derbyshire business news

Derbyshire residents set to vote for the first ever East Midlands mayor as devolution gets the green light

Residents across Derbyshire will get the chance to vote for the first-ever East Midlands Mayor next May, after councils gave the go-ahead to devolution for the region.

Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council have each approved plans to create the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), which will come into existence next Spring.

EMCCA is set to bring in around £4 billion of funding for the region, alongside devolved powers for transport, skills and adult education, housing, the environment and economic development.

Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “Our shared vision is for the 2.2 million people who live and work in the heart of the country to be better connected and more prosperous – addressing years of historically low investment in our region.

“Devolution brings much more control over our own area. Rather than many major decisions being made for us in London, local people would have a say in the region’s priorities. This is just the start and more benefits and funding are already starting to flow – such as the Government’s recent announcement of £1.5 billion local transport funding for the new East Midlands Mayor.

“The creation of a new mayoral combined county authority will unlock the benefits of the East Midlands devolution deal and bring improved public services and a brighter future for our residents.”

Plans for East Midlands devolution are similar to those already in place in other mayoral regions, like the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.

The East Midlands devolution deal, agreed with Government ministers last summer, would see Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham benefit from a £1.14 billion investment fund. Other areas with devolution deals have been able to make their funding go even further and have greater impact by leveraging significant private sector investment.

A public consultation on East Midlands devolution, carried out between November 2022 and January 2023, showed strong support for the plans among local residents, businesses and community groups.

In October, the Government announced around £1.5 billion in transport funding for the East Midlands Mayor.

Thanks to devolution plans, the East Midlands has also been invited to establish an ‘Investment Zone’, which will attract £160 million of support over ten years, with tax incentives for businesses that will help boost economic growth right across the region.

It is estimated that the East Midlands Investment Zone will unlock hundreds of millions of pounds in private investment, creating thousands of jobs right across the region.

Government will continue to work with the proposed East Midlands Mayoral County Combined Authority (EMCCA) and other partners to co-develop the plans for the East Midlands Investment Zone, including priority development sites and specific interventions to drive cluster growth, ahead of final confirmation of the plans.

£18 million has already been awarded to the area during devolution negotiations, which is being spent on improving local housing, transport and skills provision.

Further investment for the region would also be provided through annual Whitehall budgets and spending reviews.

All four councils have now agreed to the creation of East Midlands Combined County Authority and the legal regulations around creating this new authority.

The Government will now need take the deal before Parliament, as this is first of a new type of combined authority and it requires new legislation.

If the legislation is passed in the coming weeks it would come into force by March 2024, meaning the EMCCA will officially come into existence.

The inaugural election for East Midlands Mayor will take place on 2 May 2024.

View of the Crooked Spire from above

Image courtesy of Derbyshire Economic Partnership

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

Chesterfield showcased in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Apprenticeship Awards

Chesterfield businesses and organisations have made the prestigious shortlist for the 2023 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Apprenticeship Awards.

14 category awards are up for grabs to recognise the incredible apprenticeship network across the region.

Brookfield Community School, Dalton Roofing, Central Technology and Chesterfield Royal Hospital are among the Chesterfield firms to make the final shortlist:

  • Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Alfie Wooldridge Derby City Council; Franchescia Davies Buxton & Leek College; Jordan Pirie Brookfield Community School; Olivia Scane HM Land Registry
  • Higher Apprentice of the Year, Sponsored by Nottingham Trent University: Alison Liles The Gables Residential Care Home; Sarah Westwood BWB Consulting;
  • Degree Apprentice of the Year, Sponsored by University of Nottingham; Arron Faulkner E.ON UK; Connell Parker E.ON UK; Holly Johnson Derby Homes Ltd; Mia Outram No7 Beauty Company; Stuart Rendall Continental Engineering Services
  • Construction Apprentice of the Year: Avikaash Manon Derby Homes; Ben Wilcox BWB Consulting; Eddy Palethorpe Crawford & Co Surveyors; Lloyd Dabell Crawford & Co Surveyors; William Thompson Dalton Roofing
  • Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year: To be announced
  • Professional Services Apprentice of the Year: Eleanor Ancliffe Reach Separations; Jacob Whitty Crawford & Co Surveyors; Lloyd Dabell Crawford & Co Surveyors; Megan Tuohy Crawford & Co Surveyors.
  • Health and Public Service Apprentice of the Year, Sponsored by Auto Windscreens: Holly Johnson Derby Homes Ltd; Jade Smith St Albans Medical centre; Poppie Staden Blythe House Hospice Care and Helen’s Trust.
  • Technology and Digital Apprentice of the Year, Sponsored by Aim Qualifications Group: Arron Faulkner E.ON UK; Connell Parker E.ON UK; Hannah Jones Experian; James Bennington BWB ConsultingJames Cox Central Technology; Joe Hawksworth Althaus Digital.
  • Mentor of the Year, Sponsored by Greatest Hits FM: Janet Quinlan-Jones Sort Legal; Kiera Bailey Reach Separations; Sarah Walker BWB Consulting; Sophie Bancroft – Employee Development Manager Derby Homes Limited; Waqas Matloob Althaus Digital.
  • Diversity & Inclusion Award: Auto Windscreens; Broxtowe Borough Council;
  • SME Employer of the Year: Sponsored by EMAAN; Crawford & Co Surveyors; Dalton Roofing; Project D; Sort Legal.
  • Large Employer of the Year: Broxtowe Borough Council; BWB Consulting; Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Derby Homes Ltd; Experian; Motus Commercials; Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust;
  • Training Provider/Programme of the Year: Althaus Digital; Auto Windscreens; JTL

East Midlands Apprenticeship Ambassador Network are headline sponsors of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Apprenticeship Awards with a special focus on the SME Employer of the Year award category, which is open to businesses with up to 249 employees, which offer an apprenticeship programme.

The awards night is set to be held at The Village Hotel, Nottingham on Thursday 6th October.

For further information and to purchase your tickets to attend the event – visit the event website www.dnapprenticeshipawards.co.uk.

Dalton Roofing, Central Technology and Chesterfield Royal Hospital support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

DERBYSHIRE-NOTTS-APPRENTICE 2022

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

Chesterfield and Derbyshire producers showcased at 40th Chatsworth Country Fair

Some of Derbyshire’s finest makers and producers had the opportunity to showcase and sell their products to thousands of visitors at Chatsworth Country Fair (1-3 September 2023).

Over 50 local artisans were invited to exhibit in the ‘Derbyshire Makers Marquee’, hosted by Visit Peak District & Derbyshire in partnership with Derbyshire County Council, at one of England’s most spectacular annual outdoor celebrations.

Now in its fourth year, the Derbyshire Makers Marquee aims to support the growth of small, independent artists and producers by helping them to reach new audiences.

Visitors to the marquee had the chance to sample and buy quality items ranging from arts, crafts, jewellery and homeware to photography and fine food and drink – all produced in Derbyshire.

Chesterfield exhibitors included Hogg Norton, an award-winning producer of alcoholic fruit liqueurs, The Original Paper Starlights, whose colourful handmade lanterns decorated the marquee, and Cup & Saucer, an independent tea blender.

Chatsworth celebrated its 40th Country Fair with three action-packed days of entertainment including thrilling grand ring displays, inspirational cookery demonstrations, interactive rural crafts and traditional country pursuits.

Chesterfield’s Casa Hotel was also involved at the event, with their renowned chefs providing cookery demonstrations to the crowd alongside the nation’s top culinary talents.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “It’s been fantastic to see so many artisans and craftspeople embracing the chance to come together to showcase the high quality products made here in Derbyshire.

“As well as being very popular with visitors, thanks to support from Derbyshire County Council, the Derbyshire Makers Marquee also gave independent producers the chance to exhibit at a nationally-renowned, large-scale event – fuelling their growth and helping them to reach new audiences.”

Mike Norton of Hogg Norton Fruit Liqueurs, based in Chesterfield, said: “Having a stall in the Derbyshire Makers Marquee at such a prestigious event such as Chatsworth Country Fair was such a privilege. Being able to showcase our products to thousands of visitors and potential new customers with our liqueurs that are produced in Derbyshire, with fruit from Derbyshire, literally a few miles from Chatsworth House, gives us brand exposure that we could not achieve on our own.

“Also, being with so many amazing producers from across Derbyshire and the Peak District gave us an opportunity to work with new partners and grow our product offering.”

