About Chesterfield

Blooming glorious Chesterfield

4th October 2017

Chesterfield gardeners are celebrating their blooming wonderful results as the Chesterfield in Bloom awards are held.

The annual awards, hosted by Chesterfield Borough Council at Ringwood Hall Hotel, which is the competition’s main sponsor, recognise the best gardens and the most green-fingered residents, schoolchildren and business owners in the borough.

Taking the top prize for the best overall garden were Barry and Maureen Lomas. The judges praised their front and back garden massed with hanging baskets, containers of all shapes and sizes and bedding plantings, all maintained to the highest standard.

Other category winners at the awards were:

Best container garden or hanging basket: Stephen and Margaret Wright
Best small allotment plot: Mick Charlesworth
Best large allotment plot: Colin Bloom
Best small allotment site: Rufford Close Allotment Association
Best large allotment site: Hunloke Avenue Allotment Association
Best pub or restaurant The Britannia Inn
Most improved gardens: The Green Care Home – Alicia Armstrong and Frank Walsh – Inkersall Allotments
Best back garden (less than 80m²): Barry and Maureen Lomas
Best back garden (larger than 80m²): Christine and Julia Stubbs
Best front garden: Jane Land

The schools competition saw the following winners:

Painting competition (reception to year 2): Isla Burns – Henry Bradley Infant School
Painting competition (year 3 to year 6): May Husband – Brockwell Junior School

The following schools also received awards in the competition: Ashgate Croft School Brimington Junior School, Calow CofE Primary School, Duckmanton Primary School, Hasland Infant School, Speedwell Infant School and Spire Infant School.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Every year the standard of entries into the Chesterfield in Bloom competition gets higher and higher making the judges’ decisions more and more difficult.

“Congratulations to all of the winners and to everyone who took the time to enter. Their efforts to help keep Chesterfield vibrant and green are very much appreciated.”

This comes as Chesterfield has received a prestigious gold award in the East Midlands in Bloom awards for the second year running.

Judges from the East Midlands in Bloom committee visited the borough in the summer to assess the borough’s entry in the competition.

The judges were impressed with the levels of community involvement – particularly the members of the Chesterfield in Bloom committee as well as the flower displays in the town centre and the enthusiasm of the children from Spire Infant School.

They gave a special award for the sensitive management and conservation of Holmebrook Valley Park and a gold award to Ringwood Hall Hotel for the best hotel/pub garden in the East Midlands.

Councillor Ludlow added: “It’s wonderful news that we have received a gold award in the East Midlands in Bloom competition for the second year running.

“This is thanks to the efforts of all our staff and volunteers who keep Chesterfield looking its best year round.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure

Search begins for the year’s most enterprising women

3rd October 2017

A quest to find the most successful and inspirational local businesswomen will launch this month.

The hunt for nominations for the 2018 East Midlands Chamber Enterprising Women Awards begins on 13 October and Chesterfield business women are being encouraged to apply.

It formally starts at a two-course lunch at the Quorn Grange Hotel, Leicester, where the guest speaker will be the inspirational mother-of-two, businesswoman and investor Alex Peace-Gadsby.

Alex runs several businesses, including the clothing company Musto, and is also involved with charity work both locally and nationally.

Based in Nottingham, she was appointed as the Chief Scout Commissioner for England in 2015 after being involved in Scouting for 11 years.

She will share her experiences as a woman in business, a journey that is both interesting and motivating.

The lunch will be hosted by the Co-Chairs of Enterprising Women – Jean Mountain, a Past President at East Midlands Chamber, and Eileen Richards, of ER Recruitment, both members of the Chamber Board of Directors.

Eileen said:-

“The awards are all about finding and recognising women who make a serious contribution to the regional economy, often successfully balancing work, keeping home and motherhood, but not always being acknowledged for what they achieve.

“Alex does all of the above and more, which makes her a perfect choice of speaker for the event that launches this year’s quest.”

There are six awards to be won this year – the 21^st year of the competition: Inspirational Woman of the Year, Outstanding Contribution to Business, Enterprising New Businesswoman of the Year, Enterprising Women Team of the Year, Enterprising Woman in the Community and Rising Star.

