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New mentoring programme to support young people across North Derbyshire

The D2N2 Careers Hub, Led by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and funded by the Careers & Enterprise Company, are expanding an innovative mentoring programme to support more young people across North Derbyshire, in partnership with The Work-Wise Foundation.

The launch follows a successful pilot in 2021, initiated by leaders from Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Forum, in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council and D2N2 Careers Hub.

The Future Makers, Creators, Designers and Builders Mentoring Programme is designed to support people who may be interested in exploring or pursuing careers working in the built environment. This might include designers, architects, surveyors, structural engineers, builders, and construction workers.

The pilot, which ran from March 2021 to January 2022 and was led by The Work-wise Foundation, saw female students from local Careers Hub schools and colleges; St. Mary’s Catholic High School, Chesterfield College, Whittington Green School, Springwell Community College and Brookfield Community School partnered with mentors from Whittam Cox Architects, Woodhead Group and Chesterfield Borough Council.

As part of this, students took part in construction themed activity days at CBE+ in Chesterfield and had regular meetings with their mentors to introduce them to the world of work and enthuse them about a career in the industry. In January, The Work-wise Foundation visited the students in their schools/colleges with D2N2 Careers Hub and their mentors to award them with certificates to celebrate their achievements.

Hannah Higley, Hub Coordinator for the Derbyshire North Careers Hub at D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership said, “It has been fantastic to see this programme develop over the last year. D2N2 Careers Hub and our local steering group are proud to fund the expansion of this successful model, in partnership with the Careers & Enterprise Company cornerstone employers in D2N2, to support more young people in exploring what their next best step might be”

Cllr Amanda Serjeant, Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council said, “I am really pleased to see the continuation of this project.  Improving the skills and work readiness of people in Chesterfield is our top priority because it will help ensure our ambition to create a thriving borough.

This programme is a great example of how partnership working can strengthen the links between education and business and help ensure that more school leavers are developing the skills they need to enter the workplace.  I am especially excited to see programmes that inspire with young women in sectors where they are underrepresented is key to ensuring success.

Women currently make up around 14% of professional roles within the construction industry, a number which we hope is set to rise with more and more women choosing construction jobs as a result of programmes like this.”

Following the success and positive feedback received from the schools/colleges, businesses and young people involved, the programme is launching to schools across the North Derbyshire region this month.

The programme will seek 15 mentees who may be interested in exploring or pursuing careers working in the built environment and partner them up with role models from industry who will work with them to build confidence, knowledge, and career prospects.

Over a 6-month period, mentors will receive relevant training which will help them work with their mentee on a bespoke project relevant to their mentors business and/or industry. The programme will finish with a showcase event on 8th July where students will present their projects and celebrate their achievements.

A launch event is scheduled to take place on Friday 18th March 2022 at Chesterfield College and any individuals interested in becoming mentors, or schools interested in their students’ becoming mentees, should contact The Work-wise Foundation at info@work-wise.co.uk or call Alex Gardner on 07726 362067.

To get in touch with D2N2 Careers Hub, contact hubs@d2n2lep.org

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chesterfield’s Robinson produces packaging for luxury Fortnum and Mason product

Robinson – the manufacturer specialising in value-added custom packaging – has partnered with Fortnum and Mason to launch their new iced fingers in store this February.

Fortnum & Mason is a leading luxury food & drink brand, providing hampers and gifts for more than 300 years.

Robinson produced two different sized boxes that have been embellished with gold blocking to add a luxury, high-end appeal. Marrying luxury with sustainability, the boxes are made from 100% post-consumer recycled paperboard and can be widely recycled once used. The packaging also includes two cushion pads to protect the iced fingers in transport and on retail shelves.

The boxes have been printed using Fortnum and Mason’s traditional and elegant eaudenil colour palette and to meet their standards Robinson carried out substrate tests to ensure the packaging exactly matched the brand requirements.

Jon Walker, NPD Director at Robinson, said: “We are thrilled to have collaborated on this project and it is exciting to see the product finally launched. Being closely located we can offer flexibility and speed of supply and are proud to be a strategic partner to Fortnum and Mason. We are looking forward to further collaborations.”

