Made in Chesterfield

Clarissa’s Interiors opens at Vicar Lane

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is pleased to announce the opening of a brand-new independent pop-up shop at the centre.

Clarissa’s Interiors is run by mother and daughter team Jayne and Clare. They started out in 2016, making hand crafted glass jars and lanterns with floral designs and animals as well as creating bespoke designs for customers. They sold these on a stall at Chesterfield’s Thursday market, which was followed by a gazebo at Vicar Lane on a Saturday. This worked in tandem with them working the local country show and event circuit, so the pop-up shop is the next step in their exciting venture.

The store is located opposite CEX and sells a range of home interiors / home décor collections. These include Clare’s hand-crafted items along with beautiful items for the home – from mirrors, and clocks, to wall art, cushions, lamps, occasional chairs and tables, small accessories, candles, ornaments and more.

The store is open from 9am – 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday.

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager, Vicar Lane said, “We’re very pleased to be able to support yet another young, local business spread their wings and grow, in the heart of Chesterfield and are very excited to see the range of products on offer at Clarissa’s Interiors.’’

Click here to find out more about Vicar Lane Shopping Centre

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

Vicar Lane partners with Derbyshire Adult Community Education in employer challenge for young people

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is working with Derbyshire Adult Community Education (DACES), part of Derbyshire County Council, to run education programmes for young adults in Chesterfield.

The learners attend Full Time Study Programmes in Shirebrook and Clay Cross; the programmes are based around employment and enterprise and are aimed at young people aged 16-19 to help them gain the skills they need for the world of work.

Vicar Lane is working with organisers on an ‘Employer Challenge’ within the programme, whereby the learners are set a task within a real-life employment environment. Participants are required to visit the centre to familiarise themselves with the task at hand, meet the team and gather as much information as possible, before going away to work on their ideas. They then have to present their proposed solution back to the employer at the end of the programme.

On Wednesday 18th March and 29th April respectively, learners from Shirebrook and Clay Cross will visit Vicar Lane between 10:30am and 12:30pm. They’ll learn about the shopping centre and how it works from day to day, before being given an overview of the project, which will be a creative task.

Proposals will be presented by the learners, back to the centre management team on Wednesday 1st April and Wednesday 13th May. Their plans will be compared to the centre’s own thoughts to see how they align.

The work that young people complete during this task, forms part of their City and Guilds Level 1 and Level 2 Extended Certificate in Employability qualification which will prove beneficial to these young people in their quest for employment.

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager at Vicar Lane said, “It’s a pleasure and a privilege to once again be working with a team of young people from the Chesterfield community to help improve their career prospects. The initiative last year generated some really exciting results so we are looking forward to seeing what the latest group of learners come up with.”

Click here to find out more about Vicar Lane Shopping Centre

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

Tenth Celebrate Chesterfield Conference to update on Talgo Head Office and next decade of investment

Jon Veitch, Managing Director of Talgo UK Ltd, the Spanish train manufacturer that recently established its UK head office in Chesterfield, will reveal his company’s aspirations for the town at the annual Celebrate Chesterfield event.

Over 250 people are expected to attend the free event and exhibition, which is organised by Destination Chesterfield and is taking place on Wednesday 11 March at the Winding Wheel Theatre.

Mr Veitch (far right) is one of number of key speakers at the free event. He will also be joined by Elizabeth Fagan CBE – Chair of D2N2 LEP, Dr. Paula Holt – Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean at the University of Derby and Huw Bowen – Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council.

Sponsored by the University of Derby, Celebrate Chesterfield is one of the biggest and most hotly anticipated business events in the area.

The event is the tenth conference organised by Destination Chesterfield, the town’s inward investment marketing campaign, which is currently working with 180 local businesses, known as Chesterfield Champions, to raise the profile of the town.

Since the launch of Destination Chesterfield, the town has seen significant investment, with more than a billion pounds of investment currently underway. At the conference, delegates will hear updates on key development sites including Northern Gateway, Chesterfield Waterside, The Glass Yard and PEAK.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield commented: “Celebrate Chesterfield 2020 is particularly significant, not least it recognises the tenth anniversary of Destination Chesterfield, but it is an opportunity to look back over the last decade and see all that the town has achieved in terms of investment.”

