all of their exams or taking other qualifications.

If young people have just missed their grades they can try their chosen university or college to see if they can still get in or go through the clearing process to find an alternative place.

Councillor Dale added: “We would advise those students not to panic but take the advice and support that’s on offer, do their research and consider all their options before deciding what to do next.”

“Students with A-levels who are not thinking about higher education can check out the apprenticeship website or visit our Derbyshire Skills Festival – the county’s largest careers event for young people.”

It will be held at the Proact Stadium in Chesterfield on Wednesday 18 September 2019 from 1.30pm to 7.30pm. Visitors will also be able to take part in have-a-go sessions to test their skills and give them an idea of what different careers might be like. Find out more here.

All results are provisional until the Department for Education issues its official performance tables in January 2020 but are accurate enough to provide a countywide overview.

Derbyshire Skills Festival

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Manufacturing

Behind the scenes tour of the Mayor’s parlour

Chesterfield residents will have the opportunity to visit the Mayor’s parlour this September as the council open the doors to celebrate Heritage Open Days in the borough.

Every September, organisations and volunteers across the country organise events to celebrate the country’s history and culture, and for the first-time residents can book to get a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the mayor’s parlour.

The mayor and mayoress, Councillor Gordon Simmons and Councillor Kate Caulfield, will also talk about their roles at the council and duties they carry out on a weekly basis.

Two tours will take place on Friday 20 September and will take around one hour to complete. Refreshments will also be provided. A maximum of 30 people can attend each tour so booking is essential if you would like to come along. To find out more and to book your place click here.

You can register to attend one of the below tour times:

• 1pm – 2pm
• 2.30pm – 3.30pm

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centre and visitor economy, has helped to organise the events. She said: “Heritage Open Days are events that take place around the country each year. The events are all about celebrating history and the communities in which we live, so we are delighted to be opening up the mayor’s parlour for tours in 2019.”

Cllr Gordon Simmons (mayor), Cllr Kate Caulfield (mayoress)

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Manufacturing, Visiting

Chesterfield College students celebrate results success

Successful students from Chesterfield College were celebrating today as they collected their A Level and BTEC results and secured places at university, on higher level apprenticeships or in employment.

Students from the college’s sixth form studying A Levels and extended diplomas had a 91% pass rate. Several sixth form courses achieved a 100% pass rate including Applied Science, English Language, Philosophy, Business and Criminology.

Callum Smith (right) achieved a distinction* and two distinctions in BTEC extended Diploma in Applied Science as well as a C in A Level Psychology: “I’m really pleased with my results. I’m going to university to study Psychology next because I want to be a Clinical Psychologist. The combination of courses I studied here have really helped me to know what to do next. You are really seen as an individual here and you have to do a lot of independent learning which really suited me.”

Lucy Cundill was delighted with her results and is looking forward to studying at the University of East Anglia after achieving an A in English Language, A in English Literature and B in History. She said: “I am really looking forward to the next step. I am going to university to study English Literature and Creative Writing and it is great that the friend I made here on my first day will be at university in the same town too! The support of tutors here at college has been really good. It is a really friendly place which has helped me to get the results I needed.”

Roan Knowles (below) achieved an A in History, A in English Language and D in Biology. He said: “I wasn’t nervous about getting my results but I was shaking when I opened the envelope. I am really happy that I have got a place to study history in Sheffield. I have always had an academic and general interest in history and I think it gives you lots of transferable skills. I am so glad I came to college. It has been perfect for me. You have to be more independent in your learning here but I find that much better and it has really prepared me for university level study.”

David Malone, Chief Operations Officer at Chesterfield College said: “I’d like to congratulate everyone who has received the results they need to help them secure university places or apprenticeships after studying with us. We have been celebrating with future lawyers, psychologists, radiologists, teachers, nurses, engineers and scientists today. It is a great example of how further education colleges give people the chance to study in a range of ways to help them progress into higher education or employment. It is wonderful to see students who have studied A Levels and vocational qualifications celebrating their success together.”

