apprentice town

Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Group continues drive to promote skills & talent in the sector

Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Group is continuing to address skills shortages in the sector by working in collaboration with the public sector and education providers.

This was evidenced recently at the town’s Employability and Skills Conference, which saw more than a hundred delegates discuss the current skills landscape in the town.

At the conference, Andrew Byrne, Property Development Director at the Devonshire Group updated attendees on the exciting Construction Skills Hub, which is set to be developed in Mastin Moor.

The hub will provide a live learning environment for apprentices in the town, in order to help them gain vital skills and experience, helping people in Chesterfield build strong careers in the property and construction sector.

In the East Midlands, an extra 17,500 construction workers will be needed from 2023-2027, an annual requirement of 3,500 new workers every year.

We spoke to Andrew at the conference to get his thoughts on the current skills landscape across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, and how local organisations are working to meet the demand.

We’ve heard in recent times a lot about skills shortages in the property and construction sector. To what extent is this affecting the industry?

“One of the problems the property and construction sector faces at the moment, is that its workforce is getting older. We need to begin bringing in the next generation.

“The next generation can help us contribute towards solving the housing crisis, delivering the employment and industrial growth that we want to see in the country, and helping to deliver the physical, social and green infrastructure needed to help us meet that key target of net-zero by 2050.”

What can Chesterfield and North Derbyshire firms do to bring more skilled and talented people into their companies?

“We’ve been here at the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Skills and Employability Conference today (Wednesday, 8th February), hearing from both the education sector and industry about the skills that are needed.

“My key message for people in industry and the property and construction sector, is to get involved!

“It is incumbent on us to actually make a difference, get involved and encourage people into what we do. We should be proud of it.”

For a young person, how rewarding can a career in the property and construction sector be?

“I absolutely love the business that I’m in and I love the property and construction sector. The people I meet, the problems I solve, and the fact that I’m part of teams that build the places that we live, work and play in.

“To come away from a project and know that you were actually a part of it, and that project is going to be there for years to come is a great feeling.”

Tell us about the partnership working taking place locally to encourage the growth of skills in the property and construction sectors.

“You’ll have heard a lot about the work that we’re doing as part of the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group.

In the forum, we launched a pilot scheme for women in construction. That is a mentoring scheme where women who are already in the property and construction business, have been mentoring pupils in years 10 and 11 across local schools in Chesterfield.

The second way we’ve been making a difference is the work we have been doing with Parkside School. Members from the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group have been into the school, carrying out a speed networking session with the pupils to show them the range of careers and projects that we get involved in. We answered some of their questions and tried to light that spark so that they take more of an interest in what we do.

I’d also like to refer to the Construction Skills Hub that we’ve been working to deliver with Chesterfield College, Chesterfield Borough Council and the University of Derby. This will be delivered on-site at Mastin Moor across the course of 2023.

New apprentices will be able to learn the skills that the industry needs at the moment, alongside what the industry is going to need in the future to hit those net-zero targets.”

With a range of regeneration projects taking place in Chesterfield currently, do you feel it’s an exciting time to get into the profession?

“The sector is always exciting, but it is particularly exciting in Chesterfield at the moment because there is so much going on.

You see the schemes at Chesterfield Waterside, the work that we’re doing over at Mastin Moor, work that we’re looking to do over at Markham Vale and the regeneration of Staveley.

There is an awful lot going on in Chesterfield at the moment, so it really is a great time. What I would say though, is that it is always a great time to be getting involved in the industry.

If you’re not building it, you’re usually planning for it or trying to solve the problems that make it happen, so the key thing is to get involved!”

Chesterfield is the first town in the UK to declare itself an Apprentice Town – demonstrating its commitment to growing the future and careers of young people alongside business and the economy by retaining and developing young talent in the town in order to attract more employers to invest here.

Find out more about the range of activities and initiatives being carried out by Chesterfield Property and Construction Group at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/propertygroup/

andrew byrne devonshire group

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

Mitchells Accountants partners with Chesterfield College to provide apprenticeship opportunities

A Chesterfield Accountancy and business advice firm has grown its team by taking on several apprentices, having worked with Chesterfield College to provide employment opportunities for local people.

Mitchells Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers are one of Chesterfield’s longest standing firms and has been at the heart of its business community for 150 years, as well as a long serving member of Chesterfield Champions.

Mitchells have also long been an Apprenticeship Ambassador, helping to promote Chesterfield as an Apprentice Town and raising awareness of apprenticeships and their benefits to strengthen the workforce of the local economy.

Mitchells recognises that university isn’t the only option available to those leaving school, which is why the firm offers apprenticeships for young people who wish to undertake the AAT qualification – the internationally recognised qualification based on real-world accounting knowledge.

Examples of recent success stories for Mitchells apprentices include the following:

  • Mitchells’ apprentice, Dominic Day has successfully finished his ICAEW exams and associated work this year to become a qualified member of the Institute.
  • Two ICAEW apprentices, Sophia Ferretto and Brandon Wazirali, have passed advanced level exams and are in the final stages of also becoming fully qualified Institute members.
  • Julie Clayton has progressed to the final exam in her ACCA apprenticeship and received glowing praise from their training provider for their dedication to both the training and the apprenticeship requirements.
  • Apprentices, Sophia Ferretto and Olivia Powell were both put forward by Mitchells for recognition in the Apprentice of the Year category at this year’s Love Chesterfield Awards. The applications showed how well thought of these individuals, along with their fellow apprentices, are by the firm and also the care taken to ensure they continue to develop and flourish.