“It is something we all should be proud of given the climate of political and economic uncertainty, which has surrounded the town since Destination Chesterfield was established in 2010. A positive mindset coupled with a collaborative approach across the public and private sector has led to substantial investment and development in the Chesterfield. We have created an excellent foundation for further growth and investment.”

In addition to establishing a Head Office, Talgo also has ambitions to develop an ‘Innovation Centre’, co-located with Barrow Hill Roundhouse. In addition to HS2, Talgo is central to Chesterfield’s ambition to become a hub for rail technology and development.

At the event Mr Bowen will update delegates on the Council’s plans for the train station following the announcement that Chesterfield will get an HS2 stop.

Paula Holt, Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Derby, added: “We are delighted to be working with Destination Chesterfield and supporting the Celebrate Chesterfield event again this year.”

“As Derbyshire’s only university, we look to use our academic expertise, research and innovation to foster talent and create impactful partnerships with businesses.”

“The Celebrate Chesterfield event provides a great opportunity for us to have valuable conversations that enable us to understand more about the challenges local businesses face. Our priority remains to understand and effectively service the needs of businesses and to create opportunities for individuals, employers and communities to develop and flourish.”

Bridge Help, Central Technology and Markham Vale – Derbyshire’s flagship regeneration scheme, are also supporting the breakfast event as associate sponsors.

Anthony Clitheroe, Director at HBD, development partner for the Markham Vale site commented: “The past 10 years at Markham Vale has seen a transformation of this site. Alongside our partnership with Derbyshire County Council, we are proud of the changes, both locally and further afield, this development has made to the region.

“The scheme has seen continued growth as several developments completed towards the end of last year. We’re now looking forward to other opportunities that will see us bring some fantastic new occupiers to the Markham Vale site.”

Ian Snow, Managing Director at Central Technology said: “Supporting Destination Chesterfield is of great importance to us here at Central Technology. This event has always been the perfect place to meet and work with like-minded organisations and helps put Chesterfield on the map as a great location to both work and live.”

“To continue to provide the best IT support and Disaster Recovery Service and Solutions across all sectors of business, we work hard to actively seek local talented people. We have a comprehensive internal training and development platform to ensure continual training and improvement is maintained throughout our teams. We also have an apprenticeship programme in place, which works to build our teams from the ground up. Training and development is of paramount importance at CT, It is crucial not only for our customers but also the team here that they are able to learn, develop and achieve qualifications to reach their potential. We look forward to supporting Destination Chesterfield in 2020 and beyond.”

Chris Sellars, Chief Executive of Bridge Help added: “We are delighted to support both Destination Chesterfield and the Celebrate Chesterfield event. Commercial developments can often take a significant amount of time to come to fruition and you can overlook the progress that has been made. this event is an excellent opportunity to both recap on what has been achieved over the last 10 years and learn about forthcoming developments and investment in the town.”

Tickets for the breakfast event, which is being held from 7:30am to 11:00am, and includes an exhibition with 30 businesses, are available to book now.

To book your ticket at the event or an exhibition stand, please click here.

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

Quarterly Economic Survey will establish direction of travel for region’s businesses

2019 was another year of political and economic uncertainty for businesses across the East Midlands and the UK, characterised largely by the ongoing negotiations to leave the EU – only resolved in the final month of the year – and the snap general election of the same month.

With the UK having now left the EU, and with a Government with a strong majority in place, are businesses preparing for more certainty and less turbulence moving forward, or are challenges and outstanding questions – not least what a UK/EU trade deal might look like – resulting in caution among businesses? Importantly, what are the region’s prospects like for 2020 in terms of job creation and growth?

The East Midlands Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) seeks to answer these questions, asking businesses to respond to a series of questions on different economic indicators, including sales, orders, investments, international activity, cashflow, recruitment plus many more; including a focus in this survey on the low carbon economy.

Responses to this crucial survey, and the feedback received, will be used to help shape regional and national decision making on how to best support the local business community.

The QES is part of the UK’s biggest business survey run through the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) network and polls around 10,000 businesses each quarter to monitor business trends.

Commenting on the survey launch, Chris Hobson, Director of Policy at the Chamber, said: “While for the most part 2019 generated more questions than answers, business across the East Midlands area remained relatively robust. However, in conversation with our members across the region there was definitely a sense of driving with the handbrake on, and for some the uncertainty of last year caused real problems.