“Our student stories are a real inspiration for those thinking about what to do after GCSEs. Our new sixth form centre, which opens in September, will help to provide more choice for students wishing to study in a college setting. We have already offered 50% more places to applicants than last year and we look forward to welcoming the new students at the start of the new term in a few weeks.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business

Chesterfield’s Food Producer of the Year finalists announced

The finalists for the 2019 Chesterfield Food Producer of the Year title have been selected after a special tasting event held at Casa Hotel.

Crooked Pickle Co, Derbyshire Distillery and Moss Valley Fine Meats are all named as finalists in the category, which is sponsored by Edge Events Management Ltd.

The winner of the Food Producer of the Year title will be announced by celebrity chef, Brian Turner, at the 2019 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards ceremony, which is being held at the Winding Wheel in October later this year.

The food and drink producers now join over 30 businesses that have been shortlisted across 14 categories in the seventh annual awards.

Organised by Destination Chesterfield and sponsored by The Chesterfield College Group, the prestigious awards recognise the very best food, drinks, service, venues, apprentices and apprentice employers in the town’s growing hospitality sector.

Read more about all the food producers who took part in the tasting session in the latest blog by Dom Stevens, Manager of Destination Chesterfield here.

Crooked Pickled Company prides itself on its ‘tasty and inventive pickled vegetables’ and supplies its range to shops, delis and cafés throughout Derbyshire. Delighted to be shortlisted, Owner Felix Mendelsöhn commented: “It validates all of the effort that has gone into the business in the short time of its existence and shows that we are doing something different to the norm. We combine traditional pickling methods with unusual recipes to offer customers unique and exciting products.”

New business Derbyshire Distillery is based in Staveley and was established in 2018. It produces small batch gins, vodkas and liqueurs. David Hemstock, Co-Founder and Head Distiller at Derbyshire Distillery said: “It’s fantastic to have made it as a finalist in the Food Producer of the Year category, especially in our first year of trading. We are passionate about the quality of our products and are now investing heavily in increasing production and extending our sales outside the local area.”

Moss Valley Fine Meats, which is run by fourth generation farmers, joins Derbyshire Distillery and Crooked Pickle Company in the finalist line up. It produces pork, bacon, ham and sausages at its own butchery from pigs bred and reared on the farm in North East Derbyshire. Delighted to be a finalist, Stephen Thompson, Owner at Moss Valley Fine Meats, said: “We are really pleased to be shortlisted. We are busy expanding the butchery to be able to supply across Derbyshire and this is a great springboard to help us showcase our products.”

Details of all finalists in the 2019 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards can be found here.

As well as Edge Events Management Ltd, other supporters of the awards include Apprentice Town (Led by Chesterfield Borough Council), Banner Jones Solicitors, BHP Chartered Accountants, Casa Hotel, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire Times, Distinctive Magic, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), Elder Way (Jomast Developments), FEAST – Food and Drink Forum, Hoods Florist, Jumble Creative Design, Kier Group, Learning Unlimited (The Chesterfield College Group), Magnifica, MSE Hiller, Owen Taylor & Sons, Peak FM, Reflections Magazine (Bannister Publications Ltd), Shorts Chartered Accountants and Vicar Lane Shopping Centre.

Chesterfield Champions are welcomed to the Food Producer Tasting event by Tara Underhill, Senior Destination Chesterfield Coordinator

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Leisure

Vicar Lane to host charity draw to win £1,000 Chair

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is working in partnership with The Pilgrim Bandits, to offer customers the chance to win a stunning chair worth over £1,000, upholstered in a replica of the uniform of Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson MBE, in their charity draw.

Tickets for the draw are priced at just £5 each and available to be purchased online, right up until the day of the draw itself. All proceeds of the ticket sales will go to the registered charity, The Pilgrim Bandits. To purchase a ticket/tickets, visit the Vicar Lane Facebook page or website for more information.

The draw is a fantastic way for members of the public to show their support for a cause that does so much to help those who make such great sacrifices to serve and protect our country. It is also a fabulous opportunity for one lucky individual to walk away with a unique, statement piece of furniture for their home that is sure to be a talking point for years to come.

The winner will be drawn at 4.30pm on Sunday 18th August – also the day of Chesterfield Motor Fest – and the chair will be presented to the winner, in person, by Ben.

