Destination Chesterfield

MyFuture careers platform shortlisted for prestigious industry award

An innovative online careers and employability platform, which was launched to Year 11 and 13 school leavers in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire last year, has been shortlisted in the Careers Development Institute (CDI) Awards 2021.

Since its launch, on GCSE results day, the MyFuture platform has helped hundreds of young people gain access to high-quality careers advice, employment support, and skills and educational programmes during the pandemic.

The online platform has been shortlisted in the Innovative and Impactful Employer Engagement category in the annual industry awards which identify and promote excellence in career development. The category is sponsored by the Department for Education (DfE) and CXK, a careers advice charity.

Developed by Chesterfield Borough Council, in partnership with Destination Chesterfield and the D2N2 North Derbyshire Careers Hub, MyFuture plugs the careers information gap left by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The innovative platform, which is believed to be a world first, was designed by Chesterfield-based Oasis Studio. It features around 100 virtual exhibition pods across 10 zones, providing advice on careers, transition, and employment in 16 sectors.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “I’m delighted that our My Future project has been recognised in this way. Our team have spearheaded this project as part of our Economic Recovery plans, working closely with our partners to help ensure the My Future online platform provides valuable information on careers and skills development for young people in Chesterfield. We will continue to support and develop this platform and I want to encourage young people to log in because it will help them plan their future in our borough.”

Dom Stevens Destination Chesterfield Manager added: “Everyone worked tremendously hard in a very short timeframe to get MyFuture up and running and it has been incredibly well received by all users. To be recognised by the Careers Development Institute is testimony to the strong partnerships that exist in Chesterfield that together make positive changes happen for everyone who lives, works and does business here.”

D2N2 North Derbyshire Careers Hub Lead Dan Heffernan said: “Connecting young people to their future careers becomes an even higher priority during economic crisis as younger workers are at much higher risk of becoming casualties of recession. We are therefore delighted that this project has been recognised by the CDI for the value that it brings to young people across North Derbyshire. It is our hope that any publicity generated by this recognition will encourage further collaborative efforts not just in D2N2 but nationally. Only by working together are we going to weather the economic storm generated by the Covid-19 Pandemic.”

MyFuture is shortlisted alongside Creative Careers Programme and Discover! Creative Careers Week, Creative and Cultural Skills and Whole School Career Day 5th March 2020, Huntcliff School, Gainsborough. The winner of the category will be announced next month on Wednesday 10 March.

MyFuture is one of two North Derbyshire projects to be shortlisted in this year’s Careers Development Institute Awards. Derbyshire Education Business Partnership (DEBP) has also been shortlisted for the Best Practice Award – Careers Programme in a Special School or College category for its Project SEARCH.

To view MyFuture please visit www.myfuture.org.uk

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Conference hears how digital upskilling and a human-first approach is key to developing resilient post pandemic future workforce

With demand for digital skills increasing by 36% in the last 12 months, digital upskilling in schools, colleges and businesses will be key to Chesterfield thriving post pandemic. That was the message from leaders at this year’s Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference.

At the virtual, live-streamed conference, it was revealed that the pandemic has brought digital skills to the forefront of work and education and opened up a number of exciting new employment opportunities in the low carbon economy.

Leaders speaking at the fifth annual conference stressed that collaboration between education providers and businesses is key to young people taking advantage of these opportunities post 16 and thriving in the workforce post pandemic.

Speaking at the conference Rachel Quinn, Head of People and Skills at D2N2 LEP said: “Covid has given us the impetus to push forward to use and develop technology to connect people and work better. However, we have to make sure that everyone can participate and make sure the connectivity exists and that everyone has the digital access and skills they need to succeed and thrive. Getting that connectivity right, for the economy and through into our education system is absolutely essential.”

Chesterfield College reported growth in the demand for digital skills in the area and has invested in a digital skills centre. James Lund, Interim Director of Sales at The Chesterfield College Group said: “Apprentice recruitment is starting to return to pre-Covid levels, and we anticipate digital skills being a growth area over the next two to three years. Similarly, we have also seen a growth in demand for apprenticeships in health and social care and construction.”

