Business

Chesterfield Champion receives prestigious award from the Ministry of Defence

Home Instead Senior Care Chesterfield, an at home care company that provides care to people in their own homes, is honoured to have received a Silver Employer Recognition Scheme Award from the Ministry of Defence at a special awards ceremony last week.

The awards evening was held at Beaumanor Hall and the winners were presented with certificates signed by the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chief of the Defence Staff during a special ceremony.

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) rewards and recognises UK employers for their support and commitment towards defence. The scheme includes bronze, silver and gold awards for organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the Armed Forces community and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

Stephanie Metham, owner of Home Instead Chesterfield said: “We at Home Instead Senior Care are delighted to have received the ERS Silver award. Members of the Armed Forces bring great value to the care sector as serving and helping others is part of the core values of the military service.”

“Former service personnel have an affinity to nurture and support others and offer a wealth of knowledge and skills, and we are proud to continue our support of the Ministry of Defence.”

Home Instead Senior Care is one of the UK’s leading at-home care providers. Their service is tailored to the needs of individual clients and ranges from companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, post-discharge care, medication reminders, shopping and errands to personal care. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Home Instead Senior Care Chesterfield

Fiona Clark and Stephanie Metham from Home Instead being presented with their certificate from Air Commodore Simon Edwards.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield

Local businesses celebrated at Derbyshire Times Business Awards

Celebrating their 30th year of caring for north-Derbyshire patients with life-limiting illnesses, Ashgate Hospicecare were named Business of the Year at the Derbyshire Times Business Awards 2018.

The awards were held at Chesterfield College and hosted by Dronfield entrepreneur Jessica Cunningham, star of TV show The Apprentice.

It is the 10th year that the Derbyshire Times has held their Business Awards, recognising the very best of the area’s commerce, trade and industry. Outstanding firms and the businessmen and women that run them were honoured in 14 different categories.

Derbyshire Times Editor Phil Bramley said: “The awards night was a great celebration of some of the outstanding business we have in our local community.”

“It was especially moving to see the standing ovation which Jillian Thomas received as she collected her Lifetime Achievement award and as she spoke powerfully about how being caught up in the Boxing Day Tsunami while on holiday in Thailand changed her life forever.”

“The judges had no hesitation in naming Ashgate Hospicecare as our overall Business of the Year 2018 and there can surely be no more deserving recipient.”

“It was especially fitting that they received the award in the year they mark 30 years of providing vital end-of-life care to people across north Derbyshire.”

The winners were:

The Innovation Award 

Winner: Auto Windscreen

Highly commended: Chesterfield Royal Hospital Foundation Trust, MOTUS Women Entrepreneurs Network.

People Development Award

Winner: A-Rock Construction

Community Contribution Award

Winner: Less Than Zero Barbers

Highly commended: Chameleon School of Construction

Customer Service Award

Winner: S44 Travel

Highly commended: Less Than Zero Barbers, Pinewood Properties

Apprentice of the Year

Winner: Jenna- Leigh Bates of Recruit 2 You Ltd

Highly commended: Declan Pike of Palamatic, Deborah Downes of  Van Dyk by Wildes

Independent Retailer of the Year

Winner: Itsy Bitsy Boutique

Lifestyle and Leisure Award

Winner: Stephensons Tea and Coffee House

Highly commended: Morley Hayes

New Business of the Year

Winner: Revilo Images

Highly commended: Edwards Employment Solutions Ltd, White Peak Distillery

Professional Services

Winner: Shorts

Highly Commended: Pinewood Properties

Small Business of the Year

Winner: Emerald Accountancy Services Ltd

Highly commended: Inspire Design and Development, Paperclip, Sanitaryware Supplies Company Ltd.

The Excellence in Manufacturing Award

Winner: BG Engineering

Charity of the Year award

Winner: Ashgate Hospicecare

Mitchells Anniversary Award 

Winner: Sanitaryware Supplies Company Ltd

Business Person of the Year award

Winner: Rupert Armitage of Auto Windscreens

Lifetime Achievement Award

Winner: Jillian Thomas of Future Life Wealth Management

2018 Business of the Year 

Winner: Ashgate Hospicecare

Derbyshire Times Business Awards

Derbyshire Times Business Awards 2018: Winners and runners-up join together for a group photograph at the end of the awards ceremony.

