Development

New skills action plan to boost career opportunities across Chesterfield

A new plan which is designed to boost skills and career opportunities for local people has been launched by Chesterfield Borough Council.

The new Skills Action Plan sets out a variety of partnership initiatives – working with local agencies and businesses – to help bridge the skills gap.

It includes new projects that are designed to provide training and support for local people to improve their skills and access a wider range of career opportunities. The plan also establishes a new Skills and Employment Partnership which aims to put employers at the heart of local skills development and ensure local people are developing the right skills to access new opportunities.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and vice chair of the Skills and Employment Partnership, said: “This new plan and partnership aims to deliver our objective of creating a thriving borough where everyone can benefit from a growing local economy. We want to ensure that local people have the skills to progress in their careers or access new opportunities as they become available. Working closely with businesses is key to achieving our aims because we need to ensure that we are helping local people develop the skills that employers need.

“Our action plan introduces a range of new programmes and initiatives that will help people of all ages to boost their skills and develop new careers. We will be working with lots of delivery partners including education providers, employers, voluntary sector organisations and other councils, to ensure these programmes meet the needs of local people.”

The action plan sets out 12 areas of action across six themes including, Young People, Ambitions and Connections to Work, Increasing Higher Level Skills, Barriers to Employment and Widening the Workforce, Anchor Organisation Project Opportunities, Sector Specific and Future Skills, and Skills Brokerage and Partnership.

Within each theme there are a series of activities and commitments, these include the expansion of the Careers Made In Chesterfield programme, delivering a digital inclusion and work readiness programme, and the creation of a workforce upskilling programme focussed on green and digital careers. These are just some of the many actions that the council will take over the next five years to realise the ambitious plan.

Michael Timmins, a Director at AECOM and chair of the Skills and Employment Partnership, said: “To help the local economy continue to grow we need to work together to ensure people have the right skills and experience to access high quality jobs. I’m proud to chair the new partnership because it shows there is a strong commitment to listening to businesses and responding to their needs through skills development. I look forward to seeing the new programmes starting up and hope that lots of people will take these opportunities on.”

The Skills Action Plan will run from 2023 until 2027. It is just one of a range of projects and initiatives which is being funded through the UKSPF, after the council was successful in securing £2.6m from the Government. It will fund initiatives, until 2025, which are designed to improve life for local people and support local businesses.

More information about the Skills Action Plan and how people can access the support available will be shared on the council’s website.

Careers Made In Chesterfield - Parkside Community School pilot

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Growth and milestones announced for several Chesterfield firms

Chesterfield businesses are marking further growth, with new staff, office expansions, award nominations and key milestones.

Find out about the latest growth and achievements from across the town’s network of Chesterfield Champions in our latest roundup below:

Demand creates substantial growth for BRM Real Estate Division

BRM Property Team

Regional Law Firm BRM Solicitors has added to its strong property department, with the recent recruitment taking them to the 24 lawyers.

BRM’s 24-strong team now includes eight directors and counts Woodall Group, Gleeson Homes, Reef Group and Global Brands among its clients.

Whilst the real estate industry is facing challenges, nimble-footed clients continue to succeed by meeting private and local authority housing needs, taking advantage of permitted development rights, developing large-scale storage and distribution sites, embracing cloud data and battery storage projects, refocussing office space to hybrid working, assisting regeneration of city centres by re-gearing and upgrading retail offerings and encompassing science, educational and tech sectors.

To meet changing and increased client requirements, BRM has recruited and trained its team to create one of the largest property legal departments in the region.

Head of Real Estate and Executive Director, Adrian Sheehan, said: “The recent and continuing recruitment drive has been a major step in BRM’s development as we continue to focus on the core elements of its Real Estate offering.

“Our team is regionally recognised as specialists in the field of real estate and property disputes and the team now boast a wealth of experience in this field.”

Head of Dispute Resolution and Executive Director Rob Cooke, said: “The team’s strong track record and breadth and depth of experience is fundamental to our growing client portfolio. This is the start of an important period in the firm’s growth strategy, and we intend to remain at the forefront of the legal property sector for years to come and we have a series of announcements in the coming months that are really exciting for the future of BRM.”