Entries have to be in by Friday 5 January 2018. Entry is by nomination, but can be self-nominated. The winners will be announced at a glittering, ‘little black dress’ dinner on 2 March – coinciding with International Women’s Day.

Jean said:-

“By highlighting their contribution and telling their stories, hopefully we can inspire other women to pursue their business dream, which is why I would urge as many people as possible to send in nominations for this year’s awards.”

Chamber membership is a requirement for nomination. For more information visit http://bit.ly/2wQylGm.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Energy-saving grant boosts Chesterfield business

3rd October 2017

Things are looking bright for an award-winning Chesterfield firm that’s used an energy-saving grant to go 100% LED.

Penny Hydraulics, which makes swing lift cranes for vans and lorries as well as its own range of goods lifts, installed the low energy lighting after receiving £15,000 from the Derby and Derbyshire Energy Efficiency scheme (D2EE).

Not only are the LEDs helping save money on energy bills, they’re also enhancing the quality of the Clowne-based firm’s products due to the improved lighting.

Robin Penny, Managing Director at Penny Hydraulics, said he was pleased to have received the grant which meant he could replace all the lights at once, rather than over a longer period of time which would have been disruptive. He said:-

“I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved.

“In particular paint spraying and assembly has been made much easier and better due to the incredible improvement in light quality. The fact that there is also a large cost saving is a real bonus.”

He added:-

“It would have been difficult for the company to justify the expense of going 100% LED in one go and so the grant has brought forward quality improvements, overhead reduction and the corresponding CO2 savings. A real win-win situation.”

The D2EE scheme is a partnership between us, Derby City Council and the University of Derby and is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. It aims to help SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) audit their energy use and introduce energy-saving measures.

Around 20 companies have benefited so far, but there are still up to 180 grants available for firms across the county interested in using less energy and saving money.

Mr Penny added:-

“The grant application went very smoothly and only took a week to get approved. Without it we couldn’t have afforded to change all of the lighting in one go, we would have had to do one building at a time, which would have caused a lot of disruption.

“The guys in the factory are happy as it makes their jobs much easier and it is a better place to work.”

Councillor Tony King, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at Derbyshire County Council, said:-

“Small and medium-sized businesses are a vital part of Derbyshire’s economy and by supporting this project we are giving them access to state-of-the-art equipment and technical expertise designed to improve efficiency and innovation.

“Grants are available to SMEs in Derbyshire and Derby and I urge companies to get in touch.”

Penny Hydraulics employs 85 people at its plant on Station Road, Clowne, which has been on an energy saving journey through modernisation of its premises including solar panels on the roof, an upgrade to some of the lights and an advanced heating controller.

The £15,000 grant was put toward the total cost of the project which was £40,000.

The firm’s finance director Ashley Holmes said the investment in energy-saving technologies helped the company become more resilient for the future as it was less affected by changes in energy prices.

He said:

“Having LED lights throughout the factory will go a long way in supporting our commitment to the environment and help with our ISO 14001 environmental management application.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Chesterfield economy to benefit from the new HS2 Growth Strategy

3rd October 2017

‘People, place and connectivity’ are the focus of a new East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy, revealing how the planned high speed rail network could add thousands of jobs and billions of pounds to the region’s economy.

In July (2017) Government confirmed its preferred route for HS2’s ‘Phase 2b’ line, or ‘eastern leg’; proposed to run from the West Midlands, through Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire – between the large urban conurbations of Nottingham and Derby – through to Leeds. The line includes plans for an East Midlands ‘hub’ station at Toton, Nottinghamshire – set to be the network’s best connected point outside London – an HS2 maintenance depot at Staveley, north Derbyshire, and provision for HS2 classic compatible trains serving the current Chesterfield train station. It’s estimated this eastern leg would open fully in 2033, but local partners believe there’s potential to partially open the hub station at Toton by 2030.

Now the East Midlands HS2 Strategic Board – a partnership of the region’s local authorities, businesses and Local Enterprise Partnerships – has submitted its East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy: World Class-Locally Driven to Government.