The Pilgrim Bandits were established by a small group of Special Forces veterans in 2007 and registered as a charity in 2010, with the sole aim of using their unique training and experience to help and inspire injured personnel to live life to the full.

Pilgrim Bandits’ primary aim is to help those in need directly, with no compromise. Soon, those who needed help, become those that give it. By pushing injured men and women into physically and mentally demanding situations that they would not have dreamed possible; kayaking extraordinary distances, climbing mountains, jumping from aircraft, running races, trekking across inhospitable terrain, self-confidence is restored and self-belief instilled – Always a Little Further. Pilgrim Bandits pushes those that have already endured so much, to go beyond endurance – to embrace life again and in doing so, inspire others.

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager, Vicar Lane said, “As the date of our draw grows ever near, we’re incredibly excited to provide our customers with the opportunity to obtain such a unique piece of furniture, while showing their support for a charity that helps so many people. ”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Summer Play Season opens at the Pomegranate Theatre

Chesterfield’s Summer Play Season opened at the Pomegranate Theatre last night, running until Saturday 7th September.

Theatre goers in Chesterfield can enjoy a series of popular plays as the annual Summer Play Season is underway. The plays are staged at the Pomegranate Theatre, which is owned and operated by Chesterfield Borough Council and are presented by Paul Taylor-Mills, Olivier Award-Winning Producer and he is also Advisory Producer to Andrew Lloyd Webber, and his repertory company.

The plays include:

Present Laughter (Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 August)

Present Laughter follows successful and self-obsessed light comedy actor Garry Essendine as he prepares to travel for a touring commitment in Africa. Amid a series of events bordering on farce, Garry has to deal with women who want to seduce him, placate both his long-suffering secretary and his estranged wife, cope with a crazed young playwright, and overcome his impending mid-life crisis.

The Kings Speech (Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24 August)

David Seidler’s original play brings the audience face to face with Bertie, Duke of York, as he is thrust onto the world stage as King George VI following his brother’s abdication. With the Nazi threat looming and civil unrest at home, royal secrets explode around Bertie as he struggles to find his voice as King.

Wife Begins at Forty (Tuesday 27 – Saturday 31 August)

George, believing he has a happy marriage, is shattered to be told by Linda, his wife of 18 years, that she is going to leave him. With advice from their son, his father, and Roger from next door, George takes drastic steps to rejuvenate his marriage with hilarious consequences.

Dangerous Corner (Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 September)

At their stylish country retreat, Freda and Robert Caplan host a dinner party for their colleagues and friends. Young, beautiful and successful they have the world at their feet. Then a cigarette box and an ill-considered remark spark off a relentless series of revelations and other, more dangerous, secrets are painfully exposed. As the truth spills out about the suicide of Robert’s clever, reckless brother the group’s perfect lives begin to crumble.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “I am proud that the council is able to invest in drama by offering the Summer Play Season at the Pomegranate Theatre, which we own and maintain.”

“The plays on offer will appeal to seasoned theatre-goers as well as someone just looking for an enjoyable evening out.”

Paul Taylor Mills, who presents the Summer Play Season with his repertory company, added: “I am delighted that my summer play festival company are returning to present another season at the lovely Pomegranate Theatre.”

“For our third year we are presenting four great plays including a classic comedy from the master Noel Coward, a fascinating story of a monarch suddenly thrust into the spotlight, a hilarious comedy of suburban manners and an edge of your seat drama from JB Priestley.”

“We are all looking forward to meeting our wonderfully supportive audience again in August and September and hope everyone will enjoy another brilliant season of plays”.

Find out more and book your tickets here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

BRM Solicitors team up with Macmillan for exclusive free wills service

During September and October 2019, BRM Solicitors and Macmillan will be teaming up to offer an exclusive free will writing service.

Now in its fifth year, the service is on track to reach £100,000 raised to help fund construction of the state-of-the-art Cancer Unit which opened summer 2017, and provide new services at the unit. Over the next few years, Macmillan will invest over £1 million to fund new projects and health professionals at the hospital and elsewhere in Derbyshire. These include new Welfare Rights Service and Macmillan Supportive Care Service (3 Nurses and a Clinical Navigator) at the new centre.