BRM’s property dispute resolution experience is evident in the complex cases they have successfully litigated, including disputes over property rights, breach of contracts, and land use.

For more information on BRM and their legal services, please visit their website or get in touch with their legal team.

BSP Consulting business development manager shortlisted in Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Awards

Carrie Booth

The business development manager at East Midlands-based civil and structural engineering company BSP Consulting has been named as a finalist in the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Awards.

Carrie Booth, who joined the business in 2004 as a junior member of the admin team and now leads the business development side of the operation, has been shortlisted in the Inspirational Leader – Consultant Award.

The awards, which attracted a record breaking number of entries this year, champion the role of women in construction and engineering.

Carl Hilton, managing director at BSP Consulting, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Carrie has been shortlisted in these national awards. She puts her heart and soul into creating business opportunities for the team, which has played a key role in helping to make BSP Consulting one of the largest independent civil and structural engineering firms in the East Midlands.

“She is extremely capable, tenacious, dependable and 100% committed to her role. She always delivers, not only for BSP but for the numerous groups she is a member of too.

“This shortlisting is very well deserved and we’re sure that anyone in the construction sector in the East Midlands who knows Carrie will be delighted to hear the news that she is a finalist in the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Awards 2023.”

The awards, which are run by Construction News and New Civil Engineer, will be presented at the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Conference in London on 4th October.

Carrie Booth, who works across BSP’s offices in the East Midlands, said: “I feel very humbled to have been shortlisted in these awards, which turn the spotlight on women working in construction and engineering.

“The shortlist features a list of very talented women from companies working across the construction and engineering sector in the UK and I am honoured to be amongst them.”

Green Arch Consulting celebrates 5 years of business

Emma Knight-Strong Green Arch Consulting

A Chesterfield Champion which provides specialist strategic sustainability support to businesses of all sizes, has celebrated five years of success.

Green Arch Consulting provides a range of coaching, management consulting and technical advice and support to help their clients deliver business-led, tangible solutions for tackling the sustainability challenge.

Recently, the company has worked with major international firms, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the FTSE 250 listed JLEN.

Emma Knight-Strong, Owner of Green Arch Consulting commented: “Over the past 5 years Green Arch Consulting has worked with clients spanning 5 continents, across multiple sectors, ranging from government departments to national infrastructure providers to FTSE250 companies to SMEs looking to boost their product offerings through integration of sustainability into their processes. I am so proud of the work that we’ve done and I’m excited for the next 5 years!”

Principle Finance expands into new Sheffield based office

Principle Finance

Principle Finance, a leading commercial finance and residential mortgage brokerage who are part of the SMH Group, have announced the opening of a new office in Sheffield as a result of their continued business growth.

The new office has been refurbished to meet the company’s requirements and will serve as Principle Finance’s hub for commercial finance operations.

The company’s expansion into their new office comes as a strategic move to allow for future growth of the team and to better serve clients in the region by providing a tailored approach to commercial finance.

Commenting on the expansion, James Furniss, Head of Commercial Finance at Principle Finance, said: “We are thrilled to be opening our new office, which marks a significant milestone for the business. Our expansion is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and the continued support of our clients.

“As a business, we are committed to providing the highest level of service to our clients, and our new office will enable us to work more closely as a team and to be more accessible to businesses across the whole region.

“We are excited about the opportunities this expansion will bring, and we look forward to continuing to provide our clients with the exceptional service they have come to expect from Principle Finance.”

In addition to opening their new office, Principle Finance has also undergone a re-brand along with the development of a new website, which reflects the company’s commitment to providing innovative solutions and exceptional service to their clients.

The new website is designed to provide a more user-friendly experience and showcase the company’s range of commercial financial and mortgage solutions for both business and personal requirements.

For more information about Principle Finance please visit www.principlefinance.co.uk on contact the team on 0330 107 1558 or info@principlefinance.co.uk to discuss your finance requirements in more detail.

