The High Sheriff of Derbyshire, Annie Hall, will formally open the new office of East Midlands Chamber at lunchtime on Friday this week.

Along with up to 60 regional dignitaries, business leaders and Chamber board members, Mrs Hall will be given a tour of the offices, on Millennium Way, off Dunston Road, after unveiling a plaque commemorating the event.

East Midlands Chamber moved from Canal Wharf to the renamed Commerce House, formerly St Andrews House, on 24 February.

Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “The Chamber needed premises in Chesterfield that were modern, fit-for-purpose, that met the requirements of members for a quality facility in North Derbyshire and which reflect the Chamber’s position as the leading business representation organisation in the Midlands.

“Commerce House, which was fitted out for us by one of our patrons, Blueprint Interiors, gives us an office of which we can be proud and we’re delighted Mrs Hall has agreed to officially open it.”

The building is also home to Destination Chesterfield and their team.

The Chamber, which occupies the ground and first floor of the building is looking for a tenant to occupy over 3,000sq ft of available space on the third floor at Commerce House.   Enquiries to Wilkins Hammond Commercial, 01246 555511 or email jrw@wilkins-hammond.com or visit www.wilkins-hammond.com.

Chesterfield law firm BRM Solicitors are offering a free will writing service in support of Derbyshire-based charity, Helen’s Trust’ as part of their 15^th Year Anniversary celebrations.

During April, BRM will waive their fees for writing wills, and instead encourage clients to make a donation to Helen’s Trust.

Suggested donations are £75 for a single will and £150 for a joint will.

The charity was established in 2001, and named after Helen Louise Lyon from Froggatt who sadly passed away with cancer, but due to a unique set of circumstances was able to achieve her wish of dying at home. She passionately believed that others should have that choice, and the charity was founded shortly after her funeral by members of her family and her doctor, Louise Jordan.

Helen’s Trust has a history of supporting people with terminal illness, deemed to be within their final 6 months of life, enabling them to achieve their wish of remaining at home at the end of their illness. The charity helps up to 150 people every year, providing care, equipment and support and will consider requests for anything that will make the difference in enabling someone to stay in their own home.

Founding Trustee and Chair of Helen’s Trust Board of Trustees, Dr Louise Jordan says: “It is amazing to think how fast things change in just 15 years. When the charity was set up, the great passion and determination to enable those who were terminally ill to stay in their own home was seen as ambitious.

“Now much publicity and research has been undertaken to support our vision. Yet sadly far too many people still are unable to stay in their own home, and often for the want of some imagination or flexibility or rapid response all of which Helen’s Trust prides itself on providing.

Helen’s Trust Fundraising and Business Manager Zoe Woodward says “One great thing about supporting a local charity is that you know your efforts are impacting on the people who live around you. It is fantastic that BRM Solicitors are able to offer their support to us and encourage people to undertake the important task of making a will, whilst helping others in their community.”

Every pound raised can make a difference. £75 can fund 5 hours of care in the home. £150 will pay for a whole night of a carer sitting at home with someone with terminal illness, ensuring their family is able to rest, safe in the knowledge their loved one is in safe hands.

To book you appointment please visit https://www.brmlaw.co.uk/helenstrust, or telephone 01246 555111.

Guy Branston has been appointed as Chesterfield’s new director of recruitment and development.

Commenting on the appointment, director & company secretary Ashley Carson said: “With 18 players out of contract in the summer, it was vital that we brought someone in with the necessary qualities to work with Gary Caldwell on recruitment.

“We interviewed three quality candidates and Guy convinced us that he was the right man for the role. We were very impressed with his knowledge and enthusiasm and I have no doubt that he will prove to be a valuable addition to the management team.

“We have been without a scouting network since Paul Mitchell left the club, leaving Gary with very little information when it came to recruiting players in January. Extensive research will now be carried out by Guy before any players are brought to the club, giving us the best possible chance of having a successful recruitment policy.”

Branston, who has been involved in coaching and recruitment since retiring from playing three years ago, set up an an online database for recruitment. After scouting for Scunthorpe United and Plymouth Argyle, he had three seasons as head of recruitment at Notts County.

Branston is very excited about the challenge he is faced with, saying: “I’ve already started to plan and I have identified some players who I have recommended to Gary.

“We spent a lot of time talking about things that need to change and things that need to be implemented to take the club forward. We have to start working straight away, putting plans in place for the summer.”

The holder of a UEFA A Licence, Branston started his playing career at Leicester City and had spells at various clubs including Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United.

Destination Chesterfield: Chesterfield Football Club B2net stadium match day experience.

Robert Banner, Executive Director of law firm Banner Jones, has been elected as Chairman of the Law Society’s Law Management Section Committee for the fourth year running – making him the longest standing  Chairman of the Committee.

The Committee’s function is to provide members with support, advice and expert assistance to enable their firms to progress as efficiently and as profitably as possible in the current legal market place. Its offering is aimed at partners, leaders and practice managers in law firms, and is provided by way of magazines, webinars, e-newsletters, pod casts, conferences and networking opportunities.

Having joined the Section’s Executive Committee in 2010, he took over as Chair from his predecessor, Chris Hart, in 2014. He sits alongside 15 other expert members, including managing partners and nationally known legal consultants – including Vice Chair, Anne Harrison, who is Chairwoman of top 150 law firm Stephensons Solicitors LLP.

In addition to his work with the Law Society, Robert has been an active member of the management team at law firm Banner Jones for more than 25-years, during which time the firm has grown from three partners to 17 directors; and from one office to six offices throughout South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

He said:-

“It is a privilege to have been appointed as Chair of the Law Management Section Committee for the fourth year running, and I very much look forward to sitting alongside my fellow committee members to ensure that our members continue to have access to the very best support and advice to help further their professional development.”

Prime Minister Theresa May is being urged to keep business needs paramount in negotiations for Britain’s exit from the EU following the triggering of Article 50.

Scott Knowles, the Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber, said:-

“To all intents and purposes, everything that has gone before has been rhetoric – the negotiations begin in earnest today.

“In January, at her first regional Cabinet Meeting when she launched the Industrial Strategy Green Paper, Mrs May gave a strong indication that the needs of business would play a prominent part in Brexit negotiations.

“Today, we are urging her to continue to heed the voice of business throughout the negotiations to ensure the UK not only remains a great place for global investment but also so that British businesses are not disadvantaged either during talks or once Brexit is achieved.”

The Chamber has thrown its weight behind the British Chambers of Commerce’s published Brexit priorities.

Using data collated from surveys around the country, BCC set out a series of wants from business in key areas of concern, offering evidence of the importance of a business perspective for each.

All 52 accredited Chambers around the country contributed to the work using information gathered from their own Quarterly Economic Surveys.

Scott said:-

“This is a very detailed piece of work which clearly sets out the demands of business in seven key areas.

“Business is the creator of wealth and jobs and the driver of regional and national economies and, as such, it should be the loudest voice during exit negotiations.”

The BCC Business Brexit Priorities agenda lists the seven key areas as trade, customs, tax, regulations, labour market, EU funding and the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.