Destination Chesterfield

Spring has sprung on Chesterfield’s regeneration projects

9th April 2019

Chair of Destination Chesterfield, Peter Swallow shares his views in his latest Blog.

Spring has sprung, clocks have moved forward to British summer time, and the change in seasons very much reflects the progress Chesterfield is making with a number of key projects.

In keeping with the season, we are seeing the buds emerging on Chesterfield Waterside and Northern Gateway; and I am sure there will also be some later growth as the year progresses.

Making good progress is the Premier Inn hotel, located in the former Co-op building on Elder Way. This is opening this week following an extensive programme of refurbishment and will deliver 92 new hotel beds to Chesterfield’s growing visitor economy.

Just last year James Berresford, Chair of the Derbyshire Culture, Heritage, Arts and Tourism Board told us at the Chesterfield Investment Summit, that transforming just 5% of our day visitors into overnight stays would transform the town’s visitor economy. The opening of the new hotel at Elder Way and the additional hotels that will be created at Chesterfield Waterside and Peak Resort push us ever closer to becoming a destination for overnight guests.

Planning permission has also been granted for the three-storey Enterprise Centre on the Donut roundabout at Northern Gateway. The building will consist of 32 offices – a much-needed resource for the many start-up and small companies in Chesterfield. Just over the road, the new Saltergate car park is also due to open soon too, increasing and improving the parking offering for the town centre.

The town will also soon boast a newly constructed large office offering too. A Reserved Matters planning application has been submitted for a six-storey office building in Basin Square at Chesterfield Waterside, adjacent to the railway station. While the Enterprise Centre will be ideal for start-ups and small businesses, the ‘Grade A’ specification office accommodation at Waterside will have a large floorplate, helping the town attract established companies to relocate and invest here.

The development progress doesn’t stop in the town centre, either. A planning application has been submitted to build 700 new homes at the former Staveley Works steel site, as well as a primary school, shops and community facilities, new wildlife habitats and a cycle and footpath network.

For years we have talked about these developments and now they are finally happening. Large scale commercial developments and regeneration projects take a long time to come to fruition, and the construction element is often a shorter stage and the culmination of years of planning.

Often you have to take a step back to move forward. When you both live and work here, you can miss the huge progress we are making as a town in redeveloping and regenerating it for the future. The next time you are in Chesterfield town centre or travelling in the borough, make time to look at what has been achieved. I think you’ll be impressed.

Chesterfield is certainly a town of progress.

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

Specsavers Matlock and Chesterfield donate food to combat child hunger

1st April 2019

With one in five UK children suffering from food poverty, Specsavers in Matlock and Chesterfield are thanking customers in the local community, after they joined forces to collect food to help those in need.

Generous staff and their families held an in-store food drive, collecting a range of the most needed food items in support of the Chesterfield Foodbank.

Last week, the stores’ staff also volunteered at the foodbank, lending a hand to sort through the food at the warehouse, helping the foodbank cope with the influx of donated food.

“Chesterfield Foodbank is an amazing charity – helping local families when they need it most with their crisis food packages. We are proud to have played our part in helping, and the volunteering session really brought our team together too” said Audiologist Juliet Metterick.

She continues: “It was nice to try something different and also feel that we are giving back to our community. If you have a couple of hours to spare I strongly recommend volunteering like we did.”

Anyone wishing to donate or volunteer should visit chesterfield.foodbank.org.uk for more information.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Destination Chesterfield

Amazon to create 200 new permanent jobs with the opening of a new fulfilment centre in Chesterfield

27th March 2019

Amazon today announced plans to open a new fulfilment centre in Chesterfield and begin recruitment for more than 200 new permanent jobs. Amazon’s new investment will help meet customer demand, expand selection and enable SMEs selling on Amazon Marketplace to scale their businesses.

“We are delighted to open a new Amazon building in Chesterfield and begin recruitment for more than 200 new permanent roles with competitive wages and comprehensive benefits starting on day one,” said Stefano Perego, Amazon’s VP of UK Customer Fulfilment. “We are very much looking forward to welcoming a new team, who will play a crucial role in delivering a first rate level of service for our customers.”

Amazon fulfilment centre employees receive competitive pay and comprehensive benefits from day one. Pay starts at £10.50 in the London area and £9.50 for the rest of the UK for all full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal employees working in the company’s fulfilment centres. Employees are offered a comprehensive benefits package, including private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, subsidized meals and an employee discount, which combined are worth more than £700 annually, as well as a company pension plan.

