Commenting on the Bank of England’s announcement it will increase interest rates by 0.5% to 1.75% amid a forecast the UK economy will contract for five consecutive quarters, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) chief executive Scott Knowles said: “The Bank of England’s bleak forecast signals a struggle ahead for businesses, their employees and customers given the precarious state of the economy, but there is hope of improvement in the medium to long term if they get the support urgently needed.

“Spiralling costs – from energy, fuel, people and raw materials – are cited by firms as by far and away the top concern right now, with 62% of East Midlands companies telling us they expect to be forced into raising their own prices in our latest Quarterly Economic Survey for Q2 2022.

“There are many causes of the current inflation crisis – global supply chain problems, trade barriers, soaring energy costs, increased taxes and labour market shortages – and this combination has caused very real crises in both the cost of living and cost of doing business.

“Interest rate rises alone will do little to address these and there is a risk it will continue to stifle investment among small businesses, which often require loans that are quickly becoming more expensive to service.

“With investment intentions among our region’s firms down – by 6% compared to the previous quarter for plant and machinery, and by 3% for training – the direction of travel by the Bank of England does not appear to offer much hope this will change.

“With the incredibly tight labour market putting upward pressure on inflation and long-term confidence beginning to wane, it’s crucial the Government now works with the private sector to come up with a solution that will enable business to drive the growth that can minimise the impact of the forecast recession.

“This should include reducing the costs for small businesses to invest in upskilling their workforce and providing training-related tax breaks, as well as reforming the shortage occupation list to allow sectors facing urgent demand for skills to get what they need.”

East Midlands Chamber support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber

Two new appointments have further strengthened the legal offering of Chesterfield’s newest firm of commercial solicitors.

CMP Legal, which was established in 2021, has appointed Chris Hutchinson and Ryan Fitzpatrick to its team of solicitors.

Chris and Ryan’s appointments now add expert construction dispute advice and healthcare transactions to CMP Legal’s specialisms.

Ryan, who is CMP’s first new director appointment just 18 months after launching, joins with a particular specialism of corporate transactions within the healthcare sector. He said: “CMP Legal has developed an excellent reputation for delivering high quality legal services in a very short period of time and I’m excited to now be part of this.”

He added: “I am very much looking forward to working with the team to continue the progress and expand CMP Legal both regionally and nationally.”

Formerly with Bell and Buxton and Ironmonger Curtis, Ryan brings more than 10 years’ corporate commercial legal experience to his new position at CMP Legal, including corporate restructuring and management buy-ins/outs with businesses based throughout South Yorkshire and the East Midlands.

“I get an enormous sense of achievement from helping ambitious business owners buy and sell businesses. It is great to be involved at the start of their journey. Transactions within the care home, GP surgeries and dental sector are particularly strong at the moment. The sector is very buoyant right now,” added Ryan.

Alongside Ryan’s healthcare sector specialism, Chris brings industry-leading experience in construction disputes to his new role as a Consultant Solicitor with CMP Legal.

Originally trained as a site engineer, Chris has worked in senior quantity surveyor roles for major construction companies, including Morrison Construction and Mowlem, during a 40-year career in the sector.

He said: “My hands-on experience in construction has given me an inbuilt understanding of the practicalities of a dispute which not many other lawyers have. This not only saves time but gives clients confidence that they have someone on their side who fully understands the issues and knows what they are talking about on every level – from regulations to construction methods. I get immense satisfaction from being able to take a client from a poor position to getting a positive result for them.”

Chris’ experience also means he can act as an expert witness.

Welcoming Chris and Ryan to the firm, Anna Cattee Co-Founder of CMP Legal, said: “We’re thrilled that Chris and Ryan have chosen to bring their respective specialist skills and experience to CMP Legal. Chris is a construction law expert which ties in perfectly with our existing construction law offering, while Ryan’s expertise will enable us to push forward with our healthcare offering as well as our corporate services to all sectors. These are extremely exciting times for the team and business and our next stage of growth.”

Chris and Ryan’s appointments now bring the number of team members to eight, doubling the size of CMP Legal since its launch.