“What the results of this survey will detail is how the region’s businesses have responded to the outcome of the General Election, the UK formally leaving the EU and the start of the transition period for us to agree trading arrangements leading up to the end of 2020.

“Whatever happens, there will be both challenges and opportunities – the Quarterly Economic Survey will give a sense of how businesses are responding to these as the year progresses, and a steer on the kind of support they need in order to succeed.”

The survey runs until 9 March. To take part, visit www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HSS8Y8D.

Click here to find out more about the East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire)

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

Eckington School’s aspiring engineers discover career opportunities

With 14,000 students in north Derbyshire set to leave school in the next five years, aspiring engineers from Eckington School recently got to see first-hand the apprentice and employment opportunities open to them in the STEM sector.

Five Year 11 GCSE students from the school recently visited the award-winning Penny Hydraulics. The company design, manufacturers and installs hydraulic lifting equipment and is keen to attract the next generation of workers to its Clowne-based facility.

The visit was organised as part of the Made in Chesterfield initiative which is designed to introduce young people to careers opportunities in the town’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) sector.

Launched in 2015, Made in Chesterfield has already been instrumental in raising awareness of careers in the sector, reaching 3,000 students since the campaign began.

Having apprenticeship vacancies available at a range of levels Daniel Casey, Marketing Manager at Penny Hydraulics explained why building links with schools is important for the company, saying: “Supporting local initiatives like Made in Chesterfield helps Penny Hydraulics to inspire the next generation of workers from the local community.

“By bringing students from local schools to our premises we can give young people a valuable insight into a career in engineering or manufacturing – hopefully enough to inspire them to pursue a career with us and other STEM companies in the area.”

Sally-Anne Warren-Armes, Employer Engagement Manager at Eckington School echoed Daniel, saying: “Our specially selected students were already interested in a career in engineering and the visit to Penny Hydraulics strengthened these interests, giving them new avenues to think about.”

James Peters, one of the students who took part in the visit, commented: “The visit has definitely shown that there are both physical and academic sides to engineering.”

All primary and secondary schools throughout North East Derbyshire are being encouraged to sign up to the Made in Chesterfield campaign and discover the employment opportunities in the sector available to current and future school leavers. Employers in the sector are offering school leavers a variety of opportunities, including apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships and graduate training schemes.

The campaign is co-ordinated by Destination Chesterfield with support from the University of Derby, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd, NatWest, Chesterfield Borough Council and Placing Futures.

To find out more about Made in Chesterfield and discover how your school or business can get involved, please visit https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/made/.

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

Celebrating our apprentices in Chesterfield

Sometimes national celebrations are specifically relevant to a local area, and that is the case with this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, taking place from 3 to 7 February.

One could argue that Chesterfield celebrates apprenticeships 52 weeks a year as we were the first, and I believe still remain the only place, to declare itself an Apprentice Town nearly three years ago.

Apprentices and apprenticeships are fundamental to Chesterfield’s ongoing success.

There is more than £1billion worth of investment, development and redevelopment taking place in and around the town which, it is estimated, will create will bring the opportunity to access up to 10,000 new jobs. I for one want local people and school leavers to benefit from these jobs, but they can only do this if they have the right skills and are aware of the opportunities available.

what is Apprentice Town

Chesterfield was the first town in the UK to declare itself an ‘Apprentice Town’

The Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference on 26 February will, I hope, further this conversation. The conference brings together business and education leaders to discuss how as a town we can develop our young people in order to improve the employability and skills offering for the future.

Let’s not wait for the conference however. If you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend – make sure young people around you are aware of apprenticeships and the value they bring to their personal and professional development and the town’s prosperity.

The theme for this year’s National Apprenticeship Week is ‘Look Beyond’. It celebrates the diversity and value that apprenticeships bring to employers, apprentices and communities across England today. From highlighting the breadth of industries and roles available to the talent and energy apprentices bring into the workplace. Let’s all ‘look beyond’ when we’re giving young people post 16 careers advice.

Baasit Siddiqui, star of Gogglebox and expert on Education and Social Mobility, will be the key note speaker at the event.

More than 14,000 students in North Derbyshire are set to gain their GCSE and A Level qualifications in the next five years. As these young people weigh up their futures and decide how best to forge their career path, I believe it’s vital that apprenticeships are presented as viable options alongside University and A Levels, to pupils in schools.