To ensure young people maximise the opportunities, headline speaker, author and former headteacher, Richard Gerver urged the conference to “look to our inner child in order to succeed and thrive in a post pandemic workforce.”

He said: “By changing our mindset and encouraging people to meet change and uncertainty with curiosity, awe, wonder and questioning rather than fear, young people will see the opportunities rather than obstacles.”

He warned of the long-term impact of change and uncertainty on the self-esteem of young people and urged people to remember the importance of softer skills alongside technical skills.

Mr Gerver added: “Covid has been the most horrific experience in most people’s lived experience but it won’t be the first or last time we have to cope with profound levels of change in our personal lives. All too often our reflex when dealing with a problem is to go direct to the technical or strategic solution, but we need to understand the human first and
that has never been more true than it is now, particularly when thinking about our future workforce.

“Dialogue between educators and businesses is more important than ever to support young people with career development. Real partnership is the key to success.”

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice Chair of Destination Chesterfield reassured the conference that the council is committed to partnership working in order to ensure the future workforce have the post pandemic skills required by local employers.
She explained: “We’re not standing still in Chesterfield. We and our partners recognise that with change comes innovation and with challenge comes resilience. Building resilience and raising the aspirations of future generations is a priority for Chesterfield.

“Our aim is to continue to strengthen links between education providers and local businesses to ensure that our school and college leavers have the skills to access career opportunities available in the borough.”

The annual, free Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference is organised by Chesterfield Borough Council, D2N2 North Derbyshire Careers Hub, and Destination Chesterfield, and is open to businesses, schools and education providers from across North Derbyshire.

Chesterfield businesses that wish to work with the Careers Hub, provide work experience or workplace visit opportunities, recruit apprentices or upskill existing employees, are encouraged to get in touch with Emily Williams, Skills Delivery Officer at Chesterfield Borough Council by emailing Emily.Williams@Chesterfield.gov.uk or calling 01246 959717.

 

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Spireites’ Community Trust team deliver food parcels

The Chesterfield FC Community Trust team helped out at Derbyshire Community Hub last week, delivering food parcels to those in need during Lockdown 3.0.

Whilst always maintaining social distancing and following guidelines, staff volunteered at a charity that supports households who need help during the pandemic.

Having supported Derbyshire Community Hub during October’s Free School Dinners project, the synergy between both organisations of being community focused and supporting those in need made for another opportunity to work together.

Keith Jackson, the Trust’s head of sport and activities, said: “Throughout the last ten months, the team have tried to think of ways to support the local community in these trying times.

“We always set out each year to impact as many local lives in a positive way and this has been no different, despite the difficulties. Be it serving food, collecting food or delivering it, we continue to do as much as we safely can to engage with and help out the local area.”

Nic Finch from the Community Hub said: “A huge thank you to the Trust for their support today. We are always looking for donations and volunteers to get involved so please do get in touch.”

Anyone who would like more information about Derbyshire Community Hub or would like to volunteer for them should email derbyshirecommunityhub@gmail.com

Chesterfield FC Community Trust also recently spread some Christmas cheer across the town, by collecting donations for Chester’s Christmas Toy Appeal, which aimed to ensure no child in our area was left without a present on Christmas Day. You can find out more about the initiative here. 

Chesterfield FC supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Christmas in Chesterfield a major success

Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council’s Christmas experience – The Amazing Magical Santa House – has been hailed a major success after bringing smiles to everyone who went along to meet Santa.

The Amazing Magical Chesterfield Santa House in the town centre, is where the magic technology known as the ‘Santa Zoomer’ – a video link to chat with Santa – was set up and 750 families enjoyed a spectacular start to their Christmas.

As well as the live chat with Santa, families took part in a special augmented reality experience in which Santa magically appeared creating a keepsake photo and video for the family.

Feedback on social media, includes ‘we came this morning and were blown away! Thank you so much. It was fantastic.’

