Business

Spireites appoint new Chief Executive

14th December 2018

Graham Bean been named as Chesterfield’s new Chief Executive. He will take up the role with immediate effect.

Club owner Dave Allen is delighted that Graham has accepted the role. He said: “Graham has a wealth of experience in the running of football clubs and is no stranger to Chesterfield, having been involved with the investigation of former chairman Darren Brown in 2000.”

Graham said: “I am delighted to be joining Chesterfield FC in such an important role. I am looking forward to the challenge of helping the club progress and working for the good of all, including the supporters. This is a good club and hopefully together we can move it forward.”

“I believe that I have some unique credentials because not only have I worked in senior roles within professional clubs and understand the workings of a club, but I have also had a spell as national chairman of the Football Supporters Association.”

“During that time I was involved in supporter-led campaigns and so I can fully understand and resonate with the frustrations that supporters of the club are currently experiencing. Indeed, I owe my time in the supporter representation world to my progression in the game and so will always look to embrace the views of supporters.”

“I do intend to look to improve the communication between the fans and the club but directors, staff and supporters can also be assured that I will use my best endeavours to improve all aspects of club life.”

“As many supporters will know, I have had a number of dealings with Chesterfield FC over the years and take pride in the fact that my investigation into the Darren Brown era, whilst working at the FA, contributed towards the saving of the club and subsequent takeover by the supporters. It is somewhat ironic that I now find myself back here.”

“This is an exciting opportunity and I am grateful to the owner and directors for giving me the chance to serve the club.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Leisure, Visiting

New Chief Executive Officer appointed by D2N2 LEP

13th December 2018

A new Chief Executive Officer has been appointed by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

Sajeeda Rose, who has been Interim CEO at the D2N2 LEP since September (2018), becomes CEO with immediate effect, following a robust recruitment process.

As the LEP’s CEO, Sajeeda leads a small team supporting the D2N2 Board – a private sector-led Partnership of business, local authorities, higher and further education providers, and community and voluntary organisations – in promoting an economic growth plan for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire; using resources of more than £500million in funding, derived from the UK Government and European Union.

Sajeeda joined the D2N2 LEP in November 2017, as Senior Manager for Growth Deals and Capital Programmes, and acted as Interim Deputy CEO before taking on the Interim CEO role in September 2018.

Prior to joining D2N2, Sajeeda was Chief Operating Officer for the Northamptonshire LEP, where she was responsible for strategy development and delivery of all investment programmes by that LEP. She also worked for the former East Midlands Development Agency, supporting the delivery of sub-regional investment programmes.

Sajeeda has a BA (Hons) degree in Politics & Economic History from the University of Leicester. She is married with two children.

Elizabeth Fagan, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “I am confident that in Sajeeda we have found a CEO who will continue to lead D2N2 in delivering economic growth for all our communities, using the LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan (SEP); currently in the final stages of being updated to meet the area’s changing needs up to 2030.

“Sajeeda is taking on the role at a time when the D2N2 LEP has much to do; including the launch of its new SEP, developing a Local Industrial Strategy, delivering current and planned programmes, as well as consultation on and establishing new governance rules for the LEP’s Board Members and staff to make our operations even more publicly accountable. I’m confident that Sajeeda’s leadership will help deliver results for all our stakeholders.”

Sajeeda Rose, CEO for the D2N2 LEP, added: “I am delighted to be appointed as the D2N2 LEP’s new CEO, and to have the opportunity to build on the great work of its Board and staff to date.”

“The LEP has a lot to do in future. We have a new strategic plan to launch to take our economy into the next decade, a Local Industrial Strategy to develop to complement the work being done nationally, increasing access to skills and training, and ensuring we continue to attract private investment to Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. I look forward to the challenge.”

Further information about the work of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership can be found on its website at www.d2n2lep.org/Home

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

Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa wins 5 wedding accolades including England’s Top Wedding Venue

13th December 2018

Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa swept the board at the WeddingDates Awards picking up 5 accolades, winning the coveted title of England’s Top Wedding Venue.

The venue has also been announced as winner of East Midlands Top Rated Wedding Venue, winner of Derbyshire’s Top Rated Wedding Venue and winner of Country House Wedding Venue of the Year.

The final award was given to Nicola Williams, Wedding Coordinator at Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa, for East Midlands Wedding Coordinator of the year.

In a year of notable achievements, Ringwood Hall Hotel has been awarded 4 Star Status by the AA, Conference Venue of the Year at the Chesterfield Food and Drink awards, a Gold Award in the East Midlands in Bloom awards, a 5 Bubble award for the Garden Secret Spa by the Good Spa Guide and a Bronze Green Tourism award.

