About Chesterfield

Tourism on the up in Chesterfield

Latest tourism figures for Chesterfield show the town is growing in popularity as a place to visit.  In 2011 there was an increase of 9% in visitor numbers with over 3 million day visitors and 320,000 booking an overnight stay.

The boost in the number of tourists has also increased the amount of money being spent in the town by 11% since 2010.  Tourists spent over £142 million across our hotels, visitor attractions, restaurants and shops. The 11% increase is way above the 2% increase for the East Midlands region and also tops the 7% increase for the Peak District and Derbyshire figures.

The positive news also extends to the job market where the number of people employed full time in the sector now stands at 2,035, an increase of 11%.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism at Chesterfield Borough Council said: “More people are opting to holiday in the UK and we need to make sure Chesterfield promotes its many assets to attract this growing market.  We’re delighted to see these increases across tourism figures as it’s a good indicator that we are promoting and positioning the town in a positive way.”

Peter Swallow from Destination Chesterfield said: “Chesterfield is now a serious contender for attracting day trippers and longer stay visitors which is a great boost for our local economy. “

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Visiting

Chesterfield traders to benefit from £10k investment

Chesterfield has been successful in its bid for a £10k grant from the government for a Town Team Partner project. The bid, which was put forward by Destination Chesterfield and had the full support of the town’s MP, Toby Perkins and Chesterfield Borough Council was in response to the earlier unsuccessful bids for the Portas Pilot initiative.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said “This is excellent news for Chesterfield, the £10,000 funding will be added to £20,000 generated by the Chesterfield Champions scheme to launch ‘Incubation Street’, a new business start up scheme for Chesterfield. These are exactly the types of initiatives Destination Chesterfield and the Chesterfield Champions Scheme were set up for and we thank them all for their contributions which will go towards supporting the growth of the next generation of businesses in Chesterfield.”

The idea behind ‘Incubation Street’ project is to support and mentor new, independent traders, including market traders, to grow their business from initial set-up on Chesterfield market through to establishing a small retail unit in the town. The scheme already has the support of the Chesterfield Champions, a group of local businesses who help promote the town offering mentoring and financial support.

Now that funding has been approved the project will develop further ideas including encouraging more flexible leasing arrangements with landlords, providing one to one mentoring and sharing best practice, promoting entrepreneurial skills based training through education providers and a further roll out of the Chesterfield Ambassadors Scheme to help promote the positive aspects of the town.

Toby Perkins, the local MP, said: “I passionately believe that as an historic market town, independent traders and small businesses are a vital part of our local economy. I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to contribute to the campaign to secure this investment. I know that the ‘Incubation Street’ project will target this small amount of money to where it will make the biggest difference.”

Councillor John Burrows, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council said: “This is great news for Chesterfield and for those businesses looking to step up a gear and establish a more permanent presence in the town centre. “

For more information on the Chesterfield Champions scheme and how you can get involved in supporting the growth of the town visitwww.chesterfield.co.uk

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield

A falcon and a puppy take up residence in Chesterfield

The Yards shopping area in Chesterfield’s town centre is now home to a falcon and a puppy. The two artworks are the latest instalments of the Chesterfield Cultural Renaissance project which has delivered several pieces of unique artworks in the area over the past few months.

The project, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Chesterfield Borough Council, was set up to improve The Yards to promote local businesses and attract more shoppers.

The latest artworks, a puppy sculpture in Theatre Yard (once known as “the kennels”) and a falcon sculpture in Falcon Yard were designed by Geoff Woods from Working pArts.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism at Chesterfield Borough Council said: “I think all the sculptures look fantastic. The Yards area is an important feature of the town centre with some great independent shops. We want to attract more shoppers and visitors to help the businesses thrive and the artworks are just one way of adding a new dimension to the area.”

Lisa Swift from Altered Chic in The Yards said: “There are lots of different creative businesses in The Yards so it’s quite fitting that some artwork has been used to make the area more inviting. We often see visitors taking photographs of the buildings so this will be another added attraction to help pull people into the area.”