BRM Solicitors, BSP Consulting, Green Arch Consulting and SMH Group support 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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Third-year running parents rate Kids Planet North Wingfield in Top 20 nurseries

Parents have once again rated Kids Planet North Wingfield in Chesterfield, as one of the Top 20 nurseries in the East Midlands, out of 986 early years settings.

The top twenty nurseries in the East Midlands have received an award from the leading day nurseries reviews site, www.daynurseries.co.uk, with the award based on the nursery’s reviews from the children’s families and carers.

The nurseries were rated on overall standard, facilities and outside space, learning, resources and equipment and ICT, care, activities, staff, food and nutrition, management, cleanliness, safeguarding as well as value for money.

Sophie Hoyland, Nursery Manager at Kids Planet North Wingfield, said:

“We are honoured to receive this award for the third year running in recognition of our continuous commitment to our children and their families. The views and opinions of our children and their families are of great importance to us and this award helps us to celebrate the passion, care and commitment that our practitioners show to them each day.”

Amanda Hopkins, reviews manager of daynurseries.co.uk, said:

“We would like to congratulate Kids Planet North Wingfield on being rated by parents as a top nursery in East Midlands England! Being chosen as one of the best nurseries in the UK by family and carers of children that attend the setting is a huge achievement.

“Our award is recognition from parents and carers that this nursery is offering their children a high standard of care and a stimulating environment, which will hopefully help create strong self-esteem and a lifelong love of learning.

“We hope these awards give parents that much needed guidance in choosing the right nursery for their child.”

For a full list of all regional and national winners: http://www.daynurseries.co.uk/awards/

There are over 14,000 nurseries in the UK, with over 400,000 people working in the childcare sector. Around one million children in the UK attend a nursery.

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

kids planet north wingfield

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70 new houses to be built in North Wingfield

70 new homes are set to be built off Whiteleas Avenue in North Wingfield, following a deal betweeen Rykneld Homes and Countryside Partnerships.

On land owned by North East Derbyshire District Council, and formerly consisting of post-war non-traditional housing, Countryside Partnerships will deliver a mix of two- and three-bedroom homes, as well as four-bedroom homes to address the need for larger homes in the area. The new development will include homes for affordable rent along with homes for sale.

All 70 homes will be built for North East Derbyshire District Council and managed by Rykneld Homes. The agreement with Countryside Partnerships was facilitated by Efficiency North’s EN:Procure Framework, a not-for-profit consortium serving the construction procurement needs of the social housing landlord community.

Using this route enabled Rykneld Homes to work directly with Countryside Partnerships to develop the proposals in collaboration.

As well as delivering much-needed, high-quality new homes for the local community, Countryside Partnerships will also provide six apprenticeship places over the course of the build.

The development will also deliver a number of improvements to the local area, including upgraded play facilities at Alice’s View and Blacks Lane play areas, £165,000 to fund improved education facilities at North Wingfield Primary and Nursery School and Tupton Hall School, and over £28,000 for the NHS Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

Greg Wood, Land and Development Director at Countryside Partnerships South East Midlands, said: “Working in partnership to unlock brownfield sites and create high-quality homes of a mix of tenures where communities can thrive is what we’re all about. So it’s great to be working with North East Derbyshire District Council and Rykneld Homes on this regeneration project that will provide much-needed new homes for local people, while also contributing to local services.”

Cllr Nigel Barker, Leader of the Council with responsibility for Housing, said: “We are looking forward to working with Countryside to further regenerate the area of Whiteleas Avenue, North Wingfield, bringing forward muchneeded homes for our local communities. We have listened to our communities who have told us that they want quality affordable homes in the district and this scheme, which includes 48 homes for affordable rent, demonstrates our commitment to do so.”

housing residential

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Double award success for Chesterfield’s Superior Wellness

Superior Wellness, a hot tub and swim spa manufacturer in Chesterfield has won two awards in the prestigious What Swim Spa? Best Buy Awards 2023.

The Best Buy Awards are published in the 2023/24 edition of What Swim Spa? magazine. The magazine is one of the UK’s leading consumer swim spa buyer’s guide and has advised and informed thousands of swim spa buyers across the UK for over 10 years.