And ‘Looks beautiful inside. Very happy kids and love that I have a photo and video of the experience with Santa’.

Chesterfield Borough Council has now released a video which gives a look inside the Santa House, showing the joy it brought to families:

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy at Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “The Santa House is just what was needed this year. It has given hundreds of families such joy to start Christmas with. We’ve had comments about very happy kids and that is exactly what we set out to achieve.

“It has been a tough year for many of us and this amazing experience, the elf trail and some spectacular Christmas lights have given Chesterfield the magical Christmas it needed.

“We’ve worked with some fantastic local companies to make the Santa House become a reality and it has been great to see the creative, innovative and hardworking talent that exists right here in Chesterfield come together to make this a very special Christmas.

“Overall this Christmas campaign has supported a wide range of town centre businesses by increasing footfall into the town centre and raising awareness of the fantastic offer that exists in Chesterfield town centre for residents, shoppers and visitors.”

The council has worked with a number of local companies to bring the Christmas campaign life. These include JAB Short, providing the town centre shop for the Santa House; Chesterfield Champions Noonah Marketing, providing the augmented reality technology; and Tabs productions, providing the visual interpretation and dressing at the Santa House.

Matt Franks, CEO of Noonah.com, said “After a year with many events cancelled, the work on Chesterfield Santa House we delivered for Chesterfield Borough Council was a fantastic example of showcasing the talent of Noonah and many other local companies. On the back of this project we’ve started to grow again which is great news for our team. Our message to all business owners is hang on in there – the work will come back!”

Karen Henson, Director, Tabs Productions, said: “It was great to be involved with the Amazing Magical Chesterfield Santa House, helping Chesterfield Borough Council bring this amazing idea to life. It has been a hard year for us with the pandemic and usually we would be at our busiest working on Christmas shows, so not only has it been magical to work on the Santa House, but it has really helped us as a small local business move through this difficult year.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said “In these challenging times it has never been more important to support each other. I am delighted that Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council have continued this year to work collaboratively on the Christmas in Chesterfield Campaign. Combining our efforts will reinforce the Support Local message. Making the decision to choose an independent retailer for your gifts and food both now and beyond the pandemic will make a huge difference to our high street.”

Chesterfield Borough Council, in partnership with Destination Chesterfield, created the magical story of the Chesterfield Elves and how they saved Christmas, to deliver the Amazing Magical Chesterfield Santa House.

The story can be downloaded from https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Low-Res-Storybook.pdf and is the perfect bedtime story for families this Christmas.

Our website – www.chesterfield.co.uk/christmas has everything you need to know about Christmas in Chesterfield

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A Year at St. Helena- Update from Dr Paula Holt MBE, Destination Chesterfield Board Member

The following blog has been written by Destination Chesterfield board member, Dr Paula Holt MBE, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean of the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care at the University of Derby.

Dr Holt covers the progress made this year at Chesterfield’s  St. Helena University of Derby Campus, along with the challenges faced by the University throughout the Covid-19 pandemic…

2020 started like any other year at the University of Derby’s St Helena Campus in Chesterfield. Our September cohort of Nursing students had settled in, we were preparing to welcome a new cohort in March, our calendar of business events kicked off, and our business incubation tenants returned after the Christmas break. But life and study changed dramatically in March, when the government announced a UK-wide lockdown due to Coronavirus.

Staff and students adapted quickly to new ways of working as teaching moved to online delivery, and later to a blended approach with a mixture of on-campus and remote learning.

Around 500 of our nursing students from the University’s College of Health, Psychology and Social Care have supported frontline workers in local hospitals and other care settings. The University has provided a range of support to the NHS, local councils, organisations and communities, including the loan of a digital mobile x-ray machine to Chesterfield Royal Hospital, iPads to help patients keep in touch with their families while in hospital and extensive donations of PPE when supply was low.

