Law firm and Chesterfield Champions, Banner Jones, have further bolstered its established business legal services division with the appointment of Director and Solicitor Cathy Thomas, as well as Associate Solicitor Sam Matkin.

Joining the firm’s Sheffield-based Commercial Property team Cathy brings with her more than 10-years’ experience advising on matters including freehold and long leasehold sales, acquisitions and leasing.

Having studied at Liverpool University before joining Nabarro, and subsequently BRM Law, Cathy has particular expertise in landlord and tenant work, as well as asset management in the shopping centre and industrial estates arena.

Associate Solicitor Sam Matkin has also joined the firm’s growing Business Legal Services division and is based at its Chesterfield headquarters.

The announcement follows recent international recognition for Banner Jones as part of this year’s Legal 500 – the most comprehensive worldwide coverage on recommended law firms broken down by area of specialism – in which its family law and personal injury teams ranked for the fourth consecutive year.

Chris Sellars, Executive Director and Head of Business Legal Services, said that the appointments would ‘further strengthen’ Banner Jones’ award winning legal services team, as well as ensure that the firm was well placed to meet growing demand from a rapidly expanding Sheffield City Region-based business community.

He said:-

“Cathy is a welcome addition to our established commercial property team – bringing with her considerable expertise and experience, and further bolstering our ability to meet increased demand fuelled by an ever expanding business community based within the Sheffield City Region.

“Similarly, the support that Sam will bring to our Chesterfield-based team will be most valued, and we very much look forward to welcoming them both.”

Banner Jones also received regional recognition recently when it was awarded an East Midlands Chamber Business Award for Excellence in Customer Service.

East Midlands Chamber is moving to new offices.

Based in Chesterfield since its launch in the 1860s, the region’s biggest support organisation for business is moving to newer premises on the town’s Dunston Business Park.

Repairs needed to the existing head office on Canal Wharf have rendered it no longer fit for purpose.

An outline planning application has been submitted to Chesterfield Borough Council to redevelop the Canal Wharf site as housing.

The Chamber bought Commerce Centre, the official name of the offices in Canal Wharf, in the mid-1980s.

But the flat-roofed, pre-fabricated construction of most of the site has been costly to maintain and was built long before consideration was given to an organisation’s green credentials, resulting in it being expensive to run.

The decision by the University of Derby to move its nursing college from the two-storey section of Commerce Centre to the refurbished St Helena building on Sheffield Road, closer to the town centre, has also influenced the Chamber’s decision to move.

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive at East Midlands Chamber, said:-

“The current building needs constant air-conditioning in the summer and is almost impossible to heat in the winter, the roof leaks in too many places and last year the nursing college flooded in heavy rain.

“Asbestos was used in the construction of the pre-fabricated parts so no repairs can be made simply or cheaply.

“The floor area of Commerce Centre is about 80,000sq ft, which is more than the Chamber needs, and the sprawling, labyrinthine layout is not conducive to good business practice.

“For many years we had the University of Derby as an assured tenant in the two-storey wing of the offices but they moved this year to the refurbished St Helena building.

“Without the income from the university, the cost of running the centre is going to spiral out of control. The monthly heating and lighting bill in the winter is already thousands of pounds, which is silly money.

“It has been estimated that we would need to spend about £400,000 to make all the necessary repairs and improvements to Commerce Centre, but even that wouldn’t give us the ‘green’ credentials we are encouraging other businesses to adopt nor the accommodations we need.

“There comes a time when you have to say ‘enough is enough’, and that time is now.”

The Chamber is buying St Andrew’s House, Millennium Way, off Dunston Road, Chesterfield, a modern three-storey office building that can be easily adapted to meet the changing needs of a 21st Century business.

In addition to open-plan general offices, St Andrew’s House has a number of smaller rooms, adjustable training suites, a boardroom and a catering centre. But unlike Commerce Centre, all the additional rooms can be accessed without walking through the Chamber’s main office.

The site has about 60 car parking spaces, modern car park lighting and closed-circuit TV security. The Chamber plans to occupy the first two floors and to let out the third floor.

Councillor John Burrows, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said:-

“It is really good news that the East Midlands Chamber is moving to better premises in the town.

“The fact it is staying in Chesterfield rather than moving to another town or city shows that it views Chesterfield as a good place to do business and from which to support local members in the business community.

“We look forward to continuing our on-going work with the East Midlands Chamber and I’m sure businesses in Chesterfield will also welcome still having such support and guidance on their doorstep.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, said:-

“We’re delighted that East Midlands Chamber is keeping Chesterfield as its head office. It plays an active and key role in the business community here.

“The accessibility of its services in the town gives us an edge over neighbouring towns and cities, which further strengthens Chesterfield’s offering for businesses that choose to set up or relocate.”

If everything goes according to plan, the Chamber will move to St Andrew’s House towards the end of February 2017.

Local volunteers were celebrated at the prestigious Voluntary Sector Awards hosted by the Volunteer Centre at The Pomegranate Theatre this week.

The awards celebrated an individual or an organisation who has made an outstanding contribution to volunteering in the area.