Amazon also offers employees an innovative programme called Career Choice that provides funding for adult education, offering to pre-pay 95% of tuition and associated fees for nationally recognised courses, up to £8,000 over four years.

Bolsover District Council’s Chief Executive Dan Swaine said, “This is great news and welcome boost for the area. This new warehouse will create 200 permanent jobs in the area, meaning significant opportunities for local people and to attract a company like Amazon is good news for the local economy and the future of the District.”

Amazon has started recruiting for a range of new roles for the fulfillment centre, which will be located in Barlborough, including operations managers, engineers, HR and IT specialists. Recruitment for the Amazon team in Chesterfield who will pick, pack and ship customer orders will begin later this year. People interested in applying for jobs at Amazon should visit www.myamazonjob.com/fulfillment-centers/chesterfield

Chesterfield and North Derbyshire is centrally located and continues to attract high profile fulfillment and distributions operations to the area. To find out more about investing in the area visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/invest

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development

Relocation to Chesterfield to accelerate growth plans for local business

26th March 2019

An award-winning Derbyshire business has made the move to larger premises in Chesterfield, bringing employment opportunities to the local area.

Oasis Studio, a creative design agency, has moved from Eckington into Chesterfield, bringing the potential for new creative roles.

The studio specialises in architecture and visualisation services and recently reached the 15-year milestone.

Paul Deakin, Director of Oasis Studio, says: “2019 marks 15 years in business for us and we’ve got big plans for growth.”

“Chesterfield is a great base for us; there’s so many exciting projects going on and a fantastic community of local businesses, which we’re glad to be joining.”

Ahead of the move, Oasis Studio has become a Chesterfield Champion; a group of businesses involved with the Destination Chesterfield scheme, networking to promote the area as a desirable place to live, do business, invest and visit.

Paul adds: “We exhibited at Destination Chesterfield’s Celebrate Chesterfield event earlier this month, meeting other businesses in the area and listening to the plans for development in the coming months and years.

“Chesterfield is known for its history, but it’s also a thriving place to do business and we’re very excited to be joining the area.”

Oasis Studio is now based at Unit 4, Chatsworth Technology Park, Dunston Road, Chesterfield. For more information visit oasisstudio.uk.

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

Chesterfield financial planner to host free masterclasses for women in business

25th March 2019

A Chesterfield-based financial planner is hosting free masterclasses for female business owners.

Suzanne Jeakins, Financial Planner at Banner Jones Wealth Management, is running a series of women in business masterclasses to help owner-managers of small to medium sized enterprises manage their finances. The first masterclass on Wednesday 8 May will demystify pensions and cover how to create a financial plan.

Suzanne has over 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry. She said: “There are lots of great businesses in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire led by women who know their sector well but may lack confidence in financial matters which can hold them back.”

“If you are a business owner or manager and would like to enhance your financial knowledge, are nearing retirement or are starting to look at selling your business, it’s an opportunity to get free advice.”

The masterclasses will all be held at Maison MesAmis in Chesterfield:

Wednesday 8 May – ‘Creating your financial plan and pensions uncovered’ Find out more
Wednesday 5 June – ‘Investments and life assurance’ Find out more
Wednesday 3 July – ‘Putting it in a plan’ Find out more

Banner Jones Wealth Management is a joint venture between Banner Jones Solicitors which has its headquarters in Chesterfield, and Future Life Wealth Management which is based in Renishaw. The company provides wealth management advice, financial planning and legal advice for businesses, individuals, trustees and inheritors of wealth.

To book a masterclass, call 01246 540546 or email dawnmann@bannerjones.co.uk.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield

The Rose and Crown Brampton doubles up

25th March 2019

The Rose and Crown Brampton has been awarded Chesterfield CAMRA Branch Cider Pub of the Year (CPOTY) 2019. They were also awarded Chesterfield CAMRA Pub of the year back in 2018 thus giving them a fantastic double achievement.

The Rose and Crown Brampton is no stranger to such awards having also been Summer and Spring ‘Pub of the Season’ on a number of occasions.

This Rose and Crown is one of three local pubs owned by Brampton Brewery. The Tramway Tavern is situated on Chatsworth Road, a mere 30 yards from the brewery, and in February the Glassworks was opened, situated on Sheffield Road directly across from the Proact Stadium.