Ringwood Hall has seen a transformation over the past two years since new owners purchased the property in 2016 and further plans are already in place to continue the investment into the Grade II listed building.

Rona Davies, General Manager at Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa, said “I could not be more thrilled to have received these wedding awards. The whole team work so hard to ensure that every wedding is perfect for our couples.”

“These awards are based on customer feedback and therefore really do hold a special place for us. Winning the Country House Wedding Venue of the Year award, among the others, is just fabulous as the UK is home to so many beautiful properties. We truly feel honoured to be given such recognition.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

Local female entrepreneur chosen as science Community Leader

13th December 2018

Local entrepreneur Ann Fomukong-Boden has been chosen by the British Science Association (BSA) to become one of its new Community Leaders.

Ann is a STEM Ambassador, Electronic Engineer and Director of Chesterfield-based Kakou Technologies. Ann is one of twelve individuals from across the UK chosen to take part in the programme. The aim of the Community Leaders programme is to harness the passion and ideas of the individuals, enabling them to deliver sustained public science engagement throughout the year.

Since 1994, the BSA has organised British Science Week, an annual grass-roots celebration of science and engineering that runs over 10 days every March.

For the past three years Ann has organised Science Week events in collaboration with Brampton Brewery, Chesterfield Museum and Art Gallery, Monkey Park Community Cafe, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire County Council and Pavements Shopping Centre.

Ann said: “I’m very proud to be chosen by the BSA as one of their first Community Leaders. Many people find it hard to engage with or relate to the sciences; it is still seen by many as a difficult subject that is not useful later in life. However, we all use and rely on the sciences every day, for example, using our mobile phones, cooking, applying make-up or going to the pub.”

“Working with local organisations, I’m hoping to build a network which can share and promote each other’s STEM related activities and events.”

In the New Year, Kakou will start offering a mixture of creative arts and technology-based workshops designed for people looking to learn or discover new skills. The first workshop will be a Raspberry Pi session for total beginners (parents, teachers and hobbyists) held at Chesterfield Library in January 2019. More information can be found here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Made in Chesterfield

Plans for Whittington Moor roundabout dropped

13th December 2018

Plans for potential changes to the Whittington Moor roundabout were shared at public exhibitions by Derbyshire County Council in August. They included traffic lights being installed on all six junctions of the roundabout and the entrance to the roundabout from Dunston Road closed to all traffic apart from buses.

The exhibitions attracted around 1,700 responses from residents, businesses and commuters. While 67% of respondents agreed improvements were necessary to ease congestion and address issues with the speed of circulating traffic and lane discipline, 69% strongly disagreed with plans to shut off Dunston Road.

Councillor Simon Spencer, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, said:“Following overwhelming objections to the plans that had been developed by external consultants it became clear to me that there was significant opposition to closing off Dunston Road.

“There was concern, shared by myself, that closing off Dunston Road would just move traffic problems elsewhere in the town.”

“We’ve listened to these concerns and are not going to go ahead. We are looking at some improvements to kerbs, lane markings and signs to the roundabout, but longer term we know that we need to consider a much more radical option to improve journey times along the A61.

“The A61 was not built to cope with the amount of traffic it has now, and this is only going to grow in the future. The only solution to really make significant improvements in journey times is to consider fly-overs at the Whittington Moor roundabout, Tesco roundabout and Horns Bridge roundabout.

“The county council wouldn’t be able to fund these, but there is a new national pot of money, the Major Road Network fund, and it might be possible to bid for the money for these fly-overs from this fund.”

If the report is agreed the council will include the longer-term major improvements to the A61 in a submission of potential Major Road Network projects to Midlands Connect.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Local charity gains award for apprenticeship programme

12th December 2018

Derwent Rural Counselling Services has truly embraced its apprenticeship programme and it’s that dedication to the programme that has earned it the title of Learning Unlimited’s Employer of the Month for November.

Derwent Rural Counselling Services provides counselling services across Derbyshire and the Peak District, which now has several offices at locations including Chesterfield, Alfreton and Bakewell. The trust works with individuals suffering from common mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, stress and long term conditions.

Receiving the award, Chief Executive Officer, Janette Smeeton, said: “We’re delighted to be recognised as Employer of the Month. Recruiting people with the right skills had been proving difficult for us in the past but our apprentices have really become a big part of our team.”

“With apprenticeships, we have been able to help new staff grow, learn new skills and gain valuable experience. They’ve each become valuable members of our team and we want to see them take on extra responsibility as time goes on.”

When Rosie Allison joined Derbyshire’s Derwent Rural Counselling Services as an apprentice, little did she imagine that she would be recruiting apprentices herself just a few years later.

Rosie’s has risen through the ranks and within five years she has gone from Apprentice to Deputy Operations Manager. Rosie now manages the office and is helping others to follow in her footsteps.

