Property and Construction

Chesterfield Museum prepares for multi-million pound renovation

Chesterfield Museum is set to close in preparation for a multi-million-pound renovation project that will create an enhanced and improved customer experience.

It is the next step in the refurbishment of Chesterfield’s historic Stephenson Memorial Hall, which houses the museum and The Pomegranate Theatre.

Proposals for the renovation of the Grade 2 listed building are due to go before Chesterfield Borough Council’s Planning Committee on Monday 28 February and, if approved, the museum will close from Tuesday 1 March to begin the complex process of moving the historic collection into safe storage.

The project is projected to cost around £15 million with £11 million of funding being secured via the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. Chesterfield Borough Council has received almost £20 million through this Government fund, the other £8 million will be used to support and enhance the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield Project.

Together this funding will help ensure that Chesterfield is a vibrant market town by improving connections across the town centre and enhancing the visitor economy.

Under the plans the refurbished Stephenson Memorial Hall will bring together an extended Pomegranate Theatre, a reconfigured and modern museum, alongside new gallery space, a café bar, education and community facilities.

The work will also protect the Grade 2 listed building and ensure that it remains part of the borough’s heritage for many more generations to come.

Creating a more accessible experience is another key aim of the proposals. The plans include a new lift which would help disabled guests access the circle and upper museum floors and to compliment this there would be an increased number of wheelchair spaces within the theatre.

Also included in the plans are improvements to lighting, heating, and ventilation.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, explained: “Stephenson Memorial Hall is one of our most striking buildings and these exciting plans are set to make it even more memorable and enjoyable – creating a modern visitor experience in the heart of our town centre.

“Our wonderful museum is a central part of the building and we’re now preparing for the huge and complex task of moving thousands of treasured items that are in our local collections to a safe, temporary home. Subject to planning approval, the museum will close at the start of March, and building work is set to begin later in the year.”

Items in the collection will be securely stored in a controlled environment to ensure preservation. One of the signature pieces, the medieval builder’s wheel, will be stored with a specialist renovator who will clean it whilst work progresses in the building.

Councillor Sarvent added: “We’re working hard to make sure people will still be able to enjoy our theatre and museum attractions in new and innovative ways while the transformation of the building is carried out.

“Our team at the museum regularly host interactive activities and events to help all members of our community connect with our history and we’re exploring even more ways to do this over the coming years – you’ll be able to find out more about our plans on our website and social media pages soon.”

Revolution House, which tells the story of the Revolution of 1688, will reopen on Friday 15 April. The free museum will then be open every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from 11am to 4pm until Sunday 18 September.

Whilst the Museum collection is moved the Pomegranate Theatre will continue to operate as normal and tickets can be booked by calling the box office on 01246 345 222 or by visiting www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk.

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

Chesterfield businesses encouraged to submit entries for the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2022

Entries are now open for the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for 2022, the annual ranking of England’s outstanding apprenticeship employers produced by the Department for Education.

The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers celebrates England’s outstanding apprenticeship employers and helps future apprentices, parents and careers advisers to identify apprenticeship opportunities at the country’s leading employers.

First launched in 2020, the annual employer rankings have been developed by the Department of Education, in partnership with High Fliers Research, who independently assess and rank the nation’s top apprenticeship employers.

The rankings weren’t produced in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they’re back in 2022 to showcase the apprenticeship employers that have done the most to provide successful apprenticeships over the last 12 months.

And new for 2022, England’s top small and medium-sized employers are being featured for the first time in the Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers.

Employers will be recognised for their commitment to employing apprentices, their creation of new apprenticeships, the diversity of their new apprentices, and the number of apprentices who complete their apprenticeships and progress further with the employer.

Together, the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers will reveal which employers – large and small – are the country’s top apprenticeship employers for 2022.

Apprenticeship employers in every industry and employment sector – from accountancy, fashion and law, to teaching, nursing and engineering – are invited to enter for this year’s rankings.

The entry deadline is Friday 25th March and the new rankings will be announced during a special live broadcast in the summer of 2022.

More details about the rankings, how to prepare your entry, and the minimum entry requirements are available on the official entry website: http://topapprenticeshipemployers.co.uk

The new employer rankings for 2022 will be announced during a special live broadcast in the summer, celebrating the country’s leading employers of apprentices.

Nadhim Zahawi, Secretary of State for Education said: “The business benefits and career opportunities created by apprenticeships makes them a key feature of our commitment to level up skills and opportunity across the country.

“There are thousands of employers of all sizes and sectors that are providing individuals with the chance to learn new skills and have successful careers, while boosting their business’ success in the process.