We all have a role to play in ensuring that Chesterfield is future-proofed. Having a skilled workforce is key to ensure our town continues to thrive for generations to come.

“Apprentices and apprenticeships are fundamental to Chesterfield’s ongoing success”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Blog, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

Spire Radio and S40 & S41 Local magazines announce partnership

Chesterfield Champions Spire Radio and S40 & S41 Local magazines are partnering to offer discounted advertising packages across radio and print.

The new partnership will help businesses get their name and services out to a wider and more diverse local audience. Companies or organisations can benefit from a healthy discount (between 20 and 25%) when advertising packages on radio and in the magazines are arranged together, helping Chesterfield’s businesses reach even more potential clients. Along with the advertising packages, Spire Radio, are also offering all S40 & S41 Local advertisers, new or existing, 10% off any quoted event price.

S40 Local is one of two popular printed publications, that together form the online hub, Chesterfield Local. S40 Local magazine has been helping support local business, encouraging a sense of community and championing local events for over 11 years. Sister publication, S41 Local, was launched in 2018 and follows the same ethos as the original magazine with tailored content for the community based to the North West of Chesterfield, together delivering to 14,500 addresses.

S40 Local delivers to areas including Acorn Ridge, Ashgate, Brampton, Brookside, Holymoorside, Somersall and Walton, S41 Local to Ashgate Heights, Brockwell, Brushfield, Cutthorpe, Dunston (Skylarks & businesses) Highfield, Linacre, Newbold, Piccadilly, Sheffield Road (businesses) and Spital. Plus, both are delivered to a small selection of independent town centre businesses. (Please note: S40 & S41 Local do not cover the entire postcodes for S40 and S41 as distribution has grown organically).

Paul Chapman, Editor and Owner of S40 Local, said: “I’m excited to be pairing our services alongside Spire Radio. Like Spire Radio, I’m keen to support our town and the great independent businesses within it. This partnership will enable businesses to make the readers of S40 and S41 Local, together with the online listeners of Spire Radio aware of the great services they have to offer.”

Simon Paterson, Editor of S41 Local, said: “Having seen the great work that Spire Radio do at many of our local events, championing our town and providing quality entertainment, I am proud to be a part of this forward-thinking partnership. It’s great when two local, independent businesses work together, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this great venture.”

Spire Radio is a lifestyle branded online community radio station, broadcasting 24 hours a day from their Chesterfield Town Centre studio. They have the biggest range of live shows broadcast from Chesterfield (they do not syndicate shows with other stations), with over 80 hours a week of local, live content. They are coming up to their 5th anniversary, which will bring a range of changes to the station, including a significant investment to be announced in Spring 2020.

Jordan Hartshorne, Director of Social Media and PR at Spire Radio (right), thinks working together reflects the community spirit of Chesterfield: “Spire Radio is really excited to be working with S40 and S41 Local magazines on these new packages which will help Chesterfield businesses reach more people in the community”.

Businesses who are interested in the new packages can get in touch via email on sales@spire-radio.com, paul@s40local.co.uk or Simon@s41local.com. The combined radio and print offers are available to new advertisers only.

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

UKATA urges employers to ensure apprentices are asbestos aware

As part of National Apprenticeship Week 2020 (3 – 9 February) the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) is urging employers to deliver asbestos awareness training to all apprentices.

The message comes amid efforts by UKATA, which is one of the UK’s leading authorities on asbestos training, to halt the growing numbers of tradespeople contracting fatal asbestos related diseases.

Research has shown that younger people, if routinely exposed to asbestos fibres over time, are at greater risk of developing deadly asbestos related diseases than older workers.

Providing apprentices with key information about asbestos at an early stage will enable them to challenge poor work practices and protect themselves.

Craig Evans, Chief Operating Officer of UKATA urged: “With the death toll from occupational exposure reaching crisis levels in the UK, UKATA is calling on all employers of apprentices working in trades, to receive asbestos awareness training as soon as possible, whether that’s through a college or with their employer.”

