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New website highlights how Chesterfield’s businesses and service providers are adapting during lockdown

30th April 2020

A new website is helping Chesterfield’s independent businesses and service providers continue to operate and supply their services and products during lockdown.

People are being urged to #LoveChesterfield and use the new website to access the products and services of local businesses and organisations during lockdown.

Developed and launched by Destination Chesterfield www.chesterfield.co.uk/supportinglocal has details of nearly 100 shops, food and drink businesses, training, support and service providers in and around Chesterfield that are continuing to operate by adapting their services to meet the needs of the community.

And Destination Chesterfield wants to add even more businesses, organisations and supports services to the free online directory!

A listing on the website is FREE and Destination Chesterfield is keen to hear from any business or service provider that is offering or adapting products and services in support of the COVID-19 effort.

There are eight categories on the website – Shopping, Food and Drink, Dine at Home, Keeping Busy, Pets, Education & Training, Business Services and Community Support – all combined in an easy to use directory. Details of the businesses and how you can purchase or access the products or services are listed on the site. Business owners and service providers can supply their details free of charge for inclusion on the new website.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager commented: “The mission for Destination Chesterfield has always been to encourage as many people as possible to support the town and celebrate its achievements. The resilience that local businesses and service providers have shown during lockdown has been remarkable and we hope the new website will become a valuable tool in supporting them further in their efforts to remain operational.

“We’re encouraging everyone to #LoveChesterfield and continue supporting small independent businesses and service providers throughout lockdown. Every trader and service producer plays an important part in the local economy and we all need to work together to can ensure their survival beyond these extremely challenging times.”

National retailers are currently deluged with consumer demand, causing long queues into both their websites and stores, as well as prolonged delivery times. Shopping local at independent retailers not only supports a small business but also puts money back into the local economy.

If you’re a business owner or service provider and would like to be considered to be included on the new website, please complete the form at https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/supportinglocal/get-involved/ .

To find out more about the new ‘Supporting Local’ site, please visit: www.chesterfield.co.uk/supportinglocal.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Volunteers sought for local Covid Response Hub

29th April 2020

Chesterfield-based charity Derbyshire Voluntary Action (DVA), has set up a Covid Response Hub for Chesterfield and the surrounding areas, and is now seeking volunteers to help assist local residents.

The Covid Response Hub is currently handling an increasing number of referrals each day from Derbyshire County Council’s Community Response Unit. Their small staff team triages requests from local people for help with shopping, medicines and befriending and matches them up with the local agencies, groups and volunteers who are able to come to their aid.

Chief Executive, Jacqui Willis (right), said “There is a wealth of people in our area with a huge range of skills and we’d really like to bring them into the work of the Response Hub. We’re working in a fast-changing environment under challenging conditions, to bring vital support to isolated and vulnerable residents.”

She added: “There are a number of roles within the Hub which we need to fill to enhance our effectiveness and support our staff. We particularly want to hear from people who have DBS checks, and those with professional skills such as project management, marketing, counselling and social media. I’d urge anyone with these skills who has some time to give, to get in touch with me.”

To find out more, email info@dva.org.uk or call 01246 555908.

For more information on local support services, please visit our Supporting Local page here.

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

Small businesses boosted by bounce back loans

28th April 2020

Small businesses will benefit from a new fast-track finance scheme providing loans with a 100% government-backed guarantee for lenders, the Chancellor announced yesterday (Monday 27 April).

Rishi Sunak said the new Bounce Back Loans scheme, which will provide loans of up to £50,000, would help bolster the existing package of support available to the smallest businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The scheme has been designed to ensure that small firms who need vital cash injections to keep operating can get finance in a matter of days, and comes alongside the £6 billion awarded in business grants, supporting 4 million jobs through the job retention scheme and generous tax deferrals supporting hundreds of thousands of firms.

The government will provide lenders with a 100% guarantee for the loan and pay any fees and interest for the first 12 months. No repayments will be due during the first 12 months.

The loans will be easy to apply for through a short, standardised online application. The loan should reach businesses within days- providing immediate support to those that need it as easily as possible.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said: “Our smallest businesses are the backbone of our economy and play a vital role in their communities. This new rapid loan scheme will help ensure they get the finance they need quickly to help survive this crisis.”