From the moment their training begins, apprentices are assigned a mentor who monitors and supports their professional and personal development.  As well as becoming a full-time employee at Mitchells, with a salary and other associated benefits, they pay for their AAT apprentices to attend Chesterfield College on a day release basis to study.

Further industry specific qualifications are completed by apprentices including ATT, ACCA, ICAEW and CIOT on a similar basis using internationally recognised training providers.

Having used other training providers in the past, they now only use Chesterfield College for their AAT qualifications because the college is employer led and prepares students for their careers and helps develop ambitious students prepare for work and life.

Mitchells currently employs 5 AAT apprentices who all study at Chesterfield College. Associate Partner, Laura Pain said: “We strongly believe in attracting candidates leaving college and sixth form to help them get started at the ground level.” She went onto highlight two apprentices in the Business Services Team, which she heads up.

“Olivia Powell joined us at just 17 years old and has thrived over the past three years to the point where she is confident and comfortable dealing with the rest of the team, her clients and HMRC. Jessica Wright first joined Mitchells as a university placement student and returned to learn more. Jess achieved a Distinction at Level 2 AAT with an overall qualification percentage score of 96%.”

Olivia Powell and fellow AAT apprentices, Jasmine Pollard and Chloe Jones commented on why they chose the apprenticeship route: “Apprenticeships are a great way of gaining your qualifications whilst working along-side meaning you can put theory into practise and practise into theory. It is also means no commitment of university and allows you to get a head start into the world of work as you can begin your career as young as 16.”

They also commented: “Chesterfield College is a training provider that allows you to work with other apprentices who are working towards the same qualifications as yourself. This not only supports us but allows us to have an insight into all the aspects of accounting, whether this is in industry or practise as you are working with people from a diverse range of job roles. Chesterfield College is extremely local to Mitchells and you are given a day release each week in order to attend the lessons. The lessons are in person allowing you to engage more and ask for any help or resources if needed. Printers and laptops are also available to use on campus which can be used after teaching hours. College tutors are also accessible via email and on teams whenever you need them showing they are very willing to contribute towards your success during AAT.”

Henry Taylor-Toone, Vice Principal Finance and Corporate Services at Chesterfield College said the following: “We’re very proud that Mitchells, a very well known and established Chesterfield business, has chosen Chesterfield College as their training provider. Chesterfield College is employer focused and our partnership with Mitchells demonstrates exactly what we can provide to local businesses – top quality education, delivered locally, helping apprentices, students and adults succeed in their chosen field. Apprentices from Mitchells are also a delight to teach which is always a bonus!”

David Waining, the firms Qualified Person Responsible for Training (QPRT) said “We have been very proud to work with all our apprentices. The joint provision between the training providers and ourselves provides the trainees with valuable experience of the practical work to apply the technical knowledge they have picked up in the classroom. We have had numerous success stories at all levels of the apprenticeship scheme and have looked to expand the number of apprenticeships we are offering across the firm because of these successes. We see this as a vital resource to grow our workforce.”

Mitchells Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers and Chesterfield College 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, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Home, Manufacturing, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

‘Tis the season for job vacancies! Chesterfield businesses recruiting ahead of the festive period

With the festive season just around the corner, Chesterfield businesses are turning their attention to recruiting new talent ahead of the busy period.

We have put together a guide to help you explore the career opportunities available right here in Chesterfield and know where to search for those festive job vacancies.

Retail and Hospitality

As retail businesses are stocking the shelves ahead of the Christmas shopping boom and hospitality venues putting the finishing touches to the festive menu ready for the Christmas party season, these businesses are looking to hire an extra pair of hands for the busy period.

These roles are the perfect way to gain valuable work experience and enhance your skills. Lucy Bacon, Assistant Marketing Manager of the Casa Hotel Group, demonstrates how working in hospitality helped her gain transferable skills which can be applied to other career opportunities.

Cocina Restaurant (002)

Lucy explained: “I started at Casa Hotel working part-time, alongside my school studies, in the Cocina Restaurant. This gave me a great base of transferable skills to grow on! My journey in Cocina then quickly moved from part-time to full-time, and from Food and Beverage Attendant to Restaurant Supervisor.

After some time developing my food and beverage knowledge further, I began to take interest in the Marketing of our products and services both for the Restaurant and the Hotel as a whole. The Management team here at Casa gave me the opportunity and support to gain my qualification in Marketing as well as move over fully into the Marketing of both Casa and Peak Edge. I am now the proud Assistant Marketing Manager of the Casa Hotel Group and am grateful for the opportunities I have been given whilst working in the Hospitality Industry.”

Browse the job vacancies available at Casa Hotel here and Peake Edge here.

Marks and Spencer’s in Chesterfield are currently advertising some fantastic career options across many roles.

Glow with us M&S

Matt Corker, Store Manager at Chesterfield said: “You could be part of something special. Our brand new M&S store in Chesterfield is coming soon and you could be coming with us.

Whoever you are, whatever your background, build a career to be proud of here – we’re with you all the way.

We’re looking to recruit up to 100 remarkable colleagues to be part of one amazing team. Plus with flexible career options, opportunities to progress and great benefits, including 20% colleague discount, why not take a look and apply today!”

Search the job opportunities available at Marks and Spencer’s Chesterfield here.

You can use the Job Centre Plus service to search for job vacancies in the local area. Give @JCPInStaffDerby a follow on social media as they regularly post the latest vacancies, alternatively, you browse through the listings on their website here.

