About Chesterfield

Shoppers show their support for first ever Chesterfield Retail Awards

Chesterfield’s shoppers have come out in force to support the town’s first ever Retail Awards. More than 1,000 people have nominated 241 businesses across 14 categories during April, with one lucky person winning a £50 hamper from the Pavements Shopping Centre.

The nominated business have now been asked to complete a short application form which will be considered by a panel of local, regional and national retail experts. The winners in each category will be announced at a grand awards ceremony which is being held at the Assembly Rooms at Chesterfield Market Hall on the 18th June 2014.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager said: “We are overwhelmed with the number of nominations. It’s a fantastic start to the inaugural Retail Awards. With support from the community like this it is no surprise thatChesterfieldis booming as a retail centre.”

The Awards, which are sponsored by Slic Training, celebrate the town’s ongoing success as one of theUK’s top 10 best performing centres with the least vacant shops.  Only 7.7% ofChesterfield’s retail units are currently empty, which is only 0.7% behind the best performing large centre,Cambridge.

The categories include:

·         Hair and Beauty Business of the Year

·         Fashion and Footwear Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Oxspring Technical Ltd

·         Jewellery and Accessories Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by The Pavements Shopping Centre

·         Home and Gifts Retailer of the Year

·         Children’s Clothes, Toys & Accessories Retailer of the Year

·         Food and Drink Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Barber Harrison & Platt

·         Phones and Technology Retailer of the Year

·         Leisure Retailer of the Year (Sports, Hobbies, Crafts or Outdoor)

·         Market Trader of the Year – Sponsored byChesterfieldBorough Council

·         Independent Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Jumble Design

·         National/ Multiple Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by the Source

·         Excellence in Customer Service – Sponsored byChesterfieldCollege

·         Market Hall Business of the Year

·         Best New Store (Opened 2013/2014) – Sponsored by Banner Jones

·         Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire & Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

Other sponsors include Vicar Lane Shopping, The Pavements Shopping Centre, eBusiness Works and the Derbyshire Times.

To sponsor the 2014 Chesterfield Retail Awards please visithttp://www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards/ and you can keep up-to-date on Twitter by using the hashtag #retailawards14.

 

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield

Your town needs you! The call goes out for more Chesterfield Ambassadors

Chesterfield is on the hunt for more ambassadors to help promote the town and provide a warm welcome to visitors to the town.

The Chesterfield Ambassadors scheme was established by Destination Chesterfield more than two years ago. Since then it has recruited nearly 150 volunteer residents and front line staff, including taxi drivers, bank workers, sales assistants, council staff and members of the town’s thriving food and drink sector. Together they ensure visitors to the town leave with a positive impression of Chesterfield.

Becoming a Chesterfield Ambassador is simple and involves attending a free two-hour workshop on Thursday 22nd May to learn all about the town and its regeneration plans.

John Burrows, Vice Chair of Destination Chesterfield and Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council said: “The Chesterfield Ambassadors Scheme plays an important role in the continuing growth and success of Chesterfield. Every visitor to our town could be a potential investor, new resident or employee and it’s important that they receive the very best first impression. We want them to return and recommend Chesterfield to their friends, relatives and colleagues.

“Anyone who cares about the future of Chesterfield will find the Ambassador role very rewarding and we’d love them to get in touch and become one of the town’s promoters.”

To reserve your place please visit http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/ambassadors

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Visiting

Last chance to nominate your favourite shops

Shoppers are being called on to nominate their favourite shops and stores for the town’s first Retail Awards before voting closes at the end of the month.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager said: “The success of the 2014 Chesterfield Retail Awards is very much in the hands of the general public.  They need to nominate in order for retailers to be shortlisted.

“The awards are open to every retailer operating in the Chesterfield borough. With our wealth of independent stores and national chains operating here, I am confident there will be no shortage of nominations across all the categories.”

