Manufacturing

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

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

How do I start a career in law or finance?

Are you a team player, good at working under pressure and have an eye for detail? If so, a career in law or finance might be for you.

From lots of career options and opportunities to specialise in a specific area, to a competitive salary – there are many benefits to working in law and finance. To understand more about the benefits and what it’s like working in these sectors, we spoke to individuals working at local businesses.

Why should I consider a career in Law?

1. I am gaining practical experience through training on-the-job as a solicitor

An SQE is a graduate apprenticeship route, allowing you to qualify by completing Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQE). This means you can join a firm with a degree or approved equivalent. Katie Bottoms is an SQE apprentice at Family Law Group. She said:

Katie Bottoms, Family Law Group

Katie Bottoms, Family Law Group

“I wanted to start working in the legal sector to gain experience before thinking about what area of law I wanted to qualify in. I enjoyed family law and did not want to leave my job to do the LPC (Legal Practice Course) and qualify via a training contract. Therefore, it made sense for me to do the SQE alongside working as I could meet the work experience requirements whilst preparing for my exams.

Working in divorce and matrimonial finances, you have to have knowledge of a range of different financial products in order to advise clients fully. You have to have attention to detail, but you also have to be able to be reactive when urgent issues arise. It is rewarding to be able to help guide a client through the issues resulting from their separation.”

Search the career opportunities available at Family Law Group…

2. I started my career in law as a trainee solicitor

Lauren Smith is a Trainee Solicitor at Banner Jones Solicitors, currently completing her LPC (Legal Practice Course) at the University of Sheffield. She explained:

Lauren Smith, Banner Jones

Lauren Smith, Banner Jones

“Becoming a Solicitor has always been the career goal for me so after completing my LPC at the University of Sheffield, obtaining a Training Contract with a firm was the next step to achieve that goal. Fortunately, Banner Jones gave me a training contract and has encouraged me and helped with my career progression. I am now 9 months into a 2-year training period and loving it.

My advice to someone considering a career in financial and legal is to always ask lots of questions. There’s no such thing as a silly question and I have found that I have learnt so much by leaning on my peers and colleagues for advice and support. Don’t assume that you have to move away to get into a career that you will love…it could be right on your doorstep!”

Learn more careers at Banner Jones…

3. An apprenticeship allowed me to progress my career to a Paralegal

Amelia & Harriet, CMP Legal

Amelia & Harriet, CMP Legal

An apprenticeship gave Amelia Bacon a foot in the door and an opportunity to progress her career in law with a CILEX qualification (The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives). Amelia is a Paralegal at CMP Legal. She said:

“I really enjoy the variation of work and also learning on the job. I started my career as an apprentice back in 2015 because I was able to earn money and gain experience within a law firm whilst studying.

My apprenticeship has led me to study with CILEX Law School and I hope to qualify as a Solicitor within the next few years. I would encourage young people to look into an apprenticeship. This is because University is not the only route available for you to achieve your career goals.”

4. I love I can earn a wage whilst training to be a Paralegal

Harriet Flowers is a Paralegal at CMP Legal and chose a Level 2 Business Administration apprenticeship as a route into the sector. She expressed:

“I became an apprentice as I wanted to gain knowledge whilst working in an office environment and also earning some money. I prefer practical learning so I felt this was the best career route for me.

“Apprenticeships are great if you enjoy a variety of work and learning on the job. I believe I gained lots of skills and knowledge from various colleagues when assisting them with tasks. I found the face-to-face communication with clients helped me gain confidence and the apprenticeship gave me a route into the law.”

Discover current vacancies at CMP Legal…

Why might a career in finance be for me?

1. I used an apprenticeship to grow my skill set in accounting

Sam Kelly SMH Group

Sam Kelly is currently training as an Accountant through an AAT apprenticeship scheme (Association of Accounting Technicians) at SMH Group. He said:

“Working in the financial and legal sector has been an enriching experience. It’s a fast-paced and dynamic industry that requires a keen eye for detail and a strong understanding of numbers. The sector offers a wide range of opportunities, from working in finance departments of businesses to providing financial advice or even becoming a qualified accountant which is my end goal.