Marketing Peak District and Derbyshire have a dedicated webpage for job vacancies in the hospitality industry across Derbyshire and the Peak District. Search the current vacancies here.

Chesterfield Market Recruitment Event

Market Recruitment event

Are you searching for work in Chesterfield? Visit the Chesterfield Market Recruitment Event on Wednesday 12th October 10 am – 12 pm, where you can meet employers and find out more about local job vacancies and training schemes that lead to employment.

The drop-in event is open to everyone, with no need to make an appointment.

There will be lots of opportunities available on the day from a range of sectors including, retail, hospitality, social care, engineering, logistics, transport, and many more.

Derbyshire Careers Service will also be attending the event to promote training courses but also advise job seekers on how they can get support with their CV and interview techniques.

Find an Apprenticeship in Chesterfield

Find Your Apprenticeship button

Currently, there are over 100 apprenticeship vacancies available across a variety of sectors and apprenticeships can be a great stepping stone for your career, allowing you to earn and learn on the job.

Tom Fearn, Recruitment Manager at Apprentice Team said: “Gaining employment during the festive period can lead to some exciting opportunities and gives you a chance to kickstart your career within your desired sector.

Apprenticeships are also available within a wide range of sectors. This can be a vital time of year to gain experience that you can use for future employment and interviews. In most cases, workplaces during the festive period are busier than usual which also allows candidates to gain a wide range of skills working in a fast-paced environment.”

Use our search tool to browse the hundreds of apprenticeship vacancies available in and around Chesterfield. You can simply scroll through the vacancies or filter by sector and apprenticeship level to find the right apprenticeship for you. Access the search tool here: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/become-an-apprentice-in-chesterfield/

 

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Three young people in the running for top apprentice title at the Love Chesterfield Awards

One young person is set to be named as the town’s top apprentice next month.

Henry Kay, Ria Smith and Will Brooks are all in the running for the prestigious Apprentice of the Year Award in the annual 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards, organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with Entire FM – Complete Facilities Management.

The award, which is sponsored by DBC Training, recognises apprentices that have made a significant contribution to the success of a local organisation.

Henry (21), a trainee accountant at BusinessWise Accountancy and Tax, follows in the footsteps of the company’s founder, who also started his career as an apprentice. “I’m happy to be considered for the Apprentice of the Year award, it feels great to be a finalist. I chose to do an apprenticeship because it was a good way to get into accounting without having to take the traditional university route; it was the better option for me.”

Graham Nash, Director of BusinessWise Accountancy and Tax added: “Apprenticeships provide good quality young people and the opportunity to mould best practice in business for both the apprentice and the company. I am the result of an apprenticeship and have seen many diamonds found and nurtured to reach great potential.”

Ria (22), who is a Support Office Assistant at Peak Pharmacy, began her career with the company when she assisted with its COVID-19 vaccination clinics. She said: “I feel very grateful to have been shortlisted for this award. I was so excited when I found out I had been nominated!

“During the pandemic, I was given the opportunity to work for Peak Pharmacy in its COVID-19 vaccination clinics both within Casa Hotel and the Clay Cross Pharmacy. I was ready to further my education and jumped at the opportunity when I saw Peak Pharmacy was advertising for an apprentice in its support office. I love the fast pace of the office and no two days are the same. My apprenticeship has allowed me to start from scratch and build a career for the future.”

Andrea Street, Head of Support Office at Peak Pharmacy said: “Having apprentices has given us the opportunity to develop and grow a talented and motivated workforce. The aim is to see them move into permanent roles within our company and continue their training. Ria’s energy and enthusiasm has without doubt had a positive impact on our Support team and across the company. She is a valued member of our team, and we couldn’t be happier that she chose to complete her apprenticeship with us!”

Will (19) who is a Digital Marketing Apprentice at Superior Wellness has taken on several additional marketing responsibilities in the business this year and has been praised by his employer for ‘stepping up’.

Will commented: “I’m very happy to be included in the shortlist for the Apprentice of the Year award. I chose the route of an apprenticeship as I feel it suited my work style much better than going to university and could give me experience in the workplace at a young age. It’s had a big impact on me in terms of my ambition and motivation.”

Sarah Elphick, Head of Marketing at Superior Wellness added: Apprenticeships are a great opportunity for people to start their careers and we are huge advocates of them. Will adapted to his role well and was keen to learn from day one.

“In April, our two marketing executives left the business, leaving Will and myself to take on several additional responsibilities. Will adapted to this change in a calm and professional way and was excited about the prospect of additional responsibilities. Will has really stepped up and is doing the same level of work as the marketing executives despite being at the start of his career.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield congratulated Ria, Will and Henry commenting: “Apprentices play such a pivotal role in fulfilling the town’s ambitions for growth. Having a pool of young talent is crucial both for our existing businesses and potential investors in the area so it’s important we give recognition to the apprentices and their employers who are helping them progress in their careers within the town.”

The Apprentice of the Year award is one of 15 categories in the 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards. The winners of all the categories will be announced at a glittering black-tie ceremony at The Winding Wheel Theatre on Wednesday 12 October.

See the full list of 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards finalists here: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/lovechesterfieldawards/finalists/

As well as Entire FM – Complete Facilities Management and DBC Training, the 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards are also supported and made possible by Banner Jones Solicitors, BHP Accountants, BusinessWise Accountancy and Tax, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire Times, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), Elder Way, Great2, Hoods Florist, JP Fire Safety Solutions, Minuteman Press Chesterfield, MSE Hiller, Peak Pharmacy, Shorts Chartered Accountants, Spirecross Ltd and Sutton McGrath Hartley.