The new in-depth study – building on an initial proposal published September 2016 – details the opportunities HS2 presents to drive long term growth for the regional economy, equivalent to an additional 74,000 jobs and almost £4billion of GVA (Gross Value Added) by 2043, and how this could be achieved.

These opportunities include:

A North Derbyshire Growth Zone around Chesterfield and Staveley would put the planned HS2 Staveley depot at the heart of a series of mixed use regeneration opportunities, improve links between Chesterfield station and the town, and create an attractive gateway to the Peak District National Park and to other visitor attractions.
An East Midlands Hub Growth Zone featuring a new Innovation Campus at the Toton ‘hub’ station to accommodate high growth businesses and universities’ research, and with the capacity to create up to 10,000 high skilled jobs and improved community facilities; which will be at the heart of a network of ‘garden village’ developments, including the nearby Stanton and Chetwynd Barracks sites.
Greater connectivity – In addition to the greater rail connectivity HS2 would bring

the Strategy proposes improvements to local connectivity – using various modes of transport including road, bus, rail, tram, cycling, pedestrian – between East Midlands economic centres such as Derby, Leicester and Nottingham city centres, and East Midlands Airport; and between the towns and villages surrounding Toton and Chesterfield. The HS2 Growth Strategy also sets out comprehensive proposals for addressing congestion and improving connectivity on the A52.

Delivering jobs and training opportunities – Research undertaken for the East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy indicates HS2’s presence in the region – creating better links within the region and between it and the wider world, and by providing commercial opportunities for local supply chains – could boost jobs growth above projected UK trends; equivalent to an extra 74,000 jobs and almost £4billion of GVA by 2043. Manufacturing and technology sectors would particularly benefit, says the Strategy. It proposes jobs and skills promotion be based around the themes of inspiring young people, building further education capacity, harnessing the power of universities and supporting individuals.
Providing opportunities for business – Construction of the HS2 network, and providing services and maintenance once it is operating, represent major commercial opportunities for a wide range of sectors; including for construction and transport equipment manufacturing supply chain firms. To take best economic advantage of this the East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy proposes establishing a rail industry ‘innovation group’ through the existing Rail Forum East Midlands, and bidding for Staveley to become a construction and maintenance depot. There should also be a comprehensive HS2 awareness campaign to alert businesses and individuals to these opportunities, to ensure they are ‘HS2 ready’.

Jake Berry MP – Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth) at the Department for Communities and Local Government – added: “The investment this Government is making in HS2 represents an opportunity for economic growth, not just in the towns and cities along the route but across whole regions. I am delighted that East Midlands leaders have come together to develop an ambitious strategy which capitalises on this opportunity, and I look forward to discussing the proposals in more detail.”

Paul Maynard MP – Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rail, Accessibility and HS2 – said: “HS2 will become the backbone of our national rail network – supporting growth and regeneration and helping us build an economy that works for all.

“I welcome the initiative that the East Midlands local enterprise partnerships and local authorities have taken in working together to develop plans to maximise the economic benefits that HS2 will bring to Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and other parts of the region.”

Peter Richardson OBE, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, commented: “We have an exciting vision for the future, which sees HS2 as a catalyst to boost the region’s economy.

“For local people and businesses across the East Midlands, HS2 will mean more jobs and training opportunities, trade and investment, housing opportunities at a range of different sites, train services with quicker journey times, and better local transport connections. To make all this happen we need to plan early and engage support from all sectors of our community. This East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy provides an excellent and practical vision of how we wish to achieve that.”

Sir John Peace, Chair of the Midlands Engine and Midlands Connect, said: “Midlands Connect and Midlands Engine are seizing the once in a lifetime opportunity HS2 brings to drive growth for the region. We are fully supportive of accelerating completion of the East Midlands HS2 Hub and are urging Government to bring this forward.

“Midlands Connect is already defining and developing the local strategic connections that will maximise the economic benefits of HS2 connectivity and, through Midlands Engine, we will work with partners to turn this ambitious growth strategy into action.”

Councillor Simon Spencer – Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure; and Vice-Chair of the East Midlands HS2 Strategic Board –said: “HS2 will bring more jobs and business opportunities to Derbyshire, as well as massive potential for the county’s tourism industry.