“I became an apprentice because I saw it as a fantastic opportunity to gain practical experience while studying for a professional qualification. I wanted a career in accounting, and an apprenticeship seemed like the perfect way to kickstart my journey.”

Browse career opportunities at SMH Group… 

2. I used an apprenticeship to grow my knowledge and skills in finance

Lewis Atkins is Apprentice Administrator at Mortgage 1st. He’s working towards a Level 3 apprenticeship in Business Administration. Lewis explained:

Lewis Atkins, Mortgage 1st

Lewis Atkins, Mortgage 1st

“Becoming an apprentice felt like the best career path to grow my knowledge and skills in this field of work. So far, I have gained an outstanding amount of information to help me take different paths within the industry.

“I enjoy the variety of work my apprenticeship brings me. I can be focused on the business side of things as working in a mortgage broker, however, then being able to switch it up and focus on the admin work my role brings me!”

Explore apprenticeship vacancies and other roles at Mortgage 1st… 

Ready to start your career?

Apprentice Town - Find Your Apprenticeship - Social Media Landscape2

Apprenticeships are available at all different levels, across many different roles and sectors. This makes apprenticeships suitable for everyone. Whether you’re wanting to start your career, looking for a change of career or upskilling your current job, an apprenticeship may be the right path for you.

Browse current apprenticeship vacancies in Chesterfield here…

Maybe a traineeship or another training route is more suitable for you? Make sure to research what training local legal and financial businesses have to offer.

Find a helpful guide to careers in law here…

Learn more about career options in finance here…

Whatever pathway you choose, Chesterfield is a fantastic base for your career.

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“Ensuring we have opportunities for our young people will make Chesterfield a more attractive place to live, work, and invest”

Chesterfield is currently undergoing a period of major regeneration, and with this change comes opportunity.

New developments in the town, such as Chesterfield Waterside, Markham Vale and the Hartington sites in Staveley are really coming to life now – thanks to councils and businesses working together closely.

Thousands of new homes are currently being built across the borough, which will attract new families seeking an affordable and friendly place to live, with access to good schools and plenty of green spaces.

I was delighted to hear the news that Chesterfield was ranked recently as the second-best town in the UK to raise children. This is a testament to the work of several organisations across the area.

Furthermore, Chesterfield’s ambitious growth plans are creating exciting career options for our young people. A key sector of growth locally is property and construction. Did you know that in this sector alone, around 17,500 new recruits will be required across the East Midlands between 2023-2027?

As a town, we must keep encouraging our young people to consider careers which are offering secure, skilled, and well-paid employment. To that end, it is pleasing to hear that 12 work placements have been offered to students locally by business leaders from the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group. All credit to the innovative ‘Careers Made in Chesterfield’ project, in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council.

Representatives from local firms inspired students by speaking about the wide range of roles available in the property sector, carrying out a series of workshops and face-to-face mentoring sessions with students based at Parkside Community School.

At the beginning of the scheme, only 20% of pupils said they would be interested in a role in property and construction. When asked again at the end of the project, that figure had doubled to 40%. This shows that a hands-on approach can really work in engaging our young people.

As a town, Chesterfield is used to rolling up its sleeves and tackling issues head-on, and this is another example of how our people are continuing to work hard in delivering the changes we all want to see.

Innovative projects, such as the new Construction Skills Hub being developed in Staveley will further boost jobs in the sector, training thousands of local people. It excites me to think that the next generation of builders, architects, surveyors, and designers will be trained in our area.

Ensuring we have opportunities for our young people will make Chesterfield a more attractive place to live, work, and invest. With investment comes jobs, and with jobs comes further growth and prosperity. This is why it is vital we continue to make our future generations aware of the breadth of opportunities available to them, right here on our doorstep.

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Firms urged to inspire young people to explore careers in manufacturing, engineering, and construction

A campaign to inspire young people into manufacturing, engineering, and construction careers is set to return to Chesterfield this November.

Destination Chesterfield is calling upon local companies to get involved in the successful Made in Chesterfield scheme, which enables school pupils to get an up-close and personal look at what a career in these key sectors can offer.