The awards, which are organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with Slic Training, celebrate the town’s ongoing success as one of the UK’s top 10 best performing centres with the least vacant shops.  Only 7.7% of Chesterfield’s retail units are currently empty, which is only 0.7% behind the best performing large centre, Cambridge.

The 2014 Chesterfield Retail Awards nomination process is open throughout April and people can nominate online at www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards/nominate/ or by filling in a form available from retailers throughout town.

There are 14 categories people can nominate across, plus the coveted Retailer of the Year Award, and they may even win a £50 hamper from the Pavements Shopping Centre for their trouble.

The categories include:
• Hair and Beauty Business of the Year
• Fashion and Footwear Retailer of the Year
• Jewellery and Accessories Retailer of the Year
• Home and Gifts Retailer of the Year
• Children’s Clothes, Toys & Accessories Retailer of the Year
• Food and Drink Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Barber Harrison & Platt
• Phones and Technology Retailer of the Year
• Leisure Retailer of the Year (Sports, Hobbies, Crafts or Outdoor)
• Market Trader of the Year – Sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council
• Independent Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Jumble Design
• National/ Multiple Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by the Source
• Excellence in Customer Service – Sponsored by Chesterfield College
• Market Hall Business of the Year
• Best New Store (Opened 2013/2014) – Sponsored by Banner Jones
• Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire & Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

The finalists in each category will be shortlisted from the nominations by a panel of judges.  The winners will be announced at a grand awards ceremony which is being held at the Assembly Rooms at Chesterfield Market Hall on the 18th June 2014.

Ian Benison, Chief Executive, SLIC Training (International), said:

“It is a great pleasure to be the headline sponsor of the Chesterfield Retail Awards.  As a local lad, who started a local company which is now situated in the prestigious Market Hall in town, getting involved with the Retail Awards was an easy decision.

“We see this as an opportunity to give something back to the town, to celebrate all its successes and amazing businesses.  The success of the awards will be based on how the community gets involved; I urge you to nominate your favourite retailer for each category – this is your opportunity to get your much-loved venue or company noticed and acknowledged. “

Chesterfield is becoming the go-to location for developers and we look forward to welcoming new establishments such as Nandos and Boyes to the town centre as well as the recently opened Pan-dora jewellery store gracing the town’s high street.

Other sponsors include Vicar Lane Shopping, The Pavements Shopping Centre, eBusiness Works and the Derbyshire Times.

Councillor John Burrows, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council’s said: “Launching our own Retail Awards demonstrates the continuing strength and attractiveness of Chesterfield as a shopping centre, despite the declining fortunes of high streets across the country. These awards allow us to honour our local businesses and help them to continue to thrive.”

To nominate your favourite retailer, please visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards/nominate/ and you can keep up to date on Twitter by using the hashtag #retailawards14

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield

More jobs created at Markham Vale

A new development in Chesterfield is helping to boost the local economy.

Euro Garages, one of the leading UK independent forecourt operators, is due to open at Markham Vale next week, bringing more than 60 new jobs to the area.

Facilities will include a new Shell petrol forecourt including for HGVs, SPAR convenience store, Subway, Greggs and a Starbucks Drive-Thru together with public toilets, seating area and a free cash machine. The Shell petrol forecourt and Subway will be open 24 hours a day.

Councillor Joan Dixon, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs, Economy and Transport, said:

“It is great news that Euro Garages has decided to set up at Markham bringing another 63 jobs to the area and we are pleased we were able to help unemployed people find work at the new site, including young people.

“Markham Vale is going from strength to strength attracting more companies to Derbyshire because of the site’s location in the centre of England and its excellent transport links.”

Ilyas Munshi, Commercial Director at Euro Garages, said:

“Markham Vale Services is an exciting addition to our national estate portfolio of nearly 180 forecourt retail sites and it is the first development where we have partnered up with Henry Boot Developments.

“Euro Garages have been actively supported by stakeholders including Derbyshire County Council and local agencies with a view to delivering much needed jobs and economic prosperity. In summary, we want local people and commuters in and around Derbyshire to have access to world-class facilities.”