“We believe the best deal for Derbyshire residents will be achieved by working with the Government, to maximise the economic benefits and minimise the adverse impacts of the scheme.”

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive at East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), added: “HS2 is the single biggest transport infrastructure project in a generation, and represents a huge opportunity for businesses across the East Midlands and beyond. It has the potential to be truly transformational, much more than just a new railway.

“It will be a catalyst that drives regeneration along its entire route and leads to wider infrastructure investment, it will utilise the skills available in the world’s greatest cluster of rail-related businesses in Derby, and create opportunities to make sure those skills and new ones will pass to the next generation. It will bring together a raft of different partners as they work together to maximise the opportunities of HS2, both during construction and for decades afterwards.”

To read a copy of the East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy: World Class-Locally Driven publication online go to web link www.d2n2lep.org/News/thousands-of-jobs-and-almost-4billion-for-economy-detailed-in-hs2-strategy

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Santa run returns to Chesterfield on Christmas Eve

3rd October 2017

Over a thousand Santas will be spotted in Chesterfield’s Queen’s Park on Christmas Eve.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural Santa Fun Run in the town, a similar event will be staged this year to raise funds for a trio of charitable organisations.

The aim of the CBD Training Ltd Chesterfield Santa Fun Run & Walk is to raise over £10,000, which will be split equally between Ashgate Hospicecare, Weston Park Cancer Charity and retreat@Royal for the Mayor’s Appeal.

Organiser John Cannon, who is an avid runner and member of North Derbyshire Running Club, said: “We raised over £4,000 last year and the target is to more than double that and raise a five-figure sum. As well as raising valuable funds, we want to make it a fun day for all the family.”

Speaking at the launch, which was held at Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium, John added: “We have worked closely with the Chesterfield FC Community Trust and they are helping to raise awareness of the event. For the game against Barnet on Saturday, December 9, we want to fill the North Stand with people who have entered the event dressed in Santa suits!”

There will be a 5k family fun run or walk, which is sponsored by CBD Training Ltd, together with a 1500m kids fun run or walk sponsored by Unit 1 Fitness and Martial Arts. There is no age restriction and participants over 100 years old are guaranteed free entry!

The 5k event will be started by the Mayor of Chesterfield at 9.30am from the cricket pavilion, with the 1500m event starting at 10.30am.

Entry fees, which include a Santa suit to keep, together with a goodie bag and a medal, are as follows:

£12 for adults (fun run or 1500m)

£7 for children aged 11 to 15 years (fun run or 1500m)

£5 for children from 0 up to the age of 10 years (1500m)

Entries can be made online from Monday, October 9, via: www.northderbyshirerc.jimdo.com.

Spectators on the day will listen to Christmas carols played by The Ashover Band and there will be mulled wine on offer and festive stalls to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.

In addition to the main sponsors, CBD Training LTD and Unit 1 Fitness and Martial Arts, the following organisations are also kindly supporting the event: Chesterfield Borough Council, Queen’s Park Leisure Centre, Chesterfield FC Community Trust, North Derbyshire Running Club, The Unique Network, Elastic FM, Fredericks Ice Cream, The MOT Centre, Siddalls Roofing, Mercol Engineering and Banner Jones Solicitors.

Further information about the event is available via www.northderbyshirerc.jimdo.com. On Facebook, search for ‘Santa Fun Run – Chesterfield’ for the latest updates.

ends

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas, Leisure, Visiting

Business is struggling to understand the Apprenticeship Levy

2nd October 2017

Too many businesses are struggling to understand the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy, according to research published this morning.

British Chambers of Commerce commissioned Middlesex University to find out whether businesses were making the most of the levy scheme, which was introduced for the start of the current financial year.

The levy is a tax businesses have to pay to fund new apprenticeships. It is set at 0.5% of payroll but an allowance, currently £15,000, means that only firms with payroll exceeding £3m a year have to pay into the fund.

But any firm wanting to recruit an apprentice has to be registered with the scheme, even if not paying into it.

What the researchers found was that 23% of levy-paying firms still had no understanding of it. That figure rose to 66% of non-levy-paying firms. And 15% of respondents said they didn’t expect to recover any of the added cost while 36% said they expected to recover all of it and possibly more.