The annual campaign, which will run during November and December 2023, is now in its ninth year. It aims to help reduce the skills gap in some of the town’s most valuable industries, to ensure local people and businesses can continue to thrive in the future.

Made in Chesterfield is organised by Destination Chesterfield, alongside Direct Education Business Partnership, and supported by Chesterfield College Group, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire North Careers Hub, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd and NatWest.

Through the project, thousands of young people have had the chance to explore the wide range of rewarding careers available in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) sectors. Since the campaign’s inception in 2014, more than 3,500 young people from schools have spent time in the area’s manufacturing, engineering, and construction businesses.

Headline sponsor of the project, Chesterfield College Group has also seen an increase in the number of students getting involved in STEM-related subjects since the launch of the campaign.

Julie Richards, CEO of Chesterfield College Group and Destination Chesterfield Board Member, commented: “Having supported Made in Chesterfield consistently over the past few years I’ve seen the real impact the initiative has for the next generation engineering and construction workforce.

“As we position ourselves as a reliable conduit between student and employer to enable the opportunities and inspiration for successful future careers, supporting this initiative is something we feel passionate about.

“With work on our new cutting-edge Engineering, Manufacturing and Science Centre due to commence this year and our involvement with hugely impactful programmes such as the Staveley Construction Skills Hub, Made in Chesterfield further solidifies our commitment to ensuring the young people we serve have access to the very best opportunities in their chosen engineering and/or construction career.”

Ivan Fomin, Director at MSE Hiller and Destination Chesterfield Board Member said: “There is no doubt that we are experiencing a skills gap in manufacturing, caused by an ageing workforce. Therefore, it has never been more important to generate the future pipeline of talent to ensure our local manufacturing and engineering firms can continue to grow.

“Being able to offer these tours and interact with young people on a face-to-face basis provides them with an invaluable insight into the exciting potential and scope for growth that a career in STEM can offer.”

Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth commented: “Made in Chesterfield is a fantastic programme that create an opportunity for businesses to interact with young people and help them to make informed choices about their future.

“We’re proud to support this programme because helping young people find the right path for them guarantees that they can have a great career in our borough but it also helps employers ensure that the future workforce is developing the skills that they will need.

“Together this will help improve the quality of life for residents whilst also creating a thriving local economy with opportunities for everyone.”

Clare Talati, CEO of Direct Education Business Partnership (DEBP) added: “DEBP are pleased to be able to continue supporting the Made in Chesterfield initiative; enabling space for employers and young people to come together.

“Made in Chesterfield provides meaningful experiences for learners to increase their awareness of local opportunities, and for employers to showcase their businesses and meet potential future employees”.

To find out more about how your business can get involved with Made in Chesterfield, please visit https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/made/ or contact Direct Education Business Partnership at madeinchesterfieldvisits@debp.org.

The Destination Chesterfield Partnership has received £180,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It follows a successful funding bid by Chesterfield Borough Council, to secure £2.69 million worth of funding for local projects.

Made in Chesterfield - Students visit Aztec Oils

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

Superior Wellness listed among UK’s fastest-growing firms for 2nd year running

Chesterfield’s Superior Wellness ranks 30th on the FEBE For Entrepreneurs by Entrepreneurs Growth 100: an annual list that reveals the UK’s fastest-growing privately owned businesses.

Businesses must have sales between £3m and £200m, trading for at least three years and have turned an operating profit in the latest financial year to make it into the top 100.

The Growth 100 celebrates British business at its best – highlighting founders that are driving their companies to deliver significant sales, revenue and profit.

Superior Wellness leads the market as the world’s fastest growing hot tub manufacturer, creating premium, high quality products focused on improving your health and well-being. This year marks the 2nd in succession that the company has been listed on the FEBE Growth 100 list.

The firm continues to innovate and has recently launched new brands Chill Tubs and Hekla Saunas, which are proving a popular addition to its portfolio of products.

The company’s Chill Tubs brand was recently showcased on ITV’s This Morning, with presenter Matthew Wright taking a plunge in the water, which was cooled to 8.3 degrees.