Apprentice electricians, plumbers, carpenters. joiners, heating and ventilation engineers, painters and decorators are just some of the 1.3 million tradespeople that are at risk from exposure to the killer building material. And the facts are startling:

  • Asbestos kills around 20 tradespeople in the UK every week, making it the single biggest cause of work-related deaths (Health & Safety Executive)
  • Electricians are almost 16 times more likely than the general population to develop the killer lung disease mesothelioma in their lifetime. (Occupational, domestic and environmental mesothelioma risks in the British population: a case-control study.)
  • Asbestos exposure kills 4 plumbers every week (Health & Safety Executive)
  • 598 carpenters and joiners died between 1991-2000 as a result of an asbestos disease
  • 1 in 17 British carpenters born in the 1940s will die of mesothelioma (Cancer Research UK and Health & Safety Executive)
  • The UK has the highest death rate from mesothelioma in the world. The risk is highest in people who were exposed to asbestos before age 30. (Institute of Cancer Research)

Despite the well-publicised health risks posed by asbestos, a 2017 survey conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of 500 tradespeople showed that less than a third were aware of the correct ways to deal with and handle asbestos in the workplace.

Craig explained: “It’s never too early to deliver asbestos awareness training to your workforce. The statistics show that the earlier in a person’s career they receive the appropriate training, then the better protected they are against developing asbestos related cancers in later life.

“A simple half day awareness course could prevent them from contracting a deadly disease and also ensure they don’t expose others to the dangers of asbestos.”

To ensure young people have access to asbestos awareness training before entering the workplace, UKATA is supporting the Learning Occupational Health by Experiencing Risks (LOcHER) project.

The LOcHER project idea originated within the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and aims to support colleges to help students develop valuable employment and life skills, so they feel equipped to lead change in their careers and the industries into which they progress.

For employers whose apprentices are yet to receive asbestos awareness training, UKATA advises that they access UKATA approved asbestos awareness training, either with a local provider or online.

“Asbestos awareness training is low cost and readily available. I urge all employers to book their apprentices on these half-day courses and provide them with a safe foundation for a long and safe career within the construction industry,” added Craig.

UKATA approved asbestos awareness courses are available both online and in training centres throughout the UK. Alternatively, the training provider may deliver on site.

To find out more about UKATA, click here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

Former RBS Commercial Director joins Bridge Help

Bridge Help has announced the appointment of respected former RBS Commercial Director Darren Marshall as Head of Risk and Underwriting at the firm.

Darren (right) has been enticed out of early retirement to join the rapidly growing Chesterfield-based bridging finance company which provides short term loans for commercial property.

He joins Bridge Help as a non executive director and brings a wealth of high level experience in the banking sector to the company.

His 38-year career with the RBS Group has given him a proven track record in business development which he now brings to the team at Bridge Help. His appointment will assist in driving forward the firm’s ambitions to lend £100 million per year both direct to individuals and through a broker network.

Prior to his early retirement in 2018, Darren covered South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire in his RBS role, building an extensive knowledge base of the local marketplace. After choosing to leave the finance sector through early retirement he and his partner moved from near Rotherham to the North Yorkshire coast from where he will continue to be based.

Darren explained: “Since choosing to retire I have received a number of job offers but the one with Bridge Help genuinely excited me for a number of reasons, but primarily because of the firm’s agility.  Working with Bridge Help also enables me to work remotely which suits my new lifestyle.”

Central to Bridge Help’s agility is video conferencing technology which is enabling it to deal face-to-face with clients, brokers and solicitors in order to speed up the application process.

Bridge Help’s Chief Executive Chris Sellars (below) welcomed Darren onboard, saying: “In my previous role as a solicitor in North Derbyshire, I had the privilege of working alongside Darren on a number of my clients’ deals and have long respected his professionalism and approach. It is a considerable coup for Bridge Help that we have been able to entice Darren out of retirement to join the team. His appointment represents an exciting stage in Bridge Help’s development in the marketplace.”

His appointment follows the decision of Chris Sellars earlier this year to fully commit himself to the business and leave a successful 30-year legal career to focus on the bridging finance firm.

Darren added: “I have known Chris a long time and the chance to work with him was too good to miss.”

For further information about Bridge Help visit www.bridgehelp.co.uk.

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

Gogglebox personality to headline Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference

Gogglebox personality Baasit Siddiqui is headlining a free event next month which will bring together North Derbyshire’s business community and education sector ahead of the creation of thousands of jobs.

The Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference aims to strengthen links between education providers and local businesses to ensure school leavers are ready to take up an estimated 10,000 job opportunities that are being delivered as a result of more than £1bn of development in the borough of Chesterfield.