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

Education and business sectors join forces to launch 12-month Made in Chesterfield campaign

A year-long campaign, which is sponsored by University of Derby, has been launched in Chesterfield to get more young people interested in careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

Established in 2014, Made in Chesterfield has traditionally been a month-long festival held during November. To mark its fifth year, the campaign has now been aligned with the National Curriculum and will run throughout the next 12 months.

Organised by Destination Chesterfield and Derbyshire Education Business Partnership, the Made in Chesterfield campaign brings together businesses and employers in the sector with schools and education providers.

This year, the campaign is supported by key employers in the local STEM sector, including Chesterfield Police, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar, Kingfield Electronics, Aztec Oils, Penny Hydraulics and Trans-Tronic, who are all opening their doors to teachers and pupils who are keen to know more about careers and jobs on offer.

Since establishing Made in Chesterfield, the campaign has resulted in over 2,500 young people from schools spending time in the area’s manufacturing and engineering businesses. School visits to businesses operating within the STEM sector are being organised by Derbyshire Education Business Partnership.

Chesterfield College has also credited the initiative with helping to make a difference to the awareness of careers linked to STEM subjects. The number of students studying STEM subjects at the College has increased from 265 last year to 440 in 2018.

Launched at Barrow Hill Roundhouse, the move to a 12-month campaign follows news that Spanish train manufacturer Talgo is considering investing in a £9 million innovation centre at Barrow Hill Roundhouse.

Speaking at the launch Dr Peter Dewhurst, Commercial Director, University of Derby, said: “Since opening the University’s Campus at St Helena’s in October 2016, the University has worked hard to support the town with us enrolling over 400 new learners and engaging with 12 local businesses to deliver Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. However, we are keen to do more to support the community and local businesses in achieving their potential and one way we are looking to achieve this is through our support for the Made in Chesterfield campaign.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield commented: “Talgo’s recent interest in Chesterfield has further put the spotlight on the town’s engineering and manufacturing sector. Our central location, engineering heritage and knowledge base makes us particularly attractive to companies operating within the STEM sector.”

“It’s a very exciting time for Chesterfield. We have the core ingredients to make the area a national hub of excellence for manufacturing and engineering. Initiatives like Made in Chesterfield which bring together education and business are so important in helping the town attract further investment to increase both job numbers and opportunities for everyone.”

Clare Talati, Director of Derbyshire Education Business Partnership said: “We have seen this initiative grow each year and we actively encourage all schools to get involved; bringing the world of work to life for learners is at the core of what we aim to deliver and the commitment made by local businesses is fantastic and not to be missed.”

In addition to the University of Derby, Made in Chesterfield is also run in partnership with MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd, NatWest and Placing Futures.

To find out more about Made in Chesterfield and how you can get involved, please visit: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/made/.

launch Made in Chesterfield campaign

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

New board members sought by D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership

Business people are being invited to join the board of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, to help steer the future of an area with an economic output worth over £45billion.

D2N2 is the private sector-led Local Enterprise Partnership of business, local authorities, skills and training providers, and community and voluntary organisations; which promotes economic growth across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

It manages over £500million in resources (via funding from the UK Government and European Union) to invest in its business growth, capital projects, infrastructure, employment promotion, social and community projects, and other services.

Examples of successful projects and programmes D2N2 and its partners have been involved in include:

  • half funding a new £6.9m University of Derby Chesterfield campus, aimed at teaching vocational skills, particularly for adult students;
  • co-funding construction of the £30million BioCity Discovery building in Nottingham, promoting hundreds of life sciences jobs;
  • a £15million investment in a Building Better Opportunities fund (with partner the Big Lottery Fund) to help young people, the long term unemployed and those in poverty across the LEP area with help towards finding work;
  • a D2N2 Growth Hub which has to date engaged with and helped over 6,500 Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire businesses, from start-ups to established firms looking to expand.

D2N2’s board includes experienced people from a range of sectors – and new board members from the private sector are now being sought.