To be on the list businesses must be UK registered, independent and unquoted, meeting the following criteria:

  • Sales between £3m and £200m
  • Trading for at least three years
  • An operating profit in the latest financial year
  • Founder(s) must still be involved

The Growth 100 annual list shines a light on the finest and fastest-growing privately owned businesses in the country, where the founder or founders are still involved. The Growth 100 is run by FEBE, the club built for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs.

Rob Carlin, Managing Director, said: “We were so proud when we heard the news that Superior Wellness had made it onto Growth 100 list. We ranked 30th in Britain for the fastest-growing companies privately owned businesses.

“This is such an incredible achievement for us as a company and a real accolade to the team and their hard work.

“I would like to extend my thanks to all the Superior Wellness team and our partner network for making this possible.”

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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Innovative careers scheme inspires Chesterfield’s next generation and aims to reduce skills gaps

A pioneering scheme, which is linking schools with leading property and construction firms in Chesterfield, is inspiring young people to pursue careers in the construction sector.

‘Careers Made in Chesterfield’ has resulted in fourteen quality placements being offered for talented young people to learn about the property and construction sector. This follows several businesses from the town’s property and construction sector participating in workshops at Parkside Community School, showcasing the range of rewarding careers available.

Providing face-to-face interaction with students proved very successful, with 40% of students who completed the programme expressing a high interest in working in the construction sector in the future – rising from just 20% when the scheme was originally conceived in September 2022.

The initiative was launched following a report by CITB, which outlines how an extra 225,000 workers are required in the UK’s property and construction sector by 2027, equating to roughly 3,500 per year in the East Midlands Region alone.

During the ‘Careers Made in Chesterfield’ programme, business leaders carried out an initial speed networking workshop with pupils, answering their questions and helping to open their eyes into the many different exciting roles associated with property and construction.

In the second workshop sessions, students were tasked with designing a new building within the Northern Gateway area of Chesterfield. Working in groups of five to design a community venue, each group was allocated an employer mentor from the property and construction sector to help develop the design.

The project is enabling students to gain vital work experience, but also showcases the breadth of skills needed to achieve Chesterfield’s ambitious growth and regeneration plans.

The innovative pilot has seen 20 professionals from 11 local businesses helping to deliver the programme to 110 Year 10 students at the school.

Andrew Byrne, Property Development Director at The Devonshire Group, and member of the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group added: “One of the main issues being faced by the property and construction sector is that its workforce is getting older.

“It is vital to begin bringing in the next generation, and Careers Made in Chesterfield is one of many initiatives which will help to secure the future pipeline of talent that our businesses rely on.

“It is a very exciting time to be getting into the sector, and with schemes such as this, our young people will one day contribute towards delivering the physical, social, and green infrastructure that Chesterfield needs to continue its sustainable growth.”

Andrew Byrne, The Devonshire Group

Andrew Byrne, The Devonshire Group

Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth commented: “Working with local businesses to deliver the Careers Made in Chesterfield pilot demonstrates how direct engagement with students can spark their interest in different career paths.

“Helping young people learn more about the skills they need and the options available to them is key to ensuring that we can provide secure high quality jobs in Chesterfield and that they can plan for a great future in our borough.”

Ben Riggott, Head Teacher at Parkside School said: “The Careers Made in Chesterfield pilot represented a step change in creating sustained connections between our Year 10 students and some great local companies.

“This model is fantastic for several reasons.  Perhaps most importantly, students build relationships with employers across the programme, which in turn enhances their confidence and the likely outcomes of work experience.

One of the firms to be welcoming a student on placement in July is Oasis Studio, which provides virtual reality and augmented reality services to property and construction businesses.

Tony Buck, Associate Director at Oasis Studio commented: “We jumped at the chance to get involved in the pilot scheme. The construction industry is continually evolving, adopting new technologies and construction methods.

“To stay competitive, I believe it’s crucial we have a skilled workforce that can embrace these advancements. I really enjoyed demonstrating the range of opportunities in the sector today.  We utilised our VR headsets during the workshop to offer the students a virtual site visit and help them understand the brief. I was genuinely impressed by the student’s level of maturity and engagement throughout the workshops, and their ideation of concepts was fantastic.”