We have invested £77 million to reclaim the former mining area at Markham, between Chesterfield and Bolsover, with the long term aim of creating 5,000 jobs.

Working with development partner Henry Boot Development Limited, in the last year alone we have lined-up developments promising to bring 500 jobs to the site.

Vivienne Clements, Director of Henry Boot Developments comments:

“The opening of Euro Garages at Markham Vale is the next piece of the jigsaw in delivering a comprehensive offer for existing and new occupiers together with their work force.”

Last month the Government announced plans to expand Markham Vale Enterprise Zone bringing enterprise status to another 18 hectares of land on Markham Vale and offering benefits for businesses setting up in the area including tax breaks from Government.

And in February, Markham Vale received a £14.2m boost after successfully bidding for Government cash to open up prime economic development land.

Source:Derbyshire County Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

Next phase of Staveley Basin development underway

Staveley Basin’s next phase of development has begun with contractors currently on site working to build wing walls to support the basin’s lock bridge.

Derbyshire County Council, which manages the project, has agreed to fund £89,000 towards the scheme, with Chesterfield Canal Trust contributing £76,000 in funds and volunteer time.

Ace Developments from Chesterfield has started an eight week contract to build the wing walls which will support the unfinished lock bridge already in place ready to carry a road over the canal.

The Staveley Basin project is part of work being completed with the help of volunteers to restore and improve Chesterfield Canal; making more of the waterway navigable.

The project has already seen the development of a mooring basin which can house up to 20 large canal boats and 12 smaller crafts.

Councillor Joan Dixon, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs, Economy and Transport said:-

“This latest work on the Staveley Basin project is part of plans to help develop Chesterfield Canal as well as improve the area for visitors and boats. The work of the volunteers helping us to develop the project has been fantastic and we cannot thank them enough.”

Groups who have been involved in helping the project include the Chesterfield Canal Partnership and the Waterway Recovery Group.

Chesterfield Canal Trust, which has also been helping since 2012, has raised over £45,000 towards the project through donations.

A group of around 15 volunteers from the trust meet every Sunday to help build the lock at Staveley Basin.

George Bunting, 65, from Brimington has been a member of the trust since 1995 and is currently helping with construction.  He said:-

“The main benefits of the work at Staveley Basin will be the boost it gives tourism with people who come in on boats hopefully spending money in Staveley.  The thing I most enjoy about volunteering is the camaraderie and the idea that we are achieving something for the local community and leaving something for future generations.”

(Image courtesy of Chesterfield Canal Trust

Source:Derbyshire County Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

Hopes for leisure centre funding boost

A grant application of more than £1 million will be made by Chesterfield Borough Council to fund extra facilities at the proposed new Queen’s Park Sports Centre.

An expression of interest to Sport England’s Strategic Facilities Fund has been successful and the council has now been formally invited to submit a full application.

A decision on whether the bid will be successful or not is expected to be made by Sport England’s board in the summer.

If funding is granted, it will enable the council to add extra facilities requested by users, the public and sports groups during the public consultations.

This could include increasing the number of lanes in the swimming pool from six to eight and adding two more courts to create an eight court sports hall, which would enable a wider range of sporting activities to take place at the same time.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s executive member for leisure, culture and tourism, said:-

“We said from day one of this project that we would be seeking to make grant applications that could enable us to add more facilities as soon as we were at the stage in the process that enables us to do this.

“The application will have to be considered by Sport England against other worthy bids so there are no guarantees of success.

“But we are pleased that Sport England recognised the local importance of this project and its potential to contribute to their community sport objectives when they supported us in the expressions of interest stage of the process.

“We believe we can put forward a really good and convincing bid as the grant would enable us to deliver an even better leisure centre that inspires more Chesterfield residents to get fit, active and healthy.”

Sport England’s Strategic Facilities Fund offers grants of up to £2 million for local authority projects that bring together multiple partners, including input from the public and private sectors. The fund is also designed to encourage applicants and their partners to invest further capital and revenue funding to ensure sustainability.