She explained: “When I was welcomed to Derwent Rural Counselling Service five years ago as an apprentice, I did not realise I would have had as much help, support and encouragement to be where I am, doing what I’m doing today. My apprenticeship helped me with the knowledge and skill set I needed to progress and support the organisation.”

“I hope I’m able to continue that level of support for others, and mentor the newer apprentices well and encourage them to grow. It is great to see them become more confident in the workplace and develop. The organisation has grown and achieved so much over the past five years and I’m so pleased I have been a part of it.”

Chloe Milner, 22, joined the team three years ago as a Business Apprentice and now after completing her apprenticeship has progressed to Data Protection Practitioner with the team. Meanwhile, the organisation’s most recent Business Administration Assistant, Ruby Russell, 28, has just celebrated her first anniversary with the organisation. “I’m really enjoying it here,” she said. “It’s a varied and interesting role and I very much feel part of the team. It’s got a lovely atmosphere.”

David Higham, Commercial Director at Chesterfield-based Learning Unlimited, presented the award and said: “It is clear that Derwent Rural Counselling Services have a real commitment to their apprenticeship programme. They are a good example of why apprenticeships work so well. Organisations that succeed are those that grow their own talent and ensure that their businesses are in safe hands for the future.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Made in Chesterfield

New Vice Principal joins the Chesterfield College team

12th December 2018

Anna Jackson recently joined the Chesterfield College management team as Vice Principal for Learning, Skills and Innovation. She is working alongside Directors at the college to develop academic and technical provision and to drive forward the college’s quality and improvement plan.

Anna brings a wealth of education experience and a track record of curriculum improvement and working in partnership with local industry to develop the skills needed.

Following a career in industry, Anna joined the education sector around 15 years ago. Her first role in further education was in Leicester, where she initially worked as a lecturer but she quickly joined the management team.

Anna left her role as Head of Faculty for Business, ICT, Technology, Engineering and Construction at Birmingham Metropolitan College to join Chesterfield College. During her time in Birmingham she worked on key projects such as setting up the region’s Rail Academy working with stakeholders such as the National College of High Speed Rail.

Anna said: “I know from my short time in this job that this is a college which puts learning at the heart of what it does and I am looking forward to being part of that. A huge part of my role is to work with the team to improve performance and progress of learners and to develop Chesterfield College’s offer to ensure we are providing quality further education for students and employers.”

“I am keen to work with schools, employers and the Local Enterprise Partnerships to ensure that we are developing study programmes with progression and the local economy in mind. We will be working hard to raise learner aspirations and ensure they move on to positive destinations.”

Anna will play a key part in growing the college’s engineering and advanced manufacturing provision and a number of other projects to meet the needs of the region.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Made in Chesterfield

Two more additions to Markham Vale

11th December 2018

Two more businesses have selected Markham Vale as their preferred location and are now up and running in Waterloo Court on Markham Lane.

Integrity Devices Ltd, operating out of Unit 7, is a privately owned healthcare company who supply speciality medical devices in niche areas of the health industry. The company has gained plaudits for its commercial agility, offering high quality products at highly competitive prices.

The other new company at Waterloo Court is Barmy Army Ltd. Founded on the 94/95 cricket tour of Australia, the company have been supporting the England cricket team for well over 20 years both at home and abroad. They are now recognised as some of the greatest supporters in cricket and continue to help bring cricket to the masses, provide tickets and organise tours to support the team wherever they are playing.

This news follows yesterday’s announcement that a further three deals have been completed in the last two months at the Wilson Business Park, also at Markham Vale.

Markham Vale is a 200 acre business park with direct access to the M1 motorway via a dedicated junction, 29A. This prime development site offers build-to-suit units from 10,000 to 300,000 sq. ft. for industrial, warehouse, hotel or office builds.

Since acquiring the site ten years ago, more than 1,600 jobs have been created with 1.8 million sq. ft. of developed business space and another 100,000 sq. ft. available for further development.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Made in Chesterfield

Productivity increases at local factory thanks to LED lighting

11th December 2018

Productivity has increased at a Dronfield factory because its new LED lighting has helped re-energise its workforce.

Elkem in Dronfield found that the mood of the manufacturing staff in the factory changed when it switched from standard low bay to modern LED because they are now working in a bright environment.

The changeover was supplied by Chesterfield company Recon Electrical, who are specialists in low carbon energy.

Russ Gratton (right), Director of Recon Electrical, said: “The benefits of LED are clear, it saves energy and, consequently, money but it can also make staff more efficient.”

“Developers are also working on humancentric lighting – with panels which change from cooler bright light during the day to dimmer, warmer light in the evening. ”

“Cool white light makes the brain think it is the middle of the day so personal energy increases but for those who work late at night, lights can automatically dim down so staff who go home late will find their brains will be wanting to go to sleep straight away instead of being wide awake.”