Peter Swallow added: “After the uncertainty of the last two years, the Destination Chesterfield team is working to ensure the 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards is the best yet, which is only possible through the generosity of our sponsors.”

There are a limited number of sponsorship packages available. If you’re interested in sponsoring the awards, information is available at www.chesterfield.co.uk/lovechesterfieldawards/sponsors/sponsorshippackages/ or by contacting Tara Underhill, Senior Destination Chesterfield Coordinator by emailing Tara.underhill@chesterfield.co.uk or calling 01246 207 207.

2021 Apprentice of the Year Award winner, Ellie Gibson – Heathcotes Group

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Manufacturing, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Find the route to success with an Apprenticeship in Wholesale, Distribution and Export

Wholesale, Distribution and Export offers a wide variety of job opportunities from the warehouse floor to delivery, marketing, management and much more.

There are many benefits to choosing an apprenticeship as a career route and this blog explores the views from current apprentices working in the sector.

Wholesale, Distribution and Export in Chesterfield

Chesterfield is an ideal location for Wholesale, Distribution and Export businesses due to the network links and easy access to the M1 motorway.

We have seen an increased business growth in this sector through the Markham Vale development, one of the UKs premier logistics locations. Businesses located at the 200-acre business park include Daher Aerospace Limited, Great Bear, Ferdinand Bilstein, Grangers Ltd, MSE Hiller and Industrial Ancillaries, just to name a few!

1000’s of jobs are supported at Markham Vale; for anyone interested in starting a career at Markham Vale you can see the latest vacancies over on the Jobs at Markham Vale Facebook page.

The Apprentice Perspective

The success of Markham Vale has supported the growth of businesses in this sector. Located at Markham Vale, MSE Hiller supplies and rents centrifuges and environmental engineering products to the water, food and other industries.

Ewan Walker, Level 3 Mechanical Engineering Apprentice at MSE Hiller is responsible for engineering the products which the company distribute across the UK.

Ewan Walker MSE Hiller 873x466

Ewan said: “I chose an apprenticeship in this sector as I have an interest in mechanical engineering and want to be a part of the future of mechanical engineering. I enjoy that every day is slightly different and there’s constantly new challenges to overcome.

One benefit of choosing an engineering apprenticeship is that you’re learning a skill and gaining a qualification, whilst earning an income.”

Chesterfield based Superior Wellness is Europe’s largest hot tub distributor, importing from several countries to offer a wide choice of hot tubs, swim spas and other related products to the trade and retail customers.

Meet Elicia Allott and Will Brooks, Digital Marketing Apprentices at Superior Wellness.

Will and Elicia 873x466

Marketing and having a digital presence plays an important role in this sector, to ensure your company is well-known by stakeholders across the world.

Elicia said: “I’m involved in the maintenance of my company’s digital presence, including website content editing, email marketing, social media management and content creation.

The digital marketing industry is such a fast-paced and constantly evolving industry, therefore going down the apprenticeship route has given me an opportunity to immerse myself straight into the industry and get hands on experience. Choosing an apprenticeship in digital marketing means that I am able to build on my digital marketing knowledge to gain relevant and qualifications alongside developing my skills such as creativity through real work experience.”

Will added: “Personally, for me, as university was never in my plan, completing an apprenticeship was always the path I wanted to pursue. It is easy when you’re young to overlook how beneficial an apprenticeship can be, but hopefully sharing my experience will help others see the huge benefit.

Overall, I feel the benefit of choosing an apprenticeship is you get the chance to learn on the job from a young age, whilst bringing in a stable income and also developing your skills within a proper working environment.”

Global Brands is one of the UK’s leading drinks brand development businesses which owns, markets and distributes a range of brands across the spirit, beer, ready to drink beverages and energy drink categories. Global Brands exports to over 30 countries around the world including Germany, Spain and Africa.

Level 3 Business Admin Apprentices, Gaby Hopkinson and Charlotte Pebworth, shared their experiences as an apprentice at Global Brands.

Gabby and Charlotte 873x466

Charlotte said: “We are both doing a business admin apprenticeship in a warehouse setting for Global Brands. Both Gaby and I have an interest in business studies and we both studied it at sixth form and college. We enjoy the relaxed environment we work in and working alongside our experienced and supportive colleagues. It is a hugely successful business, and we are glad to be a part of the team.”

Gaby added: “An apprenticeship provides experience of the working environment, whilst learning the job at the same time. We get paid to learn and it’s all about gaining the experience to progress through the business in the future.”

Find an Apprenticeship in Wholesale, Distribution and Export

As you can see from the apprentices that we spoke to, the Wholesale, Distribution and Export sector offers various job roles to suit every skill set and an apprenticeship offers the perfect opportunity to kickstart your career.

Use our search tool to browse the hundreds of apprenticeship vacancies currently available in and around Chesterfield: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/become-an-apprentice-in-chesterfield/find-an-apprenticeship-in-chesterfield/

 

Posted in Apprentice Town, Blog, ManufacturingTagged in , , , , , ,

Apprenticeships in Chesterfield now even easier to find online

Young people looking for an apprenticeship in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire have been given a helping hand.

A new online search tool has been launched by Apprentice Town making it quicker and easier than ever before to search for apprenticeship vacancies.

The new search function, which is hosted on the Destination Chesterfield website, enables people to browse the wide range of Level 2 – 7 apprenticeship roles within a 15-mile radius of Chesterfield.

