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Matlock Farm Park’s George Finlay wins national Tourism Superstar award

Matlock Farm Park’s George Finlay is celebrating after being announced as VisitEngland’s 2022 Tourism Superstar.

22-year-old farm supervisor George saw off tough competition from nine other finalists across England to be crowned the winner, receiving 29% of the public vote and becoming the competition’s youngest winner to date.

The Tourism Superstar award was launched by national tourism agency VisitEngland and The Mirror 10 years ago to recognise the dedication and passion of those working in the tourism industry.

George was nominated for his enthusiasm, passion, knowledge and dedication – attributes that win him regular praise in visitor reviews. His responsibilities include looking after the health and welfare of animals, interacting with visitors and running informative animal-based activities such as wallaby encounters and meerkat talks.

George is particularly passionate about the mental health benefits of animals and when Matlock Farm Park was closed during Covid restrictions, he was the driving force behind the creation of weekly Facebook Live broadcasts to entertain visitors with uplifting content.

In addition, George actively seeks to encourage younger visitors to have a love for animals and with his beaming smile and friendly approach, he goes out of his way to ensure people of all ages and abilities have a memorable day.

The announcement comes after George won Silver in the Tourism Young Achiever category at the Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards earlier this month.

Reacting to news of his win, George said: “I am over the moon to have won the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar award. I feel so lucky to work in a job where I can share my passion for animals with visitors of all ages and winning this national award, which is voted for by members of the public, is a huge honour.

“The Peak District and Derbyshire is an incredible destination, with so much to offer visitors, and I’m delighted that I get to play a small role in helping people to have memorable experiences. Thank you to everyone who voted!”

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “At just 22 years old, George is a fantastic ambassador for our vibrant tourism sector and we’re delighted to see him win this prestigious national award.

“George embodies all that is great about working in the Peak District and Derbyshire’s tourism industry – he is friendly, helpful and engages with people of all ages with a view to making their trip special. A huge well done to George and thank you to everyone who voted.”

Andrew Stokes, Director of VisitEngland, said: “Tourism Superstar recognises the people who go the extra mile to create standout visitor experiences, and each finalist has gone above and beyond for tourists. George has clinched the title thanks to his tireless work in ensuring visitors to Matlock Farm Park gave the best time whilst making sure the animals have all they need.

“During Covid, he also extended the healing reach of the animals into people’s homes with his live streams, from lambing to feeding, supporting people to feel connected. Many thanks to all our finalists and to everyone who took the time to take part in the voting.”

Matlock Farm Park and Marketing Peak District and Derbyshire 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, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , ,

BRM Solicitors continues to support Ashgate Hospice with ‘Make a Will Month’ initiative

With national will-making month around the corner, local palliative care hospice Ashgate are offering the chance to support their vital work – and make a will.

People in North Derbyshire are being encouraged to a make a will next month as part of Ashgate Hospice’s Make a Will Month campaign.

The hospice has partnered with BRM Solicitors who are waiving their usual fees during April and instead they are asking clients to consider a voluntary donation to help fund Ashgate’s care.

People are being encouraged to book an appointment for April now; with each booking there is a suggested donation of £75 for a single will, and £150 for a mirror will for a couple.

Last year, BRM Solicitors helped to raise a staggering £17,888.80 towards vital end of life and palliative care for patients and their families across North Derbyshire.

Jack Wood, Head of Fundraising at Ashgate Hospice, said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to BRM Solicitors for once again supporting Make a Will Month and offering such a vital service to our community.

“Making a will is an important part of making sure that our affairs are in order and ensuring our loved ones are cared for when we’re no longer here.

“Most importantly it enables us to put plans in place so that we can get on with living and make the most of the time we have.

“This April, our Make a Will Month with BRM Solicitors gives you a chance to do this for free while helping us support families at a difficult time in their lives.”

Ashgate Hospice is an independent charity that provides free care and support to patients with a life-limiting illness, and their families across North Derbyshire, both at the hospice and in the community.

Rob Woodhead, Head of Wills and Probate at BRM Solicitors said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Ashgate Hospice again this year to raise funds for a charity that plays such a key role in the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire community. We hope to build on last year’s success and raise even more money for the hospice in 2022.”

Furthermore, the community can support Ashgate by leaving the charity a gift in their will. Every gift, no matter how large or small, will make a huge difference to the care the hospice will be able to provide in the future. In fact, one in five patients are currently cared for thanks to money left to the charity in wills.