The Thermals Spas Lusso Swim Spa was successful in obtaining the What Swim Spa? Best Buy Award and the Aquark Mr Silence 11Kw heat pump won the What Swim Spa? Heat Pump Best Buy Award.

The Lusso by Thermals Spas is the largest in the range of swim spas and is perfect for a swimming party. With outstanding design, sculpted seats and massage jets it is the ultimate in comfort, relaxation and versatility. This is a real family swimming spa, a perfect investment for spending time with family and friends whilst providing the ultimate exercise workout. It can seat four adults with 45 jets, including six x 7.5 powerful swim jets and two large underwater LED lights.

The Aquark Mr Silence 11 Kw uses Inverpad® technology created by Aquark perfectly combines a unique pad appearance, Stepless DC inverter and noise cancelling technology. Enjoy the peace of mind by Mr Silence. Thanks to the patented airstream design technology, the sound level of Mr Silence is as low as a fridge.

Graham Message, Business Development Manager said “I am delighted that we have been awarded two Best Buy Awards once again. The WhatSwimSpa? Magazine and website are a very important tool for the end customer to use when finding their perfect swim spa.

“It is also great for our partner network to proudly say they are selling an award-winning swim spa or heat pump.”

The Best Buy Awards features the very best hot swim spas and heat pumps to buy. The Awards acknowledge the swim spa models that excel across a range of criteria, including design, aesthetics, comfort, hydrotherapy and value-for-money.

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

superior wellness exterior

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HRH The Princess Royal visits Chesterfield to officially open new developments

HRH The Princess Royal visited Chesterfield this week (12th July), officially opening the Chesterfield Royal Hospital’s new emergency department and a new facility at the University of Derby’s campus in the town.

Princess Anne visited the hospital’s new emergency department as part of a series of visits in the region on the day and met the dedicated team at the Trust – recognising the great work of the hospital staff and the team who worked around the clock to deliver the £27m state-of-the-art build.

The department was operationally opened on 21 June and has since seen more than 6,000 patients through its doors.

The new development, with its innovative approach to patient flow, high spec equipment, ultra-modern technology and a real grounding in the community through the locally sourced artwork and wayfinding is a redefining jewel in Chesterfield’s crown but it’s vital that people only visit if they truly need to. Dr Katherine Lendrum, Clinical Lead for the ED and ED Consultant, commented further: “The new Emergency Department is an absolutely amazing facility, and we were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness to see what we do, how and where. It’s vital that people really do take note and only come to ED when they really need it!

“The new department is already working incredibly hard and is managing patients in a really efficient and safe way – we know that we’re providing better care and a better all-round experience for people – so it’s great that we’re able to take a moment and show our services to such a highly esteemed guest. We know that staff and patients – as well as the communities of Chesterfield will really see this as us redefining Chesterfield and showing that we’re fit for the future and providing a dedicated service which is second to none – by staff who really care!”

Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive of the Trust, said: “This is a truly fantastic facility for the hospital and the communities we serve and to have HRH The Princess Royal come to officially open it is a real coup for colleagues and the community. I’m very proud of the skills, experience and hard work that have gone into shaping our new Emergency Department and to be able to show this to a member of the Royal family – based on our history – is even more rewarding.

“It felt very apt to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to officially open our ED: She was last here in 2009, when she opened the children and young people’s outpatients department we call ‘The Den’ and before that she opened The Scarsdale Maternity and Gynaecology Wing in 1990 – so this is third time very lucky! We’re very grateful and appreciate this historical moment means a lot to the people of Chesterfield and Derbyshire.”

Amongst the facilities The Princess – who is Patron of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and also patron to the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and the Royal College of Midwives – saw was the technology to live monitor patients, a dedicated children and young people’s area and a specialist zone for neurodiverse patients or those experiencing a mental health crisis, all of which mean we are providing a truly world-class facility for the region. The area above the department was also included in the extended tour which includes a state-of-the-art simulation suite and facilities to support training, health and wellbeing of our colleagues. The visit culminated with the unveiling of a special plaque in the reception/class atrium of the ED, alongside natural day light and specially commissioned artwork of the whole Joined Up Care Derbyshire system created by the world famous and local artist Dave Draws.