People can search for apprenticeship vacancies based on both subject area and Level, with hundreds of opportunities currently available in the local area.

With thousands of young people set to pick up their GCSE and A Level exam results next month; the Apprentice Town website has been praised by business and education leaders in the town.

Ivan Fomin, Managing Director of MSE Hiller, Destination Chesterfield board member and an apprentice employer, commented: “The practical benefits of the Apprentice Town initiative are invaluable both to young people and businesses based in Chesterfield. I have been an employer in Chesterfield for 25 years and I have always made a point of offering apprenticeships; they are an intrinsic part of both Chesterfield’s and MSE Hiller’s growth ambitions.”

Chesterfield College Group Principal and CEO, Julie Richards explains: “We’re proud to have supported so many generations of workforce to Chesterfield employers through apprenticeship programmes. Post-pandemic, it’s pleasing to see that the appetite for recruiting young talent into a business via earning whilst learning is still as great as ever. There are so many fantastic opportunities out there from Level 2 right through to degree equivalent apprenticeships and I strongly encourage those considering their options when leaving school, or even mature learners, to consider an apprenticeship route to achieve the career they want.”

In 2017, Chesterfield became the first town in the UK to declare itself an ‘Apprentice Town’, demonstrating its commitment to growing the future and careers of young people alongside business and the economy.

Chesterfield Borough Council leads the Apprentice Town initiative, which aims to increase the number, levels and quality of apprenticeships available by raising awareness of apprenticeship opportunities in Chesterfield including traineeships, higher level apprenticeships and align these with opportunities emerging in the area.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “We’re proud to be the first Apprentice Town in the UK, an apprenticeship is much more than just a job. They allow people to develop their skills and set them along a career path which leads to higher paying jobs – improving their quality of life and helping our borough’s economy to grow.

“We’re committed to making it easier for our residents to find the right apprenticeship opportunity for them, so that everyone has the chance to build a great career in our borough.”

To access the search tool, please visit: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/become-an-apprentice-in-chesterfield/find-an-apprenticeship-in-chesterfield/

Or, for more information on the Apprentice Town initiative, please visit: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/what-is-apprentice-town/

 

Apprentice Town - Find Your Apprenticeship - Social Media Landscape2

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

The Visitor Economy: a sector with a growing number of career opportunities

Chesterfield not only attracts local residents, but also visitors from further afield. Visitors spend in 2019 had generated an estimated £203 million into the visitor economy and supported over 2,347 jobs in the local area.

To help you understand what a career in visitor economy is like, we spoke to current and former apprentices who currently work within Chesterfield’s leisure, hospitality, and retail sectors.

What’s it like working in visitor economy?

A career in the visitor economy can be exciting due to the diverse range of job roles on offer. You could find yourself working in events, hospitality, accommodation, tourist services, visitor attraction and much more.

Meet Brandon Howard, a Level 4 Marketing Executive apprentice at Vicar Lane Shopping Centre. Working in marketing is usually about promoting and selling a product or service, but in visitor economy it’s all about selling and promoting a place for people to come and visit.

Vicar Lane Big Screen

Brandon said: “I enjoy working in the visitor attraction sector, as it’s really fulfilling organising events that benefits lots of local people and businesses, as well as visitors from further afield. I like being in such an open and varied environment with something different always going on.

My apprenticeship is a nice mixture between learning and working and I feel like I’m helping the company, as well as my own career progression, move forward. I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship to others looking to take a similar career path to me. Apprenticeships are a great steppingstone to bright futures.”

Apprenticeships offer a fantastic progression route

Venues in Chesterfield such as the Pomegranate and Winding Wheel theatres host a range of musicals, stand-up comedy, music concerts and other productions, meaning they attract regional audiences and play an important role in our visitor economy.

Winding-Wheel

Jack Floyd, Senior Technician for Chesterfield Venues, completed a level 3 apprenticeship in Leadership and Management and explains why an apprenticeship offers a fantastic progression route.

Jack said: “An apprenticeship in leadership and management has allowed me to take the specialist knowledge gained throughout my career and properly apply it in leadership situations. I hope to take the skills I have learned and use them to progress into technical or venue management.”

You can discover more about becoming an apprentice here: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/become-an-apprentice-in-chesterfield/

Develop transferable skills working in hospitality

Lucy Bacon, Assistant Marketing Manager of the Casa Hotel Group, demonstrates how working in hospitality helps you gain transferable skills which can be applied to other career opportunities.

Cocina Restaurant (002)

Lucy explained: “I started out at Casa Hotel working part time, alongside my school studies, in the Cocina Restaurant. This gave me a great base of transferable skills to grow on! I was able to work quickly and efficiently, think on my feet and was confident in speaking to all manner of guests. My journey in Cocina then quickly moved from part time to full time, and from Food and Beverage Attendant to Restaurant Supervisor. In my more senior position, I supported the restaurant team through busy service, communicated well with our Chefs, and dealt with any issues which may arise.

After some time developing my food and beverage knowledge further, I began to take interest in the Marketing of our products and services both for the Restaurant and the Hotel as a whole. The Management team here at Casa gave me the opportunity and support to gain my qualification in Marketing as well as move over fully into the Marketing of both Casa and Peak Edge. I am now the proud Assistant Marketing Manager of the Casa Hotel Group and am grateful of the opportunities I have been given whilst working in the Hospitality Industry.”

Fancy a career working in the visitor economy?