These rankings will help everyone, from young people to career-changers, to make informed decisions about their future and unleash their full potential. I encourage all eligible employers to enter.”

Find out more about apprenticeships in Chesterfield: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/

 

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

Dunkin’ Donuts and Taco Bell set to arrive in Chesterfield

Two new food outlets are set to create more jobs in Chesterfield, as plans have been revealed for Dunkin’ Donuts and Taco Bell to move into a vacant unit on a leisure park in the town.

The two eateries will occupy the unit on the Alma Leisure Park, just off the A61 Derby Road near Horns Bridge Roundabout. The unit was previously occupied by Chiquitos, before the national chain went into administration.

The unit will be sub-divided to provide two new restaurants (with takeaway facilities) to be occupied by Dunkin’ and Taco Bell. The proposed use will be a hybrid use as a result of the mixed restaurant/takeaway elements.

Alma Leisure Park already occupies a number of businesses including:

  • Cineworld
  • Nando’s
  • Nuffield Health
  • McDonald’s Drive Thru
  • Frankie & Benny’s

According to a statement by Canada Life Ltd, the company behind the planning application, the re-development of the vacant unit will lead to the creation of 45 new jobs.

The statement said: “The Dunkin’ restaurant (Unit 6A) will generate 15 employee positions (6 full-time and 9 part-time) and the Taco Bell restaurant (Unit 6B) will generate 30 employee positions (12 full-time and 18 part-time).”

Granting the application, Chesterfield Borough Council said in the decision notice: “The Local Planning Authority have during and prior to the consideration of this application engaged in a positive and proactive dialogue with the applicant with regard to the proposed scheme in order to achieve a positive outcome for the application.”

No objections were raised by consultees or members of the public to the planning application.

Centrally located in the UK Chesterfield is superbly connected, has an abundance of new business premises and room to grow. Find out more about investment opportunities in the town here.

Chesterfield has a quiet food revolution happening – with award winning restaurants that are attracting national media recognition, and independent coffee shops and pubs with a belief in local produce. Find out more about eating out in the town.

 

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

Mortgage 1st announces new partnership with British Home Sellers

Chesterfield-based Mortgage Advice firm Mortgage 1st and Nationwide Estate Agent British Home Sellers are now proudly working together to enhance the home buying journey for their customers.

House hunters across the country entrust British Home Sellers to find them their new home, with the company possessing a large team of experts and a portfolio of hundreds of properties for sale across the UK.

For customers to be able to put in an offer to buy a property, they need an AIP (Agreement in Principle) which is proof that they can get a mortgage. Mortgage 1st has a nationwide team of experienced Mortgage Advisers who can search the market to find the best mortgage deal available to them based on their circumstances.

Their combined operations means that once customers find a property through British Home Sellers, they speak to an Adviser at Mortgage 1st who can provide them with an AIP in a matter of minutes. This means they can offer on the property there and then. Continuing to work closely together until completion reassures their mutual customers that they are in the safest of hands.

The two businesses will be working together in order to provide customers with expertise and guidance to meet the needs of the modern house hunter of today.

Jon Stones, Managing Director, Mortgage 1st commented: “We are delighted to be working alongside the team at British Home Sellers as they completely share in our vision for providing customer excellence and are a dynamic forward thinking business like ourselves.”

“Both Mortgage 1st & British Home Sellers share the same values in that their customers & team members are everything. By creating friendly, supportive and exciting places to work they attract passionate individuals who thrive on delivering great customer service.”

Alex Clendon, Managing Director of British Home Sellers said: “The speed of communication and expertise from Mortgage 1st has been fantastic and improves the service we can provide to both buyers and sellers.

“Their usage of smart technology, combined with experience and a lovely team yields amazing results for our customers.”

Mortgage 1st supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

UKATA Urges Construction Industry Employers to Ensure Apprentices are Asbestos Aware

This National Apprenticeship Week, a leading UK authority on asbestos training is urging employers to ensure asbestos awareness training is provided to all apprentices, to reduce the number 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 the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA), urged: “With the death toll from asbestos exposure over 5000 per year, UKATA is calling on all employers of apprentices working in trades, to ensure asbestos awareness training is conducted as soon as possible.”

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 (www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/tradesperson.htm)
• 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)
• 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 provide 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 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.”

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 a UKATA approved asbestos training provider near you, visit www.ukata.org.uk or for free advice call our team on 01246 824437.

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

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

Conference hears how delivery of post-16 green and digital skills a priority to support area’s economic growth

Green and digital skills have been identified as a priority to support economic growth in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Speaking at the sixth annual Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Skills and Employability Conference (9 February 2022), Fiona Baker Head of People and Skills at D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership said: “We lag behind the rest of the UK in terms of productivity, and this is because our workforce doesn’t have the right skills.