It is expected a decision on the planning application for the replacement Queen’s Park Sports Centre can be made within the next couple of months.

If the bid to Sport England is successful the grant funding would be added to the money already committed to the building by Chesterfield Borough Council and Chesterfield College.

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

New business centre and community park for Chesterfield

The first phase of the £3.8m restoration programme at Staveley Hall is nearing completion.

This follows several years of hard work from the Heart of Staveley Project, set up to transform the semi-derelict building and its historic walled garden into a centre focused on community, education, heritage and arts activities.

The project is creating Staveley Hall Business Centre, which will provide up to 70 jobs, as well as restoring the historic walled garden – transforming it into a town centre community park.

The first phase of the project, the revival of the stable block, will open in early June 2014, with office space available for 11 small businesses.  

Once complete in June 2015, Staveley Hall will also provide space for another 7 businesses to be located on the upper floors, with meeting rooms and a café on the ground floor.

The Heart of Staveley, which was launched in 2008, has so far secured £3.4m towards the cost of the £3.8 million project and there is a robust fundraising strategy in place to raise the remaining balance.

Funding has come from a range of charitable grant giving trusts including the Heritage Lottery Fund and the European Regional Development Fund.  Staveley Town Council has also borrowed £750,000 from the Public Works Loans Board.

It is envisaged that Staveley Town Council will ratify the tender price in July 2014 and take a 33 year lease of the Hall and walled garden once work has been completed.

A small team of staff will be appointed, led by a hall manager and administrator, heritage and education officer, head gardener and volunteer coordinator who will be supported by up to 50 volunteers.

There are also plans for a garden team of 20 which will be established to work with the head gardener to restore the garden and then maintain it as a community park, based on the historic 17th Century structure, for the local community.

An public event is to be held at Staveley Hall on 15 April 2014 (4pm – 8pm) to provide an explanation of proposals, to seek support and start to create a team of volunteers.  Representatives of Staveley Town Council, the Heart of Staveley and the professional team will be available to explain the scheme and answer any queries.

Tours of the stable block will be available for those who are interested.  For more information please contact Staveley Town Council on 01246 473132.

Source:Staveley Town Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Chesterfield College secures town’s Food and Drink Awards until 2015

Following the success of the first ever Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards in 2013, the future of the annual event has been secured until 2015 – thanks to Chesterfield College.

Headline sponsors last year, the College has agreed to sponsor the Awards in both 2014 and 2015, as well as host and cater the star-studded award ceremonies.  The sponsorship agreement has cemented the Destination Chesterfield-organised awards in the town’s annual calendar.

Trevor Clay, Principal of Chesterfield College, explained:

“Having seen the success of the first awards evening in 2013, there was no way that we didn’t want to be involved again.  As part of our commitment to serving the local community. we feel it’s important to celebrate all that is good about the town and certainly the quality of our food and drink businesses is well worth celebrating.

“The 2013 event, which was catered for by our students and held in the college’s Heartspace building, was a fantastic night which brought together a wide variety of amazing people and businesses.  As such, we naturally want to be involved again and we’re sure this year’s awards will be even bigger and better.”

Destination Chesterfield Manager, Dominic Stevens commented:

“We’re delighted that Chesterfield College has agreed to sponsor the awards for two further years.  The awards are an excellent example of the business community and the education sector coming together to put the town on the map and create opportunities for the next generation.”

This year there are more opportunities for food and drink businesses to get involved with the awards following the introduction of two new categories – International Restaurant of the Year and Family Friendly Award.  Other categories include:

• Restaurant of the Year
• Café of the Year
• Gastro Pub of the Year
• Pub / Bar of the Year
• Best Newcomer
• Best Customer Service
• Best Out of Town
• Chesterfield Food Producer
• Chef of the Year
• Young Chef of the Year

Nominations for the awards open in May with the winners being crowned at a star-studded ceremony in October later this year.

