Business

Banner Jones Solicitors raises £1,000 for John Eastwood Hospice

8th February 2020

Award winning law firm Banner Jones has raised £1,000 for John Eastwood Hospice through their annual Free Wills Month.

Running for the 4th year in a row, as part of the John Eastwood Hospice Free Wills Month, the team offered members of the public the opportunity to have their will written or updated, free of charge, in return for a donation to the charity.

The funds raised will help John Eastwood Hospice – an independent registered charity – continue its work in providing vital palliative care services to patients for free to those with life-limiting illnesses. The charity relies on the generosity of the local community and its team of volunteers.

This donation comes amidst of the firm’s next upcoming charity Free Wills Month which is expected to run throughout February in support of Helens Trust, a Derbyshire-based charity which helps terminally ill people spend the rest of their life in their own home.

Katie Woodard, Wills Team Leader at Banner Jones Solicitors commented: “We work closely with John Eastwood Hospice throughout the year and I’m so pleased that the work we do on a daily basis has helped raise money for such a valuable cause.

“We would like to thank all those who have donated and taken the time to let our dedicated team guide them through the Will writing process.”

Martyn Knox, Chair of Trustees at John Eastwood Hospice said: “At John Eastwood Hospice we support people with advanced or progressive diseases such as cancer, motor-neurone disease or other long-term conditions to help improve and maximise the quality of the lives of our patients and their families.

“We are always so grateful for Banner Jones’ support and our ongoing relationship with the team.”

Banner Jones Solicitors is an award-winning law firm with offices in Chesterfield, Sheffield, Mansfield, Dronfield and Nottingham.

Click here to find out more about Banner Jones Solicitors

Vicky Strong (Paralegal at Banner Jones), Katie Woodward (Wills Team Leader at Banner Jones), Mark Bilton (Executive Director at Banner Jones) and Martyn Knox (Chair of Trustees at John Eastwood Hospice)

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Home

Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa announce new General Manager

7th February 2020

The Ringwood Hall Hotel and Spa are pleased to announce they have appointed a new General Manager.

Tim Cadman has been named as the General Manager following the retirement of Rona Davies after 21 years of service. Tim brings with him a wealth of knowledge, including 19 years of General Manager experience, three years of which were at the Copthorne Hotel in Sheffield.

Tim said “I am delighted to be joining the property which has undergone huge refurbishments in the past two years. I am very excited to be joining Ringwood as they embark on a bright future and overseeing further developments. On behalf of the whole team and I, we would like to wish Rona a very happy retirement”.

Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa is a splendid Georgian grade 2 listed Manor House, set in 29 acres of grounds. In 2018, the hotel opened its new Garden Secret Spa featuring a Vitality Pool, Herbal Sauna, Foot Spas, Himalayan Salt Sauna, Blossom Steam Room, Ice Fountain, Experience Showers, Relaxation Lounges, 7 treatment rooms and its own Brassiere.

Click here to find out more about Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Development, Home, Leisure, Visiting

B&M donates £20,000 to Ashgate Hospicecare

7th February 2020

A cash injection from B&M will help transform Chesterfield’s Ashgate Hospicecare, saving them vital funds.

The discount retailer has donated £20,000 to Ashgate Hospicecare which will help them continue to transform their ‘cramped and dated’ bay areas into nine beautiful bedrooms for their patients and families.

The hospice unveiled the brand new bedrooms to colleagues from B&M’s Chesterfield branch – and so far, the transformation is amazing.

Work on the three-bedded bay areas began in April this year and thanks to B&M’s donation they will be able to continue their transformation of the bays into nine private bedrooms.

With the donation the charity will be able to buy the essential items and fittings for one of the new bedrooms, enabling the hospice to provide the highest quality specialist care and emotional support for local people with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Ali Ward-Foster, Partnerships Manager at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “Thank you so much to B&M for their amazing gift.”

“The new bedrooms will be a safe haven for so many patients and their families and will provide our patients and their loved ones with a spacious, private and homely environment when they need it the most. On behalf of everyone at Ashgate Hospicecare, thank you so much!”