Dr Lendrum concluded: “ I was interested to talk to The Princess about how patients experience ED. Sometimes (in up to 70% of attendances) people choose to come to an emergency department with less urgent problems – perhaps because they don’t know where to go or because they perceive they will be seen quicker; get all the tests they need done or be treated faster. Our message about ‘if you feel well enough to have your tea, do you really need ED?’ have gone down really well with our communities. It is everyone’s responsibility to use health care services wisely.”

HRH The Princess Royal shaking hands with a member of staff at Chesterfield Royal Hospital

Meanwhile, the new name of a hospital ward used by health students as part of their learning at the University of Derby’s Chesterfield site has been unveiled on the same day (12 July) by Her Royal Highness.

The simulation training facility, which has been renamed The Florence Nightingale Ward to honour the founder of modern nursing, features a number of hospital beds, artificial patients and other NHS-standard equipment enabling students to learn in state-of-the-art facilities to prepare them for entering the healthcare workforce.

The new name was unveiled with a plaque by HRH The Princess Royal at the site, which is home to a number of the University’s health and nursing programmes.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “Florence Nightingale had strong connections to Derbyshire, and so we are proud to recognise her inspiring and wide-reaching impact through the renaming of our simulation training facility, which enables students to gain experience and develop their skills in a ward environment during their studies.

“As an institution we are renowned for the quality of our health programmes, so it is a tremendous honour to have HRH The Princess Royal visit to see first-hand the opportunities and facilities that the University of Derby has to offer and to unveil our dedicated plaque.”

During the visit, HRH The Princess Royal met academic staff and students, who showcased skills including heart tracing and cannulation. She was also shown a number of posters created by Adult and Mental Health Nursing students, surrounding improving treatment for patients within a variety of health settings including doll therapy for patients with dementia, Huntington’s disease and Motor Neurone disease.

HRH The Princess Royal also had the opportunity to see a demonstration of the Immersive Interactive Simulation Suite – a facility which provides 360° projections of a range of working environments, such as being in an ambulance or an operating theatre, offering students real-world learning opportunities.

Dr Denise Baker, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean of the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care at the University of Derby, said: “At the University, we prepare our students to make a difference to society and our first-class facilities mean students gain the skills to provide exceptional levels of care. We were delighted to showcase this to HRH The Princess Royal and for her to meet with our inspiring staff and students.”

HRH The Princess Royal also met with a breastfeeding support group that the University hosts at its Chesterfield site through its engagement with Derbyshire Voluntary Action.

The High Sheriff of Derbyshire Theresa Peltier, Civic Chair of Derbyshire County Council Councillor David Taylor, the Mayor of Chesterfield Councillor Mick Brady and the MP for Chesterfield Toby Perkins were also in attendance at the event.

For more information about studying in the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care at the University of Derby, visit: https://www.derby.ac.uk/colleges/health-psychology-social-care/

Chesterfield Royal Hospital and University of Derby support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

HRH The Princess Royal meets nursing students at the University of Derby

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Chesterfield cold storage provider progresses with major expansion

Magnavale, one of the UK’s leading providers of temperature-controlled storage, has announced significant progress on the construction of a new extension at its Chesterfield cold storage facility.

The provider of temperature-controlled storage solutions is currently working on numerous projects that aim to reshape the cold storage sector, creating sustainable storage solutions.

Following a recent announcement of the company’s £130m development at Easton, Grantham, and the significant expansion at its site in Holmewood, Chesterfield, Magnavale is making significant strides towards its Net Zero goals.

Since breaking ground earlier this year, the project at Magnavale’s Chesterfield facility has reached several important milestones, bringing the UK project closer to the expected completion date of late 2024.

Site excavation on the new facility has been successfully completed, and the concrete foundations have been poured. Over the course of the summer, Magnavale’s team will shift its focus towards the steelwork construction of the cold store.