On being presented with the award by CAMRA cider champion Yvonne Nolan, The Rose and Crown landlord Mat Randall said “We are delighted to be voted Chesterfield Cider Pub of the Year for 2019. We are extremely proud of our constantly changing wide range of ciders and perries and are always happy to find new ones to add to our list and encourage more people to try real Cider and Perry”.

Yvonne said “Cider is a natural product with great variety and is increasing in popularity. Regularly offering over 15 ciders and perries The Rose and Crown is a fantastic example of promoting cider in pubs. It is a worthy winner of Cider Pub of the Year and now goes forward to the regional round of the competition.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Leisure

IT lessons goes galactic for students from The Bolsover School

25th March 2019

School IT lessons were brought to life by the world’s leading independent end-to-end IT services company for a group of students from The Bolsover School recently.

Eight Year 9 students from the school visited DXC Technology as part of the Made in Chesterfield campaign. The visit to the Chesterfield-based company was designed to show the students how they could apply their IT skills to real-life work.

As part of the visit, students learned about IT security, teamwork and coding in a real-life working environment. They even got to send a message to the International Space Station (ISS) through Mission Zero. With the support of DXC Technology, the students wrote a simple programme to display a message to the astronauts onboard, proving a big hit with the students.

Debbie Crossley, Career Information, Advice and Guidance Officer at The Bolsover School commented on the visit: “We were very fortunate in being able to take several of our Year 9 students to visit DXC Technology as part of the Made in Chesterfield campaign. The students were amazed by the type of work carried out by DXC and were fascinated by what they learnt.

“The visit offered so many learning outcomes for us around careers, apprenticeships, technology and much more. DXC Technology made us feel very welcome and the students were so pleased they went on the trip – we’ll definitely be planning another visit to this employer.”

Made in Chesterfield is aligned with the National Curriculum in order to help students and teachers access the unique leaning experiences that Made in Chesterfield will deliver throughout the year.

The campaign, which is co-ordinated by Destination Chesterfield and Derbyshire Education Business Partnership and sponsored by University of Derby, is designed to bring together businesses, schools and training providers to showcase the sector to future school leavers.

Since Made in Chesterfield was established, more than 2,500 young people from schools have spent time in the area’s manufacturing and engineering businesses. The visits to businesses operating within the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) sector are being organised by Derbyshire Education Business Partnership.

DXC Technology is one of a number of companies from Chesterfield’s STEM sector which are opening their doors to students from across the borough in an effort to raise awareness of job opportunities.
Nicola Mills, Global Account Delivery Executive at DXC Technology explained why she thought the visits are so important: “Being a STEM Ambassador is a truly rewarding role; it creates the opportunity to work with young people like the ones from The Bolsover School at our recent Made in Chesterfield event. Events like this enable them to explore the wider world of technology that is outside of their normal day to day reach and hopefully inspires them to consider careers that they hadn’t previously.”

“As a technology company, it is vital for us to support the development of talent, the world is evolving and we are moving to a truly digital age. We can’t meet these demands without the foundations of a digital workforce; our graduate and apprentice programmes help make that achievable. We are all looking forward to a follow-up with The Bolsover School and to see the results of their Hour of Code being played on the International Space Station in May.”

Alongside the educational activity, there is also a programme of business events including a manufacturing conference, manufacturing and engineering forum, business masterclasses and networking events taking place throughout the year as part of Made in Chesterfield.

In addition to Destination Chesterfield, Derbyshire Education Business Partnership, University of Derby, Made in Chesterfield is also supported by, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd, NatWest and Placing Futures.

To find out more about Made in Chesterfield or to arrange a school visit, please visit here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Made in Chesterfield

Shorts announced as finalist in prestigious Tolley’s Taxation Awards

22nd March 2019

Chesterfield Champions, Shorts Chartered Accountants are delighted to have received the news this week, that they are Finalists for Best Private Client Tax Practice at the 2019 Tolley’s Taxation Awards.

These highly regarded awards recognise the finest achievements and talents of remarkable individuals and teams across the entire UK tax profession. Tolley’s Taxation Awards uniquely bring together every corner of the tax profession at this highly contested annual event. Winning or being short-listed for an award brings prestige to any team and shows recognition from a first-class judging panel.