The iced fingers are exclusively available in Fortnum and Mason’s London Piccadilly store and online through their website.

If you are interested in sustainable boxes for your brand, please email jonw@robinsonpackaging.com

Sustainability is at the heart of everything Robinson do, following the lunch of the company’s sustainability pledge last year. The pledge outlines a range of commitments underpinned by their strategic priorities focused on putting the customer first, sustainable growth and thriving people.

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

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

Chesterfield Area Walking Festival returns for 2022

The Chesterfield Area Walking Festival is returning for another year, with residents and visitors being encouraged to get outdoors and enjoy what the area has to offer.

The annual festival – taking place from Saturday 14 May to Sunday 22 May – features a variety of gentle strolls, family walks and hikes for those who are more experienced. Tickets for the festival will be available to book from Tuesday 1 March.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “The festival really offers something for everyone to enjoy. We have so many beautiful countryside locations around Chesterfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire, so taking part in this event is a great way to explore some new places or visit your favourite locations with friends and family.

“The festival is really popular and regularly sells out. If any of the events interest you, then book your ticket as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.”

There will be a variety of walks to take part in – including Big Hikes such as The Chesterfield Round, Bolsover Boundary Walk and Ogston and Ashover Circular.

Evening walks such as Railway, Rother and Return or Hidden Treasures, which give walkers an opportunity to find out some interesting stories from inside Spital Cemetery, will also be taking place.

The popular Boots and Boat walks return allowing walkers to combine a canal side wander with a short boat ride.

There are a range of family friendly walks such as the Queen’s Park Buggy Walk, the Family Fun Wildlife Walk and the Family Adventure Journey.

Last year’s event was a huge success, with many more people embracing the outdoors due to the pandemic.

To ensure the festival can be delivered safely, there are a limited number of tickets available for each walk. Please note that booking is essential and anyone who has not booked an advance place may be turned away.

To book tickets for the festival visit: www.chesterfieldwalkingfestival.co.uk

There are also many other self-led walks available all year round in and around the borough. To find out more about these visit: www.visitchesterfield.info/walking

Posted in About Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Summer, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , ,

Brand new hot tub showroom opening in Chesterfield

Chesterfield-based Superior Wellness is continuing to grow its presence in the town with the launch of a brand new hot tub showroom on Friday 4 March, located at its headquarters in Broombank Park, Chesterfield.

The brand new hot tub showroom is guaranteed to offer an immersive experience for customers, with up to 40 hot tubs and a swim spa on display. Six of hot tubs on display will be readily available to test before purchasing.

Superior Wellness, the world’s fastest growing hot tub manufacturer, moved into its new headquarters in March 2021. In April 2021 the renovation of the new 10,000 sq. ft showroom space began. The showroom is expected to be one of the largest hot tub showrooms in the UK.

The official reopening of the showroom to the public is taking place on Friday 4 March – Sunday 6 March.

Jamie Smith, Head of Retail said: “We are delighted to officially reopen our showroom doors to the public again from Friday 4 March. To celebrate the launch, we are going to be running an in-store only offer.

“All hot tubs will be discounted by £500 and accessories by 20% for one weekend only. We will also be offering customers a complimentary glass of fizz upon arrival as well as the chance to wet test a range of our hot tubs before purchasing. It’s going to be a great weekend and we can’t wait to welcome customers back.”

The brand new, purpose built showroom will feature a wide range of hot tubs, swim spas, a testing area and so much more. The Superior Wellness partner network and retail customers will be able to view a range of products from brands such as Platinum Spas, Thermals Spas, Be Well and much more. In total, the showroom will hold up to 40 hot tubs and 1 swim spa.

A testing area will be available, including a swim spa and a selection of hot tubs with varying layouts and sizes. This will offer an immersive experience for customers, showcasing the many benefits of a hot tub. There will be two changing rooms with shower facilities for customers to access before and after testing the products.

To offer further inspiration for customers and partners, the showroom will host a variety of hot tub and outdoor living accessories, from filters, chemicals, gazebos, outdoor furniture and so much more.