On completion, the expansion will add a significant 25,000 pallet positions to the cold store’s existing capacity of 40,000, bringing the total pallet capacity of the facility to 65,000. This will make it one of the largest cold stores in the area.

This expansion will not only accommodate the increasing volumes of Magnavale’s existing customers but also open doors to new customers wanting to utilise Magnavale’s temperature-controlled facilities and value-added services.

The facility features one of the most comprehensive portfolios of value-added services, encompassing, blast freezing, microwave up-tempering and contract packing. Coupled with its strategic location, just off the M1, Magnavale Chesterfield is extremely desirable for food manufacturers that wish to cut unnecessary cost, risk, and complexity from their cold chain.

Perfectly located in the centre of England and just off the M1 motorway network, Chesterfield is home to a number of leading manufacturing and engineering businesses. Find out more about the benefits of locating your organisation in the town at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

magnavale extension - artists impression

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New Chesterfield ice bath business invites residents to ‘take the plunge’

A new Chesterfield business is offering people the opportunity to experience ice bath therapy for the first time in a safe environment.

Cold Plunge Chesterfield is based at ‘The Nest: Therapy & Wellness Hub’ in Chesterfield town centre.

The business, which is located on South Place, off Beetwell Street has a specially designed ice bath, which ensures water can be cooled to the precise degree.

Traditionally, deliberate cold water exposure has been used to reduce pain, inflammation and speed up recovery time.

More recently, research has begun to show the positive impacts ice baths on the nervous system, neurotransmitters and mood, alongside positive impacts on an individual’s immune system, metabolism, mental clarity and sleep.

Gemma Howard, owner at Cold Plunge Chesterfield said: “No experience is necessary as we have trained ‘cold water practitioners’ who can fully support their first ice bath allowing an understanding of how your body will react to the cold.

“Clients can come alone, or with friends, or even hire the studio space for a private event. We also offer the option of having a ‘guided plunge’ with a mindfulness experience or ‘contrast therapy’ using our infrared sauna blanket. Everyone’s reason and experience in the cold water is as unique as them.”

Speaking on why she decided to invest in the town, Gemma commented: “I have lived in Chesterfield for most of my life. Most of my working career has been spent as a Psychology teacher in a local secondary school, but I have had a passion for experiencing and learning about cold water therapy and ice baths for about 4 years now.

“An opportunity to invest in this business and work with the team at ‘The Nest’ arose, and it just seemed like the right time to share the magic of cold water therapy with the people of Chesterfield.

“I have loved meeting all the different clients who live in and around the Chesterfield area. Whether someone comes for physical recovery after an event or training, or to alleviate feelings of anxiety/depression, or even help manage menopausal symptoms – It’s a privilege to watch them push themselves slightly out of their comfort zones and feel the benefits afterwards.”

To get more information about Cold Plunge Chesterfield, head over to the website: www.coldplungechesterfield.co.uk

Find out more about why Chesterfield is an excellent location to base your business at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

cold plunge

 

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Joint agents appointed for Chesterfield’s pivotal Elder Way scheme

Jomast has appointed FHP as official joint agents of Elder Way – a pivotal site in Chesterfield town centre which has been redeveloped by the leading regeneration specialist into leisure and retail units.

FHP is the dominant retail and leisure agent within the Midlands, with offices in Nottingham, Birmingham and Derby, and has won the EGi East Midlands Most Active Retail Agent award for the last 13 years.

FHP will now work alongside WSB Property to jointly market the Elder Way scheme nationally to potential occupiers.

There are currently a number of leasing opportunities available at the 21,761 sq ft scheme, from smaller E Class and Sui Generis Bar units of 1,420 sq. ft. upwards to larger units of up to 4,704 sq. ft.

Alan Pearson, Director and Head of the Retail and Leisure at FHP commented: “We are pleased to partner with WSB Property to introduce Elder Way to a wider audience across the East Midlands. The units are suitable for a variety of uses following the change of the use class order which opens this up to office and clinical use, alongside the traditional retail and leisure use.”