Each year, demand for their services increases as the number of people living with a life-limiting illness continues to grow. This year, Ashgate must raise £7 million over and above NHS funding to provide their care.

Jack added: “While there is no obligation to leave a gift in your will, or make a donation to Ashgate, we hope people will consider leaving a legacy gift once their loved ones have been taken care of. Even 1% of someone’s estate can go a long way.

“By choosing to leave money to Ashgate, you are helping us safeguard our future and ensure we can continue to support families in years to come when they need us the most.”

Supporters can make their will at BRM’s conveniently located Chesterfield office, with disabled access and free parking. In addition, free home, hospital and hospice visits are being offered to those physically unable to attend the office.

Anyone making a will must book their appointment between 1st April and 30th April to take advantage of this offer.

To find out more about Make a Will Month, and to make an appointment, go to: brm.law/ashgate or call 01246 555 111

BRM Solicitors and Ashgate Hospice 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, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

Research finds half of East Midlands businesses have an equality, diversity and inclusion strategy

Better workplaces, improved decision-making and increased innovation are among the benefits cited by East Midlands businesses that have an equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy, according to a new report.

Research by East Midlands Chamber, in partnership with housing association emh group, found that almost half (48%) of businesses in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire have a dedicated policy in place.

More than two-thirds (68%) consider EDI can contribute, at least to some degree, in the success of their business plans over the coming 12 months – while it was attributed as an important part of leadership strategy by 55% of firms.

When asked to give a score between one and 10 to how important consideration of EDI would be to the success of their organisation, the average score was 5.6 – suggesting that while it may not be integral to firms overall, it’s also not an insignificant consideration within business activity in the East Midlands.

The research will be presented at the Chamber’s Celebration of Culture and Communities event, which will be held tonight (24 March) at Leicester Tigers’ Mattioli Woods Welford Road stadium – showcasing the region’s diverse mix of cultural backgrounds via music, dance and food.

East Midlands Chamber director of resources at Lucy Robinson, who is the business representation organisation’s diversity and inclusion champion, said: “It’s clear from these findings that equality, diversion and inclusion is increasingly becoming less of a ‘nice-to-have’ for organisations and more business-critical.

“The majority of East Midlands businesses recognise an important role for EDI within their planning and activity, and there’s clearly a need for further support in helping those that identify its value but are yet to have policies in place.

“A core of roughly one in 10 feel it doesn’t play any role in their success. When examining this figure further, these businesses are more likely to be micro in size, with a very small bias towards the manufacturing industry.

“Given that those actively engaged in the EDI agenda have illustrated some very real commercial benefits – ranging from a better workplace culture, recruitment and retention, through to supporting innovation and a diversity of thought in decision-making – we should now be looking at how to better showcase good examples of business success in this agenda.

“We will also explore further work that may quantify how progressive approaches to EDI can result in productivity gains – which is high on the business priority list as they seek to grow once more following the pandemic.

Key findings in equality, diversity and inclusion research

The Chamber and emh group surveyed 341 East Midlands companies in November for the study – the first of its kind in the region – which found:

  • 48% of businesses have a specific EDI-related policy, but four in 10 (40%) haven’t and 12% were unsure whether they did
  • 68% felt having specific approaches to EDI would play a role in supporting the achievement of business plans for the next 12 months, with 26% believing this role would be significant and 11% saying it would play no part
  • 55% of respondents felt EDI formed an important part of their leadership discussions and strategy, with 14% saying this was to a great extent and 12% believing there was no EDI focus at all
  • When asked about the benefits of having an engaged approach to EDI, 61% said it can help create an inclusive working environment, 54% believed a “diversity of thought” could lead to better decision-making, 45% felt it supported innovation and creativity, 42% claimed it supported staff retention and recruitment, and 41% identified how it helped to better represent customers and clients – with just 17% seeing no real benefits

The research also highlighted some particular sectoral gaps across the East Midlands economy when it comes to embracing the EDI agenda.

While 48% of all businesses have a specific policy in place, the proportion fell to 43% for manufacturers – although those unsure increased to 20%, suggesting slightly less understanding or communication of EDI activity within these businesses.

Chan Kataria OBE, chief executive at emh group, said: “This research builds on our joint commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within communities and organisations across the region.

“The findings provide a solid platform for exploring opportunities to enhance performance on EDI.