This category was open to practices of all sizes across the UK, and the winning firm will have provided sufficient evidence and documentation to provide the judges with a clear picture of their business and the service provided to clients.

Senior Partner and Head of Shorts’ Private Client practice, Chris Chambers commented “I am intensely proud of the team we have built here at Shorts, and I firmly believe that the service we provide for our clients is exemplary. The Tolley’s Taxation awards are regarded as the Industry’s Elite, recognising the very best and we are absolutely delighted to be Finalists at this year’s awards.”

Last week, it was announced that Shorts are also Finalists in three categories at the 2019 Yorkshire Accountancy Awards, for Corporate Finance team of the year, Mid-Tier firm of the year and Advisory team of the year (also recognising the work of the Private Client team). Chris added: “To continue receiving acknowledgement for our work is testament to the quality and strength of the team we have built and the quality of the service we provide to local businesses.”

The awards dinner will take place on Thursday 16th May 2019 at London Hilton, Park Lane, where finalists will gather to enjoy a black-tie dinner and entertainment. Shorts would like to extend their very best wishes to all those shortlisted.

Shorts won three awards at the Insider Dealmakers awards last year.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield

Nominate a rising star in Chesterfield’s retail sector

21st March 2019

The search is on to find the rising stars of retail in Chesterfield.

The work of apprentice retail workers will once again be commended in the Chesterfield Retail Awards.

Retail managers and shop owners are being called on by the event organiser, Destination Chesterfield, to nominate promising young apprentices for the 2019 Apprentice of the Year award.

Last year the coveted award was won by Hair and Beauty Apprentice Chloe Hall from The Therapy Lounge in Hasland (below).

The take up of retail apprenticeships in Chesterfield is strong compared to the national picture. In 2017/18 there were 110 retail apprentice starts in Chesterfield.

And it’s not just apprentices who are being recognised at the prestigious awards. The search is also on to find the Apprentice Employer of the Year.

The apprentice categories are part of a 15-strong award line-up, the winners of which will be announced at a glittering black-tie awards ceremony being held at Casa Hotel on 19 June later this year.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “Apprentices play a vital role in the town’s food and drink sector and we’re delighted to be able to recognise the young talent we have here in Chesterfield, as well as the employers that are supporting them through their apprenticeships. However, we can’t recognise the town’s rising stars unless they are nominated. If you think there is an apprentice who deserves recognition for their hard work and determination to succeed, then please make sure you let us know.”

The Apprentice of the Year and Apprentice Employer of the Year categories are sponsored by Apprentice Town, (led by Chesterfield Borough Council) and Learning Unlimited (The Chesterfield College Group) respectively.

The introduction of the Apprentice and Apprentice Employer of the Year categories to the Retail Awards line up last year followed the announcement that Chesterfield had become the first town in the UK to declare itself an Apprentice Town.

The Apprentice Town initiative demonstrates Chesterfield’s commitment to growing the future careers of young people alongside business and the economy by retaining and developing young talent in the town, helping attract more employers to invest here.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader, said: “As the lead partner in the Apprentice Town initiative, Chesterfield Borough Council is committed to developing new talent through apprenticeships.”

“With more than 100 people taking up retail apprenticeships each year, the awards are an opportunity to reward and recognise the work and dedication put in by these apprentices – so I would encourage people to nominate their apprentice and apprentice employer of the year at the Chesterfield Retail Awards.”

In addition to Apprentice Town (led by Chesterfield Borough Council) and Learning Unlimited (The Chesterfield College Group), the 2019 Chesterfield Retail Awards are supported by Chesterfield Borough Council, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), eBusiness Works, In the Works PR, Jumble Creative Design, JP Fire Safety, Spire Radio, Temple Safety and University of Derby.

You can nominate an aspiring apprentice and\or apprentice employer in Chesterfield’s retail sector online at www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards. Nominations can be made until Monday 15 April 2019.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield

Chesterfield reveals plans to create a successful post digital high street

21st March 2019

Chesterfield has the raw ingredients to adapt and thrive in the face of the national ‘retail apocalypse,’ claims the new owner of the town’s Vicar Lane Shopping Centre, ALTERIS.

“People still want shops, but,” said Bert Broadhead, director of ALTERIS, “curating them better and creating a personalised experience for town centre visitors is the key to a successful post digital high street.”

