About Chesterfield

Businesses to benefit from funded internship scheme

18th January 2019

Sheffield Hallam University are offering funded internships in 2019 to businesses, charities, social enterprises and NGOs.

The Hallam Internship Scheme is a funded scheme to support Sheffield Hallam University graduates wanting to gain quality work experience to support their employability after graduation.

This scheme is exclusively supporting Graduates who completed their studies in 2018 and Sheffield Hallam University are able to fund approximately 200 hours of work. Last year, the scheme placed 351 graduates, 79% are now in highly skilled employment.

It also provides businesses and organisations with talented graduates who are keen to gain experience in their sectors. Employers will have the opportunity to provide match funding to extend the internship period.

Companies seeking interns can advertise internships through the scheme and the University will provide Candidate Matching to help find the best graduates for the role. Employers must be able to support a minimum of 25 hours a week.

The Hallam Internship Scheme runs until September 2019, so organisations that don’t need an intern now can specify an ideal date for the internship to take place.

Businesses can apply here.

For more information contact the Sheffield Hallam Internship Team on 0114 2253433 or email employment.service@shu.ac.uk

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Manufacturing

Historic Chesterfield building to become luxury apartments

18th January 2019

Leverton UK have been granted planning permission by Chesterfield Borough Council to convert the historic building at 87 New Square into nine luxury apartments.

The company has been in the process of acquiring the building since early July 2017 and were successful in their bid, completing on the building in June 2018.

Director Marcus Leverton said: “We always intended to buy the building and convert it in to luxury residential living accommodation and immediately after securing the building we set about applying for the necessary planning permission to allow this, which was granted on the 4^th January 2019.”

“This building is a beautiful double bay fronted red brick structure that we believe dates back to the late 18^th century, on land that was leased from the Duke of Devonshire. It will be subdivided in to 7 apartments and 2 penthouse units. Broken down into 3x one bedroom units, 5x two bedroom units and 1x three bedroom Penthouse unit with a stunning roof terrace overlooking the Peak District and the Town Hall.”

“We intend to provide high specification, technologically advanced living spaces, with an abundance of natural light, modern textures and high quality appliances throughout, with open plan communal areas paying testament to the original features of the buildings Georgian heritage.”

“What sets this building apart from any other town centre development is clear, it is a beautiful listed building of significant historical importance with many period features that we intend to lovingly restore.”

The building sits in the corner of New Square, with the convenience of easy access to the town centre shops, café’s, bars and restaurants. It has lift access to all floors making the development fully accessible, with secure car parking to the rear, additional storage areas with space for bicycles and miscellaneous items within the building for added security. In addition, Chesterfield is centrally located, with excellent public transportation links to the rest of the country.

Marcus added: “We are very much looking forward to expanding the business and investing in the future of our local town’s infrastructure.”

Work on the development will commence this year, with the units expected to be released in 2020.

For more information please contact Marcus Leverton m.leverton@levertonuk.com

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development

Avant Homes acquires land for development of 177 new homes at Chesterfield Waterside

16th January 2019

Leading UK housebuilder Avant Homes has acquired a significant parcel of land at Chesterfield’s £340 million Waterside development where it now plans to build 177 new homes.

As a result, Avant Homes has now submitted an application to Chesterfield Borough Council for reserved matters planning approval for the £36m development which will deliver a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes in ‘The Park’ neighbourhood of the Waterside project.

Subject to approval of the application, construction at Waterside Quarter will commence in summer 2019 with the first homes released for sale in autumn 2019.

The construction of homes on the 12-acre former timber yard site on Brimington Road will be the first official ‘spade in the ground’ at Chesterfield Waterside following the completion of site enabling works.

A new highway bridge, which will provide the main access to this phase of the development, will also be constructed as part of the proposals. Planning permission for the bridge was granted by Chesterfield Borough Council at the end of last year.

Waterside Quarter is the third site acquired by Avant Homes in north east Derbyshire in the last six months and will be managed by the company’s Avant Homes Central operation which was established in May 2018 and is based in Holmewood.

Avant Homes Central also has developments in Woodthorpe near Barlborough, Chesterfield, and South Normanton. Waterside Quarter will be the company’s largest development to date in the Chesterfield area.

