Business

Sustainable heating and cooling provider announces move to Chesterfield’s Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

A cutting-edge provider of heating and cooling solutions has made Chesterfield’s Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre its new home.

Infrared Group Ltd. specialises in offering a range of efficient heating and cooling options, including air source heat pumps and air conditioning systems. The company’s flagship product, the Infrared Heating Panels, stands at the forefront of its commitment to providing innovative solutions for homes and businesses.

With extensive research driving product selection, Infrared Group believes its heating panels represent the ideal heating solution for tomorrow’s world. Products are tailored around the UK Government’s plans to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and phase out the use of gas boilers, with the main aim of future-proofing clients’ homes, businesses, and projects.

Aaron Joseph, Sales Director at Infrared Group commented: “We stock a wide range of top brands for air source heat pumps and air conditioning with products and prices to suit all budgets. With a focus on rapid growth, we are actively seeking nationwide partnerships with developers who share our vision for the future of efficient heating technology.

“We not only provide top-notch installations but also pride ourselves on delivering exceptional customer service. We’re embarking on a journey to a more efficient and sustainable future in heating and cooling.”

Leaders at the firm say they are ‘thrilled’ to be relocating to Chesterfield’s Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre.

Nathan De La Rosa, Industry Specialist at Infrared Group said: “This strategic move stems from our commitment to both efficiency and accessibility.

“Chesterfield offers a prime location in the centre of England, providing excellent transport links to both the north and the south. Moreover, we are passionate about contributing to the development of the Northern Gateway and believe our presence here will help to play a pivotal role in our growth.

“The modern facilities at the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre are nothing short of fantastic, aligning perfectly with our vision for the future. Furthermore, our founders and dedicated team of staff hail from the Chesterfield area, and we are deeply committed to putting Chesterfield on the map and contributing to the region’s progress. We have a vehement passion to build local relationships with fellow business owners in Derbyshire as well as nationwide.”

Looking ahead, the company’s aspirations are firmly rooted in building its brand and spreading awareness about the benefits of ultra-efficient infrared heating. Infrared Group’s mission is to collaborate closely with homeowners, businesses, and developers, empowering them to revolutionise their heating solutions.

Aaron Joseph added: “We hold a steadfast belief that as people increasingly recognise the immense advantages of infrared heating, it will become the standard in buildings of the future. Our journey at the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre in Chesterfield is not just about business growth; it’s about catalysing a transformation in how we all approach heating and cooling, ultimately leading to a more sustainable and efficient future for all.”

Chesterfield boasts a wide range of modern, well-connected and affordable office spaces available to assist businesses in their growth. Find your perfect office today.

infrared group team photo

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Young people to learn entrepreneurial skills with new programme in Chesterfield

Young people in Chesterfield are being invited to take part in a new programme designed to develop their entrepreneurial skills and confidence to help them kickstart their career.

After successfully receiving £6,000 in funding through Chesterfield Borough Council’s Community Grants Fund, Young Enterprise – the national financial and enterprise education charity – is teaming up with Springwell Community College and Netherthorpe School, inviting pupils to take part in its Company Programme.

The Company Programme aims to empower young people aged between 13 and 19 to set up and run a student company under the guidance of a volunteer from a local business.

Students will be responsible for making all the decisions about their business, including deciding on the company name, managing the company finances and selling to the public. Participants gain practical business experience and key skills.

Volunteers from local businesses are also being urged to get involved as mentors and provide the students with practical advice and guidance. Any businesses interested in taking part can contact the Educational Partnerships Manager: simon.paterson@y-e.org.uk .

As part of the annual programme of activities, Young Enterprise will also be running a launch and pitch event, where the young people will be able to pitch their business ideas to businesses in the area.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Brough Council, said: “We’re really pleased that our Community Grants Fund scheme can fund initiatives such as the Company Programme. When we first launched the scheme, we wanted to make sure that funding could be used to help people prepare to get in to work, and this project does just that.

“Our Skills Action Plan, which we unveiled earlier this year, is all about providing people not only with education, but also the experience of putting those skills into practice.

“Young Enterprise is giving young people the opportunity to improve their work readiness and work experience. It will help them to develop practical business experience and key skills including finance management and public speaking.

“We’re investing in Staveley through our Town Deal and I know many of the board members are keen to support this project and support young people to learn more about starting their own businesses. I am really looking forward to watching this project develop and seeing young people thrive.”