Hogg Norton – Mike Norton displaying products at Chatsworth Country Fair

Mike Norton displaying Hogg Norton products at Chatsworth Country Fair 2023 – Image by Visit Peak District & Derbyshire.

William and Laura Burlington said: “Derbyshire is blessed with a wealth of extraordinarily talented artisan makers, artists and craftspeople and we’re delighted to be able to celebrate their skill and creativity with a broad audience through the Derbyshire Makers Marquee at the Chatsworth Country Fair.”

Councillor Simon Spencer, Deputy Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “We’re proud to promote small local businesses and value the contribution Derbyshire producers make to the local economy.

“The Derbyshire Makers Marquee provides independent artists and producers with a fantastic platform to display their skills and reach new audiences and I’m pleased we were able to support it.”

Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, Hogg Norton and Casa Hotel support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Celebrating local producers in the Derbyshire Makers Marquee at Chatsworth Country Fair 2023

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Summer, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , ,

New strategy published to meet skills demand in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire

A new localised strategy has been published to ensure people have the skills to meet economic, technological, climate and social challenges in our region.

The Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is a UK Government Department for Education (DfE) project designed to place local employers at the heart of a specific region’s skills system.

This means consulting with employers of all sizes and sectors to understand what skills, capabilities, qualifications, and attributes local companies need from their staff to meet growing productivity, tech, environmental and economic issues, and working with training providers to deliver the right range and calibre of courses.

The LSIP for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire has been led and delivered by the local branch of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), due to their close but independent connections to local employers, stakeholders and training professionals.

Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire’s new skills plan has found that while the area has enormous economic potential in manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, tourism, and technology, there are a range of skills and labour vulnerabilities in the counties that could threaten growth and productivity if not addressed.

Work readiness, digital capabilities and navigating Net Zero opportunities were all found to be of concern among employers, while growing occupational gaps in construction, information and communication technologies, engineering and conservation particularly must be closed to maximise opportunities in service industries, infrastructure, energy security and industrial decarbonisation.

The LSIP report outlines the needs of local businesses, especially in light of recent shifts in the workforce such as the impact of Covid lockdowns, remote working and changes to how young people gain exposure to the workplace. Local problems in recruiting skilled tutors in certain sectors has been highlighted as an urgent need to be tackled.

Understanding how the area’s vast size– as well as having several areas of deprivation – create challenges for people accessing education and work factor into the plan. Evolutions in Artificial Intelligence, automation, and the pressures of adapting to climate change also shape the LSIP’s recommendations.

The LSIP has put forward 18 actionable priorities that require local training providers, councils, trade bodies and other regional stakeholders to make changes before June 2025. The plan has been formally approved by the Secretary of State for Education The Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP.

Local lead for the LSIP and author of the approved report, Natalie Gasson-McKinley MBE, Development Manager for FSB said: “I’m delighted that Government has granted approval and officially unveiled our strategy aimed at providing the local community with the precise skills required by businesses in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

“The LSIP encompasses both a structured methodology and a comprehensive blueprint, focusing on active engagement with employers. This approach ensures a thorough grasp of their critical skill deficiencies, challenges, and prospects, while aligning these requirements with local skills provision. It represents a bold stride towards the future, with the welfare of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire’s people and businesses at its core.

“We are instigating reforms tailored to a workforce spanning generations. The task of catering to diverse generational needs and expectations across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire is undeniably challenging, yet it’s a challenge that we, alongside local training providers and stakeholders are eager to embrace.

“A robust skills foundation in any locality is intimately tied to business efficiency and the well-being of individual employees. The opportunity to play a role in enhancing these vital facets has been truly rewarding. With the official release of the plan, I eagerly anticipate collaborating with our local educational institutions, independent training providers, governing bodies, skill development entities, and industry leaders to transform this vision into reality.”

Following approval and publication of the LSIP, the Federation of Small Businesses can now continue to work with these stakeholders – as well as monitor and report progress – over the next two years.

The full LSIP report is available for download now at: https://www.fsb.org.uk/derbyshire-and-nottinghamshire-lsip.html

Find out more about the range of skills and employability initiatives taking place across Chesterfield at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/about-chesterfield/learning/

Students learning construction skills at Chesterfield College

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

Chesterfield and Derbyshire businesses to receive a pedal power boost

Tourism businesses in the Peak District and Derbyshire can benefit from a new series of free webinars aimed at boosting the local cycling economy.

