Property and Construction

£18 million funding for our region as part of devolution plans

Millions of pounds in funding, made possible because of plans for devolution in the East Midlands, has been agreed and will be spent on improving housing, transport and the skills of local people.

In total, £18 million of funding is being offered to Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham as part of early investment to the area during devolution negotiations and is not dependent on devolution proposals going ahead.

The latest funding amount of £9.9 million has now been approved and will help councils to carry out retrofit work on homes to make them more energy efficient.

Councils across the two counties have been working with the government on devolution plans including a package of local powers and funding worth £1.14 billion, from 2024.

Other programmes which have already been approved, and are underway or completed, include:

  • £1.2 million for new gigabit broadband for Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham. It will mean that an extra 118 rural public sector schools and libraries will be connected to gigabit broadband. The scheme is expected to go live by March 2024.
  • £750,000 for a new cycling and walking route in Derbyshire – a 1¼ mile link connecting Markham Vale to the existing cycle route in Staveley.
  • £1.5 million for a new growth through green skills. The investment will enable the creation of a new £5.4 million flagship skills centre and low carbon demonstrator in the region, as well as 2 electric minibuses for getting students to and from the site, to support the growth of a future low carbon economy as we work towards net zero.

Funding hasn’t been the only benefit drawn in through devolution; with the East Midlands securing one of just 12 new Investment Zones being created across the UK.

The low tax Investment Zones are being introduced to boost growth in areas outside London and will be clustered around universities and research centres. Each zone is to get £80 million of support over 5 years, with tax incentives to attract businesses.

Devolution would mean a new guaranteed funding stream for our region of £38 million a year over a 30-year period. Covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham, the devolved area is home to around 2.2 million people, making it one of the biggest in the country.

The devolution deal includes an extra £16 million for new homes on brownfield land and control over a range of budgets like the adult education budget, which could be better tailored to the needs of people in local communities.

A regional mayor would lead a new combined authority, which would include representatives from existing local councils, with decision-making powers and resources moving from London to the East Midlands. Local businesses would also have a voice, as well as other organisations.

Devolution would not mean scrapping or merging local councils, which would all continue to exist as they do now and would still be responsible for most public services in the area. The mayor and combined authority would instead focus on wider issues like transport, regeneration, and employment across both cities and counties.

Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “We’ve been pursuing a devolution deal to bring more investment to the region and this early funding pot to improve housing, transport and skills is most welcome.

“If a devolution deal for the East Midlands goes ahead, it will bring a package of local powers and much-needed funding worth £1.14 billion that will help to improve the lives of people in Derbyshire and throughout the region.

“Devolution would bring massive benefits and opportunity to the East Midlands for things like improving transport infrastructure, building more homes and creating more jobs and better training opportunities.”

Now the 4 councils have formally backed the plans, and agreed on a final version of the proposal, it means that new local powers and funding to improve the environment, skills training, transport, housing, and the economy could be in place as soon as next year.

For that to happen, new legislation is needed, so that a new form of Combined Authority can be created. With new legislation in place, proposals for devolution could be sent to the government for approval and Royal Assent, meaning that devolution in the East Midlands could be a reality from spring 2024, with the first ever election for a regional mayor, covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham, taking place in May 2024.

To find out more about why Chesterfield is an ideal location to invest, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

View of the Crooked Spire from above

Image courtesy of Derbyshire Economic Partnership

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Planning application submitted for major improvements to Clay Cross town centre

A planning application for major regeneration in Clay Cross town centre has now been submitted.

North East Derbyshire District Council and the Clay Cross Town Board have made progress over recent months, culminating in the planning application for the Town Centre Regeneration project.

The planning application has been submitted as part of the next steps in delivering the £24.1m Clay Cross Town Deal and is a momentous occasion as the reality of the project draws nearer for residents and businesses.

A public consultation was undertaken to gauge opinions of the proposed plans following on from ongoing face-to-face engagement with local businesses over the last few months. Feedback from this has been positive and has been taken into consideration as part of the ongoing project to help shape the future of Clay Cross.