“We see this as a starting point for showcasing engagement on EDI issues and exploring some of the barriers within specific sectors and small businesses. We look forward to further discussions with Chamber members to consider and share good practice.”

How businesses can increase engagement with the EDI agenda

A set of recommendations were made as part of a discussion paper published by the Chamber and emh group, titled Understanding attitudes and approaches to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the East Midlands:

  • Further support on developing EDI-specific polices can be offered to those businesses that view these as having a value but are yet to have policies in place
  • Businesses that are active in this space should be encouraged to demonstrate their approaches and showcase best practice
  • There is an opportunity for further work to quantify how progressive approaches to EDI can support a business’ success and productivity gains

To read the full report, click here.

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

The Pomegranate Theatre to support Ukraine with charity film screening

The Pomegranate Theatre in Chesterfield is joining cinemas across the UK to support Ukraine.

A charity screening of Olga, a new film about a young female Ukrainian gymnast forced to train in exile, will be held on Thursday 31 March at 7.30pm.

From each ticket sold, a donation will be made to support Ukraine, with donations going to The Disasters Emergency Committee.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We’re proud to support the charity screenings of Olga taking place across the UK. For the last few weeks, we have all been thinking of the people of Ukraine as we observe in silence and disbelief the tragic consequences of Russia’s actions. This film screening offers us the opportunity to understand more about Ukraine but also raise funds for the Disasters Emergency Committee who are doing vital work to support the Ukrainian people at this time.”

Olga’s lead actress, Anastasia Budiashkina, who arrived in Poland after leaving Kharkiv in Ukraine to escape the war, said: “I am very glad that Olga will be seen in the UK, and people will see the situation going on with Ukraine. Everyone involved with Olga worked very hard, and I put a part of myself into the film. I hope everyone will enjoy Olga.”

The film tells the story of fifteen-year-old Olga, a promising Ukrainian gymnast who is exiled in Switzerland but as she prepares for the European Championships the Ukrainian people stage a revolution. Can Olga reconcile her personal goals with the history unfolding in her homeland?

A subtle, tense drama it has received praise from critics.

The previews are a result of a partnership from 606 Distribution and the BFI, with support from the UK Cinema Association.

Tickets for the screening can be purchased on the Chesterfield Theatres website: https://chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/olga

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

Progress continues on new urgent care department at Chesterfield Royal Hospital

The ‘super structure’ of the £24m Urgent and Emergency Care Development (UECD) at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has now been completed.

The UECD, due to open its doors in Spring/Summer 2023, has now reached the next stage in its build with the final concrete floor slab, now in place thanks to the expertise of specialist tradespeople.

The final section will be the base for offices, changing facilities and staff rooms.

Berenice Groves, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer, said: “This is a great landmark moment for the development. It means we have completed a pivotal stage, without issue or concern and the structural elements are now in place. As we move forward, we’re focusing more on how the building will function and truly benefit our patients, colleagues and visitors.”

The concrete used is steel fibre reinforced concrete. The steel fibres reduce the need for traditional reinforcing bars and mesh as the fibres, making the process more effective and efficient. The concrete was pumped through a mobile concrete pump to the work site before being vibrated, and ‘floated’. ‘Powerfloating’ essentially polishes the surface of the concrete to achieve a smooth uniform finish to a high level of accuracy.

Though the concrete can now be walked on, having been poured on Friday, 11 March, it will continue to set for a further 56 days.

Berenice added: “The move to complete our structure of the UECD is a hugely positive and welcome one. The concrete – like many of the elements of the building – was managed by professionals, who are specialists in their area and we are very pleased with the process to date.”

The Trust recently went out to patients, colleagues and the public to ask about the colours and artwork for the new development – the results of this will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Chesterfield Royal Hospital 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, Featured, Home, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Director of Chesterfield hot tub company shortlisted for prestigious entrepreneur award

Rob Carlin, Managing Director at Superior Wellness, has been recognised as an inspiring and influential entrepreneur by organisers of the Great British Business Awards 2022.

Superior Wellness leads the market as the world’s fastest growing hot tub manufacturer, creating premium, high quality products focused on improving your health and well-being.

Managing Director of the award-winning, Chesterfield-based hot tub company, Rob Carlin (34), has recently been shortlisted for a prestigious entrepreneur award at the 2022 Great British Business & Community awards.