Supported by Visit Peak District & Derbyshire and Derbyshire County Council, visitor economy businesses can learn about the benefits of being a cycle-friendly business on a series of webinars taking place in September and October.

The webinars aim to help small and medium-sized enterprises in Derbyshire to be more competitive and to gain a greater understanding of the cycle tourism market, which is worth £2.9 billion to the UK economy annually and is growing at a rate of 10-15% every year.

As well as helping businesses learn how to attract cycle tourists, the webinars will help businesses understand how they can play a valuable role in making the area the ultimate destination for active travel.

Derbyshire has over 260 miles of traffic-free cycle routes to explore, and the webinars are part of Derbyshire County Council’s ambition to make Derbyshire the most connected and integrated county for cycling in England.

Visit Peak District & Derbyshire has identified cycle tourism as a key area of growth for the local visitor economy, highlighting its ability to increase the value of tourism, extend the visitor season and enhance the area’s sustainable visitor offer.

The 60-minute webinars will be held weekly from 20th September to 17th October 2023 and consist of five modules:

  • What cyclists want: Wednesday 20th September, 10:30am
    Hear top tips from local cycle-friendly businesses, understand how becoming cycle friendly can boost your business, and discover the free resources available to help your business attract cyclists.
  • Cycling for all: Wednesday 27th September, 10:30am
    Learn how to encourage participation in cycling for all abilities and discover the steps you can take to provide a warm welcome for visitors with additional access needs.
  • Enabling sustainable travel: Wednesday 4th October, 10:30am
    Understand the importance of active travel and how cycling can support the development of sustainable tourism.
  • The cycling pound: Wednesday 11th October, 10:30am
    Learn about the economic value of cycle tourism and discover how your business can access the fast-growing domestic and international cycling tourism market.
  • How to become cycle friendly: Tuesday 17th October, 10:30am
    Learn about the facilities that make a business ‘cycle friendly’, gain top tips on how to exceed customer expectations, and hear about some of the latest cycling tourism developments.

The webinars are FREE for visitor economy businesses (accommodation, attractions, activity providers, cafes, pubs, restaurants etc) based in Derbyshire.

To book a place and find out more, please visit: www.visitpeakdistrict.com/industry/business-support/cycling-webinars.

Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Culture, Tourism and Climate Change Councillor Barry Lewis said:
“This joint initiative shows our commitment to supporting local businesses to be more sustainable in a way that can also help them to thrive and gain more share of the cycle tourism market.

“It also supports our ambitions to become a net zero county by 2050 or sooner. We have some great speakers lined up and I hope local tourism businesses will sign up for these free sessions and find out about how they can benefit their business and enhance the well-being of our communities and visitors.”

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Derbyshire County Council to offer local tourism businesses this new programme of cycling webinars, which will provide useful and practical information on how to provide a warm welcome for cyclists.

“As an environmentally sustainable form of tourism, cycling benefits local communities as well as bringing numerous economic benefits to the area, and making your business cycle friendly doesn’t always require major or expensive changes. These webinars offer a fantastic opportunity for businesses to gain a share of the growing cycle tourism market, helping to extend the tourism season, obtain loyal customers, and, above all else, promote our world-class cycling offer.”

tourism cycling VPDD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

View of the Crooked Spire from above

Image courtesy of Derbyshire Economic Partnership

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

Chambers of commerce unite to support refugees into jobs and help businesses to plug skills gaps

Refugees from countries including Ukraine and Syria are being supported into work across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire by a partnership between two chambers of commerce.

East Midlands Chamber and Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce are working together to develop refugees’ skills, employability and social integration, with the aim of enhancing confidence among individuals who have fled war, violence or persecution to take on jobs here – and in turn help businesses to fill vacancies.

East Midlands Chamber’s employment services team has supported more than 150 individuals with personalised training courses, CV and job application writing, interview preparation, housing and financial assistance, and  introductions to employers.