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

17 local tourism businesses have received recognition as ‘Accessibility Champions’ after completing a unique new scheme through the area’s official destination management organisation.

The Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire Accessibility Champions scheme – the first of its kind in the area – has been designed to help tourism and hospitality businesses deliver ‘a warm and inclusive welcome for visitors with additional access needs’.

Through a series of webinars, the scheme covers topics including hearing loss, sight loss, mobility impairment, autism and dementia, highlighting the barriers faced by visitors with access needs and providing businesses with practical tips on how they can overcome them.

Businesses who successfully complete the scheme, which is delivered by Derbyshire-based industry experts Access For All UK, receive official ‘Accessibility Champion’ status, identifying them as one of the most accessible and inclusive tourism businesses in the country.

The first cohort of Accessibility Champions received their certificates at a ceremony held at Chesterfield’s Casa Hotel in June. Recipients included accommodation providers Lane Head Barns, Peak Venues and Beechenhill Farm, plus visitor attractions Treak Cliff Cavern, Discover Buxton Tours and The Children’s Country House at Sudbury.

In addition, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire became the first destination management organisation in the UK to receive Accessibility Champion status from Access For All UK,  signalling its ambition for the Peak District and Derbyshire to become one of the country’s most accessible and inclusive tourism destinations.

Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire is now encouraging local tourism and hospitality businesses to sign up for the next cohorts of the scheme, which will run on Tuesdays from 13th September 2022 to 11th October 2022, and on Thursdays from 29th September 2022 to 3rd November 2022 (excluding 6th October 2022).

Businesses can sign up for the Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire Accessibility Champions scheme at: www.visitpeakdistrict.com/industry/accessibility-champions

The Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire Accessibility Champions scheme is supported by the European Regional Development Fund and there is no cost for eligible businesses to attend.

Known as the ‘purple pound’, the accessible tourism market is estimated to be worth £15.3 billion to the visitor economy according to national tourism body VisitEngland, with huge potential for future growth.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, says: “We’d like to extend a huge congratulations to our new Accessibility Champions who are excellent ambassadors for accessible tourism and beacons of inspiration for many other local businesses to follow.

“One in five of the UK population is disabled and the Accessibility Champions scheme offers a unique opportunity for businesses to gain a share of the £15.3 billion accessible tourism market, obtain loyal customers and, above all else, provide memorable experiences for visitors with additional access needs.

“We encourage businesses to sign up to the scheme for expert advice on how they can provide a warm and inclusive welcome for all visitors – and to help us showcase why the Peak District and Derbyshire is truly one of the UK’s most accessible holiday destinations.”

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

The finalists of this year’s East Midlands Chamber Business Awards have been revealed.

Businesses from Chesterfield up for awards include Banner Jones Solicitors, UKATA, Great 2,  Future Life Wealth Management, DBC Training, Rose Cottage Doggy Day Car, The Accountancy Recruitment Group, Aztec Oils and Sheds Ground Maintenance.

In total more than 150 organisations from across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire have been recognised in the 2022 edition of the annual awards, celebrating the region’s world-class businesses, and are once again delivered in partnership with principal sponsor Mazars.

The awards are split into three events for each county and feature 14 categories, ranging from Community Impact and Excellence in Collaboration to Excellence in Innovation and Commitment to People Development.

Finalists will now have a chance to state their case for winning at a virtual judging day in which they will be interviewed by a panel including sponsors, a Chamber board member and a representative from the Chamber’s senior leadership team.

An overall Business of the Year is also selected for each county from all finalists by Mazars.

East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “Despite the challenges of the past few years, our region continues to show its resilience, ingenuity and hunger for growth, and the line-up of this year’s Business Awards is testament to this.

“The East Midlands is packed with so many hugely successful businesses that are at the pinnacle of their industries, and it’s fantastic to have a chance to put them under the spotlight.
“Alongside showcasing the great examples of innovation, green growth and global trading – which are all integral to the future economic landscape – our Business Awards also celebrate how our companies support their people, communities and each other through collaboration.”