As we approach the end of the year, we also move towards the completion of the D2N2 Local Growth Fund (LGF) project to develop the Chesterfield University Campus, which we started back in November 2015. The £3.48 million investment from the LGF, plus investment from the University, has allowed us to deliver higher level skills opportunities for school leavers and adult learners, many of which are the first in their family to go to university, and support the economic growth and resilience of businesses in Chesterfield.

I am delighted that, six months before the deadline, we have hit all LGF output targets set for project, including learner numbers, short courses completed, job creation, knowledge transfer partnerships, and refurbished learning space. This is testament to the hard work of our teaching staff, commercial team and strategic partners, including Destination Chesterfield, Chesterfield Borough Council, Chesterfield Royal Hospital, and Derbyshire Voluntary Action.

CommUNIty Chesterfield, a National Lottery funded project putting the ‘UNI’ into the community, has supported residents, the voluntary sector and students through this challenging period. We have missed not having face to face contact with the community on campus, however we have been reaching out in various ways, such as student placements, virtual shared learning sessions and community led initiatives.

As a University, we take our civic role seriously, and I am immensely proud of the work our staff and students have been doing during the pandemic. As we look ahead to 2021 we will embrace the new ‘normal’, learning from the creativity and innovation this strange period has manifested, and we will continue to support the Chesterfield community and businesses through, and beyond, these challenging times.

The University of Derby supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

 

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Chesterfield business leaders urge government to deliver HS2 Eastern Leg in full

The chief executive of East Midlands Chamber says there are “No excuses for the HS2 Eastern Leg not to be built in full,” after the National Infrastructure Commission published recommendations earlier this week.

Responding to the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) Rail Needs Assessment Plan in which it outlines recommendations on the future of HS2, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) chief executive Scott Knowles said: “HS2 is the single-biggest transport infrastructure project in a generation and represents a huge opportunity for businesses, with the potential to unlock economic benefits of more than £4bn for the East Midlands and part of Yorkshire.

“By connecting the region with a first-class UK and Europe-wide rail network, it will bring enormous opportunities to local firms and make the East Midlands a much more attractive location for inward investment.

“However, these benefits for both the region and country will only be realised once it is delivered in full. That means the Eastern Leg being built exactly as the Government has promised all along, rather than a diluted version of this, and at pace.

“We will have major capacity issues on the Midland Main Line within the next two decades unless something is done to upgrade the rail network, so this needs to be addressed urgently. HS2 would achieve this, while also offering much-needed improvements in connectivity between the region’s towns and cities.

“However, this is so much more than just a railway line. It’s been great to see many parts of the East Midlands come together to commit to a blueprint for the future of the region that will bring economic growth and jobs. We have been very clear on our vision, which is built on the idea that the Toton hub station becomes a destination in its own right – a magnet for inward investment and an industrial hub that unlocks further development opportunities.

“The NIC’s report is therefore very concerning as it doesn’t take any of the regional growth plans into account and we absolutely do not accept its findings.

“Any suggestion that involves stopping HS2 at East Midlands Parkway would not work for the region, and has already been considered and dismissed from a feasibility perspective years ago.

“When the Government makes its decision about which option to include in its Integrated Rail Plan, it will have a clear choice between an exciting vision created by a region that’s focused on long-term growth and prosperity – one that will shape how we want our country to look as we leave the UK-EU transition period – and another that applies rough methodology, offers short-term logic and ultimately doesn’t deliver the same benefits.

“We have a plan that’s ready to go and it’s time the Government delivered on promises it has made so many times over the past 12 months since it firmly committed to the scheme – and in the years that preceded it.

“The East Midlands currently has the lowest transport spend per capita – £245 per head – of any region in the UK, receiving just 51% of the £483 UK average. The region is in desperate need of investment and finally putting any questions to bed on the HS2 Eastern Leg would go some way to proving the Government is serious about delivering on the ‘levelling-up’ agenda – a point on which it has repeatedly banged the drum without any serious proof of what this actually means.

“To do anything else would be a huge mistake, critically undermining the entire project and blowing a huge hole in Government rhetoric.”