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.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Featured, Home, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , ,

Entire FM confirmed as facilities management partner of The Glassyard

Chesterfield Champion, Entire Facilities Management will be working in partnership with The Glassyard to provide a full range of services at the site.

The company will carry out a number of tasks on the site in order to provide a great experience for visitors including the security, cleaning and asset management.

Within The Batch House element of the site, EntireFM will be delivering the services required to facilitate the day-to-day running which includes security, cleaning and wait-staffing.

Peter Currey, Chief Executive Officer at Entire FM said: “As a whole team we’re delighted to have been chosen to deliver the facilities management to the site. We have been aware of the development for a while and we knew we’d have to stand out from the crowd to get a foot in the door.

“I’ve personally been aware of Blue Deer Developments for a number of years and have followed their work so it’s great that we’ve come together to get this project over the line.

“The development is an amazing vision by Blue Deer Developments and they should be proud of this landmark development. I’m aware that the project hasn’t been a walk in the park and, coupled with a global pandemic in the middle of the build, it’s a great achievement by Tim and his team at Blue Deer.

“This development will be a great boost for the local economy and will provide hundreds of jobs going forward. I’ve heard many people suggest that this is ‘just what Chesterfield’ needed and I couldn’t agree more. The use of the land, the layout, the aesthetics are all spot on.

Entire Facilities management continues to grow, gaining a number of new partners locally and nationally. This has enabled the company to grow further and create more jobs across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Peter continued: “We are seeing so many great and well known names approach us to work with them and support their workplace facilities management. The Glass Yard is on the doorstep of our head office, which always makes it a bit more special – it’s great to be a part of boosting our home town and we’d welcome partnerships with any other local organisations as well.

“Once The Glass Yard is in full swing, the EntireFM team across Derbyshire & South Yorkshire alone will be close to 100 strong.”

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

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , ,

Rebel Menswear expands into new town centre store

An independent men’s’ clothing business which has traded in Chesterfield Town Centre for more than 20 years has expanded into a new store.

Rebel Menswear is a family-run business, known for being based on Burlington Street for the last two decades, but has now moved into a larger unit on the corner of High Street and Packer’s Row after outgrowing the previous premises.

The shop was previously occupied by Greggs, before the national chain’s expansion onto Burlington Street, allowing Rebel to showcase even more of it’s product range in-store.

Brands available to buy at Rebel include designers such as Pretty Green and Armani, and the store features a suiting and shirting department, as well as selling jeans and footwear.

The new shop will be spread over two floors, with the ground floor showcasing brand collections including Mastrum, Marshall Artist, EA7 and plenty more.

The first floor will house the suits, shirting and shoes department leading onto a men’s lounge area, which will have a relaxed feel for wedding parties and groups.

Store owner Raj Dhir commented: We have upcycled a lot of the material that has been used and the look of the store will be something completely different to anything there is in Chesterfield or nationally.

“Our aim is to create a shopping experience engaging in the senses, in a relaxed environment where our customers can pop in for chat or for a two-hour shopping experience. We believe in Chesterfield, and that’s why we are spending roughly £500,000 on the store.

“Chesterfield as a community and town centre has always supported us so it’s only right we invest back in the town centre and community. We believe the future of Chesterfield Town is bright and will only get brighter as more investment is made into the town centre.

Rebel’s new store is planning to officially open on Saturday, 5th march at 11am but in the meantime are open for wedding bookings.

Find out more about shopping in Chesterfield Town Centre here: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/shopping/

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , , ,

Girls Aloud star announced as headliner for Chesterfield Pride 2022

The organisers of the popular Chesterfield Pride event have announced the iconic Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud will be headlining the main stage at this year’s event.

The annual LGBTQ+ celebration takes place annually at Stand Road Park, attracting thousands of attendees each year.

Girls Aloud are one of the biggest pop groups of the last 20 years and secured 21 top 10 singles in the UK charts.

The Main Stage will see the festival’s biggest ever line up of artists including Denise Pearson (lead singer from Five Star), S Club 7’s Jo O’Meara, 80’s heartthrob Nathan Moore, the Queen of Clubland Kelly Llorenna and back by popular demand Dene Michael of Black Lace. The festival has confirmed it will be announcing even more artists very soon.