The planning application is made up of four key elements in the proposals, which are:

  • The creation of a new Town Square which will become a public space to be used for markets, seasonal events and as a public forum.
  • Food and Beverage and Leisure Units – the route from Broadleys to the public square to be lined with artisan food companies, leisure operators and cafes and restaurants.
  • The Clocktower (Derbyshire Adult Education Centre) – to make the best use of the existing building, enhancing existing uses and bringing the library into the heart of the town.
  • The “Block A” (working title) proposal – Repurposing an existing historic building with the aim of providing a quality food and drink offering and leisure opportunities, directly overlooking the public square.

North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Clay Cross Town Deal, Cllr Jayne Barry said, “This is a momentous point in the delivery of the £24.1m Clay Cross Town Deal and a pivotal moment (in submitting the planning application) as our residents and businesses, who have shared their views and helped shape the proposals for the regeneration of the town, can now see we are moving onto the next stages of the project as it becomes closer to reality.

“It’s an exciting time for the town with some amazing plans and developments underway already, including the building of the new Clay Cross Active leisure centre, and I am delighted at the progress made to deliver this exciting project by collaborating with our residents and businesses.”

Find out more about the wide range of investment opportunities across Chesterfield at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

Clay Cross

Birds’ eye view of Clay Cross Town Centre

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New skills action plan to boost career opportunities across Chesterfield

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Careers Made In Chesterfield - Parkside Community School pilot

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Growth and milestones announced for several Chesterfield firms

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

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


Demand creates substantial growth for BRM Real Estate Division

BRM Property Team

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Carrie Booth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Green Arch Consulting celebrates 5 years of business

Emma Knight-Strong Green Arch Consulting

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

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

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

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


Principle Finance expands into new Sheffield based office

Principle Finance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


BRM Solicitors, BSP Consulting, Green Arch Consulting and SMH Group support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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70 new houses to be built in North Wingfield

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

housing residential

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80% of rooms let as Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre celebrates one year anniversary

After being open for just one year, 80% of offices are now let in Chesterfield’s flagship enterprise centre – providing a state-of-the-art base for new and growing businesses.

The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre was officially opened in July 2022 and to mark one year since opening an informal networking session was held on Thursday 13 July to celebrate with tenants.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and cabinet member for economic growth, said: “We faced many challenges when developing this building but it was a cornerstone of our Covid recovery plan and to see the building almost fully let just one year after opening shows that our local economy is strong and that Chesterfield is a great place to do business. The building is home to a really diverse range of businesses with lots of them being new startups that we hope will grow and thrive in our town.

“It was fantastic to speak with our tenants and learn more about what they do and the opportunities they are creating for local people.”

The Enterprise Centre includes 32 office suites in a range of sizes, all of which are fitted with the latest hi-tech features that are now standard requirements for modern businesses. It has meeting facilities allowing businesses to host hybrid meetings and secure cycle parking and shower facilities to allow tenants to bike to work – supporting low carbon transport options. There are also features like the break out room where businesses can network and find out how they can work together.

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

But the centre provides much more than just office space, as tenants can access bespoke business support services to help them grow and develop, supporting the creation of more jobs and boosting the local economy.

The building also boasts some first-class sustainability features which help keep energy use down and ensure the building is fit for the future – supporting to the council’s target of becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2030.

The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre was part funded through a grant from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Investment Fund, with additional funding provided by Chesterfield Borough Council.

To find out more about your business being based in the Enterprise Centre contact the Enterprise Chesterfield team by calling 01246 903 900 or emailing enterprise@chesterfield.gov.uk

No matter what stage you are along your business journey, Chesterfield has a fantastic range of modern, flexible and sustainable office spaces to suit your organisation. Find out more at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/office/

Group at North Gateway Celebration

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Chesterfield cold storage provider progresses with major expansion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

magnavale extension - artists impression

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Joint agents appointed for Chesterfield’s pivotal Elder Way scheme

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Find out more about the Chesterfield Elder Way development here. 