Almost nine-out-of-ten (86%) of firms said the levy scheme had increased their overall costs.

Jane Gratton, Head of Business Environment and Skills at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “For many businesses that pay the Apprenticeship Levy, it can feel like an additional employment tax, much of which they are unable to recover, and one that is deflecting training budgets away from other important training needs.

“Firms need greater flexibility on how they can use their levy monies and a system that is fully operational as quickly as possible, is simple and efficient, and that enables them to access good quality training.

“Our survey shows that many firms are still unaware of the Apprenticeship Levy and how it will impact on their business.

“With many companies across the country facing critical skills shortages, more information and support is required to ensure businesses continue to invest in training.”

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive at East Midlands Chamber, which is itself a levy-paying business and an apprenticeships provider, said: “Worryingly, what this research shows is that, at one end of the scale, there are firms paying additional costs for something they don’t understand and don’t ever expect to see a return for and, at the other end, the very firms which should be taking money out of the pot to fund apprenticeships seem to have no idea how it works.

“It seems that since implementing the levy, the Government has simply left firms to work out for themselves what they are supposed to do instead of making sure they fully understand it and how to maximise its potential.

“We have the expertise to help members make the most of the levy and, rather than ignore it, we would urge them to call us so that we can talk them through it.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business

Italian Pasta and Prosecco bar opens on Chatsworth Road

27th September 2017

Chesterfield Food Producer of the Year 2013 and 2016, Teresa Lambarelli, opens the doors to a new Pasta and Prosecco Bar on Chatsworth Road.

The contemporary Italian Pasta and Prosecco Bar, which is now situated in newly refurbished Lambarelli’s restaurant above the Italian Caffe, will be open on Saturday evenings from 6pm until late and from Wednesday – Saturday from 10am – 3pm.

The bar is set to serve a range of traditional Italian cuisine from pasta dishes to antipasto platters, Buffalo burgers, Italian afternoon teas, Italain ice-cream and much more. There will also be a fully licenced bar and a programme of special Pasta and Prosecco evenings planned accompanied by live music.

At the bar, guests will also have the opportunity to pick up pasta sauces and produce from the two time winner of the Chesterfield Food Producer of the Year award.

Teresa Lambarelli is proud to have been producing her own Italian pasta sauces in Chesterfield since 2005, alongside her exciting range of salad dressings, olive pastes and Italian biscotti.

Teresa says:

“My customers are all so friendly and loyal, I absolutely love my job and now I love cooking for my customers in our restaurant – its like cooking for my friends. I have a fantastic work team now I couldn’t do any of this without them, I appreciate all they do for me.

“We invite the people of Chesterfield to come and enjoy my pasta dishes in a wonderful, friendly, contemporay Italian atmosphere. Here all my products are also for sale to take home with you.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Leisure

New ladies boutique opens in Chesterfield

27th September 2017

Chatsworth Road’s Johnsons hardware store has been given a new lease of life with the opening of independent ladies clothing boutique Dotique.

Dotique, which is already trading online, will open its doors on the 4^th November 2017 and offer a range of hand-picked, quality clothing and accessories for women from brands such as French Connection, Masai, Mos Mosh, Cream Clothing and A Postcard from Brighton.

Owner and former school teacher, Dorothy Robinson, is swapping classrooms for showrooms to bring European trends and beloved British brands to the shoppers of Chesterfield.

The new store, which is set over three floors, will also be home to Eleanor Rose, a local professional lingerie-fitting service, with plans to welcome further local businesses in the future.

Dorothy Robinson, Owner of Dotique, says:-

“I am thrilled to be opening Dotique on Chatsworth Road to add more vibrancy to this amazing town I’m lucky to call home. It’s such a dream come true to see the shop become a reality, a long-time ambition realised and I can’t wait for local residents to see it too.

“The boutique will provide women with stylish outfits from day to night wear from their favourite brands close to home. With the family link to the shop, we are keen to preserve its heritage but also give local residents and those further afield more fashion choices, bringing more business to Chesterfield.”