Jomast has transformed the former Co-op department store into a landmark mixed-use leisure scheme comprising seven street-level units and a 16,285 sq. ft. basement. The site is being marketed to food and drink, and gym operators as well as retailers.

Constructed in the 1930s, the site boasts a mock-Tudor frontage and is as renowned as the town’s crooked Spire church.

A Premier Inn hotel already occupies the upper two floors of the building where it has been successfully operating since 2019. Recently Premier Inn owner Whitbread reported that its first-quarter sales came in ahead of last year’s figures, supported by strong demand for travel and leisure and robust performance of its UK hotels.

Elder Way is one of the key developments within Chesterfield Borough Council’s £60 million Northern Gateway Scheme which includes and new multi-storey car park, completed in 2021 and an Enterprise Centre opened in 2022. The Enterprise Centre, which has 32 office suites is recording near 100% occupancy just 12 months after opening. Both the Enterprise Centre and Saltergate multi-storey are located within a two-minute walk of Elder Way.

Mark Hill, Commercial Property Director of Jomast added: “We’re committed to creating developments and regenerating properties that have a transformative effect on towns and cities and Elder Way embodies this. It is a pivotal site both in the town centre and the Northern Gateway scheme in Chesterfield.”

Find out more about the Chesterfield Elder Way development here. 

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

Chesterfield Elder Way

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£2m Health and Wellbeing Hub to open on 75th Birthday of the NHS

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation will open a brand new £2m Health and Wellbeing Hub on Wednesday (5 July) – the same day the NHS celebrates its 75th birthday.

An opening ceremony featuring an NHS75 baton relay across the hospital site, which the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield will be taking part in, will mark the opening celebrations.

The Health and Wellbeing Hub was almost entirely funded by an appeal led by the Chesterfield Royal Charity, with the ongoing annual costs for running the facility now to be managed by the Trust.

Atul Patel, Chair of the Chesterfield Royal Charity and Non-Executive Director of the Trust, said: “The Hub was built after colleagues fed back how the impact of Covid changed them, their families and their working lives.

“We knew we needed to ‘care for the carers’ and this is just one of the very visible ways we are doing just that. The Hub will provide respite, relief and an easily accessible space and facility for colleagues.

“We would especially like to thank our main sponsors: NHS Charities Together, DSFS and Westfield Health. Thank you to everybody who held a cake sale, a sponsored run, a raffle – it all contributes to allowing us as the charity to give the gift of extraordinary.”

Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive, commented: “Firstly, a huge well done to everybody involved in this incredible project and an even bigger thank you to the donors too.

“Here at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, we want to be recommended as a place to come to work and for the clinical care we provide. I truly believe that the Health and Wellbeing Hub is the greatest asset and cornerstone cited in those recommendations! Colleagues will be able to utilise:

  • Counselling rooms, ensuring support for the mental health & well-being of our colleagues; complimentary therapies
  • A fully equipped gym, with equipment specially selected by our Health and Well-being Team
  • Areas for group or individual reflections after traumatic incidents.

“This really is one of a kind and something I am so proud of us opening on the NHS75. Along with our ED, Paediatric Assessment Unit, Community Diagnostic Centres and much more, we are redefining the role and abilities of this fantastic hospital. I hope the whole community continue to support the Chesterfield Royal Charity so that even more can be done to support and keep developing.”

Hannah Peate, Health and Wellbeing Lead for the Trust added ‘’This Health and Wellbeing Hub will grow and develop to support the colleagues who every day work so hard to deliver care to our patients. Colleagues from across the organisation have worked tirelessly to make this a reality, it’s been a true collaboration across numerous departments. This will provide a holistic space for colleagues to come and decompress through to undertaking a Health and Wellbeing workshop or participating in a class or accessing the gym.

“I’m excited to welcome our new Health Improvement Advisors – who will be driving the classes and making sure we get the very most out of the Hub.  I would also like to recognise and thank our wonderful Wellbeing Champions and Mental Health First Aiders for the work they do to support our colleagues on a daily basis across the Trust.’’