This recognition comes at a time where Superior Wellness is experiencing a monumental level of growth. The company has recently doubled in headcount, relocated headquarters and opened an impressive 10,000 sq. ft training facility and hot tub showroom in Chesterfield.

The Superior Wellness journey began in 2011. At the age of 23, Rob decided he wanted to import and sell hot tubs. Having zero knowledge of the hot tub industry he researched the products and discovered a gap in the market for entry level products to be retailed online.

Fast forward 10 years and Superior Wellness are now the fastest-growing hot tub and swim spa distributor in the world, with a strong presence in the UK, Europe and now America too.

The organisers of this year’s Great British Business & Community awards ceremony received over 1600 nominations and 92 entries in the Male Entrepreneur of the Year category alone.

Rob Carlin, Managing Director, said: “I am incredibly grateful that the team nominated me for this prestigious award. To have been shortlisted alongside many other influential and inspiring leaders is something I feel very humbled by.

“I am very proud of everything we have achieved at Superior Wellness. Not only am I lucky to have such a supportive team, but also an incredibly supportive partner network too. This recognition is an accolade to all those who have supported and continue to support the Superior Wellness journey.

“I look forward to seeing the results on the 7 April and would like to extend my congratulations and well wishes to all the other deserving shortlisted nominees.”

Award winners for the categories will be announced on 7 April 2022. It is expected that over 350 business people will attend the awards ceremony at the Hilton Hotel, Reading.

To view the full list, click here.

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

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

Chesterfield school pupils to benefit from free VR roadshow

Education supplier Seymour & Lerhn, part of Chesterfield’s Oasis Studio group are launching a VR Roadshow, giving primary schools in Chesterfield the chance to take their pupils on two weeks of amazing educational adventures.

Successful schools will receive a bundle of 5 VR headsets complete with recycled smartphones and free access to the Seymour & Lerhn Immersive Learning platform.

With this, teachers can take KS1 and KS2 pupils on a journey of discovery whether it’s wandering through the busy streets of New York, or stepping back in time to trudge through the muddy WW1 Trenches.

The VR kits will be delivered to schools to use for two weeks before being collected and sanitised for the next cohort.

Charlie Power, ‘Head Honcho’ at Seymour & Lerhn says: “At Seymour & Lerhn we challenge ourselves to make learning as interactive as possible without compromising on accessibility. A VR headset is just one of many ways to explore – but often gets the biggest reaction from children!”

Seymour & Lerhn offers immersive educational experiences for primary schools, including virtual reality, augmented reality, and interactive games and activities. The activities are accessible on any device, from laptops to iPads to interactive whiteboards.

Whilst the immersive content can be viewed on any existing school hardware, Seymour & Lerhn have joined forces with sister company, EyeSiteView, to give old technology a new lease of life.

The VR headsets were previously used by housing developers to market new homes and have been kindly gifted by EyeSiteView to make the VR Roadshow possible.

“We’re really pleased to be able to give schools in the local area the chance to explore VR in a sustainable way,” says Tony Buck, Associate Director at EyeSiteView.

“Approximately 45 million tonnes of tech is thrown away each year which is really shocking. We’re excited that the old VR headsets will get a new lease of life and give our region’s children some truly memorable lessons!”

Schools will be able to choose from a wide range of topics and subjects with teachers able to share the VR content with pupils at the click of a button.

“Content is designed to work on almost any device and comes with accessibility tools built in. It couldn’t be easier for schools to get started with immersive learning whether you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a VR kit or not!” Charlie adds.

The roadshow will run from the 1st April to the 22nd July 2022 and is open to any educational establishment within the region.

Slots are extremely limited and are offered on a first come first served basis.

To apply, head to https://forms.office.com/r/7UTS309qTs and fill in the online form.

Oasis Studio 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, Love Chesterfield, Made in Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , ,

New Chesterfield care home includes luxurious cinema, hair salon, tea room and bar

A brand-new care home in Chesterfield will provide its residents with a number of luxurious facilities, after being officially opened earlier this month.

Belvedere House is a brand new purpose-built residential care home based in the heart of Chesterfield, situated on St Augustine’s Road. It was officially unveiled in a grand opening attended by the mayor of Chesterfield, Cllr Glenys Falconer on Saturday, 19th March.

The facility built by Crown Care Group will provide luxurious living accommodation, with 64 bedrooms as well as a range of facilities for residents to enjoy including a cinema, tea room, bar/ brasserie, garden room, hair salon and extensive landscaped gardens.