Avant Homes Central managing director, Stuart Rowlands, commented: “Chesterfield Waterside is a high profile regeneration project and forms an integral part of the housing delivery strategy for the town.

“Avant Homes Central are proud to be at the forefront of these plans with our striking and contemporary proposals for a new community. This is a fantastic opportunity for Avant Homes to demonstrate our good, better and different approach to urban regeneration.”

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

Peter Swallow, managing director of the Bolsterstone Group Plc, commented: “The deal with Avant Homes is the start of an exciting new phase in Waterside, one that I know the people of Chesterfield has been waiting for.

“I am delighted to welcome Avant Homes to the project. The homes planned for the site embody the aspiration for Chesterfield Waterside. They are both contemporary and high quality in design which, when combined with their location, will create a highly desirable and sought after residential neighbourhood.”

Chesterfield residents have shown their support for the site. A survey last year found it is the development local people are most looking forward to seeing complete.

Welcoming the news, Councillor Tricia Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader, said: “Chesterfield Waterside will bring many benefits to the town and it’s pleasing to see the plans for the new homes to be built as part of the development move a step closer.

“The detailed plans are subject to final approval by the council’s planning committee, which will carefully examine the application to ensure the needs of our residents are best met.”

Find out more about Chesterfield Waterside

Stuart Rowlands Managing Director of Avant Central Copyright Paul David Drabble www.pauldaviddrabble.co.uk

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development

D2N2 Growth Hub celebrates four years in business

14th January 2019

The D2N2 Growth Hub marked its fourth ‘birthday’ in December with a celebration event including some of the more than 7,000 businesses it has engaged with.

Launched in December 2014, by the then Business and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock MP, the D2N2 Growth Hub uses its wide range of (mostly free or heavily subsidised) services to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Services offered through Growth Hub advisors include help with starting and growing a business, accessing growth finance, training and skills development, leadership training, and expanding into new and international markets.

The D2N2 Growth Hub is part of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP); a private sector-led Partnership of business, local authorities, skills and training providers, and community and voluntary organisations, which promotes economic growth, jobs creation and business start-ups in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

The celebration event featured speakers from some of the D2N2 LEP area businesses which have benefited from the D2N2 Growth Hub’s help; including physiotherapy service Jolly Back, Lucy Rennie Communications and business consultancy Talk Staff.

In customer surveys, D2N2 Growth Hub clients have consistently given its services high ‘satisfaction’ ratings. Video testimonies from businesses helped by the D2N2 Growth Hub are on its YouTube channel.

In September 2017, the Growth Hub launched its ScaleUp Service; giving specialist help to SMEs experiencing high growth; characterised as having a turnover of between a million and £15m a year, and which had experienced consistent annual growth of at least 20% for the past three years.

For more information on the D2N2 Growth Hub and its services see its website at www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Manufacturing

Have your say on Local Plan for Chesterfield

11th January 2019

A six-week public consultation is to be held to get the views of residents and businesses about Chesterfield Borough Council’s draft Local Plan.

The plan sets out the proposed future housing, industrial, commercial and leisure land use in Chesterfield until 2033. Residents and businesses can give their views on it between Monday 14 January and Friday 22 February.

Once the consultation is completed the plan will then be considered by an independent Government planning inspector at a public planning inquiry, which it is expected will take place later this year. The inspector will consider any comments made as part of the consultation as well as take representations at the hearing.

Two drop-in information sessions are being held so residents and businesses can find out more about what the plan could mean to them. They will be held on:

Tuesday 5 February at Chesterfield Market Hall, Market Place, between 10am and 7pm
Wednesday 6 February at the Speedwell Rooms, Inkersall Road, Staveley, between 1pm and 6pm

The draft Local Plan can be seen by visiting www.chesterfield.gov.uk/localplan, which will also have details of how to respond and make any comments.

Paper copies of the plan, along with consultation documents, will be available at Chesterfield, Brimington, Newbold, Old Whittington and Staveley libraries, as well as Chesterfield Town Hall in Rose Hill East and the Chesterfield Borough Council Customer Service Centre in New Square.

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “This stage of the Local Plan builds on the previous public consultations and is a more formal process which requires us to ask for the public’s views on the soundness of the plan and whether it meets the legal duties the Government sets out.