The funds to help the charity were donated from B&M’s Community Fund which supports charities and projects within the communities their stores serve. The discount retailer looks for local causes which will make a real difference to their customers, our environment and to the communities in which our stores are based.

Area Manager, Joe Teague, said: “My team chose Ashgate Hospicecare because we wanted to help them with their journey to transforming the hospice.”

“The care the hospice provides can be a lifeline to local families so it is great that we can help and support local people in need.”

Click here to find out more about Ashgate Hospicecare

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home

East Midlands Chamber joins forces with Business Peak District

6th February 2020

East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) has become the accountable body for Business Peak District.

As part of the agreement, Business Peak District and the Chamber will deliver and support year-round key activities throughout the Peak District; strengthening its existing commitment to the area in the process.

Events include – but will not be limited to – business development workshops, seminars, sector-focused events, MP/Council leader breakfast engagement events and a Bank of England Forum; all held with a view to helping individuals and businesses in the region grow and prosper.

The agreement will not be exclusively events-driven however, with both organisations working together to raise the profile – and protect the interests of – the area and its businesses through a joined-up, collaborative approach.

With over 600 members, Business Peak District’s overriding vision is for a Peak District which marries a distinctive, high quality rural environment with an enterprising, growing and sustainable rural economy.

The organisation seeks to act as a single voice for businesses in and around the Peak District, while simultaneously representing the interests of its partner organisations and stakeholders.

Its activity is supported by the Peak District National Park Authority, Derbyshire Dales District Council, High Peak Borough Council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council; while it works closely with Marketing Peak District and Derbyshire – of which the Chamber is also the accountable body – and Local Enterprise Partnerships.

As the leading business representation organisation in the region, East Midlands Chamber* offers comprehensive support to its 4,300-plus members across the region; ranging from start-ups to multinationals.

Its vision – to enhance East Midlands businesses and communities – offers a clear synergy between the two organisations.

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive at the Chamber, said: “I am delighted to be working in partnership with Business Peak District. The Peak District is not only world-renowned as a destination, it’s also home to some great and diverse businesses which play an important role in the local economy.

“Business Peak District performs an important role in helping ensure the area is represented and I am pleased that the Chamber can now add its weight behind the organisation and provide additional support, resources and expertise to help businesses in the Peak District be even more successful.”

Robin Eyre, Chairman at Business Peak District, added: “There are clear mutual interests between the Chamber and Business Peak District, and I am looking forward to both organisations working together to make a real, tangible difference to the fantastic businesses we have in the area.”

“The Chamber has a great reputation for offering a wide range of services to the businesses that fall within its geography and I am delighted that our members, and the wider business community of the Peak District, will benefit.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home

BHP bolsters tax team with private client specialist

6th February 2020

Award-winning accountancy firm, BHP, has expanded its tax department with the appointment of Suzy Harris-Milnes as Tax Partner.

Suzy has specialised in private client work for more than 20 years and will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the firm, where she will help business owners, wealthy individuals and trusts with their personal tax affairs. She joins BHP after spending 24 years at Grant Thornton.

Offering bespoke advice, Suzy has extensive experience in creating aligned personal and business strategies for private clients.

Chris Humphreys, Head of Tax at BHP, said: “Suzy has spent the majority of her career developing long-lasting relationships with private clients to help shape and structure their personal finances.

“As we continue to grow, we are thrilled that Suzy has chosen to join the business – her experience in private client work will further strengthen the services that we offer.”

Suzy Harris-Milnes, Tax Partner at BHP, commented: “BHP has a long-standing reputation as a strong, independent business with an exciting future ahead. I was attracted to the growing accountancy firm because of its great clients, numerous award wins and recruitment growth over the last few years.

“I am now looking forward to expanding my speciality, building new relationships, training the team internally and highlighting the importance of private client work.”

Last year, BHP was recognised by the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list – in its 19th year, the hard-fought and nationally celebrated list recognises the very best in employee engagement around the country.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Home

Celebrating our apprentices in Chesterfield

6th February 2020

Sometimes national celebrations are specifically relevant to a local area, and that is the case with this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, taking place from 3 to 7 February.