Further addressing the increasing construction skills shortage within Chesterfield, the Construction Skills Hub in Mastin Moor will welcome learners from autumn this year.

Funded through the Staveley Town Deal, the skills hub will provide a practical platform for construction training, careers activity and work experience on a live construction site.

Initially the Skills Hub will provide training in site and bench joinery, brickwork, ground works and electrical installation but in time the offer will expand to include training in retrofit and green technologies. It will be open to school leavers and other residents seeking to train or retrain.

The Hub will provide training, careers insights, and work experience for more than 5,000 learners over 10 years.

Businesses and schools that wish to register their interest in the Careers Made in Chesterfield initiative, are urged to contact Emily Williams, Skills Delivery Officer at Chesterfield Borough Council on 01246 959717.

The Destination Chesterfield Partnership has received £180,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It follows a successful funding bid by Chesterfield Borough Council, to secure £2.69 million worth of funding for local projects.

Careers Made in Chesterfield header image

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

United Cast Bar welcomes Derbyshire’s High Sheriff

Chesterfield manufacturer, United Cast Bar recently welcomed Derbyshire’s new High Sheriff, Theresa Peltier to the company’s premises.

United Cast Bar is a cast iron specialist, produced in two of Europe’s most prestigious foundries and distributed through the United Cast Bar distribution network.

The United Cast Bar Group of companies employ over 250 people worldwide, and are represented in over 20 countries. The firm prides itself on being the world’s leading and most successful manufacturer and supplier of continuously cast iron.

The tour gave United Cast Bar the opportunity to showcase its offices and production facility, whilst explaining some of the work it does on local skills and community initiatives. It involved all areas from input of raw materials, furnaces, laboratory, production lines, machine shop, dispatch and the offices.

David Beet, Group Marketing Manager at United Cast Bar commented: “It was a great pleasure to welcome Theresa Peltier, Derbyshire’s new High Sheriff to United Cast Bar for a tour of the offices and the factory.

“We discussed our action with the local community including schools, colleges and universities, local suppliers and the environment.

“Throughout the visit, Theresa was keen to meet the staff and talk about their various roles. She met a number of the apprentices and staff during her visit including our MD, James and General Manager, Tony.

“It was a pleasure to show her around and I hope she will visit us again.”

Alongside its work with apprentices, the company regularly invites young people for tours of its manufacturing facility in Chesterfield as part of the Made in Chesterfield initiative, designed to inspire the next generation of skilled workers in STEM sectors. Find out more about the project here.

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

Made in Chesterfield - United Cast Bars Ltd

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New design studio for Chesterfield packaging manufacturer

Chesterfield-based manufacturer, Robinson has invested in a new state-of-the-art design studio.

The CAD design room is run by a team with more than 50 years’ experience in packaging creation. It includes a DYSS X5 machine for sample making technology, a Sumbel desktop gluer and can produce production standard products and samples in small runs.

The specialist design team have the capabilities and knowledge to design premium packaging to meet key sustainability credentials, both internally and for customers with a 24-hour turnaround time for samples.

Robinson is often thinking of creative ways to use packaging – this recently includes experimenting with hybrid packaging. Careful thought goes into the packaging to ensure it maintains a level of premium feel whilst also being suitable and secure for the products in them, for example luxury glass candles and cakes.

Elouise Boam, New Product Development and Quality Manager is delighted with the new facility. She says: “From a customer’s existing brief or free licence to create, we design and produce packaging in our purpose-built studio, using the latest Kasemake software, DYSS X5 sample table and Sumbel Bench top gluing unit to produce production standard samples, prototypes and small to medium production runs.

“We can turn around a brief in 24 hours, and work with industry leading suppliers of print, print finishing, paper, and board to create beautiful packaging.

“We carry out product and transit testing to ensure the quality and integrity of the finished pack meets the customers’ requirements and exceeds expectations.

“Paper based inserts and supports are our speciality with sustainability, re use and cost-effective solutions at the forefront of our creative design ideas.

With 50 years combined experience of design and technical knowledge we create bespoke packaging solutions from Rigid Board, Carton board or a combination of any paper-based material imaginable”.