Geoff Wood who led the design team said: “There’s a lot of history to The Yards and we’ve used this in the design of each piece. Glove manufacturing was once a feature of the small industries in The Yards so we’ve used the symbol of the glove hand as a motif to beckon people into the Yards. We’re really pleased with the final sculptures and hope they become a much loved feature.”

The Mayor of Chesterfield, Councillor Donald Parsons and the Leader of the Council, Councillor John Burrows, will host an event to celebrate the completion of The Yard’s improvement works and to launch a ‘Name the Puppy Competition’ on Friday 2nd November at 11am.

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

Posted in About Chesterfield

Local design star to unveil Debenhams Chesterfield Store

The eagerly awaited new Debenhams Chesterfield store will open on Thursday, 20 September.

Local designer, Ashley Thomas – whose designs are currently available as part of the Debenhams Edition homeware collection – will officially launch the store, alongside manager Natalie Collins and her new team.

Ashley studied Art and Design at Chesterfield College before going on to study Surface Pattern Design at Staffordshire University. After graduating she was invited to show her work at the ‘New Designers Show’ in London, and from this went on to work with well-known British brands such as Laura Ashley and Mamas and Papas.

Originally from London, Ashley’s family relocated to Chesterfield to start their own business in 2001, Chesterfield Cattery, which they still run to this day. Her love of animals can be seen in her playful designs for Debenhams, which include cushions, wall art, lamps and mugs.

Store manager Natalie says: “We’re thrilled that one of the Debenhams designers will be helping us to open the store on launch day especially as Ashley is a local girl, just like me.”

Ashley says: “My friends were all making jokes about me opening the Chesterfield store so it was really funny when I got the call from Debenhams to ask if I would cut the ribbon on the opening day. I’m touched to have been asked to welcome the store to my home town. I’m so excited about my newly launched collections for Debenhams, it’s such an amazing feeling knowing that my designs will be available on my doorstep.”

Once open, Debenhams Chesterfield customers will be able to enjoy the designer collections that Debenhams is famous for, including H! by Henry Holland, Principles by Ben de Lisi, J by Jasper Conran, Star by Julien Macdonald and Rocha by John Rocha.

Beauty fans are in for a treat as the store’s cosmetics hall will offer an extensive range of big beauty names such as Lancôme, Estee Lauder, Clarins, Clinique, Benefit and Bare Escentuals.

A free Personal Shopping service will be available, offering customers in need of style guidance one-on-one advice on the clothes best suited to fit their body shape and personal style.

Customers can also take advantage of an in-store ordering service, allowing them to order any Debenhams product and either pick it up in store or have it delivered direct to their home.

A Café Estro will also be found in store providing fresh coffees and pastries, hot and cold snacks such as paninis, soups and salads as well as healthy lunch boxes for kids.

Natalie adds: “The team and I have been working hard to get the store ready for launch day and we are all just eager now to get the doors open and start serving customers. We can’t wait to show off the new store.”

Debenhams Chesterfield will open to the public on 20 September at 10am.

Source:Debenhams

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

There’s nothing vacant about Chesterfield

Chesterfield is riding high on the retail front after a national report revealed the town is bucking the north-south divide with low shop vacancy rates. The latest figures from the Local Data Company (LDC) gives a detailed insight and analysis of 506 town centres and Chesterfield is third best of the largest centres in the country with just 8.7% of shops being empty. Compared to the likes of Nottingham (30%), Stockport (28.4%) and Sheffield (26.1%), Chesterfield is one of the few top ten northern towns leading the way to keep its high streets buzzing.

Councillor John Burrows, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council said: “This is like getting a gold star on your school report! What better indication is there than when an external research company identifies your town as being one of the top retail locations in the UK?

“We’re not surprised by the news because we know the figures, we see how busy the shops and markets are and we get the feedback from visitors and investors that Chesterfield is doing something different, something right. Projects like Destination Chesterfield, investment in our tourism offer, developments such as the Northern Gateway, these are all part of mix that keeps us striving to attract more people to the town to visit, spend money, invest and live here.

“There’s still much to do to improve the local economy and reduce unemployment in the borough but a thriving, bustling town centre is certainly a major bonus and gives us a strong platform to build from.”