One could argue that Chesterfield celebrates apprenticeships 52 weeks a year as we were the first, and I believe still remain the only place, to declare itself an Apprentice Town nearly three years ago.

Apprentices and apprenticeships are fundamental to Chesterfield’s ongoing success.

There is more than £1billion worth of investment, development and redevelopment taking place in and around the town which, it is estimated, will create will bring the opportunity to access up to 10,000 new jobs. I for one want local people and school leavers to benefit from these jobs, but they can only do this if they have the right skills and are aware of the opportunities available.

Chesterfield was the first town in the UK to declare itself an ‘Apprentice Town’

The Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference on 26 February will, I hope, further this conversation. The conference brings together business and education leaders to discuss how as a town we can develop our young people in order to improve the employability and skills offering for the future.

Let’s not wait for the conference however. If you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend – make sure young people around you are aware of apprenticeships and the value they bring to their personal and professional development and the town’s prosperity.

The theme for this year’s National Apprenticeship Week is ‘Look Beyond’. It celebrates the diversity and value that apprenticeships bring to employers, apprentices and communities across England today. From highlighting the breadth of industries and roles available to the talent and energy apprentices bring into the workplace. Let’s all ‘look beyond’ when we’re giving young people post 16 careers advice.

Baasit Siddiqui, star of Gogglebox and expert on Education and Social Mobility, will be the key note speaker at the event.

More than 14,000 students in North Derbyshire are set to gain their GCSE and A Level qualifications in the next five years. As these young people weigh up their futures and decide how best to forge their career path, I believe it’s vital that apprenticeships are presented as viable options alongside University and A Levels, to pupils in schools.

We all have a role to play in ensuring that Chesterfield is future-proofed. Having a skilled workforce is key to ensure our town continues to thrive for generations to come.

“Apprentices and apprenticeships are fundamental to Chesterfield’s ongoing success”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Blog, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

New Chesterfield events company to bring interesting celebrities to the town

5th February 2020

A&P Events, a new events company set up by Spire Recruitment‘s Lee Ashley and his cousin Leigh Priestley, is aiming to bring more celebrities to Chesterfield with their events.

A&P Events wants to give the people of Chesterfield a chance to see their favourite celebrities from the world of music, sport and more, in an up close and personal setting. The events will be held at the Proact Stadium, home to Chesterfield FC. The celebrities will start each event by talking about their life, career and experiences. This will be followed by a question and answer session where the audience will be given the opportunity to ask a direct question to the celebrity. A DJ will also be playing music from start to finish and the bar will be open throughout the event.

Lee said: “I am very excited to be starting this business with my cousin, hopefully if we can make this first booking a success, we can go on to bring further exciting events and people to the town!”

Their launch event, An Evening with Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock, will take place on Saturday 23rd May at The Proact Stadium, where guests can enjoy an interview and Q&A with the legendary former England footballer. Meet and Greet packages are also available.

Click here to find out more or to book your tickets.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Spire Radio and S40 & S41 Local magazines announce partnership

4th February 2020

Chesterfield Champions Spire Radio and S40 & S41 Local magazines are partnering to offer discounted advertising packages across radio and print.

The new partnership will help businesses get their name and services out to a wider and more diverse local audience. Companies or organisations can benefit from a healthy discount (between 20 and 25%) when advertising packages on radio and in the magazines are arranged together, helping Chesterfield’s businesses reach even more potential clients. Along with the advertising packages, Spire Radio, are also offering all S40 & S41 Local advertisers, new or existing, 10% off any quoted event price.

S40 Local is one of two popular printed publications, that together form the online hub, Chesterfield Local. S40 Local magazine has been helping support local business, encouraging a sense of community and championing local events for over 11 years. Sister publication, S41 Local, was launched in 2018 and follows the same ethos as the original magazine with tailored content for the community based to the North West of Chesterfield, together delivering to 14,500 addresses.