The home will generate up to 50 jobs within the local area when it is at maximum capacity.

Claire Adsetts, Customer Relations Manager for Crown Care Group said: “We are incredibly excited to have the opportunity to provide the very best care within a luxury setting, the whole team are keen to provide a professional service while also creating a home from home feel for our residents.

“We are extremely proud of the home and feel you really need to see it to believe the five star hotel feel that has been created. We are currently open to viewings and look forward to becoming an integral part of the local community.”

Claire added that providing quality care for people in the town is of great importance: “The care sector is an integral part health and social care, ensuring choice and the right care are available to all. Providing a brand new home with up to date luxury facilities will offer a choice to people who are looking for a care home but feel they have yet to find a home that provides luxury accommodation at an affordable price.

“Our initial team have now been recruited but we are keen to accept applications across all roles within the home for our next phase of recruitment.”

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

£5 million restoration confirmed for Chesterfield Canal as part of Staveley Town Deal

The Chesterfield Canal Trust says it is delighted to have been awarded £5.3 million from the Staveley Town Deal Fund.

The funding means that over the next three years, the canal will be extended by half a mile from Hartington Harbour onto the Staveley Puddlebank which runs across the Doe Lea valley.

There will also be two miles of multi-use towpath all the way to Renishaw. There will be a new lock and two new bridges, and a siphon pipe to take the water from Staveley Waterside (the new name for Staveley Town Basin) to the new canal section. In addition, full designs will be prepared for further work.

Peter Hardy, Chair of the Chesterfield Canal Trust said: “Our scheme will bring enormous benefits to the residents of Staveley and surrounding areas with the extension of the canal from Staveley Waterside almost to the river Doe Lea. Together with the other projects awarded money from the Towns Fund, it will enhance the environment, health and wellbeing of all who live in the area.

“It will be the catalyst for the Chesterfield Canal Trust to complete the restoration of the canal.

“We are indebted to the local company Suon Ltd. which has donated the clay to be used in this project; without this generosity the scheme would not have been possible.”

The Trust further hopes to complete the canal restoration through to Renishaw. This will include the spectacular Doe Lea aqueduct, planned to be 37 metres long and 10 metres above river level.

The Trust’s volunteer Work Party has already started its Rewatering Renishaw project which will bring another half-mile of canal back to life. The aim is to join the two projects together finishing up with an extra 2½ miles of canal in the next few years.

For the next few months, the Trust’s Project Team, led by Mark Potter, will be making detailed preparations, preparing tender documents, appointing staff, and awarding contracts.

The first actual construction work will be the new Trans-Pennine Trail bridge, just east of the existing Eckington Road Bridge. This is scheduled to start early next year. The main earth moving to rebuild the Puddlebank will not start until 2024.

The Trust appointed George Rogers as its Development Manager just under three years ago. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to get the restoration to this point. Upon hearing the news of the award his reaction was “Now the hard work starts!”

The Trust has expressed its gratitude for all the support that it has received from Chesterfield Borough Council, the Staveley Town Deal Board, Derbyshire County Council, Lee Rowley MP, Toby Perkins MP, countless councillors and, perhaps most importantly, its membership and the local people in whose hearts the canal holds a very special place.

Chesterfield Canal Trust and Suon Ltd. 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, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , ,

Peak Edge Hotel receives go-ahead for hotel expansion and luxury spa

Derbyshire’s premium, four-star Peak Edge Hotel, has just been granted planning permission to expand the existing hotel and build a luxury spa.

The application for planning was approved on March 22nd, which will see an additional 27 bedrooms, in addition to a large spa facility featuring a range of experiences including a heated, indoor-outdoor hydro pool, sauna, steam rooms, several treatment rooms, and its own dedicated café bar.

The development follows huge efforts over the last 18 months to renovate and expand the hotel and adjoining 2 AA rosette awarded restaurant, Red Lion. Works already completed include an expansion of the existing Orangery Suite into the new Oak Room; additional restoration works to the property’s second function suite, The Walton; an expansion of the Red Lion restaurant and additional back of house and office space.

Owner Steve Perez said: “This is the exciting next phase in building a stunning destination for visitors to Derbyshire and for the local community. The extended hotel and luxury spa facility will be built to blend into the existing countryside and will be designed to the most exacting standards. We’re hoping to build a hotel and spa that exceeds expectations of all our guests, present and future”.