Ian Wingfield, headteacher at Springwell Community College, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this project and I know our students are excited to get started. This is a great opportunity for them to develop a range of valuable skills at the same time as connecting further with their community.”

Sharon Davies, Chief Executive Officer, Young Enterprise, said: “We are delighted that Chesterfield Borough Council is supporting Springwell Community College and Netherthorpe School to launch Company Programme to their students. Company Programme provides a real-life learning opportunity that introduces young people to the realities of the world of work. Previous participants have come up with innovative ideas for their companies, often with a strong socially-conscious theme, which have real potential to become businesses of the future. We are excited to see what the young people taking part in Chesterfield achieve and wish them the best of luck for their Company Programme journey.”

Helen McVicar, headteacher at Netherthorpe School, says that the project will enable pupils to develop real-life skills. She said: “The Young Enterprise Scheme is a fantastic initiative, and we are delighted to be involved. We pride ourselves on being connected with our community and this project will help us to further strengthen those ties whilst also testing the entrepreneurial skills of our young people, and developing important real-life skills.”

More information on Young Enterprise, including details on how other schools and young people can get involved in the Company Programme, can be found at: www.young-enterprise.org.uk

Funding for Chesterfield Borough Council’s Community Grants scheme has been successfully secured from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), together with money raised through the Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Portion (CIL).

More information on the Community Grants Fund can be found at: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/community-grants-fund

The community grants are just one initiative which is benefiting from funding through the UKSPF, after the council was successful in securing £2.6m from the Government. It will fund initiatives up to April 2025, which are designed to improve life for local people and support local businesses.

Learn more about why Chesterfield is an excellent location to live, work and raise a family: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/about-chesterfield/

Young Enterprise

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Ceremony celebrates construction of multi-million pound mental health facilities in Derbyshire

A new 54-bed mental health facility for adults is progressing in Chesterfield, providing acute adult care on the Royal Hospital site.

Integrated Health Projects (IHP), the joint venture between VINCI Building UK and Sir Robert McAlpine, has celebrated the ‘topping out’ of the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s new mental health facilities across Derbyshire.

Mark Powell, Chief Executive of Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Simon Corben, Director and Head of Profession for NHS Estates and Facilities at NHS England, and Geoff Neild, Programme Director for the Making Room for Dignity Programme attended an event held at Derby Kingsway Hospital alongside members of the project team.

The pioneering new mental health facilities are delivered as part of the Trust’s ambitious £150 million Making Room for Dignity Programme – a project using a blend of central, regional and Trust funding to completely revamp the county’s mental health inpatient (hospital) facilities.

The works include the Derwent Unit, a 54-bed mental health facility for Adult Acute Care at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital, and the Carsington Unit, another 54-bed mental health facility for Adult Acute Care as well as a 14-bed Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit at Kingsway Hospital in Derby.

Every room across both Adult Acute Care facilities will be en-suite and temperature controlled, with the facilities also including a shared therapy suite, kitchen, indoor fitness room, online library resource room, arts room and access to a secured roof terrace and garden for wards on the first floor.

James Beardmore, Project Manager at IHP, said: “We are proud to celebrate this significant milestone for these important projects and the exemplary collaboration demonstrated by the project team. We look forward to delivering these adult acute care facilities for the Trust’s ambitious Making Room for Dignity Programme. Once completed, they will greatly improve mental healthcare services across the region.”

Geoff Neild, at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Derwent Unit at Chesterfield and Carsington Unit at Derby form the backbone of our dormitory eradication programme giving each service user their own en-suite bedroom.

“For those service users from Derbyshire requiring intensive psychiatric care there is currently no provision within the county and our service users are currently placed in out-of-area facilities. This has a huge impact on the ability of family and loved ones to provide support at a time when it is often most needed. Kingfisher House will provide a 14 bedded unit meeting the needs of male service users in Derbyshire. Along with the newly refurbished Audrey House the Trust can meet the majority of the needs of both male and female service users requiring high acuity facilities.

“I am delighted that these new facilities will give staff, service users, family and friends fantastic settings in which to deliver or receive therapeutic care and support.”

topping-out_group-photograph

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Transition Chesterfield opens Eco Hub thanks to community funding

Transition Chesterfield has benefited from Chesterfield Borough Council’s community grant funding, enabling them to open an Eco Hub in the town.