The shop, prior to being sold to Samuel Johnson in 1956, had been owned by the Robinson family for over 60 years and Dotique is keen to preserve the traditional character and charm by retaining a number of authentic features including the iconic outdoor canopy and the original front door.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Leisure

Whittam Cox ranked in UK’s Top 50 Architects

27th September 2017

Chesterfield Champions, Whittam Cox Architects, have secured a place in the Top 50 UK Architects and Top 150 UK Consultants rankings for the third year running.

The annual Top 150 Consultants league table, produced by leading industry magazine ‘Building’, has ranked the national practice as 108th out of all the firms who made the top 150, which includes QS’s, Project Managers, Engineers and Architects.

The practice, based in Chesterfield, have also retained their spot at 39th in the top UK Architects making the elite list alongside other top practices such as Foster and Partners, BDP, Sheppard Robson, Allies and Morrison & others.

The ranking reinforces the fact that Whittam Cox is one of the largest architects practices based in the East Midlands and Yorkshire region.

Whittam Cox’s local portfolio includes the Boundary Corner development of apartments and a new club shop at the Cherry Street corner of Sheffield United’s stadium, St James Retail Park on the site of the former Norton College, student accommodation in Matilda Street in Sheffield City Centre, a Dunn Works in Kelham Island and updating the masterplan for Chesterfield Town Centre.

This year has also seen the practice become an instrumental part of the newly established Sheffield Property Association (S-PA) with Nick Riley positioned as Board Member of the initiative which has been created to help attract inward investment into the city and surrounding region.

Commenting on the milestone Nick Riley said:-

“This year has been a particularly exciting time for us owing to the launch of our rebrand back in February of which we have received really positive feedback. As we look ahead we feel confident with our direction and feel better placed than ever to respond to changing market conditions.”

Top 50 UK Architects

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Destination Chesterfield and East Midlands partners promote region to London investors

26th September 2017

Destination Chesterfield, East Midlands Airport, Invest in Nottingham, Marketing Derby, Derbyshire Economic Partnership and Leicester City Council have joined forces to promote development sites across the East Midlands, at an event in London today (Tuesday 26 September).

Supported by the European Regional Development Fund, Sitematch East Midlands is an opportunity for London-based property developers and investors to discover more about specific development opportunities in the East Midlands. Representatives from Destination Chesterfield, East Midlands Airport, Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derbyshire Economic Partnership, Marketing Derby, Leicester City Council and Leicestershire Enterprise Zones will host meetings with delegates throughout the day.

Taking place at The Banking Hall in the centre of London’s financial district, representatives from the region will have the opportunity to present development sites to interested developers and investors, with a view to securing new investment opportunities for the region.

This is the first Sitematch event for the East Midlands, and has been managed by 3Fox International. Up to 35 developers are expected to attend, and the event will include general networking sessions and meetings for one-on-one discussions.

Destination Chesterfield, Marketing Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership will be showcasing the latest investment opportunities from across Chesterfield, Derby and Derbyshire.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager, said:-

“The announcement of an HS2 stop in Chesterfield and nearby maintenance depot have sparked a surge of interest in the town from all types of inward investor, including commercial developers and house-builders.

“Chesterfield’s location and connectivity within the East Midlands gives the town a unique appeal and this has already been recognised by many of those looking to invest. In the short term alone, more than £1bn of commercial and residential developments are set to come to fruition over the next five years, creating jobs and also bringing people to live in and visit the town.

“HS2 together with key developments like Markham Vale and the £320m Chesterfield Waterside and £400m Peak Resort sites, make Chesterfield an attractive addition to the wider East Midlands offering at the Site Match event.”

John Forkin, Managing Director from Marketing Derby, said:-

“Over the last few years Derby has cemented itself as an attractive location for investment, with over £4.3 billion invested in the city. This shows no signs of slowing down, with £2.1 billion in the immediate investment pipeline.

“Recent research by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) highlighted Derby as the fastest growing economy in the East Midlands, and one of the UK’s top ten. This reaffirms the confidence in the level of investment Derby is experiencing.

“We recently launched Marketing Derby’s secondary base in the heart of London, and will be launching the London chapter of the Derby Ambassador Club soon. At Sitematch we’ll be highlighting the latest opportunities for investment in Derby and Derbyshire, including those sites showcased in the Derby City Centre Masterplan.”