“This is in addition to business grants, tax deferrals, and the job retention scheme, which are already helping to support hundreds of thousands of small businesses.”

Commenting, Chris Hobson, Director of Policy at East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), said: “This is another welcome intervention from the Chancellor.”

“Although the Government has already made a significant amount of financial support available to businesses which need it, many have struggled to access it because of the sheer volume of applications being made, the delays in processing them and inconsistencies in the way different lenders are approaching the various loan schemes.”

“In the current situation, every day of delay is having a critical impact on businesses which need funding to ease their cashflow and wage pressures, so anything which can be done to quicken the flow of credit to the firms which need it most has to be a good thing.”

Firms will be able to access these loans through a network of accredited lenders. The government will work with lenders to ensure loans delivered through this scheme are advanced as quickly as possible and agree a low standardised level of interest for the remaining period of the loan.

The scheme will launch for applications on Monday 4 May.

Click here to be taken to our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Business Support Page

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

Chesterfield Borough Council offers support for commercial tenants

27th April 2020

Chesterfield Borough Council has agreed a package of support for its commercial tenants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The council, which is a landlord to over 400 commercial tenants, is eager to work with them to help them to get through this difficult period and have put the a the following measures in place for those who need support:

Voluntary / charity sector tenants – Rent charged during the period of 1 April to 30 June 2020 will be waived.
Retail, food, leisure and other large businesses forced to be closed down – Businesses who have been forced to close will automatically have the option to defer rental payments for the period of 1 April to 30 June 2020. The sum deferred will be recovered as part of the rental payments made over the following 18 months.
Other office and industrial businesses – All other businesses can apply to the council for their rental payments to be similarly deferred for the period of 1 April to 30 June 2020. Each application will be assessed on its individual merits, taking into account the type of business and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its ability to continue to trade. If agreed, the sum deferred will be recovered as part of the rental payments made over the following 18 months.

The council will be contacting all tenants directly and details of how to apply to defer your rental payments can be found at: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/your-council/coronavirus-information-hub/businesses-information

Councillor Terry Gilby, cabinet member for economic growth, said: “We understand that this is a difficult and uncertain time for many Chesterfield businesses, and we are working hard to ensure that they get the support they need.

“Rebuilding the local economy following the COVID-19 pandemic is a priority for Chesterfield Borough Council. We want to support our local businesses as much as we can to try and ensure their future viability and sustain the large numbers of jobs that they provide for local people.”

For information on business support during the Coronavirus Outbreak visit the Destination Chesterfield Business Support page

Find out how to support local businesses during the Coronavirus Outbreak.

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

Vicar Lane offers free parking for the NHS

27th April 2020

To thank all of the NHS workers doing their bit during the coronavirus pandemic, Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is offering entry to its car park at no cost.

NHS workers wishing to sign up for this offer should send an email from their NHS email address with their name and vehicle license plate to uksupport@reefparking.com. Terms and conditions apply, read more here (opens in new tab).

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager, Vicar Lane said: “To say thank you to all of the NHS staff who are working so hard right now, we want to offer entry to our car park at no cost to the NHS for the duration of this pandemic. We hope this will make life a bit easier for those of you who need to get into town during this uncertain time.”

Vicar Lane wanted to help children and resident say ‘thank you’ to some of the amazing community heroes who are working hard at this time to help others and provide households with vital services and have created some free colouring templates for children to enjoy and display at home. You can download your colouring pages here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure

Chesterfield artist to create free open signs for local businesses

27th April 2020

Chesterfield mural artist, Peter Barber is supporting local organisations by offering a free hand painted ‘OPEN’ sign and launching a social media campaign to celebrate Chesterfield businesses as they reopen after the Coronavirus Outbreak.

Peter Barber is a mural and sign painter, based in Chesterfield but working UK wide. He specialises in spray painting, photo realism and advertising murals.

Peter said “I am offering local independent businesses, sole traders, shops and pubs a free hand painted “Open” Sign.