Based on Low Pavement in Chesterfield, the Eco Hub is a pilot project that will work with residents to:

  • Improve their awareness of ‘Transition Chesterfield’ and the aims and objectives of the community group
  • Improve their awareness of climate action and the protection of the environment
  • Improve their understanding of net zero and a more sustainable Chesterfield
  • Access further learning and volunteer opportunities

Transition Chesterfield was one of the local organisations to benefit from the first round of funding, receiving £2,500 to open the new hub in the town centre.

The Eco Hub is initially open every Friday from 10am to 12.30pm until May 2024 and may open at other times if successful in recruiting enough volunteers.

The Hub at Low Pavement itself is open most days though for other community-based activities.

A total of £59,965 has been awarded to 16 local groups via the council’s new Community Grants Funding scheme so far, and applications for the second round of funding are now open.

The council is looking for grant applications from community groups and local voluntary organisations in Chesterfield and surrounding areas who have climate focused projects to deliver.

Karl Deakin, a volunteer with Transition Chesterfield, said: “We’re excited to win this funding which gives us a much-needed base for our activities. Our hub project will encourage interest and participation amongst residents to reduce their carbon footprint. It’s also a great opportunity for people to volunteer to help our environment and meet new people.”

Councillor Martin Stone, cabinet member for climate change, planning, and environment said: “Climate change is one of the biggest challenges humanity faces worldwide, and it needs us all to consider how we can make individual changes to our routines as well as how we can will make substantial changes in the borough of Chesterfield.

“Community groups can play a huge part in helping to educate and inform our communities so we would love to hear about any local project ideas that could benefit from the available grant funding.

“Chesterfield Borough Council has more than £118,000 available to eligible local groups in this financial year (2023/24) so we are encouraging as many people as possible to find out more about the scheme and submit an application.”

The funding allocated through the grant scheme will support local groups to deliver projects that will build resilient, healthy, and safe neighbourhoods, as well as initiatives which will help reduce the borough’s impact on the climate and wider environment by promoting greener choices.

Funding can also be used by community projects to develop volunteering opportunities, help people prepare to get in to work, and to support organisations to expand their reach into different areas of the borough.

Grants range from £500 to £6,000, and the deadline for applications for phase two is Friday 27 October.

Further information about the Community Grant Scheme, including details of how to apply can be found on the council’s website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/community-grants-fund.

Funding for Chesterfield Borough Council’s Community Grants Scheme has been successfully secured from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), together with money raised through the Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Portion (CIL).

The community grants are just one initiative which is benefiting from funding through the UKSPF, after the council was successful in securing £2.6m from the Government. It will fund initiatives up to April 2025, which are designed to improve life for local people and support local businesses.

transition chesterfield eco hub

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Banner Jones Solicitors secures place in prestigious Legal 500 directory

Chesterfield law firm Banner Jones has secured a place in the prestigious Legal 500 directory for the 11th year, with both the firm’s Family Law and Personal Injury teams maintaining their Tier 2 rankings.

Led by head of practice, Kelly Parks, with input and support from children law senior solicitor, Shetal Gudgeon, this year’s directory recognised the family team for its work dealing with complex divorce and financial cases.

The firm was also referred to as being ‘highly experienced representing children in care proceedings’, naming solicitor and head of care Vince Beckworth alongside senior associate, Jason Burnett, who both act on behalf of parents and individuals intervening in care proceedings, and in disputes concerning residence, contact arrangements for children, adoption and prohibited steps.

Banner Jones’ award-winning personal injury department, headed up by Sarah Sadler, also retained its position, with the directory describing the team as ‘vastly experienced and capable’, with particular expertise in employers and public liability, road traffic, disease and serious injuries or loss of life.

Work highlights cited by the Legal 500 included acting for the joiner who fell down an open stairwell resulting in catastrophic, life changing injuries. As well as a representing a client in a complicated clinical negligence matter, where the negligence caused prolonged psychological trauma.

Assessing the strengths of law firms across the world, the continued inclusion of Banner Jones in the directory is indicative of the team’s hard work over the last 12 months, and its continued commitment to providing high quality, customer- focused legal services to clients.

Commenting on the rankings Banner Jones’ Chief Executive, Simon Wright, said: “We are of course incredibly proud to have once again been recognised as a firm for the work that we do, particular in relation to family law and care proceedings, and personal injury.