Baasit Siddiqui, who appears on the hit Channel 4 show with his brother and father (The Siddiqui Family) is the keynote speaker at the conference, which is being held at Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa, Brimington, from 8:00am – 10:30am on Wednesday 26 February.

A former teacher, who boasts 10 years of teaching experience, the TV personality is an expert on education and social mobility. He is the Managing Director of Siddiqui Education Ltd, a Derby-based company which uses his public profile and the positive reputation of the Siddiquis from Gogglebox to help motivate and inspire school children.

The conference is organised by Chesterfield Borough Council, The D2N2 North Derbyshire Careers Hub, and Destination Chesterfield.

At the conference, which returns for the fourth year, Mr Siddiqui will focus on how an education, which helps develop a range of transferable skills, can be used to support students as they progress through their educational and employability journey.

He will be joined by Rachel Quinn – Head of People and Skills at D2N2 LEP, Michael Timmins – Director of Water, Ports and Power North at AECOM and representatives from The Careers Enterprise Company and Cornerstone Business, as well as student council members at Whittington Green School.

The students at Whittington Green School are just some of more than 14,000 students in North Derbyshire, who are set to gain their GCSE and A Level qualifications in the next five years. 

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, explained why the conference is so important to Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.  

He said: “One of the Council’s priorities is to ensure that local people benefit from the economic growth that we are seeing in Chesterfield and support them into local jobs and good careers. There are a number of significant growth and regeneration projects underway in the borough. Collectively, these projects provide an opportunity to put Chesterfield on a higher growth path and will bring the opportunity for local people to access up to 10,000 new jobs.”

“The conference plays an important role in bringing together both business and education leaders to ensure communication lines are open and young people can benefit from employment and training opportunities now and in the future within the town.”

Daniel Heffernan of The D2N2 North Derbyshire Careers Hub added: “We’re delighted to be involved in the event which will showcase the fantastic collaboration that is already taking place in the area. Importantly it also brings together business and education leaders who are eager to understand how they can better support the regions young people. Ultimately this will help lead to improved employment opportunities, and subsequent economic growth.” 

Places at the conference are limited. To find out more and to book your free place at the event, please click here.

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

Chesterfield company chosen to install £7m solar project at Port of Hull

ABP is to invest almost £7m at the Port of Hull to install the UK’s largest roof-mounted solar project, with the help of leading commercial solar installer and Chesterfield-based company, Custom Solar Ltd.

The solar system designed and installed by Custom Solar, will cover ABP warehouses and the engineering workshops on the Port of Hull. The solar panels will save 2,600 tonnes of CO2 per annum, equating to the energy needs of 1,600 average UK homes.

Simon Bird, Director at ABP Humber, said: “This solar installation is another vital step toward making our energy supply even more sustainable and even greener.”

“It will make more use of the hybridised port equipment we have invested in to carry out port operations.”

“I’m excited to see where this green energy revolution can take us as a port operator, as we look to decarbonise further our own operations and, in turn, those of our customers and the wider supply chain.”

Once completed, the 6.5 MW solar scheme at the Port of Hull will more than double the Humber Ports’ renewable energy generation, increasing it to over 12 MW, which will supply almost 29 per cent of the ports’ energy requirement. The entire installation is set to be online and producing clean power by July 2020.

Gary Sucharewycz, Development Director at Custom Solar, said: “In order for this project to be sanctioned, an incredible amount of work has taken place, working with ABP and the DNO Northern Powergrid.”

“It has been a fantastic achievement by all involved and has ensured this project was able to progress to fruition.”

With this new installation up and running, 17 of ABP’s 21 ports will have renewable energy projects in operation, generating clean power for the company. In 2018, 12.2 per cent of all the electricity ABP used was generated by onsite renewable projects and more projects came online in 2019.

Managing Director at Custom Solar, Matthew Brailsford, said: “We are delighted to be installing another iconic solar project on the Humber for Associated British Ports.”

“It has taken the Custom Solar team over two years to plan the project alongside the ABP engineering team due to the sheer scale and complexity of the project.”

“We are extremely proud to be installing the UK’s largest rooftop solar system and we very much look forward to unveiling the completed system in 2020 once all aspects have been safely installed and commissioned.”

The company previously scooped the impressive title of Commercial Rooftop Solar Installation of the Year at the Solar Power Portal Awards.

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

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