Robinson were recently awarded FSC ® certification (Licence code: FSC-C186000) for its Paperbox division.

FSC certification ensures that all products produced at Paperbox are sustainable. FSC-managed forests help provide clean air and water by restricting hazardous chemicals and following strict harvesting and forestry practices. Their work also helps ensure a diversity of animals, trees and plants as well as providing safe working conditions for everyone involved.

This further demonstrates the investment that the company is making in its Paperbox business, following a significant investment in its new SATE box-making machine in Chesterfield, with improved quality and a reduced carbon footprint that allows customers to avoid long, complex supply chains from Asia.

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

Robinsons packaging

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Eleven learners from Chesterfield’s White Rose Beauty College through to the national final of World Skills competition

Learners at Chesterfield’s White Rose Beauty College have been announced as finalists for the 2023 UK World Skills event.

The learners will compete across various speciality categories, including the Beauty Therapist, Creative Media Makeup and Nail Technician competitions. The competitions are designed by industry experts to help young people grow personally and professionally, by developing their technical and employability skills.

They focus on upskilling and developing young people, aged 25 and under, from all backgrounds and abilities. After their success at the regional heats which took place earlier this year, the learners will now undergo further training and development from September to October 2023 before competing in the National Finals in November.

Using international best practice to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education, the competitions aim to support under 25s across the world via competitions-based training, assessment, and benchmarking, to succeed.  The national finals will ultimately test learners ability to achieve world-class standards in the Skills Olympics which takes place every two years.

Learners including, Harriet Dolphin, Bobbi Stobbs, Eva Henderson, Ellie Whittaker, Amelia Fox, Kelsey Lawler and Phoebe Botham will put their skills and knowledge to the ultimate test as they battle to win these prestigious competitions in their field.

This is a fantastic achievement for these learners, and White Rose Beauty Colleges, who are a subsidiary of Learning Curve Group and deliver funded training courses in a host of beauty related disciplines, supporting people to upskill and reskill to develop or start their careers in the industry.

White Rose Beauty Colleges have nine academies across Yorkshire and the North West, taking Learning Curve Groups total to 17 hair and beauty academies across the UK. This news comes just two weeks after two of Learning Curve Groups Hair and Beauty learners were announced as finalists in the national VTCT Awards for Student of the Year.

Helen Jones, Head of White Rose Beauty College Chesterfield, said I am absolutely delighted that 11 of our learners have made it through to the World Skills UK finals. This is absolutely fantastic news and really cements that the training we provide at White Rose is of the absolute highest standard and quality within the beauty sector.

“We are proud to have them represent White Rose nationally and we are so delighted that our mission of transforming lives through learning is clear yet again.”

“I wish the learners the best of luck as they prepare for the National Finals in November. We have no doubt that they will excel in their respective categories! Their talent is amazing, and they display the highest level of determination and enthusiasm to win these competitions and build their careers in the beauty industry.”

White Rose was founded in 1996 and has helped thousands of learners gain the skills and experience they need for successful careers in the beauty industry. It delivers a wide range of Beauty Therapy, Holistic Therapy, Sports Massage and Make Up Artistry courses.White Rose is a Centre of Excellence with ITEC, a Flagship Centre with VTCT and a Habia Centre of Expertise, as well as achieving a Grade 1 Outstanding result in its most recent Ofsted inspection.

White Rose Beauty College Chesterfield supports 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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Superior Wellness Managing Director listed in the E2E International 100

A Chesterfield business owner has been included in a prestigious list of entreprenuers, which celebrates the UK’s fastest-growing companies.

Rob Carlin, Managing Director at Superior Wellness has been included in the 2023 E2E International 100 list in association with The Independent and in partnership with IWG as the strategic founding partner.

The list, which was independently verified by data from Experian and Go Live Data, celebrates the UK’s fastest-growing international companies according to their export turnover over the past two years along with a minimum annual turnover of £10 million.

Celebrating international entrepreneurs and founders across a host of sectors, the E2E International 100 is a significant initiative designed to showcase the very best UK companies that are excelling, experiencing consistent growth and presenting disruptive business strategies, creating an impact not just in their own sector, but also on a nationwide and in some cases a global scale.