S40 Local delivers to areas including Acorn Ridge, Ashgate, Brampton, Brookside, Holymoorside, Somersall and Walton, S41 Local to Ashgate Heights, Brockwell, Brushfield, Cutthorpe, Dunston (Skylarks & businesses) Highfield, Linacre, Newbold, Piccadilly, Sheffield Road (businesses) and Spital. Plus, both are delivered to a small selection of independent town centre businesses. (Please note: S40 & S41 Local do not cover the entire postcodes for S40 and S41 as distribution has grown organically).

Paul Chapman, Editor and Owner of S40 Local, said: “I’m excited to be pairing our services alongside Spire Radio. Like Spire Radio, I’m keen to support our town and the great independent businesses within it. This partnership will enable businesses to make the readers of S40 and S41 Local, together with the online listeners of Spire Radio aware of the great services they have to offer.”

Simon Paterson, Editor of S41 Local, said: “Having seen the great work that Spire Radio do at many of our local events, championing our town and providing quality entertainment, I am proud to be a part of this forward-thinking partnership. It’s great when two local, independent businesses work together, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this great venture.”

Spire Radio is a lifestyle branded online community radio station, broadcasting 24 hours a day from their Chesterfield Town Centre studio. They have the biggest range of live shows broadcast from Chesterfield (they do not syndicate shows with other stations), with over 80 hours a week of local, live content. They are coming up to their 5^th anniversary, which will bring a range of changes to the station, including a significant investment to be announced in Spring 2020.

Jordan Hartshorne, Director of Social Media and PR at Spire Radio (right), thinks working together reflects the community spirit of Chesterfield: “Spire Radio is really excited to be working with S40 and S41 Local magazines on these new packages which will help Chesterfield businesses reach more people in the community”.

Businesses who are interested in the new packages can get in touch via email on sales@spire-radio.com, paul@s40local.co.uk or Simon@s41local.com. The combined radio and print offers are available to new advertisers only.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield

UKATA urges employers to ensure apprentices are asbestos aware

3rd February 2020

As part of National Apprenticeship Week 2020 (3 – 9 February) the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) is urging employers to deliver asbestos awareness training to all apprentices.

The message comes amid efforts by UKATA, which is one of the UK’s leading authorities on asbestos training, to halt the growing numbers of tradespeople contracting fatal asbestos related diseases.

Research has shown that younger people, if routinely exposed to asbestos fibres over time, are at greater risk of developing deadly asbestos related diseases than older workers.

Providing apprentices with key information about asbestos at an early stage will enable them to challenge poor work practices and protect themselves.

Craig Evans, Chief Operating Officer of UKATA urged: “With the death toll from occupational exposure reaching crisis levels in the UK, UKATA is calling on all employers of apprentices working in trades, to receive asbestos awareness training as soon as possible, whether that’s through a college or with their employer.”

Apprentice electricians, plumbers, carpenters. joiners, heating and ventilation engineers, painters and decorators are just some of the 1.3 million tradespeople that are at risk from exposure to the killer building material. And the facts are startling:

Asbestos kills around 20 tradespeople in the UK every week, making it the single biggest cause of work-related deaths (Health & Safety Executive)
Electricians are almost 16 times more likely than the general population to develop the killer lung disease mesothelioma in their lifetime. (Occupational, domestic and environmental mesothelioma risks in the British population: a case-control study.)
Asbestos exposure kills 4 plumbers every week (Health & Safety Executive)
598 carpenters and joiners died between 1991-2000 as a result of an asbestos disease
1 in 17 British carpenters born in the 1940s will die of mesothelioma (Cancer Research UK and Health & Safety Executive)
The UK has the highest death rate from mesothelioma in the world. The risk is highest in people who were exposed to asbestos before age 30. (Institute of Cancer Research)

Despite the well-publicised health risks posed by asbestos, a 2017 survey conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of 500 tradespeople showed that less than a third were aware of the correct ways to deal with and handle asbestos in the workplace.

Craig explained: “It’s never too early to deliver asbestos awareness training to your workforce. The statistics show that the earlier in a person’s career they receive the appropriate training, then the better protected they are against developing asbestos related cancers in later life.

“A simple half day awareness course could prevent them from contracting a deadly disease and also ensure they don’t expose others to the dangers of asbestos.”