Board Members’ role is to:

  • use their business knowledge to give strategic advice on boosting the D2N2 LEP area’s economy;
  • promote LEP interests when dealing with Government and business contacts;
  • help drive forward the LEP’s activities, including those around increasing jobs and business growth;
  • contribute to development and delivery of the area’s Local Industrial Strategy;
  • champion the work of the D2N2 LEP Board to relevant partners, networks and other business organisations.

Applicants should be excellent communicators, demonstrate real leadership, understand what drives economic prosperity, have a good knowledge of the D2N2 LEP area and its needs, and possess extensive business networks and contacts. They must also be available to serve on the D2N2 LEP board for up to three years, and to attend regular meetings and events; with one to two days per month needed for the role (expenses only are available for this role).

The closing date for business community board member applications is 12noon, on Friday December 21 (2018). Shortlisted applicants will be invited for discussions with current LEP Board members in early January 2019, with an announcement on new board members to be made shortly afterwards.

Elizabeth Fagan, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (pictured), said: “Opportunities and challenges will be faced by our area’s economy, in 2019 and beyond.

“We are seeking applications from new private sector board members; who will bring with them fresh thinking, new ideas and who will best reflect the communities we serve across the LEP area.”

Further details of the role and how to apply are available in the candidate brief below.

D2N2 Candidate Brief for Board Members November 2018

D2N2

Posted in Business

Record occupancy for Chesterfield’s Innovation Centres

Occupancy figures at Chesterfield Borough Council’s innovation centres are at a record high despite the current economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit.

Both Tapton Park and Dunston Innovation Centres are more than 90 per cent let with only four offices still available to rent over both centres.

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “The level of lettings within the two centres shows the healthy state of local businesses in the borough.

“We built these centres to provide a space for new and innovative businesses to operate on ‘easy in, easy out’ terms so that they can establish themselves, grow and then expand in to bigger business premises within the borough.

“It is a model that has proved very successful over the years but demand seems even higher over the past 12 months.

“It is for this reason that we have recently submitted a planning application to build an Enterprise Centre on part of the site of the Holywell Cross car park to provide hi-spec accommodation for up to 32 businesses.”

Chesterfield Borough Council opened Tapton Park Innovation Centre in 1997 and Dunston Innovation Centre in 2002 to provide modern, high specification work space with in-house support services.

Hundreds of companies have used the centres over the years to successfully grow their businesses.

Somerville Associates recently established at Dunston Innovation Centre. Owner Andrew Somerville said: “Our initial interaction with the centre staff gave us the distinct impression that professionalism and commitment to excellence are paramount here.

“We really like the flexibility for future growth offered by facilities such as rent-a-desk. We have everything we need and working here is a pleasure.”

Various office sizes are available and range from a virtual office, rent a desk suite, to offices from 202 sq ft to 1500 sq ft. Lettings are processed quickly and terms are flexible, ideal for new businesses.

Other key features include ultra-fast internet connectivity, telephone, admin, post and reception support, a free on-site business advisor offering access to specialist innovation support, and access at discounted rates to the conference and meeting rooms in both centres.

Both centres are also located close to Chesterfield town centre, have free car parking, and excellent road and rail links with Derby, Sheffield and London.

Anyone with enquiries about Tapton Innovation Centre, Dunston Innovation Centre or the council’s other commercial premises should contact Hannah Ramsdale, or Michelle Shaw on 01246 345255.

To search for commercial property across Chesterfield try our online property search

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Shorts acquire Lilleker & King

Chesterfield Champion Shorts is pleased to confirm that with effect from November 2018, they have agreed to purchase Clay Cross based accountancy practice Lilleker & King, as sole practitioner Andrew King looks to retire.

Andrew King began his career over 40 years ago, working for (what was then known as) Samuel Edward Short & Co, articled to Jim Briar. He previously worked alongside Andrew Heelin and remained in touch with his former colleagues after leaving the firm before he joined the business of Lilleker & King in 1990.

Andrew Heelin, who is now Shorts’ Accounts Director, comments “We are all looking forward to meeting Lilleker & King’s clients and ensuring that they continue to receive the level of service that they have previously enjoyed.”