Paul Needham, head of employment services at East Midlands Chamber, which represents Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, said: “Given the extremely tight labour market we are experiencing right now – our research shows that while six in 10 East Midlands businesses attempted to recruit in the first three months of 2023, almost three-quarters (73%) of those struggled to fill roles – we have been engaging businesses about the benefits of adopting inclusive recruitment policies to open up vacancies to a wider pool of people, including refugees.

“We now want to replicate this work in Derbyshire in partnership with Staffordshire Chamber, which has had great success within its own area, to provide further job opportunities that will enable refugees to integrate into our society and contribute to the communities they now call home.”

Positive Pathways project manager Julie Priestnall said: “Refugees are often skilled and capable individuals who hold qualifications and practical experience across various areas of work, as well as a willingness to learn, which means they can provide a significant contribution to businesses with a little bit of support.

“The impact of Positive Pathways has been enormous – not just on the individuals who have needed our support to give them the confidence to take on jobs but also to the local economy, which has benefitted from their skills to plug gaps in the labour market. Global events mean this type of support is needed now more than ever.”

Individuals and businesses can find out more by contacting East Midlands Chamber’s employment services team at employment.services@emc-dnl.co.uk

Commerce House

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

Resilient businesses to be celebrated at this year’s East Midlands Chamber Business Awards

The resilience of the East Midlands business community during a tough trading environment will be celebrated at a trio of upcoming awards ceremonies later this year – and firms are invited to put themselves forward for recognition.

Entries are now open for the East Midlands Chamber Business Awards 2023, which includes three gala dinner celebrations in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

Businesses, charities and individuals from each county will be recognised across 14 categories, ranging from Outstanding Growth and Excellence in International Trade through to Environmental Impact and an Education and Business Partnership Award.

Headline partner Mazars will also select a Business of the Year winner for each county.

East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “With the cost-of-doing-business crisis following hot on the heels of the pandemic and Brexit, the past few years have been as tough a trading environment as many of us can recall.

“Despite this, we’ve seen tremendous resilience on display among our region’s business community, which has found new ways to grow, innovate and collaborate.

“We are once again hugely excited about celebrating these achievements in our Business Awards, which are always one of the most highly-anticipated events in the Chamber calendar – thanks to the sponsors that help to make it happen.”

The deadline for the East Midlands Chamber Business Awards 2023 is Monday 17 July.

Finalists will be announced at a president’s summer celebration on Thursday 24 August and they will then have a chance to state their case at virtual judging panels taking place on the week commencing 11 September.

A gala dinner to celebrate the Chamber’s Derbyshire Business Awards will take place on Friday, 17th November 2023.

To enter the East Midlands Chamber Business Awards 2023 or to find out about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.emc-dnl.co.uk/services/business-awards

East Midlands Chamber Business Awards 2023 categories

  • Business Improvement through Technology
  • Community Impact Award
  • Outstanding Growth Award
  • Environmental Impact Award
  • Commitment to People Development Award
  • Apprentice of the Year
  • Entrepreneur of the Year
  • Education and Business Partnership Award
  • Excellence in Customer Service
  • Excellence in International Trade
  • Small Business of the Year
  • Excellence in Innovation
  • Excellence in Collaboration
  • Business of the Year

Derbyshire Business Awards winners

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

Signs of growth and confidence among businesses for year ahead, finds East Midlands Chamber study

After suffering a series of knocks over the past three years, East Midlands businesses are finally optimistic about what 2023 could bring, according to new research into the state of the region’s economy.

Uncertainty has been replaced with confidence, there has been a turnaround in sales and companies are now expecting to employ more people once again, East Midlands Chamber’s latest study illustrates.

Economic indicators covered by the business representation group’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), which is delivered in partnership with the University of Leicester School of Business, have been largely negative since the end of 2021, but they are all now heading in the right direction during the first quarter of 2023.

East Midlands Chamber director of policy and insight Chris Hobson said: “Following an uncertain end to 2022, these latest findings demonstrate how businesses are beginning 2023 by displaying signs of growth and an increasing confidence for the year ahead.

“Sales and advanced orders are steadily growing, cashflow is improving – although there are still significantly more businesses reporting a decline in cashflow (35%) as opposed to an increase (22%) – and price pressures continue their gradual drop-off.

“The relative certainty in the policy environment, at least compared to the constant flip-flopping that came before, is now leading to a significant upturn in business confidence and, therefore, investment intentions, which are crucial if we are to steer the economy back on track and achieve consistent growth.