I am hoping that when the time is right there will be a flurry of positive optimistic images shared on social media of local businesses with their Open sign. This will be an opportunity to celebrate and promote Chesterfield based business.”

Chesterfield businesses that would like to request a sign should email info@peterbarber.co.uk or visit his facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/modernmurals

Once businesses receive their sign and they are open and trading they are encouraged to share pictures of their business and the sign across their social media channels with the hashtags#lovechesterfield #supportlocal #shoplocal #freeandopen #opensigns #withlove

For further information on how Chesterfield businesses are supporting the local community during the Coronavirus Outbreak visit Destination Chesterfield’s Supporting local website.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Featured, Home

Extra cash for councillors to donate to local community groups

26th April 2020

Derbyshire County Council councillors have been given extra funding so they can help local groups in their area.

Each year every councillor has £3,860 which they can donate to groups in their area which aim to improve the lives of local people. At a meeting on Thursday (23 April) our Cabinet agreed a proposal to double this amount of money, giving each councillor £7,720 for this financial year.

Derbyshire County Council Leader, Councillor Barry Lewis, said: “Local councillors know their areas the best and are well placed to spend this money where it is going to make the most difference.”

“For some local groups a small donation may make the difference to that organisation making it through this pandemic.”

“These funds cannot usually be used to help groups with general running costs, but given the circumstances we are lifting this requirement.”

Anyone who runs a local group in their community and wants to find out more should contact their local councillor here.

The total cost of £247,000 is to come from Derbyshire County Council reserve funds.

Please note these are photos from our image library and were not taken recently.

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

Scarecrow competition supports Royal’s urgent appeal

25th April 2020

A celebratory keyworker scarecrow competition has raised smiles and almost £2,000 for Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

Residents of Matlock Road in Walton paid to enter their handmade designs to raise vital funds for NHS equipment. Scarecrows recognised doctors and nurses, police officers, supermarket staff, refuse collectors and many more essential workers.

The latest £500, which was donated by Cheese Factor based at Chesterfield Market Hall, has brought the total amount raised to £1,850. Although no formal prize for the competition, Cheese Factor has also gifted a cheese board to the winning family, whose design was a celebration of Chesterfield’s carers.

Simon Davidson, Owner of Cheese Factor said: “I wanted to say well done to everyone who has supported this competition. You have all shown amazing creativity and generosity. It has been fantastic to see the local community coming together during these challenging times and it has made me feel proud to live and work in Chesterfield.”

Catherine Allen, a member of the Neighbourhood Watch, who set up the Just Giving Page, said: “As our Neighbourhood Watch group was unable to meet for our usual monthly catch up, we decided to come together in a different way.

“One of the ladies in the group suggested a scarecrow competition, as a thank you to the key workers to whom we are so thankful. Another lady suggested making it a fundraiser.

“We thought it would be fun to do and would allow participation by all ages in our community.

“All entries to the competition were asked to make a minimum donation of £10 per household and then the additional funds raised have been through advertising the Just Giving page.

“The Protect Our NHS campaign led by Chesterfield Royal Hospital seemed like the perfect recipient.”

The keyworker scarecrow competition was judged by Toby Perkins MP on 18^th April, who awarded first prize to a tribute to local carers.

The first prize scarecrow was to a tribute to local carers

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure

Chesterfield technology company launches Virtual Graduate Fair to support students and universities

24th April 2020

Inspired to find a solution for graduates and students affected by the coronavirus pandemic, Chesterfield technology company Oasis Studio have developed the ‘Virtual Graduate Fair’, allowing students to showcase their skills online to visitors around the world.

The online system allows students to display videos, images, and documents within their own custom CGI exhibition stands, all of which can be viewed by potential employers at the click of a button.

Up and down the country, the coronavirus pandemic has forced cancellations and postponements of everything from exams to graduation ceremonies. As a result, students are missing out on one key element of graduation – an end of year show and the opportunity for students to showcase three years of hard work to friends and family, the community, and most importantly, potential employers. A recent report found over 60% of students now have reduced confidence in their post-graduation job prospects.

The event also allows universities to promote the high standard of work created within their halls and allow their graduates to stand out from the crowd as they prepare to leave education and enter the competitive world of work.