“There has been an exponential increase in employer demand for digital skills recently.  Businesses and education and training providers must work together to ensure that young people are equipped with the right skills to meet the local growth agenda.”

With more than 16,000 students in North Derbyshire set to gain their GCSE and A level qualifications in the next five years and thousands of jobs expected to be created following investment in Staveley, the free conference brought together business leaders and the education community to address the future employability and skills of young people.

The conference followed the Department for Education’s announcement last year that it plans to reform post-16 technical education and training to support people to develop the skills needed to get good jobs and improve national productivity.

Organised by Chesterfield Borough Council and Destination Chesterfield, with support from D2N2 Careers Hub – Derbyshire North, the conference also heard from businesses and education and training providers in the local area.

Nick Catt, Managing Director of Weightron Bilanciai who spoke at the conference urged local providers to work together, saying: “Schools, colleges and businesses need to engage with each other to identify the skills needed in the economy. Having a generic approach to skills doesn’t work as every local economy is different.”

Julie Richards, Principal and CEO of the Chesterfield College Group, welcomed the proposed changes to post-16 education saying: “”The need has never been greater to work in partnership to provide our young people with post 16 options which ensure everyone in our society has opportunities to develop at all levels. We must meet their needs, and the needs of our economy now and in the future.”

Cllr Amanda Serjeant, Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and vice chair of Destination Chesterfield added: “The conference has highlighted that one in 4 young people fall out of their post-16 education choice at age 17. We must ensure that young people get the right information at 16 and that they make an informed decision to take up the correct training provision for their own future. In turn this will help ensure they get the right training to work in highly skilled jobs which will contribute to a thriving local economy and provide a high quality of life for local people.

“It is crucial that we look to the future and the skills we will need to transition to a low carbon economy in Chesterfield. Ensuring that we have the right mix of skills to support a sustainable future is key to mitigating the effects of the climate crisis. It was great to hear from employers and training providers about how they will be helping to support this transition and providing the skills needed to support a low carbon, high value local economy.”

Around 100 people attended the conference at Speedwell Rooms in Staveley. The annual conference aims to strengthen links between education providers and local businesses to ensure that school leavers are work ready and have the skills required by businesses in the area. As well as representatives from the business community and skills and education providers, students from Springwell Community College, which is based in Staveley, also joined the conference.

Emily Carter, Operational Careers Hub Lead at D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership said “For young people, meeting employers and experiencing different workplaces is a key element in helping them find their best next step.  We are delighted that local cornerstone employers, strategic partners of the D2N2 Careers Hub and Careers & Enterprise Company joined the conference to share best practice, and a huge thanks to the young people from Springwell Community College who facilitated table discussions.

With a regeneration programme currently underway in Staveley and thousands of jobs expected to be created over the next few years, Ivan Fomin, Chair of Staveley Town Deal commented: “It’s important that businesses, the council and education and training providers work together to make sure these opportunities are fully realised for local people. The Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference is the first step in making this happen.”

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

Redbrik promotes Jessica Risorto to Director role

Redbrik has promoted Jessica Risorto to Director as the firm looks to develop a greater diversity of skills amongst the senior management team.

Since joining the company in 2015, Jessica has continually delivered and grown in every position within the sales department. Most recently, she held the position of Area Manager in Chesterfield, which she will continue to lead on.

Jessica will join Managing Director Mark Ross and Directors David Cooper and Peter Lee as a member of Redbrik’s board of directors.

Mark said: “Jessica has been with us for six years, and in that time, has gained a wealth of knowledge which we believe she will apply to her new role. David, Peter and I are thrilled that she will be supporting us with the delivery of strategic plans in 2022 and beyond.”

Jessica added: “I would like to say thank you to Mark, David and Peter for giving me this fantastic opportunity to help shape the future of the business. Coming from a hospitality background, prior to joining Redbrik, I understand the importance of exceptional customer service. I’m excited to bring this and many new ideas across the entire organisation.”

The company has also announced that Laura Molloy has been promoted to Area Manager for the Crystal Peaks branch, after previously working as Sales Manager and then most recently Assistant Manager in Chesterfield.

A newly created position of Head of Residential Sales will now be held by David Cooper. As well as his roles as Director and South West Sheffield Area Manager, David will oversee the residential property sales operations of the business. This will involve facilitating an enhanced property sales service for home movers.

With branches in Chesterfield, South West Sheffield, Crystal Peaks and North West Sheffield, Redbrik is looking to further expand its team during 2022 with several new hires and promotions.