Vic Risorto, Destination Chesterfield board member responsible for Retail, Leisure and Tourism said: “It is excellent news that Chesterfield’s high street occupancy is once again being heralded amongst the best in England. With the exciting regeneration plans coming forward for the town centre including the Market Hall refurbishment, extension of Ravenside Retail Park and the proposed Northern Gateway, Destination Chesterfield will continue to work with Chesterfield Borough Council to support existing businesses as well as promoting our town centre to attract further investment.”

Figures from the LDC report show an increase in shop vacancies across the East Midlands from 16.7% in 2011 to 17% in 2012. Chesterfield (8.7%) is the only town centre in the region that is in the top ten with just York (9.6%) and Harrogate (10.3%) featuring amongst a predominant list of Southern based locations, including Central London, Cambridge and Kingston upon Thames. 

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council and Destination Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield

70 new jobs created at Chesterfield superstore

Chesterfield Borough Council and Jobcentre Plus have worked with one of the town’s newest superstores, The Range, to appoint 70 employees for the store.

The Range, which opened on 29th June on Lordsmill Street, offers more than 65,000 products across 16 departments including DIY, homewares, furniture, lighting, arts and crafts and garden.

The Council and Jobcentre Plus helped The Range to find suitable venues for the interviews and inductions which were part-funded by the Council’s Working Neighbourhoods Fund in order to support unemployed people into the posts. 

The Range successfully recruited 70 employees from the two interview days, 16 of whom were local unemployed people claiming Job Seekers Allowance. A further five local unemployed people were also offered work experience with a view of permanent employment if positions become available.

Councillor John Burrows, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council said: “We’re obviously keen that any new, or existing employer, in the town takes on unemployed people within the borough so we’re delighted that The Range has located to Chesterfield and that so many people will now be in employment as a result. A similar project was carried out at Turning Point in Mastin Moor where we worked with Jobcentre Plus and Chesterfield College to secure jobs for local people in their new Mental Health Unit.”

Angela Stansfield, Employer & Partnership Manager at Jobcentre Plus said: “By working in partnership with the Council we were able to support unemployed people into these jobs which is always a great boost to the local economy.”

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

Chesterfield school children promote world’s largest steel bar

During February 2012, United Cast Bar (UK) have broken another production record by successfully casting a 635mm diameter bar using the continuous casting process. This increases above the current largest size of 600mm produced a competitor.

To support the presentation of this success, UCB engaged students from Parkside Community School, Chesterfield to produce a digital publication to celebrate the Company’s world record breaking production.

Over fifty students attempted to create a digital publication, ranging from a traditional newspaper article to an animated web publication. Seven students were shortlisted and treated to a tour of the working foundry, where they saw raw materials being melted and cast through the fascinating and truly engaging industrial process.

Lina Green and Rachel West, Year 10 students at the school commented “thank you for your tour of the foundry, it was really interesting to see the work put into making something that is useful for people and businesses around the world”.

The winning entry, a website publication created by Year 9 students Lauren Gaynor, Natasha Cope and Eve Hobson, impressed the judges for its professional quality. The publication can be viewed on the United Cast Bar Limited Website.

James Brand, Group Sales Director for United Cast Bar commented “We are really impressed with the high level of quality and complexity of all of the publications the students have created. We are so pleased to be engaging with Parkside School today, who have a heritage of producing quality students with an industrial related bias.”

Mr Mills, Leader of ICT Innovation and Development, commented “What a marvellous opportunity for our students to be part of this ground breaking venture. This initiative has blurred the edges of education and business development and showed our students how local business and education partnerships can make their mark on a global scale”.

Mrs Gould, Y11 Progress and Transition Leader organised the visit. It is hoped that the advanced ICT skills that have been developed at Parkside School can be utilised to influence the Company’s marketing strategies around the world.

Source:United Cast Bars

Posted in About Chesterfield

Elton John Concert: What was it like for you

History was made in Chesterfield at the weekend with the biggest concert ever held in the town as Sir Elton John, CBE, wooed a record crowd of 15,019 at the Spireites’ B2net football stadium, and the football club is wanting feedback from those who attended as a record of this land-mark event.

 

The 65 year old rocker put on an amazing non-stop show that entranced the crowd for two and a half hours as he performed songs from his endless back catalogue of hits from the last four decades, but what was it like for those who attended?