“As ever, this continued recognition is testament to the efforts of our legal teams who are supported day-to-day by all of our dedicated and hard-working staff.”

Banner Jones Solicitors supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Banner Jones Solicitors

 

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Redbrik shortlisted for flurry of top estate agency awards

Redbrik Estate Agents has been shortlisted for a number of top industry awards as the firm celebrates further growth and success.

The company has been shortlisted for Best Large Estate Agent at the Yorkshire Residential Real Estate Awards, as well as nominated in four categories at The Negotiator Awards.

The categories include Employer of the Year; Property Management Department of the Year and New Homes Specialists, with Land and New Homes Manager Emma Liversidge shortlisted as Rising Star of the Year.

It comes after Redbrik introduced their revolutionary new service, SecureMove™, at the end of last year.

SecureMove™ is an industry-leading process designed to minimise fall-throughs, speed up sales and provide more certainty to both buyers and sellers by legally preparing properties for sale before they go on the market.

Managing Director at Redbrik, Mark Ross, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be nominated for so many incredible awards and I would like to thank the entire team for their hard work and dedication.

“This is our tenth year in business and we have achieved so much in that time. Since introducing Securemove™ last November, we have seen some fantastic results. We have successfully cut down completion times from the industry’s average of 150-180 days to an impressive 69 days, and on average, we are contract-ready in just 59 days. We have also seen our fall-through rates plummet to just 11 per cent, bucking the national trend.

“It is amazing to be recognised for the innovative and dynamic processes that set us apart from other agents, as well as the outstanding level of talent we have cultivated within the company.”

This year has seen Redbrik complete its 9,000th sale, make two new appointments to its board of Directors and grow to more than 60 employees across four offices operating in Sheffield and Chesterfield, as well as working hard to make changes which revolutionise the industry.

To find out more about Redbrik, visit www.redbrik.co.uk

Redbrik supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Redbrik directors

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Peak Architects shortlisted for prestigious design award

Peak Architects, a firm in North Derbyshire and member of Chesterfield’s Property & Construction Group has been shortlisted for a national award.

The company is among the finalists for the Private Housing category at the Bulding Design Awards. The entry focused on large-scale housing developments across Derbyshire and South Yorkshire.

Patrick Arends, Director at Peak Architects said: “This nomination is fantastic recognition for our team. It’s great to see that our efforts in designing and delivering Private Housing projects is picked up on a national level.

“We aim to create timeless and well-crafted projects, adding value through design. We are humbled to be amongst a strong list of competitors.”

One of the developments which the company has been shortlisted for was Riber View in Matlock. Sitting on the site previously occupied by a well-known car dealership, directly adjacent to the local football grounds. Peak Architects was brought on to design and then deliver a housing scheme maximising the existing space. The company provided a contemporary, high-quality space that is sensitive to the traditional stone facades in Matlock, whilst also benefitting from modern sustainable solutions. The scheme gets its name from its outlook to Grade II listed Riber Castle.

Patrick added: “Awards like these are an important way for us to further highlight the work we are doing in Derbyshire. It shows that amazing projects are possible, through strong client vision and ambitions, responded to by innovative architectural design.

“Being shortlisted for a national award shows how much talent there is in our region. Our clients challenge and inspire us to push boundaries and produce ever more creative solutions.”

The company will find out whether it has won the presigious accolade at an awards ceremony held in London on 17th  October 2023.

Peak Architects supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

2023 Team Photo Peak Architects

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Learning Curve Group announces acquisition of White Rose Beauty Colleges

Learning Curve Group (LCG) has acquired White Rose Beauty Colleges, which has an education and training centre in Chesterfield.

White Rose was founded in 1996 and has helped thousands of learners gain the skills and experience they need for successful careers in the beauty industry. It delivers a wide range of Beauty Therapy, Holistic Therapy, Sports Massage and Make Up Artistry courses.

LCG, which already had hair and beauty academies across the North East of England and London, saw the addition of a further 3,500 learners each year in nine new locations and 170 employees as part of the transaction, confirming its position as one of the largest providers of high quality beauty training in the country.

Amber Massey, Director of Hair and Beauty Academies at LCG said: “We saw the acquisition of White Rose as a huge growth opportunity, which would also cement our position as one of the country’s largest, most diverse and fastest growing training providers. The acquisition allowed us to also expand geographically, hitting a region that we didn’t previously have a huge presence in. But we now have over 60 locations across England, adding to our apprenticeship, community and adult education offerings.