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

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Home, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , ,

World leading company moves to Markham Vale

After spending several decades in their old site at Staveley, BeaconMedaes Limited, the world’s leading medical gas pipeline (MPGS) turnkey provider has recently relocated to a 42,000 sq. ft. facility in Markham Vale.

Having outgrown their old premises in Staveley, the move indicates the growth the business has experienced over recent years.

The new facility on Greaves Close has two clear objectives for the company. First, it is an opportunity to improve logistics support by consolidating the company’s off-site storage and expanding their export stock holding, centralising export picking, and bringing their export packing in-house. Furthermore, the facility will house the company’s UK Customer Centre which acts as a global Competence Centre for HTM medical installation in the UK and across the Globe. Alongside three floors of office space, the building hosts a demonstration area and a state of the art training facility.

With the company’s move there is a real focus on sustainability and environmental improvement. The consolidation of logistics will bring a solid reduction in their road transport footprint and the use of solar panels, alongside a complete switch to LED lighting which will help them to deliver on their sustainability commitments.

General Manager, Sean Fairest commented: “The relocation of our business is an exciting time for everyone. We are very proud of our new home in Markham Vale and are delighted to add our globally recognised brand to the growing list of successful companies on this prestigious site.

“Looking to the future, this long-term commitment to expansion sends a clear message to the market that BeaconMedaes is determined to build on its history by further strengthening our position in the market for decades to come. I see no reason to doubt that we will be in Markham Vale for as long as we were in Staveley and with this, we will add to the growing reputation of Markham Vale as a Blue-Chip site.”

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

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

DBCP provides advice to local homeowners and tenants following increase in energy prices

With energy prices on the rise, people are turning off their heating to save money. However, it could end up costing them more long term.

Derbyshire’s building control services provider, DBCP, is urging people to try and keep their heating on and not block ventilation in their homes, as they risk causing damp and mould problems which are damaging not only to the fabric of a building but also pose a health hazard.

Building Regulations require all new buildings and alterations to existing buildings to include damp proof courses where walls and floors are in contact with the earth. However, damp proof courses do not protect the building from internal moisture build up caused by condensation which can damage plaster and paint, as well as lead to window frame decay.

A family of four generates around 280 full buckets of moisture on average per year through everyday activities such as cooking, showering, drying clothes and even breathing. In new build homes, the problem is worse as up to 8,000 litres of water (about 800 full buckets) may be included in mixtures and materials and will take up to two years to evaporate.

If excess moisture cannot escape, then it can also become a health hazard. Moulds produce allergens (substances that can cause an allergic reaction), irritants and, sometimes, toxic substances.

According to the NHS website, inhaling or touching mould spores can cause an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes, a skin rash and even asthma attacks. Babies, elderly people and those with respiratory and skin problems or weakened immune system are among those affected the most.

David Pratt, Building Control Manager at DBCP explained: “To conserve heat as we try to manage our energy bills, people can be tempted to block all draughts, like covering an air vent, in an attempt to make their homes warm. However, it’s important to ensure that air is able to circulate in order to maintain a good moisture balance. If there isn’t a good moisture balance in then it will cause damp and mould problems in your home.”

To ensure you have a moisture-balanced home, David recommends five simple steps:

  1. Open a window – when moisture generation is higher than usual, (e.g. when showering or cooking) increase ventilation by simply opening a window or turning on an extractor fan.
  2. Keep gutters clean – ensure there are no rainwater or plumbing leaks which could cause damp.
  3. Dry laundry outside – drying laundry inside typically increases interior humidity by 30% on laundry day and 15% overall. Even in freezing temperatures, your clothes will dry eventually.
  4. Take cooler showers – lowering the temperature of your shower by just a few degrees, won’t add as much steam to the air, which helps with humidity levels.
  5. Heat your home – although energy prices are continuing to rise, avoiding damp and mould issues will save you more money long term.

David added “Dampness and mould in properties has always been an issue and it’s partly due to the cold climate we have here in the UK. Fortunately, there are many low cost and free solutions we can put in place to tackle the problem and ensure we all maintain a healthy, moisture-balanced home. However, if you are worried about moisture build-up, damp, mould or any other issue with your property, seek advice from a property maintenance of construction professional.”

DBCP is the leading provider of building control services in Derbyshire and Staffordshire Moorlands. It was formed following a collaboration of  eight established Local Authority Building Control Services from: Derby City Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, North East Derbyshire District Council, Bolsover District Council, Amber Valley Borough Council, High Peak Borough Council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

This collaboration has created the most effective and efficient service to deliver building control requirements throughout Derbyshire and Staffordshire Moorlands.