Andrew King added “Having trained in my early career myself at Shorts, it was a natural decision for me to look to transferring my business to them when I retired. I know that my clients will receive a great service and be in safe hands with the team at Shorts.”

Andrew King will be working alongside Andrew Heelin over the coming year in order to ensure a smooth transition of his clients. Members of the Lilleker & King team have also joined Shorts.

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

University of Derby becomes first in the country to sign up to Student Success Framework

The University of Derby has signed a memorandum of understanding with Advance HE, making it the first higher education institution in the country to commit to embedding the agency’s best practice framework into all its programmes.

By adopting the Student Success Framework, the University will create a more consistent and integrated approach to curriculum design, as well as enhancing its digital offering. The University will adopt seven principles which will put students at the heart of the learning experience, including supporting student attainment, developing their skills as independent learners, connecting across disciplines and enabling them to become ‘game changers’.

During her visit, Advance HE Chief Executive Alison Johns met Vice-Chancellor Professor Kathryn Mitchell and her Executive Team, as well as other senior colleagues and students.

Professor Malcolm Todd, the University’s Provost (Academic) said: “Today’s signing reinforces the University of Derby’s role in being a force for positive impact, positioning us at the forefront of the sector.”

“Our aim is to embed the Advance HE Student Success Framework Series across the University, to support the broader aspects of learning and teaching in a more integrated and innovative manner. It aligns with our own Strategic Framework, which is designed to ensure our students graduate with the skills, knowledge, experience and attributes to enable them to fulfil their ambitions and make a positive contribution to the world.”

The signing reflects the University’s commitment to providing a high quality learning and teaching experience for its students, which this year has seen it:

The National Student Satisfaction Survey (NSS) reported in July that satisfaction with teaching at the University had risen to 88%. In the same survey, student satisfaction at the University overall had risen to 86%, above the national average.

This was reflected in the University’s success in the Times and Sunday Times league table, which saw it rise from 55th last year to 40th this year for student experience.

These achievements followed the Teaching Excellence Framework Gold ranking from the Higher Education Funding Council in 2017, which puts the University of Derby in the top 20% of all providers in the UK.

Professor Mitchell said: “We are delighted to formalise this relationship between the University of Derby and Advance HE. Our commitment to high quality learning and teaching is paramount to our students and staff alike. We look forward to working closely together to deliver on our commitment to an outstanding student experience.”

Alison Johns, Chief Executive of Advance HE, added: “We are delighted to be working with the University of Derby. Our Student Success Framework aims to help HEIs deliver practical solutions to improving teaching and enhancing learning. Working with the University of Derby is an important opportunity to foster collaboration so that we can share and learn from best practice.”

Vice-Chancellor Professor Kathryn Mitchell and Advance HE Chief Executive Alison Johns

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

Redbrik Half targets further growth after official launch

Organisers of the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon are targeting further growth after announcing that entries have opened into the 2019 edition, with an Early Bird price available until January.

Event directors, charity partners and sponsors gathered at Chesterfield’s Market Hall to launch the 2019 event following its huge expansion in 2018, when around 1,500 people signed up to take part – an increase from 800 the previous year.

Entry until 31 January is priced at £22, with the regular price of £28 applying after that date. Runners can also enter the Five Mile Run which takes place at the same time for just £18.

Organisers have set sights on a 2,000-runner total for the 2019 event, with more than 200 people having already signed up following the success of last month’s Half Marathon.

Leading estate agency Redbrik will be 2019 title sponsor for year three of its five-year partnership deal, and Ashgate Hospicecare will once again be the events main charity partner with Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice also an event charity partner.

John Timms, Event Director at Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, said: “We were really pleased with this year’s event. The Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon is an amazing group of people coming together to make something special happen in the town of Chesterfield.”

“Without all our partners, the event would not happen. The growth that we saw from last year to this year was incredible – let’s hope we can keep doing that, that’s the challenge that we’re setting ourselves.”

“Let’s keep building – we want to get to 3,000, even 4,000 runners, and through our partners I think we’re able to do that. The people of Chesterfield have been amazing in supporting the event – it’s so important to have their support. With their support, anything is possible.”