The Derbyshire Business Awards take place on Friday 11 November at Pride Park.

Derbyshire Business Awards 2022 finalists

Business Improvement through Technology (sponsored by Purpose Media)
• Banner Jones Solicitors
• Glide Group
• Scenariio

Community Impact (sponsored by University of Derby)
• Ask the Chameleon & The Swap Shop
• Derby Museums
• Enthusiasm Trust
• Treetops Hospice

Outstanding Growth (sponsored by Amazon)
• Archaeological Research Services
• Baytree Cars
• Neos Composite Solutions
• Reformed IT
• Shed Grounds Maintenance

Excellence in Collaboration (sponsored by EMA Training)
• Composite Braiding, Transport Design International and WMG
• Cosy Direct and Derby Kids’ Camp
• Derby Ram Trail
• DHU Healthcare and Joined Up Care Derbyshire
• Heathland Grove and The Butler’s Pantry

Environmental Impact (sponsored by Futures Housing Group)
• Bowers Electricals
• Cosy Direct
• Devtank
• FA-ST Filtration Analysis Services Technology
• Tarmac Cement and Lime

Commitment to People Development (sponsored by Eight Days a Week Print Solutions)
• Bam Boom Cloud
• BEAR
• EMA Training
• Midland Lead
• UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA)

Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Access Training (East Midlands))
• Cameron Browne, Devtank
• Michael Wheatley, EMA Training
• Matthew Wragg, O’Connor and Co Removals
• Courtney Bower, Recruit 2 You
• Skye Peat, Rural Action Derbyshire

Entrepreneur of the Year (sponsored by Ryley Wealth Management)
• Sarah Stevenson, Astute Recruitment
• Vicky Critchley, Bam Boom Cloud
• Natalie Bamford, Colleague Box
• Jillian Thomas, Future Life Wealth Management
• Andy Ball, Great2

Education and Business Partnership (sponsored by Concertus)
• Access Training (East Midlands)
• DBC Training
• E4E Derby
• Futures Group
• UTC Derby Pride Park

Excellence in Customer Service (sponsored by Aston Lark)
• Anoki
• BEAR
• Rose Cottage Doggy Day Care
• The Accountancy Recruitment Group
• The Silver X Group

Excellence in International Trade (Sponsored by RH Automotive)
• Aztec Oils
• Container Components Europe
• Graphoidal Developments
• Katapult

Small Business of the Year (sponsored by Barclays)
• Derby Museums
• EMA Training
• Future Life Wealth Management
• MacMartin
• White Peak Distillery

Excellence in Innovation (sponsored by Rolls-Royce)
• Devtank
• Neos Composite Solutions
• Peak NDT

Derbyshire Business of the Year (sponsored by Mazars) – Winner to be announced at awards ceremony

The Chesterfield manufacturer, Flagmakers, won the contract to produce all the flags for the Commonwealth Games, including national flags and bespoke Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth flags.

Flagmakers, which are part of the Specialised Canvas Group, produced over 7,000 flags with design, printing and finishing being completed at their Staveley factory.

Paul Noble, Flagmakers’ Managing Director said “In total, Flagmakers produced over 7,000 flags in a little over 6 weeks, delivered to the game’s organisers with a couple of days to spare! A project of this magnitude requires great skill and coordination, and I am super-proud of the team at Flagmakers for their hard work in securing and realising this project.”

Post games many of the flags will be re-used, with arrangements made for them to be used at further international sporting events hosted in the UK over the next 12 months.  Any flags that cannot be re-used will be recovered and recycled.

The 22nd Commonwealth Games is taking place from the 29th July until the 8th August, with the Birmingham welcoming more than 5,000 athletes representing 72 nations and territories.

There have been medal winning performances at the games from athletes from North Derbyshire, these include table tennis player Liam Pitchford and swimmers Jacob Whittle and Imogen Clarke .

This success follows the news, this week, that Chesterfield is second best in England for access to sporting facilities. 

Check out some of the great manufacturers based in Chesterfield.