If you’re worried about potential structural damage caused to your home by damp, get in touch with DBCP’s team for advice, by calling 0333 880 2000 or via the website – dbcp.co.uk.

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

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Home, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , ,

Starbucks to open new branch in Chesterfield

Major international coffee chain Starbucks is set to open a new branch in Chesterfield.

Plans to open a new drive-through outlet have been approved by Chesterfield Borough Council, in a move which is set to create 25 jobs. Currently the chain has two outlets in the area, situated on the A617 bypass at Heath and near J29a of the M1 on the Markham Vale site.

The site on Meltham Lane, which is owned by Arnold Clark automobiles has sat vacant for a number of years, since Tesco relocated it’s main Chesterfield store to Lockoford Lane more than a decade ago. The new Starbucks outlet will be situated next to the A61, on the site of the former petrol station.

The new development will cover an area of 2,100 square-feet and will also provide parking for 20 vehicles, as well as two disabled bays. Cycle storage for five bicycles is also proposed. One electronic vehicle charging point will be installed, with the capacity to add more in the future.

A statement from the applicant which sits alongside the planning documents said: “The proposals will provide new retail and leisure facilities in the local area and contribute to sustainable economic growth.”

Councillor Dean Collins, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “The development of these new business premises is welcome news, it regenerates a disused site, will create more jobs for local people and provides another facility for local residents to enjoy. I wish them every success in bringing this development forward.”

Through a range of significant regeneration and redevelopment underway across the town, Chesterfield is building on its industrial roots and market town heritage to become a contemporary destination with a prosperous future. Find out more about some of the major developments taking place across our town here. 

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

Chesterfield MP congratulates local construction apprentices

The Chesterfield MP and Shadow Minister, Toby Perkins, has praised the work of local construction apprentices during a visit to William Davis Homes’ Skylarks development.

Mr Perkins, Shadow Minister for Skills and Further Education, presented certificates to bricklayer Kieran Moulds and joiners Joshua Ford and Dominic Heardman.

The trio completed their apprenticeships with the house builder at the development in Dunston. All three live in Chesterfield, attended Chesterfield College and will continue to work at Skylarks in their chosen trades.

Mr Perkins was joined by Amanda Serjeant, Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and representatives from Chesterfield College. Both organisations worked with William Davis Homes to create these local apprenticeships opportunities.

Gary Long is the Apprenticeship Manager at William Davis Homes. He said: “It’s rewarding to see these three completing their apprenticeships after what has been a difficult couple of years for them. They have seen their training disrupted because of the pandemic and I’m proud of the resilience and commitment they have shown despite this challenge.

“We were also pleased to work with Chesterfield College and the Borough Council to offer our apprenticeships to young people in the Chesterfield area looking to build a career in construction. Over the years, a large part of our workforce has been built on apprenticeships and we aim to continue to create these opportunities.”

The MP for Chesterfield, Toby Perkins, said: “I am delighted to present these apprentices with their certificates and congratulate them on their hard work and achievement. I also want to thank William Davis Homes, Chesterfield Borough Council and Chesterfield College for working together to create these positions and help these apprentices with their skills development and career progression. This cooperation by local authorities, providers and businesses is great to see.

“Recent research proves that our nation’s economic growth is being held back because too few young people are being attracted into the Construction industry. It is estimated that we need to train as many as 40,000 more apprentices every year to keep pace with demand and retirements from the industry. We need many more apprenticeship opportunities so I am delighted to herald the work of these young people today.

“Skills and retraining should be a vital part of our economic recovery and high-quality apprenticeships are central to this. These apprentices now have a foothold in the construction industry, which they can use to build a career in many different directions.”

Councillor Amanda Serjeant added: “Developing the skills young people have is vital to ensuring they have the ability to access career opportunities created by investment in Chesterfield. Our local labour clauses help ensure that investment creates these local employment opportunities and prioritises local suppliers.

“The progress of the apprentices on this site is just one of many successful examples of this policy in action. We can help create the opportunities with investors and developers but it is the hard work of these apprentices that has ensured they achieve their qualifications and developed the skills they need to be successful. I want to congratulate them all on this fantastic achievement.”

This week marks National Apprenticeships Week in the UK, running between 7th-13th February. The week is being marked in Chesterfield with the town’s Employability and Skills Conference on Wednesday, 9th February at The Speedwell Rooms in Staveley.

The conference will focus on the future skills and green growth agenda and examine the current recruitment challenges that employers face. A selection of local skills providers based in Chesterfield & North Derbyshire will also be showcased in an exhibition at the event.

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

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