Andy Cliffe, Managing Director, at East Midlands Airport, says:-

“The East Midlands is ripe development potential. The region’s future is extremely bright what with proposed major infrastructure investment such as HS2, better intercity connectivity and the development of one of the country’s largest inland rail freight hubs. The foundations of future growth are already being laid. Here at the airport, the region’s gateway to Europe and beyond, we are planning for significant growth both in terms of passenger access to major oversees airport hubs and for our cargo output from which investors would significantly benefit.”

Leicester City Council and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) will be showcasing investment and development opportunities across the city and county.

Helen Donnellan, Director of Inward Investment at Leicester City Council said: “Leicester has achieved international prominence through the discovery of the remains of KRIII and the world class reinternment event and Leicester City Football Club’s Premier League title success has firmly put the city on the global map.

“To build on the momentum and awareness of the city and county, we’ll be focusing on opportunities for both the city and the LLEP’s Enterprise Zones which we want to share with delegates at SiteMatch.”

Invest in Nottingham will use the opportunity to showcase a variety of sites across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, including commercial, residential and mixed-use locations.

Lorraine Baggs, Head of Inward Investment at Invest in Nottingham, said:-

“We’ll be focusing on clear market-ready opportunities, and look forward to meeting with the interested parties attending. This is one of a number of events we’ve been part of in London this year, all with a focus on raising the profile of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire as a location ripe for investment opportunities.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Keynote speaker from HS2 announced at Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference

26th September 2017

HS2’s Skills and Employment Strategy Manager is headlining the speaker line up at the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference, which is returning for the second year running next month.

Rebecca Young from HS2 Ltd, the company responsible for developing and promoting Europe’s biggest infrastructure project will be speaking at the free special breakfast event that is being held on 12 October at Ringwood Hall in Brimington from 8.30am – 10.30am.

At the conference Ms Young will address the employment prospects the UK’s new high speed rail line will bring to the area, following confirmation earlier this year that the HS2 route will include a stop in Chesterfield and a maintenance depot in Staveley.

Places are limited at the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference. To book your free place click here or please register using the form below.

HS2 is forecast to create up to 25,000 jobs and 2,000 apprenticeships during the construction phase and over 3,000 permanent jobs will be created by the operation and maintenance of the HS2 railway and its rolling stock. In addition, the major contracts to build and develop HS2 will result in tens of thousands of opportunities for businesses across the supply chain, 60% of which are expected to be awarded to small, medium and micro-sized enterprises.

The conference will provide an opportunity for schools and businesses to prepare the future workforce for the growth of North Derbyshire’s economy driven by both HS2 and other key developments including Chesterfield Waterside and Peak Resort.

Organised by Placing Futures Ltd, D2N2 Enterprise Advisor Network, Chesterfield Borough Council, D2 Skills and Employment Board and Destination Chesterfield, the annual conference aims to strengthen links between education providers and local businesses.

Senior representatives from North Derbyshire schools, training and education providers and employers are invited to attend the conference, which will also hear from The Careers & Enterprise Company, William Davis Ltd, Derbyshire Education Business Partnership and Chesterfield Apprentice Ambassadors.

Gail Widerman, Director of Placing Futures Ltd an independent consultancy service based in Chesterfield which links vocational learning to schools and employers, said:-

“I am delighted that we have secured HS2’s Skills and Employment Strategy Manager as the keynote speak at the conference. Although Chesterfield’s HS2 station is 17 years away construction work will begin sooner so it is essential that we start preparing now for the skills and training that will be required in order to secure jobs amongst the local workforce.”

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, explained why the conference is so important to North Derbyshire. She said:-

“Chesterfield is on the cusp of a boom. In the short term alone more than £1bn of developments will come to fruition over the next five years not only creating jobs but also bringing people to live in and visit the town.

“This conference plays an important role in ensuring we capitalise on the growth forecast for the area. It is essential that we work together to close the perceived and real skills gap by ensuring that young people are equipped with the employability skills while at school and college that are needed now and in the future by employers in the town.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business