“Our Learning Curve Group Hair and Beauty Academies were awarded Hair and Beauty Apprenticeship Provider of the Year at the 2021 AAC Awards, and Training Provider of the Year at the 2023 VTCT Awards. We want to leverage our expertise in the industry, with White Rose’s expertise in beauty therapy and makeup artistry to establish ourselves as the UK’s leading Hair and Beauty provider.

“We have now successfully rebranded White Rose Beauty Colleges to come under our umbrella brand of Learning Curve Group Hair and Beauty Academies. So, our academies have now had a makeover of their own with their names and branding completely changed.”

At its Chesterfield academy, LCG offers a wide variety of courses with daytime, evening and weekend options to suit most learners’ needs.  Accredited qualifications include Level 2 Diploma in Hairdressing, Levels 2, 3 and 4 Diploma in Beauty Therapy, Levels 3 and 4 Diploma in Sports Massage, Levels 2 and 3 Diploma in Nail Technology, Levels 2 and 3 Diploma in Makeup Artistry, Levels 2 and 3 in Complementary Therapies and Level 3 Diploma in Massage Therapies.  The company also offers a full range of accredited one-day courses which enable learners to gain another qualification whilst they are studying.

Amber added: “Our academies give young people and adults across Chesterfield access to free, high-quality training to prepare them for a successful career. As part of keeping learners at the centre of everything we do, our experienced tutors are dedicated to supporting our learners not just during their course, but also within their chosen fields when they graduate.

“The beauty of the academies is that the courses are funded through government money set aside for education, which means individuals don’t need to pay to start or change their career, all they need is a passion for the industry. Learners are taught by experienced tutors who have previously worked in the industry.”

“Our academies are designed to replicate real-life salons, where our students can gain the skills and knowledge they need in an engaging environment that will match their future workplaces.”

“Not only do the academies create jobs for local people, but as the learners graduate and enter the workforce, they will create a demand for hair and beauty professionals in the local area, leading to job opportunities in salons and spas.

“As local young people and adults gain access to our quality training, their skills and expertise will improve, making them more competitive in the job market, hopefully boosting the earning potential and overall economic wellbeing of the area.

“Our employer relationships also help to retain talent within Chesterfield, and allows us to support local businesses for supplies, equipment, and services. Our academies may also attract learners from outside the local area, which will again contribute to Chesterfield’s local economy.”

Learning Curve Group supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Chesterfield’s Mortgage 1st named as one of the best mortgage companies to work for in the UK

Chesterfield-based Mortgage 1st has been named as a Top Mortgage Employer and ‘one of the best mortgage companies to work for in the UK.’

The results come from an anonymous survey taken by all their employees evaluating key areas of the business such as culture, innovation, reputation and diversity.

To qualify, employers had to meet a minimum number of employee survey responses based on the overall size of the organisation. Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded to the top three companies in each category based on overall employee satisfaction. Alongside Mortgage 1st, only 8 other Mortgage Broker firms across the UK made the final list.

Mortgage 1st were listed as one of the top three companies across 4 key areas achieving Gold for Innovation, Silver for Reputation and Bronze for both Advancement and culture.

Operations Director Lisa Stones said: “Winning an award and being recognised for the work we do at Mortgage 1st is such an amazing feeling but this one tops them all as it was decided by our team. Knowing our team are happy, motivated and feel supported is what we constantly strive for and for them to score us so highly that we make the Top Mortgage Employers list is an incredible feeling.”

The Top Mortgage Employer list has been officially announced this week and shared across the intermediary sector, celebrating mortgage companies that have their team and customers at the heart of everything they do.

Mortgage 1st was founded in 2008 and now along with its sister brand Protection 1st and recent acquisition Peak Mortgages & Protection has a current total staff head count of 70. Senior team members, Advisers and Administrators work out of its Chesterfield & Belper head offices along with remote workers all over the UK, together serving customers for their mortgage and protection needs both locally and nationwide.

Chesterfield has a diverse business community and offers an excellent quality of life, sat on the doorstep of the Peak District National Park. Find out more about working in Chesterfield.