“The Local Plan is important to local residents and businesses because it is the starting point for assessing the merits of individual planning applications.”

“I would encourage everyone to give us their views and make sure they do it within the six weeks as we are not allowed to accept any late representations.”

Between now and 2033 the plan proposes:

Setting aside enough land for around 5,250 new homes, with a requirement to build at least 4,374 of those. This is a lower figure than in previous versions of the Local Plan. Most of the sites identified were included in the 2017 draft Local Plan but have been updated following comments made during that consultation process.
Continuing to use the existing Community Infrastructure Levy and ‘Section 106’ planning agreements to provide community facilities, such as schools and GP services, in places where development takes place
That major housing developments have up to 20 per cent affordable housing included within them
Up to 25 per cent of homes on major developments meet the higher ‘accessible and adaptable’ standard in the building regulations, which means they can be altered to suit people with mobility issues
All new homes and commercial developments are required to include electric vehicle charging points
Continued support for the restoration of Chesterfield Canal
Continued protection of the Green Belt, and a group of new ‘green wedges’ and ‘strategic gaps’
Developing 44 hectares (108 acres) of employment land
Providing 7,736 square metres of new retail space

Most of the proposals within the draft Local Plan build upon the existing document but have been updated to reflect new planning guidance and legislation, as well as the latest statistical information on a range of topics including population size, housing need and requirements for open spaces.

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

Council consults on changes to learning disability support

10th January 2019

Residents are being asked for their views on proposals to change the way people with learning disabilities and autism are supported to lead fulfilling lives.

Derbyshire County Council plans to transform support so it focuses on an individual’s strengths to help them achieve personal goals rather than fitting people in to services that are available.

The introduction of the Care Act 2014 gave the council greater responsibility to ensure people with learning disabilities and autism lead independent lives.

Members of the county council’s Cabinet have approved the launch of a 12-week consultation which will run until 31 March 2019. Letters have been sent to everyone who currently uses learning disability services together with a questionnaire which they, their family and carers are invited to complete. Residents can also fill it in online.

A series of events have been planned for people who currently attend day services and their relatives and carers to give their views. The below events will be held in Chesterfield will run from 10am-12 noon on:

Monday 4 February – No Limits, Lower Ground Floor, West Street, Chesterfield, S40 4TY
Wednesday 27 February – Markham Vale Land Services, Unit 14, Markham Lane, Chesterfield, S44 5HY
Wednesday 13 March – Bolsover Day Centre, Oxcroft Lane, Bolsover, S44 6DJ

A meetings will also be held for young people with learning disabilities who are due to move from the support of children’s services on Monday 25 February – St Thomas Centre, Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, S40 3AW.

Other meetings have been planned for outside the Chesterfield area, please click here to find out more.

Places need to be booked by contacting the county council on 01629 531307 or emailing telladultcare@derbyshire.gov.uk

Under the council’s proposals:

People who are assessed as having the most complex needs could continue to use suitably equipped day centres to access community activities – although the activities and location offered may change
People who are newly-referred to the service but do not have complex needs would be offered one-to-one support to access activities which could include paid work, training or volunteering.
Current service users who are not assessed with complex needs can choose to continue using day services.
In the future everyone would be assessed under the council’s transport policy and if they are not eligible for support may have to make and pay for their own travel arrangements to and from the day centre.
The council would support voluntary and independent organisations to develop a wider range of opportunities available for people with learning disabilities and autism.
Redesign work-based day services offered by the council to become employment skills and training hubs. These would offer people the opportunity to receive training and support them into work and, where appropriate, paid employment.

Councillor Jean Wharmby, the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Care, said: “We want to make sure our services help people with learning disabilities lead fulfilling lives.”

“They have told us they want to be involved in their local community, going out with friends, learning new skills or getting a job.”

“Instead of trying to fit people in to services we have available, we are keen to make sure our support focuses on an individual’s strengths to help them achieve personal goals.”

The county council currently supports around 680 people aged from 18 to over 65 with learning disabilities – of those, around 460 currently attend a county council day centre. Figures show that the number of people, particularly younger people, using day centres has fallen. Of the 15 council-run centres around the county, 14 have empty places as people are choosing to do other things.