Over the two months of September and October, BRM Solicitors will waive its usual fees for will writing, and instead request a voluntary donation to help fund new Macmillan Services at the NGS Macmillan Cancer Unit. Suggested minimum donations are just £75 per simple single will, and £150 for a simple mirror will for a couple.

The scheme is a perfect opportunity to make a will with a regulated local professional, whilst helping improve the treatment and services available for local people living with cancer.

BRM are taking advance bookings for appointments. To take advantage of this exclusive offer, call 01246 555111, email macmillan@brmlaw.co.uk, or register your interest online at www.brmlaw.co.uk/macmillan.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

More support to help Derbyshire businesses prosper

Support for local businesses was at the centre of discussions when Derbyshire County Council met with rural businesses in Ashford in the Water.

Councillor Tony King, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, visited Ashford Business Units to discuss how the county council could offer local firms more support and guidance to help them grow.

Local produce distributor SaucedHere.co.uk, Peak Ales microbrewery and Peak Venues, which specialises in holiday accommodation catering for large groups, praised the support currently offered by the county council and Derbyshire Economic Partnership but the group highlighted that work needs to be ongoing to raise the profile of Derbyshire and the need for larger properties for very small businesses to expand into.

Luke Osborne, Founder of SaucedHere.co.uk said: “It was a pleasure to have been visited by Tony. He took a genuine interest in our work and how it boosts the income of the 40 Derbyshire and Peak District farmers, food and drink producers and businesses we collaborate with. The support from the council has been very encouraging.”

“Our key need going forward is to spread the word about the products listed on our site and continue to grow our customer base.”

“Derbyshire and the Peak District is an unsung food capital of the UK and SaucedHere.co.uk makes it easier for customers to buy local rather than automatically reaching for a national supermarket chain. Anything the council can do to help promote local produce and how to obtain it is gratefully received.”

Councillor King said: “Driving economic growth is a vital part of our ambitious plans for the future because it’s good for business and benefits us all.”

“We know we need to think and do things differently to provide the 21st century services local people want and need – that’s what our ‘Enterprising Council’ approach is all about. So it was great to hear from businesses first-hand about what they think we can do to help them prosper.”

“Our proposals for a Festival of Derbyshire are geared towards raising the profile of our great county so it was good to hear that this is the kind of activity that local businesses such as those in the tourism and food and drink sector want us to drive forward.”

“It’s also worth reminding local people to ‘shop local’ too. Derbyshire has a lot to offer whether it’s in food and drink, tourism or manufacturing and for every £1 spent locally it generates £1.76 for the local economy.”

Marketing Peak District and Derbyshire, the area’s official tourist board which is supported by the county council, has developed a campaign to encourage more visits to the area by highlighting the county’s gastronomy offer.

Local brewers, producers, farmers, eateries and creators within the local food and drink industry are being showcased over the next 12 months as part of the ‘Eat, Drink, Explore’ campaign.

Work has also started to raise the profile of the county among the business community and encourage more companies to invest in the area with the launch of a new service called “Invest in Derbyshire”.

The service has been designed to support the county’s ambition to be a destination of choice for investors and businesses and it will:

  • Raise the profile of Derbyshire globally to secure investment and create new jobs, acting as a shop window for why Derbyshire should be a destination of choice for investors
  • Make it easy for investors to choose Derbyshire by providing a one-stop shop offering quality business support tailored to individual businesses’ needs ranging from help and support to choose the right site in Derbyshire to providing information on workforce skills and assisting with recruitment as well as offering guidance on financial incentives
  • Use market intelligence to target businesses in growth sectors to attract them to Derbyshire.

Derbyshire County Council are also enhancing the level of business support on offer across the county by recruiting our first dedicated business advisor. The new member of staff will support local businesses working alongside and in partnership with advisors at the D2N2 Growth Hub.

Find out more about investing in Derbyshire.

Derbyshire County Council  Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, Councillor Tony King (second in from the left) talks business support with Rob Evans from Peak Ales Microbrewery (left), Luke Osborne from SaucedHere.co.uk (centre) next to Justin Heslop from Peak Venues and Derbyshire County Council Business Development Manager, Amanda Brown.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Leisure, Visiting