There will be no charge for use for Chesterfield Royal Hospital employed colleagues. The Trust will be looking to open facilities in the Hub 24/7 in the future.

The gym equipment – including functional fitness, studio, cardio and strength training machines and free weights – has been sourced through competitive tender and is the best in the business for the best value. Accessibility issues have been considered we have included easy-to-operate machines with accessible seats including having adjustments for colleagues with additional/other needs – such as those who are partially sighted etc.

Dr Helen Phillips, Chair of the Trust, concludes: “The NHS’ 75th birthday is a perfect occasion to express how truly proud we are of the people who work here and across our system. This brand-new, purpose-built, Health and Wellbeing Hub is the perfect way to mark this momentous day. The Hub will provide support, facilities, and a moment away from the hustle and bustle of a busy acute hospital. It’s been incredible to see the support Chesterfield Royal Charity received in their fundraising – from members of the public to local businesses and colleagues of the Trust. A special thank you to those people who contributed and continue to help us to deliver initiatives as exciting as this one!”

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

Wellbeing Hub Chesterfield Royal Hospital

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Featured, Home

‘Overwhelming’ case for HS2 to be delivered to East Midlands launched

At an event today (3rd July) the region’s business and political leaders will come together in Derby to launch Full speed ahead: bringing high-speed rail to the East Midlands report which lays out the ‘overwhelming’ case to deliver high-speed rail to the East Midlands.

HS2 and Rail Minister Huw Merriman MP will be making a keynote speech and joined by business chiefs and senior politicians including Sir Peter Soulsby, Toby Perkins MP and Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council Cllr. Trica Gilby.

The report outlines the benefits of bringing HS2 to the East Midlands and Sheffield as proposed in the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands (IRP). The arrival of HS2 in the East Midlands, integrated with other projects such as Midlands Rail Hub and Midland Main Line electrification will bring cities and towns in the East Midlands closer to each other and to centres such as London and Birmingham.

When HS2 is delivered in full, the number of people within a 90-minute rail journey of Derby will increase by more than 500,000; an additional 600,000 people will be within 90 minutes of Chesterfield.

This agglomeration will lead to an increase in job opportunities for East Midlands residents and more trade for local businesses. Nottingham, Derby and Chesterfield can access an economy of around £250 million within 90 mins by rail. With HS2 in place, this figure will increase to over £550 million.

Analysis in the report shows that HS2 will nearly double the number of jobs in high-value, rail-linked sectors within an hour of Nottingham by rail, and nearly quadruple the number of jobs within two hours.

In total, journeys from 74 stations across the East Midlands are set to benefit from improved journey times to and from London and Birmingham.

The quicker journey times resulting from HS2 will ‘shift’ the location of major urban areas closer to the East Midlands. London will ‘move’ 60 miles north to Northamptonshire (relative to Derby, Chesterfield & Nottingham). Birmingham will ‘move’ 30 miles northeast to between Derby and Loughborough (relative to Nottingham) meaning residents can get to the capital far quicker for work, business or leisure.

The event is being jointly hosted by Midlands Connect and Transport for the East Midlands.

Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect commented:

“It’s great to be here in Derby today, highlighting the importance of high-speed rail for this region. The East Midlands is an area so poorly served by rail at the moment; with these proposals in place connections from North to South, and East to West, will be quicker and easier.

“The case for delivering HS2 from Birmingham to the East Midlands is overwhelming.”

Sir Peter Soulsby, Chair of Transport for East Midlands added:

“The East Midlands boasts a resilient and thriving economy which is well placed to reap the benefits of significant rail investment.

“HS2 to the East Midlands is a key priority for TfEM and will transform links to Birmingham and London.

“With direct HS2 services to Nottingham, Derby and Chesterfield stations, coupled with the electrification of the Midland Main Line, travel times across the region will be significantly reduced and capacity enhanced.”

Find out more about Chesterfield’s Station Master Plan and the benefits it will bring to Chesterfield.

Train passing behind the Growth sculpture at Hornsbridge Roundabout

Posted in Business, Development, Property and Construction