 

During the show Elton John said: I never thought I would ever play in Chesterfield, it’s a great stadium, so well done Chesterfield.”

 

After a week of heavy rain the sky amazingly cleared and even the sun came out to provide perfect dry weather to which Elton John remarked: “Thank you God for stopping the rain and keeping it dry for tonight’s show.”

 

Just like great football match days, the Spireites B2net Stadium was bouncing to the sound of Sir Elton’s music with the large crowd made up of concert-goers of all ages.

 

Were you in the audience and what was the atmosphere like for you?

 

Elton John said: “Thank you to everyone at Chesterfield Football Club for making tonight’s show possible and to the people of Chesterfield for supporting it. It’s truly amazing.”

 

So from Las Vegas to Chez Vegas it certainly was a night to remember in the history of Chesterfield Football Club and a proud town of Chesterfield.

 

Let us have your feedback

 

What did you think of the Elton John Concert? Let Chesterfield FC know what your experience was like? Send your feedback and to feedback@chesterfield-fc.co.uk or send it via Facebook or Twitter. Full details on the club’s website www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk.

Source:Chesterfield FC

Posted in About Chesterfield, Visiting

Chesterfield’s revamped Visitor Information Centre nominated as a finalist in the 2012 Visit England Awards for Excellence

Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre has been named as a finalist in the Visitor Services category of the prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2012.

As a finalist the Centre now goes forward to the glittering Awards Ceremony which is being held on 22 May 2012 at Athena, an art deco gem located in the heart of Leicester’s cultural quarter.

The Information Centre will have to wait until then to find out which award they will receive. All finalists are guaranteed to receive either a Gold, Silver, Bronze or Highly Commended Award. The other Information Centres in the Visitor Services category are Bodmin, Greenwich, Harrogate and Manchester.

Commenting on the finalists James Berresford, VisitEngland’s Chief Executive said: “I would like to congratulate all those nominated as VisitEngland Awards for Excellence finalists this year. This is no small achievement in a year when we have received a record number of submissions. The quality of submissions this year has been outstanding and Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre can justifiably take credit and pride in earning a place at the top of their category in England. I wish everyone all the best for the final in May.”

Cllr Nick Stringer, Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism at Chesterfield Borough Council said: “We’re delighted to have reached the finals of these prestigious awards and thanks must go to all the staff at the Centre who provide a quality service to visitors throughout the year. Tourism is such an important part of our local economy so it’s good to know that our visitor services are being recognised by VisitEngland.”

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Visiting

New look gateway signs to Chesterfield will shout about town’s events

New welcome signs have this week been installed on the key gateways into Chesterfield. The signs, incorporating the Destination Chesterfield branding which is based on the crooked spire, have interchangeable sections that will allow major events and the historic market to be promoted.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “The impression we give visitors when they arrive in Chesterfield is vital. The objective of our Warm Welcome Campaign is to improve the arrival at key gateways into the town and also turn them into promotional opportunities.”

The Warm Welcome Campaign, which was an idea by the Chesterfield Champions, the network of businesses in Chesterfield that support and shape the activity of Destination Chesterfield, aims to provide a more consistent and contemporary welcome to the town. The signs are the latest public realm improvements which follow the refurbishment of Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre, new canopies on Chesterfield Market and upgrades to car parking signage. Future projects include improving roundabouts, bus shelters and the coach station.

“The unique idea of these new signs came from a Chesterfield Champions meeting. As local businesses we recognised that many potential visitors to the town drive straight through on their way to and from the Peak District without stopping. By upgrading the signs to include the latest events and to promote the market we can now use the signs to attract people into the town centre,” said Steve Gordon of Banner Jones Solicitors, a Chesterfield Champion.

Cllr John Burrows, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council said: “We want people to receive a consistent message about Chesterfield through the branding they see before they visit the town, when they arrive and while they are here. This all helps to give Chesterfield a unique identity and is one of many projects that the Council is working in partnership with Destination Chesterfield to achieve.”

The production and the erecting of the eleven new signs, costing £10,000, have been funded through the European Regional Development Fund as part of the Destination Chesterfield project.

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Visiting

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