Councillor Wharmby added: “I’d like to reassure people that no decisions will be taken until we have heard everyone’s views as we are committed to working together to come up with a service shaped by the people it affects most.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

Free Employability and Skills Conference to be held to ensure school leavers are work ready

9th January 2019

Business leaders and the education sector in North Derbyshire are being urged to come together to address employability and skills in the area at a free conference next month.

With more than 14,000 students in North Derbyshire set to gain their GCSE and A Level qualifications over the next five years, the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference aims to strengthen links between education providers and local businesses to ensure school leavers are work ready.

Returning for a third year, the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference, will be held at Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa from 8.00am – 10.30am on Wednesday 13 February 2019.

The conference is organised by Chesterfield Borough Council, Gail Widerman of Placing Futures, D2N2 Enterprise Advisor Network and Destination Chesterfield.

The conference is an opportunity for employers and education providers to develop solutions together that will ensure young people leaving education have both the skills employers in the area require and are also aware of the employment opportunities available to them.

One of the headline speakers at the event includes Brendan Kelly, Managing Director of Heathcotes Group, the industry-leading providers of residential care for adults which is headquartered in Chesterfield.

Brendan Kelly commented: “Bringing on talented and dedicated people through apprenticeships has been vital to Heathcotes’ success in what is currently a very challenging health and social care sector. Working with our learning partners, Chesterfield College, we have developed a work-based learning programme which has been very successful in developing long-term careers in this region, so we welcomed the opportunity to speak at this conference to advocate the enormous value of apprenticeships for school leavers and businesses alike.”

Mr Kelly will also be joined by representatives from Capgemini, Brookfield School and St Marys Roman Catholic High School, who will be speaking at the event.

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, explained why the conference is so important to Chesterfield and North Derbyshire. He said: “One of the council’s priorities is to ensure that local people benefit from the economic growth that we are seeing in Chesterfield.

“We have to plan now for future opportunities like HS2 and some of the other large developments so that, when those jobs become available, local people are skilled and able to take advantage of them.

“People in well paid jobs get more life opportunities, which means their health and wellbeing tends to be better and they have more cash in their pocket. This means they can spend more in the local economy. In turn, this supports other jobs.”

Gail Widerman, Director of Placing Futures Ltd – an independent consultancy service based in Chesterfield which links vocational learning to schools and employers, said: “Research has shown if a young person has four or more encounters with people from the world of business from year 7 to 11, they are 86% less likely to leave school and fall into NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and on average earn 15% more in their working lifetime. The more engagement students have with businesses while in school helps inform their aspirations and choices post education. It also gives businesses the opportunity to inspire young people to look at careers in our local industries.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Manufacturing

One week left to apply for primary school places

8th January 2019

Parents have just one week left to apply for their child’s primary school place for September 2019.

Parents of children who were born between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2015 must apply to Derbyshire County Council by midnight on Tuesday 15 January 2019. Councillor Alex Dale,Cabinet Member for Young People said:

“Parents have just one week left to apply for their child’s primary school place so if you haven’t already applied please send us your application as soon as possible.”

“Applying before the deadline gives parents the best chance of getting a place for their child at their preferred school so please don’t leave it until the last minute.”

“It’s really quick and easy to apply online and we’re here to support you throughout the application process.”

Applying online is the easiest method. This allows parents to make changes to their application at any point up to the closing date. Anyone who applies this way will receive an email to confirm their application has been received and another email on Primary National Offer Day – Tuesday 16 April 2019 – stating the outcome of their application.

Apply for a primary school place.

You can also apply by phone. Ring Call Derbyshire on tel:01629 533190 between 8am and 8pm on weekdays and 9.30am to 4pm on Saturdays.

When completing the application form parents will be asked to list, in order of preference, the three schools they would most like their child to go to. Parents are advised to consider including their normal area school as one of their preferences. Although parents have a legal right to express preferences they have no automatic right to a place at any particular school.

Parents can still choose to complete a paper form, which they can get by emailing admissions.transport@derbyshire.gov.uk or by calling tel: 01629 537499. This must be returned to our admissions and transport team at the address shown on the form by the closing date.

Applications submitted to us after the deadline will not be considered until places have been allocated to those children whose parents did return their form on time. Parents who fail to meet the deadline may find that the school they want their child to go to is full.