The visitor economy in Chesterfield is expected to see a significant boost from a number of planned developments across the borough and will create further job offers in the local area, creating even more career opportunities

You can use our search tool to browse the hundreds of apprenticeship vacancies currently available in and around Chesterfield: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/become-an-apprentice-in-chesterfield/find-an-apprenticeship-in-chesterfield/

Posted in Apprentice Town, Blog, ManufacturingTagged in , , , , ,

Derbyshire North Careers Hub celebrates achievements of schools, colleges and businesses

The achievements of a young adult with special educational needs who has secured himself an internship at Chesterfield Royal Hospital – plus an aspiring female electrician engineer – were recognised at an event held to celebrate businesses and educators who have worked together to support hundreds of students in Derbyshire.

The Derbyshire North Careers Hub brings local employers together to work with schools and colleges to support their careers programmes which enable students to choose what they would like to do next, while also ensuring school and college leavers have the skills needed by employers in the region.

Part of a national programme funded by the Careers and Enterprise Company and the Department for Education – and managed locally by D2N2 LEP – the Derbyshire North Careers Hub works with more than 30 schools and colleges as students prepare for their best next steps.

The event, which was held at The Whitworth in Darley Dale, was the first face-to-face meeting the Hub has had since being launched pre-lockdown, in February 2020. Students from The Highfields School, in Matlock, supported on the day.

Eighteen-year-old Jamie, a pupil at Alfreton Park Community Special School, gained valuable work experience with the Woodhead Group; a family-owned group of companies specialising in construction.

He was one of four pupils from the school who took part in a seven-week Supported Insight Scheme, through the Direct Education Business Partnership and part funded by the Careers Hub,  shadowing core areas of the business, visiting sites being developed by the Woodhead Group and spending time in their head office, in Edwinstowe, Mansfield where they were involved in real-life work place tasks such as keeping the building site safe and even brick laying.

Sarah Cutler is programme manager for Direct Education Business Partnership’s special educational needs programmes, supporting various SEND schools in the Derbyshire North Careers Hub. She worked closely with Alfreton Park Community Special School and Woodhead Group.

“Jamie has been a pupil at Alfreton Park since the age of four and, by his own admission, 14 years later, he feels that he needs a change to help with his personal development and wellbeing,” said Sarah.

“He flourished under the guidance of Matt Bust at Woodhead Group, who are one of our Cornerstone group employers and huge supporters of the project. The work experience helped him to gain the confidence he needed to gain a place on an internship at Chesterfield Royal Hospital which, hopefully, can be transferred into paid employment in 12 months’ time.

“On average, the percentage of young people with a Learning Disability in the D2N2 area that is in employment is 1.8%. We need to increase this figure by providing opportunities for these people and working together.

“This figure will increase – it won’t happen overnight – if we continue to do what we are doing.”

As well as being Business Support Manager at Woodhead Group, Matt Bust is enterprise advisor for The Bolsover School – who provided musical entertainment at the event. He said: “We structured each session for the students, and they took part in various tasks that are all relevant to our business.

“We noticed how they had grown and developed throughout the programme. It was a pilot programme, so we had no idea how it would be received, and we had to have flexibility when delivering the project to overcome issues such as covid and transport.

“But it was a huge success and we learned so much from the programme.”

As well as construction, other industries represented in the Careers Hub include healthcare and engineering. Projects that have been funded include Future Makers, Creators, Designers and Builders which brings together a local group of companies from those sectors. Students are given the opportunity to learn about the careers in these industries, plus the pathways into them.

Emma Dando, careers lead at St Mary’s Catholic High School, in Chesterfield, praised the Future Makers scheme, which has played a key role in launching the career of pupil Millie Liversedge.

Millie was mentored by Katie Burnham, who works for construction and property development company Henry Boot.

“I am absolutely delighted for Millie,” she said, “she will leave St Mary’s at the end of Year 12 to take up and apprenticeship with Western Power which, for Millie, is a dream job.

“The Future Makers project gave her the confidence to interview for the apprenticeship and this is definitely the right career path for her.”

The Derbyshire North Careers Hub is part of a national network of hubs, driven by the Careers & Enterprise Company. Evidence published by the company in October last year showed Career Hubs had accelerated overall careers education progress and performance by 56% in 12 months.

When it launched, the Hub worked with 21 schools and colleges but has expanded and now supports 35 schools and colleges. During lockdown, employers found innovative ways to continue working with schools, holding virtual events and sessions so that students could be supported in choosing their next step after education.

One of those employers, Fortem, delivered an interactive workshop during this time to Ashgate Croft – the first time that the property solutions experts have worked with a special school.

Marie Cooper, Group CEO of CBE+, explained the impact of the Cornerstone group of employers; a group of flagship businesses – including Fortem – carrying out exemplary work to support schools and colleges develop careers programmes and then sharing their best practice with others.

She said: “If we don’t engage as businesses in educating and inspiring the young people in Derbyshire, then who is going to be running these businesses in the future?

“The only way we can do that powerfully is to collaborate; collaborate as companies, education partners, schools and colleges.

“There are some businesses, responsible businesses in Derbyshire, but there are some that need educating. I hear that they haven’t got the resources or they’re too busy to do this; but there is so much support out there for those of all levels.”

Lana Jay, Strategic Careers Hub Lead at D2N2, added: “It was great to celebrate the amazing work that is happening across the Derbyshire North Careers Hub.

“Since our launch, we have developed stronger relationships with schools and colleges we support, and we have increased engagement with businesses in the local area and strengthened our local authority and partner relationships.

“This event was a chance to celebrate the successes and showcase some of those fantastic projects that have taken place.”