To ensure young people have access to asbestos awareness training before entering the workplace, UKATA is supporting the Learning Occupational Health by Experiencing Risks (LOcHER) project.

The LOcHER project idea originated within the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and aims to support colleges to help students develop valuable employment and life skills, so they feel equipped to lead change in their careers and the industries into which they progress.

For employers whose apprentices are yet to receive asbestos awareness training, UKATA advises that they access UKATA approved asbestos awareness training, either with a local provider or online.

“Asbestos awareness training is low cost and readily available. I urge all employers to book their apprentices on these half-day courses and provide them with a safe foundation for a long and safe career within the construction industry,” added Craig.

UKATA approved asbestos awareness courses are available both online and in training centres throughout the UK. Alternatively, the training provider may deliver on site.

To find out more about UKATA, click here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

Local arts festival helps school children to commemorate VE Day anniversary

30th January 2020

Friday 8th May 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) day and to celebrate this historic event, North Wingfield Parish Council have worked with Chesterfield Champions, Dronfield Arts Festival to produce commemorative mugs for students at North Wingfield Primary and Nursery School.

Every child at the school will receive a mug as a way to help connect them to the past and as a memento for the future. As well as supporting the history curriculum, it will help the children to understand the importance of remembering significant events from history and to gain an appreciation of what life was like 75 years ago.

As the war in Europe ended and the guns fell silent, millions of people took to the streets to celebrate peace and remember the enormous courage and sacrifice of those who were lost. This year’s local celebrations will be the perfect opportunity to get the children involved in a whole range of events designed to commemorate and celebrate Britain’s finest hour and the arrival of peace in Europe.

The Parish Council sourced the mugs from Dronfield Arts Festival, who are working alongside Dronfield Town Council to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day in Dronfield and District, as part of the national celebrations organised by SSAFA.

The Festival will be delivering a programme of 1940s themed events in Dronfield throughout the bank holiday weekend from Friday 8th May until Sunday 10th May 2020. A donation will be made to SSAFA the Armed Forces charity from proceeds made during the weekend.

If you would like to find out more about how to support and celebrate this historic event, Dronfield Arts Festival have a range of official VE Day merchandise that can be personalised to mark this momentous occasion and which you can purchase online at https://www.dronfieldartsfestival.co.uk/

If you would like to get involved, you can find out how you can be part of the official national VE Day celebrations at https://www.veday75.org/

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

Handelsbanken bolsters local team to meet growing demand

29th January 2020

Handelsbanken Chesterfield has appointed a new Individual Banking Manager in response to increasing demand for its local relationship banking services.

Kate Sangwin joins the Chesterfield team after over 10 years of banking experience, the last 18 months of which have been with Handelsbanken in Derby. She will be involved in developing existing customer relationships as well as welcoming new customers to Handelsbanken’s bespoke approach to local banking.

A strong focus on long-term relationships and high levels of personal service has seen the Bank rated top for customer satisfaction 11 years running in an independent survey of British banks’ personal and business customers*. Branches are responsible for making all day-to-day banking decisions based solely on their customers’ requirements, free from product and lending targets or bonus incentives.

Kate commented “What initially attracted me to Handelsbanken was its pure focus on serving the customer. As experienced local bankers we have the power to make all the decisions that matter to our customers, swiftly and sensibly here in the branch. The bank provides customers with an extremely high level of service, and products structured to meet their individual needs.”

The branch, established in 2012 and located at Spire Walk Business Park, has developed a reputation for traditional banking, financial strength and high standards within the local business and professional services community.

Phil Walker, Branch Manager, added: “I am very pleased to welcome Kate to our team. Her appointment means that we can continue to meet the growing needs of both existing and new customers in and around the town, whilst maintaining the high levels of service for which we are renowned. Kate lives in the town and knows the area well, so is excited by the opportunity to work for Handelsbanken in Chesterfield.”

Originally from Sweden, Handelsbanken now has approximately 750 branches in 19 countries and has been named the joint top-scoring commercial bank in Global Finance’s ranking of the World’s Safest Banks 2019**. In the UK, where it has established its wholly-owned UK subsidiary, the Bank supports customers in over 200 communities across the country.

Posted in Business, Home