“While the region’s unemployment rate has been at historically low levels in recent times, our research had shown a decline in employers recruiting – mainly due to an extremely tight labour market driven by escalating numbers of economically inactive people since the dawn of the pandemic combined with longstanding skills shortages.

“So it’s pleasing to see a positive swing, with a 7% increase in the proportion of businesses recruiting in the past three months and a 14% improvement in those expecting to add to their workforce before the summer, as this generates jobs and prosperity locally.

“While all this paints a far healthier picture than at the end of 2022, caution is required as many of these indicators are still down from where we were a year ago.

“We are moving slowly in the right direction but Government support is still required to ‘get the basics right’ by knocking down the everyday barriers to doing business, and then backing our firms to grow the economy by focusing on the ‘four Is’ – investment, innovation, infrastructure and international trade – all of which is laid out in our Business Manifesto for Growth.”

East Midlands Chamber QES Q1 2023 data

Key findings from the Quarterly Economic Survey Q1 2023 for the East Midlands*, which was completed by 347 organisations between 13 February and 9 March, included:

  • UK sales grew by a net 1% between Q4 2022 and Q1 2023, with UK advanced orders up by 15%. Overseas sales and advanced orders were both up by 6% quarter on quarter
  • A net 12% of businesses added to their headcount in the first three months of 2023, marking a 7% increase compared to the previous quarter, while a net 30% of firms expect to recruit new staff in the next three months – a 14% increase
  • Recruitment problems persist but are dropping off gradually – six in 10 (59%) businesses attempted to recruit in Q1 2023 and, of those, 73% faced problems filling roles, but this was down from 81% in Q4 2022
  • A net 52% of businesses expect they will be forced to raise prices as they grapple with rising costs for people, energy, raw materials and fuel – although this is down from 57% in the previous quarter
  • While a net 13% of firms reported a decrease in cashflow, there was a 4% positive swing
  • Investment intentions are now trending upwards, with a 12% increase quarter on quarter in the net proportion of firms saying they will invest in training and a 6% rise for investing in plant and machinery
  • Business confidence is now in positive territory, with a net 39% optimistic about growing turnover over the coming year – a 15% rise compared to last quarter – and a net 8% (up by 11%) expecting to improve profitability.

Professor Mohamed Shaban, associate dean for business and civic engagement at the University of Leicester School of Business, said: “The survey results are yet another testament to the resilience of businesses in the East Midlands.

“Despite the challenges in the past few years, businesses have successfully navigated their way through the uncertain domestic and global economic environment.

“Businesses have endured credit tightening, an inflationary environment, supply chain disruptions and skilled labour shortages, which have collectively hindered the possibilities for growth.

“New initiatives are required to support businesses to invest in technologies that help them achieve higher levels of automation, nudge them towards net zero goals and empower them to invest in upskilling employees.”

Commerce House

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

Nominations now open for East Midlands Chamber Enterprising Women Awards 2023

Entries are now open for the East Midlands Chamber’s Enterprising Women Awards 2023, with the network set to recognise another cohort of female leaders.

Women in business across the Chamber’s membership base in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire can apply for the 10 category awards – which cater for a range of careers from apprentices and employees, to entrepreneurs and long-standing achievement.

The Enterprising Women Awards, held in association with headline partner Michael Smith Switchgear, were launched yesterday (Thursday 9 March) at an International Women’s Day conference at the Nottingham Belfry, which was attended by more than 80 delegates.

Enterprising Women is led by co-chairs Jean Mountain and Eileen Perry MBE DL. Through its networking opportunities and inspirational events, it creates an environment for women in business to connect and grow their knowledge, and equips them with the tools to succeed.

Jean, who co-founded the network in 1997, said: “The Enterprising Women Awards are a fantastic showcase of the strength of female talent we have here in the East Midlands, and we’re delighted to bring the celebration back this year.”

Eileen added: “We’ve been running our awards programme since 2013, and every year the calibre of talent never fails to impress us. We are looking forward to reading seeing another cohort of what undoubtedly will be fantastic applications this year.”