Kevin Redfearn, of Ashgate Hospice, was crowned Volunteer of the Year whilst Young Volunteer of the Year went to Khadiza Arif of Gussiez Kitchen and Bluebell Wood, who was recognised as a volunteer – aged under 25 – who has shown commendable dedication to a voluntary organisation.

There were three Organisations of the Year winners, based on different income categories from under £25k, to over £25k and over £100k and they were awarded to Accessible Derbyshire, Loundsley Green Community Park and Chesterfield & NE Derbyshire Credit Union respectively.

Deanne Calladine of Derbyshire Alcohol Advice Service (DAAS) won the Special Award for a long service staff member for making a major impact and for devoting time and energy to achieving sustained positive change. The Special Award for long service volunteer went to Dr Louise Jordon of Helen’s Trust.

Category sponsors for the awards included Chesterfield Champions – UKATA, Brampton Brewery and Chesterfield College.

A full list of winners can be found below:

Young Volunteer Of The Year Award (sponsored by Unison)
Khadiza Arif – Gussiez Kitchen / Bluebell Wood

Volunteer Of The Year Award (Sponsored by UKATA)
 Kevin Redfearn – Ashgate Hospice 

Volunteer Team of the Year (sponsored Brampton Brewery)
 Springwell Community Arts

Volunteer Long Service (sponsored by Miteccad)
 Dr Louise Jordon – Helen’s Trust

Staff Long Service Award (Sponsored by Public Health)
 Deanne Calladine – DAAS

Most Innovative Project (Sponsored by Inspec Solutions)
Independent Living Group – Fairplay

Organisation of the Year – Under £25k (Sponsored by Octantis Ltd)
Accessible Derbyshire

Organisation of the Year – Over £25k (Sponsored by NEDDC)
Loundsley Green Community Trust

Organisation of the Year – Over £100k (Sponsored by Chesterfield College)
Chesterfield & NE Derbyshire Credit Union

Outstanding Contribution (Sponsored by The Volunteer Centre)
Chris Jones – Dronfield Swimming Club

The UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) has marked a successful 2016 by being nominated for two awards in the upcoming Derbyshire Times Business Awards, with the winners to be announced on Thursday 10 November at the Casa Hotel in Chesterfield. UKATA has been shortlisted for the Small Business Award, while Craig Evans, General Manager of UKATA, has been shortlisted for Business Person of the Year.

The awards mark the culmination of a successful year for Chesterfield Champions UKATA, which has seen the non-profit launch a number of campaigns to help both spread awareness, and combat the risks of asbestos. Some of these highlights have included the recent ‘Train Safe, Work Safe, Keep Safe’ campaign and offering free training services to small businesses.

Craig Evans, General Manager of UKATA,  said:-

“Being nominated for the Small Business Award is a great endorsement for everyone here at UKATA.

“On a personal level, I am very proud to have been nominated for Business Person of the Year, and I am honoured to be considered alongside some of the other candidates. Credit must again go to the team, whose support over the last twelve months has proven to be invaluable.”

Attendees at the awards ceremony can look forward to a champagne reception, three course meal, including three bottles of wine per table, followed by the awards ceremony, hosted by Sam Ogrizovic, before proceedings conclude with the opportunity to network with likeminded businesses.

Craig continued:-

“I think it’s great to have an award recognising the valuable contribution that local businesses make to the Chesterfield and Derbyshire area.

“Creating a business-friendly culture is imperative for the area’s long-term prospects, and as a business community, making sure everyone is aware of what we’re doing. There are a lot of really impressive businesses and businesspeople operating in this area, and so to be nominated for these awards is a triumph for me personally and indeed everyone who works at UKATA.”

The Derbyshire Times Business Awards are one of Chesterfield’s highest profile awards. The awards attract a wide range of entries from across all sectors from both small and larger organisations. But winners all have one thing in common – they are truly excellent at what they do and have proved this by winning a Derbyshire Times Award.

The number of people in work in the East Midlands has continued to rise, according to figures released this morning.

Data published by the Office for National Statistics shows that the number of people in work in the three months to August 2016 rose by 37,275 compared with the three months to May 2016.

There were 28,423 more people in work in August 2016 than for the same period 12 months earlier and 83,326 more in work than two years ago.

The number of people recorded as unemployed rose 2,079 from 106,469 in the three months to May 2016 to 108,549 in August 2016.

But the longer-term trends show continuing falling unemployment. In August 2015 there were 109,411 people registered as out of work and 12 months earlier the figure was 128,483 – a drop of 863 year-on-year and 19,934 over two years.

Across Chesterfield the number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance fell 30 to 1,130 in September from 1,160 in August, and by 10 from 1,140 in September 2015.

The employment rate has risen from 60% to 60.8% and the unemployment rate remains at 4.5%.

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive at East Midlands Chamber, said:

“The employment figures continue to be very positive – employment is up, longer-term unemployment continues to fall and the claimant count has fallen again.

“There have been various reports out since the EU Referendum which suggested that recruitment was falling as a consequence of the vote to leave the EU. Given those reports, we would not have been surprised to have seen a small rise in unemployment this month.

“But the figures released this morning show that business continues to have the confidence to invest in recruitment despite the uncertainties of Brexit.”