Mark Ross, Director of the event’s headline sponsor, Redbrik, said: “Being involved in the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon is fantastic for us as a business. It gives us the opportunity to give back to the town and help further enhance the wellbeing culture which everybody is looking to promote.”

“We’re huge advocates of Chesterfield, we want to promote what’s here and it’s a brilliant place to live and work. To have an event which is expanding, as the Half Marathon has done, is so crucial for the area.”

“It’s also a great opportunity to raise funds and awareness for brilliant local causes such as Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, charities which do so much for people across the region.”

For more information on the 2019 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon or to sign up click here.

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

Chesterfield Champion shortlisted for national service provider award

Chesterfield Champion Central Technology has been shortlisted for the prestigious ‘Best Small Enterprise Managed Service Provider’ at the Service Desk Institute’s IT Service & Support Awards 2019.

Central Technology is an IT and communications solutions provider founded in 2002 by Richard Thompson and Christopher Barr, both from Chesterfield. It has since grown to become one of the region’s leading providers of IT and communication solutions, supporting over 300 customers and employing over 45 highly qualified staff. In 2018, the business moved to new, fully refurbished premises following major growth and success.

Representatives from the Service Desk team will now present to a panel of Service Desk Institute judges with the goal of becoming a finalist for the national awards ceremony in March 2019. The ceremony will welcome over 600 people from across the world to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the brilliant teams and people working in the IT service and support industry.

Ryan Greveson, Digital Marketing Executive at Central Technology, says the company is proud of what they have achieved: “To be recognised by this worldwide organisation is a real accolade for our fantastic service desk team and the rest of the company. Over the past couple of years, we have worked hard to reach a level of maturity where we can offer world class services and consultancy to ensure all of our customers have a seamless customer experience that derives real business value.”

“The entire team here at Central Technology tenaciously adopts best practice and frameworks including ITIL & ISO; these combined with SDI frameworks will ensure we continue to offer the best future technology and services.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield

Bright future for industrial site despite missing out on Talgo train factory

Chesterfield has narrowly missed out in a bid to bring a new train factory to the town that would have created thousands of jobs.

Spanish train manufacturer Talgo today (Wednesday 14 November) announced it has selected Longannet, in Fife, as the location for its new factory ahead of the former Hartington Colliery site, between Staveley and Barrow Hill.

Chesterfield Borough Council had been working for months with a range of public and business sector partners to bring the factory to the area, which would have created 1,000 jobs directly, with another 4,000 in the supply chain.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “While we are hugely disappointed that the bid hasn’t been successful Talgo was really impressed with Chesterfield and the bid that was put together.

“Because of this they have said that they are keen to work with the area to potentially bring an innovation centre to Barrow Hill, recognising the strengths we have in terms of skills, education, research and technology.

“I’m also hopeful that the highly skilled businesses in the local area that already supply and support the rail sector can win contracts with Talgo as it enters the UK market.

“We’ll work further with Talgo to find out more detail about their aspirations for an innovation centre and what this may mean for the borough.”

Chesterfield beat off competition from around 30 sites to get to the last two of the Talgo shortlisting process.

Councillor Gilby added: “We’ve worked with 14 partners, including the landowners, universities and companies working in the rail sector, to bring all the area’s expertise and experience to the table when preparing this bid and that is a real strength that we can offer other potential investors.

“The site is already being remediated so it will be ready for other development opportunities. Although we have been unsuccessful on this bid we hope that other manufacturers will see the potential of the site and other opportunities to create jobs in the area will come from it.

“Indeed we have already had interest from other manufacturers off the back of the Talgo bid. Like Talgo, they recognise that the site has great potential for manufacturing because it is in a central location with 23 million people within two hours travel, has excellent road and rail connectivity, ready access to a good supply chain of businesses, with research and innovation facilities nearby and a skilled local workforce.”

The Talgo decision will not impact on Chesterfield Borough Council’s existing plans to redevelop the former Staveley Works site area, working with landowners and Derbyshire County Council.

Councillor Gilby said: “This includes the plans for 1,000 homes, a new £50 million link road, a primary school and opportunities for other companies to base themselves in this area. It is a project that will be good for local people and good for local business.”