With planning permission now approved, updates on the plans, designs, and timings will be shared throughout the process.  Building work is likely to start in late Autumn, ideally in October, with completion expected by November 2023.

To find out more about Peak Edge Hotel visit www.peakedgehotel.co.uk

Recently, the hotel was commended as the best wedding venue in Derbyshire, after scooping the accolade at the 2022 Hitched Wedding Awards.

The Peak Edge Hotel 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, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , ,

Council reveals plan to revitalise and regenerate Chesterfield town centre

Start-ups, consolidation and inward investment has resulted in 310 more businesses being established in Chesterfield post pandemic than prior to March 2020.

“We’ve come through the pandemic in pretty good shape and demand for commercial space has gone through the roof,” said Dr Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council who was speaking at the town’s annual Celebrate Chesterfield event.

“However, the Levelling Up funding is important to getting our high street back to where we want it to be. We need to work together like never before post pandemic.” he added.

Chesterfield has received nearly £20 million of Levelling Up funding to transform Chesterfield Town Centre. The funding, which is being matched by £6 million of investment from Chesterfield Borough Council will underpin the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield improvement plan.

The delivery of the  improvement plan is expected to increase land value in the town centre by 16% and shop occupancy levels to more than 90%, resulting in increased spending which will support the creation of around 100 new jobs in the town centre.

“We’re immensely grateful for the Levelling Up funding. It will make a big difference to the town centre to support our growth ambitions.” said Dr Bowen.

The Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield programme will see key spaces in the town centre regenerated and reimagined, including Market Place, New Square, Burlington Street and Packers Row, Corporation Street and the George Stephenson Memorial Hall.

The refurbishment and remodelling of the George Stephenson Memorial Hall will bring together a theatre, cinema, bar, café and exhibition space in one asset to allow greater cultural inclusion and participation.

In addition to the creation of new outdoor dwelling and entertainment space, the town centre will have a new lighting strategy and greater data connectivity to enable digital way finding, smart street lighting, predictive maintenance, environmental monitoring.

Dr Bowen added: “We want to celebrate the town’s identity and spaces and seating for people and events in the public realm that will encourage people to stay and dwell longer and spend more in the town.”

Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield complements Chesterfield Borough Council’s Masterplan for Chesterfield Train Station. At the event it was revealed that construction on a new southern link road into Chesterfield Train Station will begin later this year as part of the council’s commitment to create ‘a sense of arrival’ in the town.

Construction of the new road follows the relocation of Jewson builders’ merchants to a new purpose-built site on Sheffield Road from its current position on Spa Lane next to Chesterfield Train Station. Demolition of the Chesterfield Hotel will also commence later this year.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council said: “2022 is already proving to be a landmark year for Chesterfield with the construction of the Enterprise Centre and One Waterside Place, both symbols throughout the pandemic that Chesterfield is always open and ready to do business.

“Alongside regeneration projects and new developments, Chesterfield Borough Council is invested in supporting the future of young people and local residents. We want better jobs and more jobs for local people. Our local labour clauses in contracts have created more than 800 local jobs in the last year alone with many of them being apprenticeships.

“We are fortunate to have both Chesterfield College and a University of Derby campus in the town centre which, together, are supporting more than 10,000 students and apprentices helping us have a skilled work force to attract further businesses to invest in the borough of Chesterfield.”

Now in its twelfth year, Celebrate Chesterfield is organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with The University of Derby and sponsored by Central Technology and Markham Vale. It is one of the most hotly anticipated business events in the area and this year welcomed around 250 delegates to the Winding Wheel.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager, who led the event said: “Once again Celebrate was truly that – a celebration of all that is happening right now in Chesterfield and in the future. We continue to prove that we are a town punching above our weight and that reflects in the levels of funding we are attracting as well as the many new businesses that are choosing to make the town their home.”

As well as Dr Huw Bowen, speakers at the event included Professor Warren Manning – Provost Innovation and Research at the University of Derby, Stephen Wenlock – Joint Growth Unit Manager, Chesterfield Borough Council and representatives from two town centre businesses, Emma Stevenson from M’s Gallery and Andy Jupp from Paperstarlights, who have benefitted from the Digital High Street initiative.

For further information about Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield, visit www.chesterfield.gov.uk/revitalising-the-heart-of-chesterfield

To learn more about the office space and investment opportunities in Chesterfield, please visit https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/office/

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

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