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

Chesterfield Elder Way

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect commented:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Train passing behind the Growth sculpture at Hornsbridge Roundabout

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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

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Chesterfield property and construction firms announce new recruits, promotions and expansions

Chesterfield businesses are continuing to grow, either with new team members, internal promotions, and even international expansions.

Our latest roundup features three property and construction firms, BSP Consulting, Derbyshire Building Control Partnership, and Redbrik Estate Agents.

Property and Construction firms in the town continue to collaborate in driving forward investment, sustainability and skills within Chesterfield. Find out more about the work of the Property and Construction Group here.


BSP Consulting announces promotions for key team members

Pedro and Oliver promotion 3

East Midlands-based civil and structural engineering company BSP Consulting has promoted two members of its team.

Pedro Navarro has been made an Associate, while Oliver McElroy have been promoted to Principal Engineer.

BSP Director Tony Goddard said: “These promotions are in recognition of their tireless technical work within the civils team and their proven ability encouraging and developing younger staff, managing project finances and going the extra mile to nurture positive client relationships.

“On behalf of everyone at BSP Consulting, I’d like to congratulate Pedro and Oliver and wish them well in their new roles.”

Pedro has been with BSP since June 2017, while Oliver joined in November 2020.

One of the largest independent civil and structural engineering companies in the East Midlands, BSP is an award-winning firm that operates across the UK, offering civil engineering, structural engineering, transport engineering, geotechnical and environmental engineering. BSP works across all sectors including housing, student accommodation, commercial, industrial, health, education, senior living, retail and heritage.


Wealth of industry experience joins DBCP

Leonie King and Catherine Potiphar

The delivery of building control services across Derbyshire and Staffordshire Moorlands has been further boosted with two new appointments at DBCP.

Experienced building control surveyor Leonie King has joined DBCP’s team of field-based building control experts, while former site manager Catherine Potiphar has been appointed as a trainee building control surveyor.

DBCP operates across Derbyshire and Staffordshire Moorlands, working directly with eight local authorities to provide the best, most up-to-date building control service.

Leonie King praised the supportive team at DBCP saying: “Thanks to the experience and knowledge within the team I am learning something new every day. I am passionate about continued professional development particularly in the field of building control. Rules, regulations and techniques are changing all the time and it’s essential we keep abreast of these in order to deliver the best service. Quality and standards are at the heart of everything DBCP which absolutely aligns with my own approach to building control.”

Prior to joining DBCP Catherine was a site manager for 12 years. Her career change is giving Catherine the opportunity to build her skills, knowledge and qualifications through a Building Control Surveyor degree with the University of Wolverhampton which is being funded by DBCP.

She explained: “There are a huge number of transferable skills between my previous career and my new one in building control. It’s great to now be able to combine on site and off site working yet still remain in the industry I love. I am really enjoying the training and development I am undertaking – learning new skills, keeps the brain active!”

Delighted to welcome Leonie and Catherine to the team, David Pratt, DBCP Building Control Manager, commented: “It’s hugely important to us that our team of building control surveyors are not only qualified but also experienced; this enables us to provide the best service to across Derbyshire and Staffordshire Moorlands and why demand for our services is increasing. We want to expand the team further but with the right people. The opportunity to develop a career both in building control and DBCP right now are very exciting.”


International estate agency services launched by Redbrik

Redbrik Estate Agents has announced the expansion of its sales service under a new brand –  Redbrik International.

The firm launched its international department with two fantastic developments, Ombria  Resort and Wyndham Grand, located in Portugal’s Algarve region.

Managing director, Mark Ross, said: “During the past ten years, Redbrik has grown from a single sales office to a multi-branch agency covering sales, lettings, land and new homes, and now international sales!

“We pride ourselves on the award-winning service our team provides, and I know they can’t wait to begin working with investors and homeowners from across the country on this pair of superb developments.

“The launch of Redbrik International, managed by our New Homes Team, is an exciting step for the business, and we look forward to bringing exclusive new investment opportunities to our clients.”


BSP Consulting, DBCP and Redbrik support 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, Home, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , ,

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