The Kranlee Logistics Cabaret Stage will once again host some amazing local artists and drag performances. This stage has been an amazing success since it was launched a few years ago.

The event has once again teamed up with Van Dyk by Wildes to bring people an even better VIP experience. The VIP passes give people the chance to enjoy private toilets, private bar area, priority entry and also front stage access.

Lead organiser, Dan Walker said: “We are proud to be a community event that is open to everyone. The event has grown every year and is now one of the biggest LGBTQ+ events in the Country.”

Chesterfield will play host to a number of great events throughout 2022. Keep up with everything coming up across the town on our event listings page here.

Find out more about Chesterfield Pride 2022 at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/chesterfield-pride/

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Summer, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , ,

Kids Planet surpasses 100 nursery milestone

With nurseries across the UK, family-owned, award-winning group Kids Planet has reached a milestone of surpassing 100 settings, having acquired Twinkles Nurseries group of six nurseries in North and West Yorkshire.

The company runs several nurseries across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, with sites in Chesterfield Town Centre, North Wingfield, Sheepbridge, Brampton and Newbold.

CEO Clare Roberts first set up Kids Planet when she was struggling to find childcare in her local area with flexible hours. Working with her father John, and sister Lucy, Kids Planet has grown exponentially since opening, but still remains a family-orientated business.

Since opening in 2008, the group has expanded rapidly, with the current 103 active nurseries responsible for the care of over 11,500 children. Kids Planet even opened a dedicated Training Academy in 2018 for both internal and external employees, and has shown no signs of slowing down, even amidst the pandemic.

Clare Roberts, CEO at Kids Planet, said: “This is a really impressive milestone when you think of where the company started almost 14 years ago. It is a true testament to the adaptability and dedication of our wonderful colleagues who have grown and developed alongside the business.

“I am delighted that the core values of Kids Planet have remained consistent and engrained in our daily work and it is truly a privilege to work with colleagues who share the same vision. I am so proud to reach such an incredible milestone of over 100 nurseries in the Kids Planet family.

“Well done to everyone that has been on the journey with us and I look forward to the exciting future we have ahead as a company and more importantly, as a team.”

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.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Love Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , ,

Pop-up shop initiative comes to Chesterfield Market Hall

A new pop-up shop is being offered to traders in Chesterfield’s iconic Market Hall, alongside a wide range of  business support opportunities.

The Market Hall in Chesterfield is home to a wealth of businesses and is based in the heart of Chesterfield, and even more businesses are being offered the opportunity to be based there too.

Chesterfield Borough Council has a number of options available for local retailers looking for a new location for their business, whether they are looking for a short-term trading solution or a longer-term base.

There is currently a pop-up shop offer available to new traders who would like to be based inside the Market Hall. The pop-up offer is £60 per week and the stall can be held for a maximum of three months, with no minimum term.

After the maximum of three months at the pop-up rate the tenant will be offered the opportunity to remain (conditional to signing up to a full lease at the full rate for that stall).

As part of the package, Chesterfield Borough Council also offers access to free business support for pre-start businesses or businesses in their first year through the Vision Derbyshire Scheme. The Vision Derbyshire Business Start-Up and Business Support Grant Scheme is open to people who live in Derbyshire who are starting their own business or have recently set up a business in the last year.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “A team of local expert business advisers at Vision Derbyshire are in place to offer free advice and support so this could have huge benefits for your future business planning.

“Council officers can also discuss access to the Digital High Street Campaign for businesses that are eligible which could allow you to develop a website equipped with the latest forms of payment and consider options such as “click and collect” if you do not have this set up already.”

Each of the stalls inside the Market Hall can also be rented on a permanent let basis also, the start dates for this can be negotiated at the enquiry stage.

For more established businesses, there are currently two larger external shops on the outside of the Market Hall available for permanent lease also.

To find out more about the temporary pop up-offer or more permanent solutions inside or outside the Market Hall, businesses are encouraged to contact 01246 345 255 or email claire.cunningham@chesterfield.gov.uk

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

Bridge Help Strengthens business development team with new appointment

Chesterfield Champion Bridge Help has further strengthened its business development team with the appointment of Mo Miah.