Mr Broadhead was speaking at the town’s popular annual Celebrate Chesterfield event, organised by Destination Chesterfield, and held on Wednesday 20 March at the Winding Wheel.

The property fund company now has ambitious plans to transform the town’s Vicar Lane Shopping Centre which it bought out of administration last month. It plans to create ‘a new town centre retail model for the post e-commerce world’.

He added: “Chesterfield is already ahead of many town centres in the UK in terms of delivering a town centre experience to visitors. People no longer want identical, faceless town centres. They want a variety and mix of shops – both chain and independent stores as well as events which can engage the whole family.”

Plans to develop Vicar Lane have been driven using Facebook, which ALTERIS is using to engage the local community and help them inform the redevelopment of the shopping centre.

Colour, seating, events and high speed internet are all set to be introduced to Vicar Lane Shopping Centre over the next six months. ALTERIS has also identified independent retailers as being key to the future success of the shopping centre.

Appealing to independent retailers attending the packed event, Bert added: “We want to work with local, independent retailers and have made a number of units available with short term flexible leases to support them.” Work on the new look Vicar Lane will start later this year.

Supporting the drive to regenerate Chesterfield town centre, Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council revealed that the council will be submitting an application to the government’s Future High Streets Fund to sustain and grow footfall on the high street. As part of the funding bid, Chesterfield Borough Council plans to introduce universal Wi-Fi provision across the town centre.

He said: “Our retail occupancy levels are holding up well – 92 per cent compared to 88 per cent nationally, however, it’s a journey and we need to keep going.”

Huw explained: “UK shopping habits have changed and Chesterfield is responding well to this in the town centre masterplan by encouraging more people to live within the town centre and create that all important footfall and buzz. We want to make Chesterfield town centre a very desirable place to live, work, play and do business.”

Last year the council approved plans to convert the former magistrates court into 32 apartments, create 10 apartments at 1-3 Knifesmithgate, demolish the former headquarters of North East Derbyshire District Council to make way for 64 retirement homes, and convert the historic building at 87 New Square into nine luxury apartments.

Celebrate Chesterfield, now in its ninth year, is one of the biggest and most hotly anticipated business events in the area. This year the free breakfast event attracted nearly 300 delegates.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, said: “We must not underestimate the power of town centre living to increase footfall to enable us to adapt to the changing face of retail.

“Chesterfield is a town of opportunity and we have the partners and collaboration in place to drive forward our ambitions to not only deliver our current development plans but also attract further investment.”

The University of Derby was this year’s headline sponsor with Central Technology and Markham Vale – Derbyshire’s flagship regeneration scheme, as associate sponsors.

To keep up-to-date with developments in Chesterfield, please visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments

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

Derbyshire highlights why it is the Uk’s Capital for Innovation at MIPIM

11th March 2019

Derby and Derbyshire are certainly living up to the title of UK Capital for Innovation with recent announcements taking centre stage at MIPIM this week.

The largest-ever delegation from Derby and Derbyshire is promoting the county and city at MIPIM 2019 – the annual global real estate exhibition held in Cannes, France which will be attended by 25,000 delegates.

In Chesterfield the transformation of the town centre has taken another significant step forward as plans for a new enterprise centre have been given the go ahead. The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre will help meet demand for office space to house start up and growing small business and support the council’s existing innovation centres at Dunston and Tapton Park.

Derby City Council has approved Pattonair to develop a 9.7acre site with 80,000sqft warehouse and 15,000sqft office building, located at Infinity Park Aerospace Campus.

The iHub innovation centre on Infinity Park in Derby is now at 100% capacity. The 45,000 sq ft. facility has attracted some of the biggest names in the automotive, rail and aerospace supply chain industries. Tenants include Airbus, Altran, and advanced aviation company VRCO.

Nuclear AMRC Midlands, a new research and innovation centre to support manufacturers across the region, has opened for business in the iHub at Infinity Park, Derby. The new centre is a major expansion of the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, part of the UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult and is a collaboration between the Nuclear AMRC, Derby City Council and the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

Rolls-Royce plc has been awarded a £235m contract to support the Royal Navy’s submarines in a move that will safeguard 500 jobs.

A combination of public and private sector officials are part of the first joint city and county delegation to attend MIPIM, playing a full role in the Midlands UK Pavilion supported by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

Posted in Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development