Derbyshire North Careers Hub, Woodhead Group. CBE+, Fortem, Chesterfield Royal Hospital, DEBP and Mortgage 1st 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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Chesterfield firms included in England’s top 50 SME apprentice employers

Chesterfield barbers Less Than Zero has been included in the annual list of top 50 best SME apprenticeship employers across the country.

The business based on Soresby Street in the town centre ranked 36th in England for taking on and developing apprentices.

The Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers 2022 recognises leading small & medium-sized apprenticeship employers for their commitment to employing apprentices, their creation of new apprenticeships, the diversity of their new apprentices, and the progression of their apprentices onto further apprenticeships and employment.

The new annual rankings have been developed by the Department for Education, in partnership with High Fliers Research.

Martin Wallis-Keyworth, Owner of Less Than Zero commented: “We are over the moon. To know that we’d been nominated for it at all was amazing. We then knew we were finalists for the Top 100 then invited to an online TV announcement but we still thought we’d hadn’t been successful and when we hadn’t reached the 51 to 100 we actually logged off.

“That evening we looked at our emails and had 120 unread messages we knew something had happened and the first email we saw was a congratulations from the “Investors In People”.”

Martin explained how his business has worked with its apprentices to achieve the accolade: “It’s about the mindset of the apprentice and the employer being as one. Added to this a supportive and professional learning provider. We’ve been partners of the best for over 4 years now, Realise Training who were given the amazing accolade of Apprentice Training Provider 2022.

“Apprentices are the life blood of the company as they are the next generation of talent. We are always on the lookout to grow our team both in numbers but more importantly talent therefore in terms of people we ensure everyone has a Personal Development Plan and the necessary support in the company to ensure that’s understood and delivered. ”

For businesses considering taking on an apprentice in Chesterfield, Martin had the following advice: “Apprentices aren’t right for all business or put it more specifically, not every business of right for an apprentice.

“There’s a level of maturity needed within the business and also within the apprentice to understand Apprenticeships aren’t a quick fix they are part of a long journey of continual development and that sticking with it is what’s needed. Within my business sector, barbering, it offers learners and new entrants and amazing opportunity to have an amazing lifelong skill, have fun, have opportunities opened up that only superstars can dream of and earn great money.

“We try and empower our apprentices whether that’s a work experience starter on an NVQ Level 1  or a manager within the business on a Level 6.”

Meanwhile fellow Chesterfield company, Clee Hill Plant were also named in the list, with the firm ranking highest out of all plant hire companies in the UK.

Clee Hill has maintained a successful Apprentice Scheme for over twenty-five years which is an important element of its Business Development Strategy for the future.

Gavin Kirk, HR Manager, said: “Clee Hill Plant has a long history of supporting apprentices through their training programmes and enabling them to obtain a nationally recognised qualification in plant maintenance and repair.

“We are extremely proud of our apprenticeship pass rate and retention, with over 40 per cent of our operational employees either undergoing apprenticeship training or having completed their programme and choosing to continue their career with Clee Hill Plant.

“Apprentices who have completed their apprenticeships with us have progressed to become highly competent and experienced Plant Engineers, either workshop based or mobile.

“We offer a three-year advanced apprenticeship in plant maintenance and repair with training taking place ‘on the job’ and through block release at college.”

To find out more about apprenticeships in Chesterfield, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/

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

 

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Businesses called on to get involved with Made in Chesterfield 2022

Made in Chesterfield, the campaign designed to bring engineering, manufacturing, property and construction businesses together with schools and training providers, is returning in November and Destination Chesterfield is urging businesses to get involved.

The annual campaign, which will run from 7 November – 2 December now in its eighth year. It has already introduced thousands of young people across North East Derbyshire to the wide range of careers available in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) sector.

With the skills shortage in the STEM sector becoming an even bigger issue for businesses, Made in Chesterfield 2022 aims to inspire a new generation of employees to join the sector.

Since the campaign’s inception, more than 3,500 young people from schools have spent time in the area’s manufacturing and engineering businesses and Chesterfield College has seen an increase in the number of students getting involved in STEM related subjects. Now, following its success, the campaign is welcoming businesses in the property and construction sector to take part.

Sponsored by The Chesterfield College Group, Made in Chesterfield is coordinated by Destination Chesterfield in partnership with Direct Education Business Partnership (DEBP), supported by Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire North Careers Hub, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd and NatWest.

The organisation of Made in Chesterfield is financially supported by the D2N2 Derbyshire North Careers Hub as part of their regional Open Doors programme.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield commented: “There’s a huge skills gap and an ageing workforce issue within the engineering, manufacturing, property and construction sectors. Made in Chesterfield is helping local businesses take those all-important steps needed to inspire the next generation and build a strong recruitment pipeline for future growth and stability.

“The workplace tours, which are organised as part of Made in Chesterfield, are a fantastic way to introduce your business to young people who are at school and college now, showing them the number of high-quality career opportunities available on their doorstep.”

Julie Richards, Principle and CEO of Chesterfield College Group commented: “’We’re delighted to continue our support for the Made in Chesterfield initiative. The growth of engineering, science, technology and manufacturing locally is something we have mirrored in our curriculum and facilities with investment in the latest technologies, such as 3D printing and augmented reality, all with a focus on sustainability.

“Our commitment to the next generation of local workforce is to inspire them and equip them with the skills and experience that sets them up for a successful career in industry. A large part of that relies on the involvement of local employers to provide vital opportunities such as industry placements, work experience, site visits, guest lectures and apprenticeships to help a young person experience an industry. As such, we certainly encourage those businesses not already engaged with Made in Chesterfield to get involved and help to generate the next generation of local workforce.”