Bringing 11 years’ experience with major high street banks and building societies, Mo joins Bridge Help’s team of regional Business Development Managers.

His appointment follows significant growth for Bridge Help during 2021 in which the short-term lender exceeded its own projections, lending more than £23 million.

Mo will be working alongside Bridge Help’s business development team managing broker and lender relationships throughout the country.

Making the move from a high street lender background, Mo is looking forward to the challenge of working with Bridge Help which specialises in complex deals that mainstream lenders traditionally avoid.

He said: “I’m passionate about helping people and providing great customer service, that’s why I got into this sector. Working at Bridge Help is a great opportunity for me to develop broker relationships and work alongside them throughout the loan process from initial enquiry to securing funds. That is a very exciting prospect for me.”

Welcoming Mo to the team, Chris Sellars, Chief Executive of Bridge Help said: “We’re delighted to welcome Mo onboard. Developing and maintaining strong broker relationships is at the heart of what we do and a key reason why we can make what seems like an impossible deal, possible.”

Mo added: “Bridge Help takes a refreshing approach to commercial lending and I’m excited to be part of it. I already feel like I’m very much part of the team.”

Outside work, Mo is kept busy with his two young children, spending time with his wife and his extended family. When he does get time to himself, he enjoys playing 5-a-side and 8-a-side football.

To arrange a meeting with Mo or to speak to one of our business development team, contact Bridge Help on 033 3303 4681.

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

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

Hundreds of jobs to be showcased at local tourism recruitment fair

The wide variety of exciting, rewarding and long-term careers offered by the Peak District and Derbyshire’s hospitality and tourism industry are set to be showcased at a local recruitment fair in March.

The Hospitality & Tourism Jobs Fair will be held at The Whitworth in Darley Dale, near Matlock, on Monday 21 March 2022 from 10am to 2pm, promoting hundreds of current jobs available in the sector as well as shining a spotlight on future career paths into the industry.

Offering a fantastic opportunity for both job seekers and employers, the free jobs fair takes place during English Tourism Week (18-27 March 2022) and aims to address the ongoing hospitality recruitment crisis, whilst helping to change perceptions that hospitality jobs offer ‘long hours for little pay’.

Attendees will have the opportunity to get hands-on with live demonstrations showcasing different aspects of working in the sector – from setting a restaurant table and making a hotel bed, to creating mocktails and learning about foraging and food presentation.

In addition, a ‘Live Apply’ zone will feature full-time, part-time and seasonal job opportunities currently available in the Peak District and Derbyshire, with a fast-track application process removing the need for lengthy application forms and CVs.

One-to-one advice will be available for attendees wishing to further their confidence and skills to be ‘job-ready’, and there will also be a rolling programme of inspirational speakers from local hospitality and tourism businesses.

The event has been arranged by Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire with support from the UK Community Renewal Fund and is part of a programme of support to drive the recovery of visitor economy businesses.

It follows the recent launch of the Peak District & Derbyshire Hospitality Charter, which aims to raise the profile of the hospitality industry, boost recruitment and promote the sector as a career of choice to parents, schools, colleges and universities.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “The Hospitality & Tourism Jobs Fair is a great opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to discover the diverse careers available in this rewarding sector, connecting employers to new emerging talent.

“We’re in an unprecedented time in terms of the challenges faced by local businesses and following the launch of the Peak District & Derbyshire Hospitality Charter, we’re working closely with local authorities and education providers to identify opportunities and target support where it’s most needed.

“This Jobs Fair is another step in that process, and we’re looking forward to shining a light on all the benefits that a career in hospitality can bring – from fulfilling, long-term employment to fantastic opportunities for training and development.”

The Hospitality & Tourism Jobs Fair is free to attend, and visitors can simply turn up on the day or register in advance at visitpeakdistrict.com/jobs-fair.

Businesses and education providers can find more information at visitpeakdistrict.com/industry/jobs-fair.

Businesses are encouraged to join the conversation and to promote hospitality jobs on social media using the hashtag #AGreatPlacetoWork.

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

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home, Love Chesterfield, Summer, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , ,

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