Trevor Clay added: “Our students take so much away from the event; be it inspiration from the winners or vital experience from catering the awards.  Young people across Chesterfield looking to forge a career in this industry can look at these awards as an example of the opportunities right on their doorstep.”

If any businesses are interested in becoming a sponsor of the 2014 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards they should contact Dominic Stevens on 01246 207207 or email dom.stevens@chesterfield.co.uk.  Sponsorship packages can also be seen by clicking here.

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield

Chesterfield is the perfect blend for Ringtons tea

Ringtons tea is moving to Chesterfield following its purchase of two industrial units on Dunston Trading Estate, Sheepbridge.

The move signifies the merging of two of the company’s existing regional sales offices – Nottingham andSouth Yorkshire– to create one centralised 2,400 sq ft base.  The new site will be home to 24 employees and will contain modern office space, storage solutions, loading areas, meeting rooms and training facilities.  In addition the move will create four new jobs.

Ringtons is a British tea and coffee merchant which was established in 1907 by Samuel Smith who sold tea door to door via horse and cart.  Today the family business still offers a traditional doorstep delivery service to over 260,000 customers throughout the UK albeit via vans instead of horse and cart.

Ringtons’ new Chesterfield office is one of the company’s 20 sales offices based throughout the UK from which its doorstep delivery service is operated.  Sales offices are as far north as Edinburgh and as far south as East Anglia. The relocation to Chesterfield will allow Ringtons Salespeople to bring its selection of quality tea, coffee, biscuits, edibles and seasonal specials to the doorsteps of a greater number of customers from this key location.

Stephen Killinger Ringtons Operations Manager who oversaw the Ringtons move said: “We chose Chesterfield as it is a great central location which is close to the M1, allowing us to continue to offer first class service to our existing customers and reach an even wider area including Derby, Sheffield, Nottingham, Rotherham, and Burton on Trent.  Merging the two Sales Offices allows us to operate more efficiently from one single site and upgrade from the two former sites which were in need of substantial repair.

“The units themselves on Dunston Trading estate are currently undergoing a refurb and we look forward to merging both our offices there at the end of March.  The site itself is going to allow for greater access to the surrounding area, make incoming deliveries easier and we also hope to bring business to our neighbours which include local caterers, car garages and maintenance providers.  It’s an exciting move for Ringtons and we look forward to filling our four vacancies from our new hub.

The Council’s Economic Development Unit assisted the company to find the right business premises.  CouncillorJohn Burrows, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council said: “We are always pleased to see new businesses opening in the borough. I am pleased that Ringtons Tea has chosen Chesterfield for their new base – they could not have chosen better,Chesterfield is on the up and our transport links both regionally and nationally are second to none.”

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Top of the shops for Chesterfield as inaugural Retail Awards launched

Chesterfield’s shoppers are being called on to get behind the town’s first ever retail awards and nominate their favourite high street chain stores and independent retailers.

Launched by Destination Chesterfield, the inaugural awards capitalise on the town’s success as one of the UK’s top 10 best performing centres with the least vacant shops. The awards aim to seek out, recognise, celebrate and promote Chesterfield’s retailers, as well as highlighting their commitment and importance to the town and the local economy.

Nominations for Chesterfield’s best loved shops and stores are open until the 30th April. Nominated retailers will then be shortlisted and judged by an expert panel, with the winners being announced at the Chesterfield Retail Awards being held at the Assembly Rooms on 18th June.

The awards are open to all retailers within the Chesterfield borough and there are 15 categories in total recognising everything that is great about the town’s shops and stores – from great customer service to disabled access.

Andrew Everitt of Jumble Design, who has sponsored the Independent of the Year category, said:

“Chesterfield has a thriving retail economy which is envied nationally. Where other town centres are faced with high vacancy rates, Chesterfield is bucking the trend and attracting high street names as well as independent retailers giving us an excellent mix of shops, helping us attract visitors to our town and investors to the area who are keen to capitalise on our retail success.