Any parents who are a refused a place for their child have a right of appeal to an independent panel.

Posted in About Chesterfield

New Year message from Chamber President

7th January 2019

On the day that many people returned to work after a long Christmas break, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) published a video message from its President, Kevin Harris.

In it, he talks about the need to focus on the challenges, positives and opportunities that 2019 will present, rather than the negatives, particularly around whatever happens with Brexit.

“It’s essential we have the building bricks in place to ensure our growth this year, that’s the key to success,” he says.

Kevin, who is Office Managing Partner at RSM, the world’s 6th largest accountancy and advisory firm, based in Leicester, also talks about his goals for his year as Chamber President.

Looking back at 2018, he described the year as “busy”, but one that ended well when the Chamber took the top accolade of Chamber of the Year at the British Chambers of Commerce Awards.

The message ends with Kevin wishing all businesses a prosperous 2019.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Local restaurant wins two prestigious awards

4th January 2019

The Tickled Trout has won Restaurant of the Year and its Owner Chris Mapp has been awarded Chef of the Year in the Derbyshire Life and Countryside Food & Drink Awards 2018.

Hailing from the kitchens of Marcus Wareing and Gordon Ramsay, Chris returned home after working in London and Cornwall, and fate had it that his old local pub was up for sale. Since opening in summer 2014, Chris and his team have worked tirelessly to create an independent pub and restaurant that the village can feel proud of. The Tickled Trout’s reputation has grown and it is now regarded as one of the best places to eat in the Chesterfield area.

Chris and his dedicated team believe in using great fresh ingredients, sourced from local suppliers they know and trust. The award winning gastro pub serves fine wine, great local ales and combines a relaxing atmosphere with excellent customer service. The team welcomes families and has a private dining room for small functions and private or corporate hire.

The Derbyshire Life Food & Drink Awards are designed to recognise the best in the region’s food and drink industry – including local producers and suppliers, chefs, restaurants, pubs and individuals who work within the hospitality industry. The companies are nominated by readers of Derbyshire Life, and the winners have been voted for by people throughout Derbyshire.

Chris said: “I am extremely humbled to be awarded the Chef of the Year in Derbyshire Life, it was a great surprise to me but I am really pleased. However, winning the Restaurant of the Year also confirms that I have a fabulous team that helps me and each other achieve excellence in what we do. We are forever learning and evolving but this group I have are just amazing, these awards represent their hard work and they absolutely deserve the recognition.”

The Tickled Trout was also named the Best Out of Town venue at the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards in October 2018, adding to numerous awards won by the restaurant since opening.

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

Archaeological survey to take place at Chesterfield car park

4th January 2019

A number of parking spaces at Holywell Cross (Donut) car park will be temporarily unavailable while an archaeological survey is carried out on the site.

Chesterfield Borough Council submitted a planning application in October seeking permission to build a three-floor Enterprise Centre for small businesses on the car park, known locally as the Donut car park, as part of the Northern Gateway scheme.

Before the application can be considered the council is required to do an archaeological survey of the site to identify if there are any significant archaeological features beneath the planned development area.

To enable this work to happen some spaces within the car park will be out of use from Monday 7 January. The work is expected to take between two and three weeks, depending on the weather.

The rest of the car park will remain open as usual but if motorists find the car park is full then nearby alternatives include Soresby Street, Rose Hill, St Mary’s Gate and Durrant Road. Full details can be seen at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/carparks

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “The Enterprise Centre is needed to meet the demand from start-up businesses and existing small and medium sized businesses for office accommodation in a town centre location.

“Having a centre at this location creates jobs and also supports existing businesses in the town centre, particularly around the northern part, by providing extra customers during the day.

“We will carry out the archaeological surveys as quickly as possible to minimise any possible disruption for motorists.”

The planned Enterprise Centre building would include:

32 air conditioned offices, of different sizes, to suit a range of start-up and small companies
Two meeting rooms
High speed broadband access and wi-fi throughout the building
A reception and shared lobby area
CCTV in communal areas inside and outside the building
Facilities for staff working in the building including kitchenettes, break out spaces, showers and a bicycle store

The planning application is due to be considered by the council’s planning committee in February.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development