Clare Talati, CEO of Direct Education Business Partnership (DEBP) added: “DEBP looks forward to continuing in our role with Made in Chesterfield. We will be delighted to support businesses in providing fantastic visits for learners; enabling young people to engage with inspirational employers and learn about the amazing employment opportunities on offer locally.”

As well as the workplace tours during Made in Chesterfield, schools can access a range of careers videos and tours of Chesterfield businesses to allow young people to experience the tours, activities and careers information they would receive in person, virtually. Alongside this, young people can access the Myfuture Virtual Careers Exhibition, where they can meet local employers, learn about exciting employment opportunities and much more.

James Brand, Managing Director of United Cast Bar, commented on the importance of developing the workforce of the future: “With an eye on future workforce needs, regularly inviting school children to the foundry through the Made in Chesterfield initiative plays an important part in our recruitment.

Destination Chesterfield is hosting a Made in Chesterfield business drop-in session for those businesses that wish to learn more about the campaign, with a representative from United Cast Bar attending to discuss their experiences and answer any questions. The session will be taking place at United Cast Bar in Chesterfield and will run from 2:00pm – 4:00pm on Thursday 14 July.

If you’re a local manufacturing, engineering, property or construction business that would like to find out more about Made in Chesterfield, please visit the website and register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/made-in-chesterfield-business-drop-in-session-tickets-366705314467

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.

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Success for undergraduates completing placement at Mitchells Chartered Accountants

A pair of undergraduates are set to take up permanent roles at Chesterfield’s Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, following a successful placement year working with the firm.

Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers have long been an Apprenticeship Ambassador, helping to promote Chesterfield as an Apprentice Town and raising awareness of apprenticeships and their benefits to strengthen the workforce of the local economy.

Some years ago, Mitchells put in place various strategies to ensure the development of a staff pipeline. Bringing in talented and dedicated people through apprenticeships and yearlong undergraduate placements is a vital element to their sustainable model for the future.

From the moment their training begins, everyone is assigned a mentor who monitors and supports their professional and personal development. They offer a comprehensive, fully supervised, structured training programme which is supported and closely monitored by a leading firm of external tutors. Training consists of a combination of courses at the tutors’ offices, private study and regular tests, as well as on-the-job training. Paid study leave is granted and course and examination fees are paid.

Alongside this, they have the support of Mitchells’ partners and senior staff, all ready and willing to offer guidance and advice at every stage of their journey towards becoming a Chartered Accountant or Chartered Tax Adviser. The openness and friendly nature of all the staff makes it easy to speak up and ask for assistance whenever needed.

Melissa Grafton (pictured right) and Hannah Longton (pictured below) are undergraduates in Accounting and Finance. Melissa studying at University of Lincoln and Hannah studying at Sheffield Hallam University. They have both just completed their year’s placement at Mitchells.  This is what they had to say about their experience:

“Applying for a placement is a very daunting thought, after being in full time education for the past 20 years, the idea of writing up a CV and applying felt very overwhelming but this couldn’t have been put more at ease when we applied to Mitchells. The application process at Mitchells gave us both a great idea of what it would be like to work here with having an interview with both our line manager and a partner at the firm. This showed us how hands on our superiors are with new workers and what our work environment would be like.

“From the moment we started working at Mitchells we were given the space and jobs to help us develop as people both academically and personally. Some of the many personal skills we have developed include confidence, communication, and time management. Working in a corporate environment has greatly improved our time management skills as we have had to ensure we complete jobs on time in order of importance. We both believe our confidence and communication have developed hand in hand as Mitchells have always provided an environment to ask for help off colleagues and superiors to ensure that we are learning and developing on each job and never struggling.

“From spending the year at Mitchells, we can see exactly how transferrable the skills we have gained are to our final year at University. At University it can sometimes be hard to comprehend how theory is used in practise, but from working in different sectors and different clients. We have expanded our commercial awareness and our ability to retain and relate our knowledge. We have both felt our Excel skills have been greatly enhanced from being able to work on special and innovative projects within Mitchells.

“We have not only gained in skills and experience but have also gained an inclusive social work team. Every month our colleagues have made effort to include us and feel welcomed into the workspace by having monthly events such as escape rooms, and meals out. This has helped settle and ease our worries of joining the world of full-time employment. It has also helped us develop good working relationships.

“We couldn’t recommend completing a placement year at Mitchells enough, we have even had the lucky offer of being invited back. Which we have gladly accepted as we know that the Mitchells working environment will give us all the support as we study and work towards our ACA qualification to become a Chartered Accountant.”

Andrew McDaid, Partner at Mitchells said: “Throughout the year that both Melissa and Hannah have spent with us, they have consistently exceeded all expectations. The whole team at Mitchells wishes them all the best in the final year of their degrees and look forward to welcoming them back in 2023 as permanent colleagues.”

Dan Plumley, Principal Lecturer and Recruitment Lead for the department of Finance, Accounting and Business Systems at Sheffield Hallam University commented “Mitchells provide an excellent placement scheme for Sheffield Hallam Students and the fact that they then go on to secure full time work with Mitchells after they graduate is testament to the impression they make whilst on placement. This is exactly what placement years are all about for both the students and the employers as it gives them a chance of guaranteeing employment before they have even finished studying with us. We are delighted to work with Mitchells to offer students such great opportunities and experience and are always on the lookout for other local employers that would like to do the same.”

Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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