“The Chesterfield Retail Awards now give everyone the chance to recognise good service and retail and business practise in our town and Jumble Design is delighted to be associated with them.”

Making a nomination is free and forms are available from 1st April at retailers throughout the town. Nomination can also be made online now atwww.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards and you can keep up to date on Twitter with the hashtag #retailawards14

There are a number of sponsorship opportunities available. If you wish to get involved and sponsor a category or the awards event, please contact Dominic Stevens, Manager of Destination Chesterfield on 01246 207207.

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield

Route confirmed for Chesterfield Marathon

Organisers have officially confirmed the 26-mile route for the Chesterfield Marathon, which takes place on Sunday, September 14, in aid of children’s charity Kids ‘n’ Cancer UK, along with other local charities and good causes.

The Chesterfield Marathon, which is set to be one Chesterfield’s biggest mass participation events in more than 30 years, will begin and finish at Queen’s Park in the town centre, while taking in most of Chesterfield and surrounding area.

Runners will head through the town centre onto the A617, before looping around Williamthorpe Ponds on to the B6039, towards the A632 and then the A61 heading for The Casa Hotel towards Sheffield Road where the half marathon will finish.

From there the route heads towards Whittington Moor and near to Cobnar Wood before turning around towards Newbold and the B6150, through Ashgate onto the Old Road and back into Queens Park.

Runners can take part in a full marathon, half marathon and a relay race, where four competitors take a share of the course.  There will also be a fun run for parents, children and anyone wanting to take part in shorter distances up to two miles around the town centre. Fancy dress is welcome!

More than 1,000 people are expected to take part with entries now open for all events.

In addition to the running events there will be a fun fair, Blackpool Children’s Circus, human statues, children’s entertainers and street entertainment, plus market stalls, food and beer tents, live music and a firework display in Queen’s Park for all members of the public to enjoy.

Mike Hyman from Kids ‘n’ Cancer UK is one of the race founders. He said:

“We want the Chesterfield and Derbyshire Marathon to be open to all ages and abilities. This is why we have arranged a series of races at varying distances to accommodate as many people as possible.

“The event will stimulate the economy in Chesterfield and will be an annual event where we are able to generate the foundations to support the growth of Kids ‘n’ Cancer UK – helping more children and their families plus local charities and good causes.”

Chesterfield based children’s cancer charity Kids ‘n’ Cancer UK was founded by Mike and June Hyman.  The charity has helped more than 65 families in three years, specialising in securing Proton Therapy treatment for children with different forms of cancer and at the same time helping and funding living and accommodation for patients who receive government funding for their treatment.

Proton Therapy is currently unavailable in the UK, but plans are now in place to establish new facilities in London and Manchester within the next six years to provide the treatment.

Sponsors and supporters of the Chesterfield and Derbyshire Marathon 2014 include Utopia Tableware, Casa Hotel, Natwest, BRM Solicitors, Stopfords Accountants, Spire Marquees, Forever Living, Peak FM, Modiri Chartered Accountants, Caldic, One Health Sharks, Red Butterfly, Klasse Spa, Holywell Healthcare, MLS, Traffic Management Services (Retford) Limited and MK.

Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire Police, Destination Chesterfieldand Derbyshire and Nottingham Chamber of Commerce have all given the race their backing.

To sign-up for the Chesterfield and Derbyshire Marathon visitwww.chesterfieldmarathon.co.uk.

Follow the Chesterfield and Derbyshire Marathon on Twitter @CDMarathon2014 and on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/ChesterfieldDerbyshireMarathon.

(Pictured (left to right): Andrea Hooley from Chesterfield Marathon, Alison Bridge of MLS and Bill Wilson, June Hyman and Mike Hyman from Chesterfield Marathon.)

Source:On behalf of Kids ‘N’ Cancer by HR Media Ltd

Posted in About Chesterfield, Visiting