Sir John Peace, chairman of Midlands Engine and Midlands Connect said: “I am disappointed with the decision but will continue to support Chesterfield with its ambitious plans to regenerate the area around Staveley.

“The Midlands remains a leader in transport innovation in general and the next generation of rail development in particular, and the arrival of HS2 will be a catalyst for growth both for Chesterfield and the Midlands as a whole.”

Carlos de Palacio – President of Talgo  said “As part of Talgo’s commitment to the UK-wide supply chain, our preferred second facility – in Chesterfield – will act as a catalyst.

I want to pay tribute to ‘Team Chesterfield’ – led by Chesterfield’s Chief Executive, Huw Bowen. The team has proved that some of the most unexpected locations can win through, if they provide a compelling case and have inspirational leadership.

We are developing this aspect of our strategy, and continue to consult with potential partners. We will make a further announcement, once discussions have concluded.”

Talgo train factory bid could create thousands of jobs

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Free conference to help Peak businesses tap the full potential of the ‘Purple Pound’

Time is fast running out for visitor economy businesses and services to book free places at a one-day conference featuring local and national experts in accessible tourism – now worth an annual £12 billion to the English economy.

The second Derbyshire Access Exchange will be held at the Proact Stadium, Chesterfield on Wednesday November 21 to help the area’s business people and service providers make the most of the so-called ‘purple pound’.

Co-ordinated by Access for All UK, the consultancy arm of Accessible Derbyshire and supported by official tourist board Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the main aim is to create an even more accessible destination by:

  • Sharing best practice and top tips from national experts
  • Learning about accessibility projects across the Peak District and Derbyshire
  • Browsing and sampling products to improve accessibility
  • Finding out how accessibility can boost profits
  • Promoting and sharing accessibility projects, plans and marketing techniques
  • Meeting Accessible Derbyshire, the local charity that can help with funding
  • Improving confidence in welcoming people with access needs
  • Collaborating, creating new partnerships and celebrating success
  • Planning future action to improve accessibility

Key speakers will include Ross Calladine, Head of Business Support at national tourist board VisitEngland; Trizia Wells, Inclusion Manager at Eureka! The National Children’s Museum; Dan Smith, Head of Creative Design at Motionspot, offering insights into dementia-friendly design and Felicity and David Brown, owners of Hoe Grange Holidays, Brassington, who will share their advice and expertise on how to create accessible holiday accommodation.

The event will be held from 9.30am to 4.30pm, and a complimentary two-course lunch and refreshments are included. During the afternoon, there will be a series of workshop sessions, during which delegates will have the chance to experience the wide range of accessible facilities and services that are on the market.

“National research by VisitBritain reveals that one in five people in the UK have an impairment that might affect where they choose to stay and visit, and that domestic and international visitors spend more than £3.5 billion on overnight tourism trips in England each year,” said Jo Dilley, Managing Director, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire.

“It also reveals that visitors from this market are more likely to take longer trips, are generally very loyal to destinations that meet their needs, and also that an extra £117 million a year could be generated from additional business if accessibility were improved.”

“So not only is improving accessibility important to improve people’s overall experience, it’s obviously very good for business. We’re very pleased to support this event, which we hope will further enhance the Peak District and Derbyshire’s excellent reputation in this fast expanding field.”

Gillian Scotford, of Access for All UK and Accessible Derbyshire, added: “This is a brilliant opportunity for local businesses and services to learn more about how they can better appreciate and meet the needs of the 13 million people with disabilities in the UK – ranging from hearing, vision and mobility impairment to autism, learning difficulties and dementia.”

“Last year’s event got things off to a great start. We are delighted that Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire is able to support it for a second time, and also to offer extra funding this year to enable us to offer four training days plus free audits, training and support to 30 small businesses in nine market towns. Their practical and financial commitment to helping to make life easier for people with disabilities is much appreciated.”

“We hope as many people as possible will sign up for what promises to be an enjoyable, interesting and very positive day, and will then take advantage of the follow-up training and support that will be available in the New Year.”

Tickets for Derbyshire Access Exchange can now be booked here.

Gillian Scotford (left) and Jane Cooper of Access for All UK and Accessible Derbyshire

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Leisure, Visiting

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