Mortgage 1st supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

 

 

Lewis Atkins Mortgage 1st

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High-growth businesses in Chesterfield achieve new ambitions through Digital Upscaler

More than 1,000 ambitious businesses across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire have received valuable support to embrace new technologies courtesy of an East Midlands Chamber-led programme.

The Digital Upscaler project, which part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and ran from 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2023, provided SMEs with knowledge, investment and capacity to scale-up.

It achieved this via intensive digital adviser support and specialist consultancy, capital grants to support technology investment, dedicated peer networks and a comprehensive programme of strategic action-planning workshops.

Technology grants valued at £1.6m in total, delivered as part of the project, have supported companies across a range of sectors to acquire and integrate new enterprise resource planning (ERP) and material requirements planning (MRP) systems, new access and entry systems, as well as install high-performance servers and high-speed Wi-Fi.

Diane Beresford, deputy chief executive at East Midlands Chamber, said: “Digital technology support has been a core service of East Midlands Chamber for many years now. A significant part of that offer was Digital Upscaler, the impact of which can be seen both in the project’s deliverables and in the subsequent growth of the businesses supported.

“ERDF support may well have ended but the Chamber’s innovation and technology specialists continue to be on hand to guide scaling businesses on tapping into support from the Chamber’s new East Midlands Accelerator projects and through national programmes such as Made Smarter and Innovate UK EDGE.”

Digital Upscaler has supported several Chesterfield firms, including Images Costumes, a family-run business which supplies custom-made dancewear, uniforms and active wear to dance schools, individual performers, theatres and production companies.

These outfits have taken centre stage in a number of shows, from The BRIT Awards to that of Irish-American dance sensation, Michael Flatley.

Michelle Webb, Owner and Managing Director at Images Costumes Ltd. commented: “Technology really is ever-changing and, no matter how we try, we are never up to date! So the triage of support we’ve received; D2N2 Business Adviser support, workshops, and digital consultancy, has been hugely important to our business.”

North Derbyshire-based manufacturer, Penny Hydraulics also received the support. The Digital Upscaler project funded bespoke training on CAD Autodesk, which has helped automate the business’s goods lift design process, in turn reducing the wasted time and material caused by manual errors.

Find out more about Chesterfield’s vibrant business community, and the support available to firms in our area at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/

computer laptop digital

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Government confirms Barrow Hill line to reopen for passengers in Chesterfield

The government has confirmed it will fund the reopening of the Barrow Hill Line to passengers after being used as a freight-only line for the last six decades.

The line was closed to the public as part of the Beeching cuts in the 1960s, but local officials have been campaigning to reopen it to passengers, in order to improve sustainable public transport for the region.

Prior to its closure to the public, the Barrow Hill Line line ran between Chesterfield and Rotherham. Trains stopped at Clay Cross, Whittington, Barrow Hill, Staveley, Renishaw, and Killamarsh.

Its re-opening is part of a number of local infrastructure projects announced by the government across the north and midlands.

The ‘Network North’ scheme was revealed at the same time as Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak announced that the second phase of HS2, which would have seen high-speed trains picking up passengers from Chesterfield, had been cancelled.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice-Chair of Destination Chesterfield, said: “We have been working with our partners for the last few years to establish a strong business case for the reopening of the Barrow Hill Line and we are pleased that the government can now provide certainty on the future of this project.

“It complements ongoing investment in Staveley through the Town Deal and by the council and private sector partners – together these investments will help ensure Staveley residents have access to more employment opportunities and that the local economy can thrive.

“We were very disappointed with the Government’s announcement to cancel HS2 north of Birmingham, and we are still seeking clarity on what alternative investment may be coming to the Chesterfield borough area.”

In addition, Network North promises a number of infrastrcture improvements for our region:

  • Ensuring the delivery of 10 road schemes in the Midlands.
  • Supporting the incoming East Midlands Mayor with a new transport devolution settlement of £1.5 billion.
  • Extending the £2 bus fare through to the end of 2024.
  • Funding for hundreds of new local bus routes through Bus Service Improvement Plans.
  • Commitment to an additional £2.2 billion to tackle potholes.

It also comes just days after the announcement that a further £20 million has been allocated to improvements in Chesterfield, with a town board expected to be formed in order to formulate a long-term plan for the borough.

Find out more about investment opportunities in Chesterfield – a town with an excellent strategic location, affordable business premises and a wide-ranging network of support.

Chesterfield Rail Train

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