Mr Gratton added: “We know that LED helps businesses in terms of cost because we transferred the lighting in our own warehouse and it had paid for its own installation in just over 18 months. Thereafter, there is a straightforward benefit in terms of up to 90 per cent reduction in lighting energy bills.”

Ian Goodwin, Maintenance Manager at Elkem Dronfield Limited, said: “We have had our lighting in our factory changed from HQI 400 Watt low bays to LED 200 Watt fittings with daylight dimming. This has made a dramatic effect on the feel of the building, the mood of the staff and productivity.”

In addition, the previous running costs were nearly £3,500 per year but, with the new LED fittings, the bill is down to £795.

Recon Electrical is moving fast with developments in energy efficiency thanks partly to support from the Low Carbon Business Network – a project hosted by the University of Derby and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Mr Gratton said: “It has helped us become more engaged with other companies – and work with other potential suppliers.”

“We are now working a lot with electric vehicle charging and run training courses for those companies who want to look at installation of EV charge points. We work with GRE Energy Training which offers an accredited course for electric vehicle charging. This will be a massive growth area over the coming years.”

“The Holy Grail is generating power and being able to store it, convert it and use it. But who knows what the next five years will bring. We just want to make sure we are at the forefront of innovation.”

Dr Fred Paterson, the University of Derby’s project lead for the Low Carbon Business Network, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to link such a go-ahead company as Recon Electrical with others in the field.”

“They are another example of a small Derbyshire company which is pushing the boundaries to help businesses become more energy-efficient to the benefit of their staff and the bottom line.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Made in Chesterfield

Further sales announced at Markham Vale’s Wilson Business Park

10th December 2018

Commercial Property Partners LLP (CPP) has completed a further three deals in the last two months at Wilson Business Park, the flagship business park which forms part of the wider Markham Vale regeneration area.

GB Bespoke Joinery has purchased a 2,300 sq ft unit on the site which will form its new HQ, where it will manufacture joinery products for its nationwide contract projects.

Lee Gent, from GB Bespoke Joinery said: “The quality of the units at Wilson Business Park is outstanding, and the surrounding transport links mean excellent access to the surrounding cities, and beyond. We are looking forward to moving into our unit and continuing to grow our business.”

LTEK Systems, who manufacture control systems, has purchased Unit 11, totalling 1,250 sq ft, and motorcycle expedition company Globebusters have also secured a unit of the same size. A further unit has been purchased by a private investor and subsequently let to Switch Electrical Supplies.

The latest occupants to the scheme join the wider Markham Vale site, alongside businesses including Direct Track Solutions, Shotblast Solutions, Magpie Beauty & Catering Projects – negotiated by CPP earlier this year.

With three further units under offer, this leaves just two units available, of 2,200 & 3,050 sq ft. Priority Space is also building a further 15,000 sq ft standalone unit on nearby Greaves Close, which is close to completion and being offered for sale by CPP.

Stuart Waite, Partner at CPP commented: “We are delighted to have completed further sales, and additional lettings, on the park, demonstrating a resilient demand for small industrial units, especially those that are available to buy.”

“The site is now well-established as ideal premises for any business looking for accommodation in the region – and boasts an exceptional location and key transport links. We’d encourage anyone who is interested in space at Wilson Park to contact us directly.”

Markham Vale benefits from its own M1 motorway junction, Junction 29a, and is just five miles east of Chesterfield and approximately 20 miles from Sheffield, Nottingham and Derby.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Made in Chesterfield

Charities share Chamber’s fundraising efforts

10th December 2018

Three charities have been named as beneficiaries of fundraising efforts by East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) in 2019. Chamber President Kevin Harris announced them at the Chamber’s Christmas Lunch on Friday.

They are CHICKS, SkillForce and Twenty Twenty, all three of which work to improve the lives of children and young people.

At next year’s Christmas Lunch, each will receive an equal share of £1,932.31 raised at this year’s event in addition to any other money raised by the Chamber’s efforts throughout the year.

At this year’s Christmas Lunch, the three charities nominated last year – Rhubarb Farm, Leicester and Leicestershire Animal Aid and Hope Against Cancer – each received a one-third share of £3,615.

The Chamber’s charity activities are managed by the East Midlands Chamber Charitable Fund, which was set up in 2016 and is administered by the Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation.

Kevin said: “It gave me great pleasure to present three very worthwhile charities with much-needed donations and also to name three more charities to which the Chamber will donate next year.”

“Charities rely on donations for their survival and whether it is a large or small amount I would encourage businesses to take part in events that help to raise money for them.”

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