E2E hosted a celebratory dinner at The House of Commons on May 25, 2023 with Shalini Khemka CBE, kindly supported by Lord Bilimoria CBE, DL, Founding Board Director, E2E, and Richard Morris, CEO of IWG plc UK.

Rob Carlin, listed as number 12, was a panel member at the event, for leading the extraordinary growth Superior Wellness has experienced over the last few years. Based in Chesterfield, Superior Wellness is the world’s fastest growing hot tub manufacturer and has a global network of over 200 partners worldwide.

Speaking about the list, Shalini Khemka CBE, founder of E2E says: “It is incredible to see so many companies in the top 100 operating within such a diverse range of industries. It is reflective of how successful UK companies are and of the expansion and growth taking place here and internationally. We should be extremely proud of the entrepreneurship and innovation in business that we are witnessing.”

Rob Carlin commented on his inclusion within the list, adding: “We are thrilled to have been included in the E2E International 100 list. This is a testament to our commitment to Superior Wellness and providing the highest quality services for our customers. I am proud of the dedication and hard work put in by our team every day. We will continue striving for excellence and delivering a top quality service.”

Lord Bilimoria CBE, DL said: “I have been a founding board member of E2E and under the leadership of Shalini Khemka, CBE seen it flourish into the go to ecosystem to support founders, business leaders and investors. We have worked on several initiatives together to highlight the issues forced by business founders within the UK and to provide services that address the core challenges. Since the launch of E2E in 2011, Shalini and her team have built an exceptional platform for entrepreneurs to meet, learn, raise investments and access corporate support.”

Richard Morris, UK Chief Executive of IWG plc, observed: “IWG has been a partner of E2E for over 7 years and has experienced the outstanding support and platform they provide to the UK SME sector. The quality of their community, from their members to speakers is unparalleled in my view. During our longstanding partnership, we have expanded the flexible working and service office packages offered to their members on preferred rates and we are proud of the value that we are bringing together to UK entrepreneurship.”

The full list can be viewed here.

The tracks are independently compiled by Go Live Data and Experian according to specific criteria and official data. Each track is supported by our strategic founding partner, IWG plc and our partners Adia PR, Go Live Data, Virtuoso Legal, Lioncroft and Experian.

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.

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Chesterfield manufacturer installs new robotic manufacturing plating plant

Engineering supply chain solution provider CBE+ has built the first 6+1 robotic Electroless Nickel Plating (ENP) line in the UK and Europe at its 70,000ft² state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.

This new manufacturing capability will allow the company to undertake a range of innovative projects at its Chesterfield base, including the processing of small, precision-engineered components in high volumes and the ability to deliver high-quality parts at a consistently high standard.

The automated line from Sidasa Engineering will also facilitate a highly repeatable surface treatment process, reducing the time taken to complete and send large orders to customers and significantly increasing CBE+’s Electroless Nickel production capacity, utilising a FANUC robot system.

Chief executive officer, Marie Cooper, says: “This is a significant investment for CBE+ and one that will bring many benefits to the business and our customers. The new plating line reduces the scope for human error by automating dosing control and deposition monitoring and measuring. This results in a consistently high-quality finish on the products we process. Automating these tasks means we can redeploy skilled employees to projects that require higher levels of expertise.”

This is the latest of significant investment in the business. A sum of £4m has been invested over the last few years including a new Wire EDM line in 2021 and merger with Nitec UK at the back end of 2022. The firm has double its turnover during this period, with future growth to £10m forecasted over the next few years.

This investment contributes to CBE+’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. The new nickel-plating line will be linked with the newly commissioned effluent water treatment plant and combined heat and power (CHP) system. The CHP system captures heat generated as a by-product of electrical power generation which is then used to provide heat energy for the surface treatment processes. The effluent plant filters and neutralises all waste chemistry on-site and allows for environmentally safe disposal and recycling.

The new line is currently being tested with plans to be fully operational this June.

The company recently opened its doors to the public, hosting an open day on the 26th April. More than 60 people from the manufacturing and engineering sectors attended the event which featured a tour of the entire facility including the new plating line.

CBE+ supports 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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Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Manufacturing, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,