Paul Deakin, Director of Oasis Studio, explains: “Competing for your first job after leaving university is difficult at the best of times. The Virtual Graduate Fair allows universities to continue offering the typical end of year shows and graduate fairs which have been threatened this year by COVID-19”.

Paul added: “We hope more universities will see the value in helping their graduates to promote themselves to a much wider audience – and add a bit of an extra boost to their career prospects!”

Oasis Studio is currently in talks with a number of universities, with graduates of creative degrees expected to be among the first to trial the platform.

Click here to find out more about Oasis Studio

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

Work to begin on Chesterfield’s Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

24th April 2020

Work is set to begin on the new Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre next week (27 April), to ensure the site is available for local businesses to move in to at the earliest possible opportunity and benefit the local economy.

Chesterfield Borough Council’s contractor, Robert Woodhead Ltd, will take control of the site and begin groundworks on part of the Holywell Cross (Donut) Car Park in Chesterfield town centre as preparation for the construction of the new Enterprise Centre.

Developing a thriving borough continues to be a priority for the Council and that includes supporting the business community during the COVID 19 outbreak and into recovery. Robert Woodhead Ltd have completed assessments ahead of the work beginning and have confirmed they will follow strict COVID 19 social distancing guidelines to ensure the safety of employees and the public.

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “We appreciate there may be concerns around any construction activity starting in the town centre right now, given we remain at a key stage of the national response to the COVID 19 outbreak.

“The contractor will be working to the latest Construction Site Operating Procedures published by the Construction Leadership Council in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

“With these essential works progressing safely we hope to minimise any delay to the start of the main build and ultimately its completion. This major construction project will also help contribute to Chesterfield’s post COVID 19 recovery with the council’s requirement for Robert Woodhead Ltd to source local labour, supplies and equipment.

“The project will result in high quality, flexible, office space being made available on easy-in and easy-out letting terms to businesses just starting out or looking to grow their company here in Chesterfield.”

Tom Woodhead, Business Services Director at Robert Woodhead Ltd, said: “Over the last few weeks, we have been working with our industry peers, government and industry bodies to understand how the government guidelines and CLC Site Operating Procedures can be implemented on construction sites.

“We have developed stringent operating procedures, risk and method statements to enable us to start on site to deliver this exciting project in collaboration with Chesterfield Borough Council.”

Groundworks are likely to take around eight weeks to complete, running from the end of April onwards. Whilst these works are taking place the building design will be finalised, supplies of materials ordered and sub-contractors hired. These activities will put the project in a good position to proceed to full construction later on in the year.

The new Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre will accommodate a range of businesses within 32 office suites. It will also offer access to outstanding shared facilities and local business support services.

The new centre is an important addition to Chesterfield Borough Council’s commercial property portfolio and will hopefully be a key component in Chesterfield’s post COVID 19 recovery.

The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre project has benefited from grant funding support from the Sheffield City Region Investment Fund.

To find out more about your business being based in the Enterprise Centre email either claire.cunningham@chesterfield.gov.uk or hannah.ramsdale@chesterfield.gov.uk.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield

East Midlands Chamber responds to UK Finance’s update on CBILS applications

24th April 2020

UK Finance, the trade body representing more than 250 financial services firms across the UK, today announced that more than £2.8bn of funding had been lent to businesses under the Government’s Cornonavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

The organisation said that more than 9,000 loans have been approved over the past seven days, taking the total number of loans allocated to 16,600. Lenders have received more than 36,000 applications since the scheme was launched earlier this month.

Commenting, Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), said: “Although the increase in firms accessing CBILS is encouraging, there is still a clear need to ensure that the gap between applications received and those processed and approved can be closed quickly to ensure funding can reach the businesses which need it.

“Many firms are urgently trying to access financial support to help them ease cash flow and wage pressures and having to wait for their applications to be processed could be having a critical impact on their operations.

“We are also hearing from a lot of local businesses that accessing the scheme is a complex and lengthy process with no consistent approach between lenders, which is causing real problems on the ground.

“Government and lenders must continue to work together to address these common issues and improve the way the scheme works, so more firms on the frontline can access the cash they need, quickly.”

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