Enterprising Women Awards 2023 categories

Business Woman of the Year (sponsored by Michael Smith Switchgear)

Female Entrepreneur of the Year (sponsored by Fraser Stretton Property Group)

Social Commitment (sponsored by She Inspires)

Small Business of the Year (sponsored by Unique Window Systems)

Female Employee of the Year (sponsored by Nelsons)

Team of the Year (sponsored by Breedon Consulting)

She Who Innovates (sponsored by Pick Everard)

Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Futures Housing Group)

Rising Star (sponsored by The Turnaround CEO)

Lifetime Achievement (sponsored by Paradigm Wills)

Other supporters of the awards include music sponsors PPL PRS, and video sponsors AVIT Media.

Entries are now open and the deadline is 27 April, with the awards taking place on 6 October.

Enterprising Women co-chairs

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

Chesterfield businesses offered fully-funded support for technology growth

Businesses across Chesterfield and the wider East Midlands region are being urged to take advantage of the support available from the Digital Upscaler project before funding comes to an end.

The project, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by East Midlands Chamber, supports businesses looking to invest in new technologies to propel growth or to overcome barriers due to a lack of understanding of new technologies.

It offers businesses the knowledge, investment and capacity to scale-up by embracing new technologies, and includes:

  • Intensive one-to-one adviser support from a team of digital experts
  • Funded consultancy to support new technology integration
  • An extensive programme of in-person, two-day digital workshops
  • Peer networks and the East Midlands Manufacturing Network – a Chamber initiative launched last year as a peer-led network, regularly bringing together makers across the region.

Nearly 500 businesses have so far enrolled on and engaged with the programme, which runs until the end of June 2023.

Paul Humphreys, head of scale-up services at East Midlands Chamber, said: “Time and again, we’re told the Chamber’s ‘deep dive’ workshops offer hugely practical advice that can be implemented immediately when staff are back at their desks.

“Beyond our extensive programme of workshops – which are fully-subsidised for staff in businesses across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire – we’re offering one-to-one support from our digital advisers to businesses considered to be high growth. Those showing the best growth potential will be invited to apply for a consultancy award.

“By getting to know a business, we can help its senior management team improve their knowledge when choosing a solution, developer or system provider, and make informed and considered decisions about technology investments. Our ultimate aim is to ensure their digital solutions meet the desired performance and functionality needed for future growth.”

A business that has already benefitted from Digital Upscaler support in our area is Cruise Circle in Bolsover.

When husband and wife team, Jason Daniels and Danielle Nemeth, acquired independent specialist travel agent Cruise Circle from its previous owners in 2009, they had a clear vision to evolve it into an online travel provider that was ahead of the curve in the cruise travel sector.

A Digital Upscaler grant and expert digital adviser support have enabled them to completely overhaul their legacy systems, resulting in the integration of data collection and data processing modules and customer relationship management.

Integration of automation functionality across platforms has reduced time spent manually inputting simple bookings, accelerating booking procedures and delivering a more efficient service to customers.

Jason said: “Our Chamber digital adviser demonstrated significant system development experience, which proved invaluable to us. He impressed on us the need to completely rethink and rebuild our digital position, and helped us understand the digital architecture we needed to develop was, in principle, not entirely different to that deployed by other business in other sectors.

“This reassured us that, with the right technical support, our digital functionality goals were within perfect reach.”

Upcoming Digital Upscaler workshops

  • Using technology to scale your business: Tuesday 24 January and Tuesday 31 January – Village Hotel, Nottingham
  • Social media academy: Wednesday 25 January and Thursday 26 January – Leicester Marriott Hotel; Tuesday 7 and Tuesday 14 February – Village Hotel, Nottingham; Tuesday 28 February and Wednesday 1 March – Holiday Inn Leicester
  • Successful search engine optimisation: Wednesday 1 February and Wednesday 8 February – Leicester Marriott Hotel
  • Inbound marketing: Thursday 2 February and Thursday 9 February – Leicester Marriott Hotel
  • Get to grips with GA4 (Google Analytics) and convert more visitors into sales and leads: Thursday 16 February and Thursday 23 February – Leicester Marriott Hotel

More information on the Digital Upscaler project, including a full list of events, is available on East Midlands Chamber’s website at www.emc-dnl.co.uk/services/digital-upscaler.

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

Stay informed

Keep up to date

Dont miss out on all the latest news, updates & special offers.

Signup to our newsletter