A major upgrade is on the cards to improve the digital connectivity and conference facilities at the Chesterfield Innovation Centres.

Tapton Park Innovation Centre and Dunston Innovation Centre – both owned and managed by Chesterfield Borough Council in partnership with Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce – look set to receive £200,000 investment toward the exciting development.

The project, which will cost in the region of £300,000 will benefit existing tenants at the centres as well as attracting new businesses to the area.

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Leader and Executive Member for Regeneration said: “Chesterfield’s Innovation Centres have proved extremely popular with businesses in the borough.

“They offer quality workspaces, support from the council’s team who staff and service the centres and easy in/easy out terms giving flexibility for businesses to adjust their accommodation requirements to the size of the business.

“Work does need to be carried out, though, to improve the broadband and phone systems in order to meet the needs of modern businesses and to attract new innovative, creative or knowledge-based businesses into Chesterfield.”

A 1GB connection will be the main focus of the upgrade as well as new telephone facilities and refurbished conference suites.

Cabinet members have also made a commitment to include a clause in the contracts for the work for contractors to use local labour and materials where possible.

The work has been approved by Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet and will be considered by council at the next meeting on Wednesday 15 October.

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

One of the UK’s leading nickel plating specialists is expanding its factory after securing a six figure funding deal.

NiTEC UK Ltd is based in Chesterfield and boasts one of the world’s largest electroless nickel plating facilities.  This cash injection will allow it to increase its existing production capacity which provides services including pipe strengthening and exterior protection to a diverse range of industries, from oil and aerospace to architecture and art.

Funding support was provided by Yorkshire Bank, with the deal arranged by Steve Wicks, Commercial Relationship Manager at the bank’s South Yorkshire Business and Private Banking Centre in Sheffield.

NiTEC UK’s in-house laboratory team developed SeaTEC, a revolutionary coating for the marine industry which can withstand exposure to salt spray for more than 19,000 hours.

The company also works with the aerospace and oil industries. Other more unusual bespoke projects include plating a gorilla sculpture created by Turner Prize winner David Mach.

Marcus Hill, Commercial Director at NiTEC UK, said: “We are pleased to be expanding to meet the growing demand for our expertise and products.  The support from Yorkshire Bank and commitment of the NiTEC team has been instrumental in establishing our reputation and place in the marketplace.

“Working with Yorkshire Bank has been fantastic and the team has really taken the time to learn our business.”

Kevin Elliot, head of the South Yorkshire Business and Private Banking Centre, said: “We are proud to be supporting a highly regarded local business that combines technological expertise with an impressive entrepreneurial flair.

“Yorkshire Bank remains committed to investing in the growth ambitions of the local business community.”

Source:Yorkshire Bank

A Derbyshire-based jewellery label manufacturer, which supplies major jewellery buying groups worldwide, has secured funding for new machinery. This was made possible thanks to the Growth Accelerator Programme and support from Chesterfield-based asset finance broker, Balanced Funding Solutions.

The firm now has a bespoke labelling converter which has contributed to an increase in efficiency, with production times cut by 60%.  Finance has also enabled the company to employ an additional member of staff.

Caren Colabella of Magpie said “We are a family business with 5 employees.  We have recently moved to larger premises and plan to increase both UK and export sales and achieve the number one position with 60% market share by 2017.

“One of the biggest obstacles we faced was keeping up with production deadlines due to machinery down time, break downs and inefficiencies and we desperately needed additional bespoke machinery to cope with increased orders and demand.”

Commenting on the process John Pemberton of Balanced Funding Solutionssaid “ This is the type of problem that we encounter on a regular basis where small companies are not receiving the backing of their own bank and then do not know where to turn to help grow their business.

“We have secured a panel of lenders that have an appetite to lend to the SME market and are looking to fill this void with £12.7 billion of funds released to small businesses in 2013.

The list assets that we can fund is extensive and so if any local business is struggling then please get make contact with us and we will see what options are available”

Details of the Growth Accelerator Programme can be found online here.

Source:Balanced Funding Solutions

A Chesterfield-based metal distributor which ships stock around the world is marking its 30th anniversary by relocating to Markham Vale to benefit from better transport links.

Established in 1984, Gould Alloys is expected to move from its current base on Carwood Industrial Park and be up-and-running at new purpose-built premises located at Markham Vale just off Junction 29A of the M1 by Easter next year.

The site will provide direct access to the motorway for the firm which distributes metals to a number of industries including defence, medical and scientific, exploration and production, motor sport and power generation and is a key supplier to the aerospace industry where it delivers ‘first stage’ machining.

Jane Bradshaw, Managing Director at Gould Alloys said,

“We needed to relocate to assist better utilisation of space but were keen to remain in the local area so that we could retain all existing staff.  We also needed a site that was away from residential areas due to the volume of deliveries. Markham Vale ticked all the right boxes offering essential access to the motorway network and an opportunity to design and build to our exact specification. No other location in the area was able to facilitate our needs so precisely.”

Work started this week to build the 50,000 sq. ft. warehouse and distribution centre which will include office space and feature solar panels and energy efficient heating.

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

“This is another great development for Markham and for a local business moving from strength to strength.

“We’re committed to building a strong Derbyshire economy that creates jobs, grows businesses and provides a future for our young people, and Markham Vale will continue to play a key role in that.”

Gould Alloys’ new premises was designed by our private sector developer Henry Boot Ltd which is also building the unit.

Ben Ward, Henry Boot’s Regional Manager, added:

“We are delighted to welcome Gould Alloys to Markham Vale. The news follows a number of successful deals for the development including Ready Egg, Euro Garages and expansion for Holdsworth Foods in the last 12 months and other new interest is particularly strong. The recent announcement of the ‘Enterprise Zone grant’ will lead to other new accommodation/developments being constructed, commencing on site later this year.”

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

Working with development partner Henry Boot Developments Limited, we have helped to attract 28 businesses to the site to date and create 565 jobs. A further 300 jobs have already been announced with the construction of new buildings underway.

In January, the Government announced Markham Vale was to receive £14.2 million to turn the former Seymour Colliery site into prime economic land with the potential to create more than 2,000 more jobs in the area. Henry Boot are adding to the fund − secured following a bid drawn-up by the county council and submitted through the Sheffield City Region’s Enterprise Zone − with a £12.5m contribution.

An additional £7.56 million to build a link road to the new site is also being invested by the county council and local transport boards for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (D2N2) and Sheffield City Region (SCR).

Source:Derbyshire County Council