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council has responded to the NIC publication. She said: “We are hugely disappointed that of the options presented the National Infrastructure Commission does not recommend delivery of the eastern leg of HS2 in full. This directly conflicts with the Government’s pledge to levelling up in areas like ours. It also seriously undermines local plans for growth in the north and the midlands.

“After decades of underinvestment in strategic rail infrastructure, delivering HS2 is a once in a generation chance to transform connectivity, attract investment, create new jobs, build new homes, boost skills and opportunity and level-up communities across the North, Midlands and beyond. This is even more crucial to our economic future in optimising recovery from the pandemic, which has hit the North and Midlands hard.

“We have been working with our partners across the north and midlands for a number of years, making it clear that the full eastern leg is a critical requirement for Northern Powerhouse Rail as well as investing huge amounts of money in developing growth plans that will help our communities make the most of HS2.

“For Chesterfield, the failure to deliver the eastern leg in full means facing the prospect of reduced connectivity for our communities, as well as damaging the momentum we have built up around our ambitious comprehensive plans for both Staveley and the area around Chesterfield Station.

“In the Staveley area alone, planned growth worth at least £1bn has been catalysed by the planned HS2 maintenance depot. Taking this away would be a huge blow for an area that has had its hopes raised on the back of HS2’s plans and would leave a huge question mark over how we can deliver the ambitious growth plans our communities need and deserve.

“It is vital that the Eastern Leg of HS2 is delivered in full and that delivery starts as soon as possible. This is about more than just rail and trains – it’s about new jobs, new homes and new starts for communities that have been denied these opportunities over many years.

“This is a critical issue for Chesterfield and Staveley. I will not rest in working with council and business leaders along the planned Eastern Leg to hold Government to account and to ensure that the Prime Minister honours his commitment to deliver HS2 East in full. Time is of the essence to re-assert the strength of Chesterfield’s social and economic case ahead of Government’s planned publication of its Integrated Rail Plan.”

 

Dom Stevens, manager of Destination Chesterfield commented: “Chesterfield is already moving forward with significant plans and developments so that the town can maximise the wide range of economic benefits HS2 has to offer.

“The originally proposed spur of the line arriving at Chesterfield Station will improve connectivity, journey times and capacity on our rail network locally and nationally, bringing with it vital investment opportunities.

“We would urge the NIC to rethink its recommendations and take into the account the huge strides our town has already made to regenerate its economy, with HS2 playing a huge role in attracting new people into the area to invest, live and work.”

 

 

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Chesterfield College awarded £500,000 towards centre of excellence focusing on modern construction and digital technologies.

A new Centre of Excellence focusing on modern construction and digital technologies will be built at Chesterfield College after the scheme was awarded a £500,000 grant from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The investment will support the D2N2 LEP’s vision of greener homes and technology, along with more energy-efficient public building; with construction being one of the most important sectors to the regional economy.

The project is one of ten across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire which has received funding from D2N2’s £44 million share of the government’s £900 million Getting Building Fund.

The programme of investment is being used to improve digital infrastructure; support skills and career opportunities; and the transition to a low carbon economy to drive economic growth following the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The funding award will allow Chesterfield College to create a new centre where local students will be able to learn state-of-the-art techniques such as Building Information Modelling and Virtual and Augmented reality.

The new centre, which will be housed in pre-existing premises owned by the college, will complement the current curriculum being delivered to teach advanced manufacturing and building techniques. It will offer learners the opportunity to develop the skills which employers need to meet current and future demands in their sector.

It’s hoped that these new skills will enhance learners employment and career development opportunities as well as their earning potential. The facility will also support the growing demand from employers for a workforce well versed in new technologies and construction methods..

With funding for the £875,000 facility now secured work will begin on the site ready to accept learner by April 2021.

The Centre of Excellence is just the latest capital investment D2N2 has made in Chesterfield and follows recent investments into the construction of the Hollis Lane Link Road, the station area redevelopment, and the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project totalling £6.85 million.

D2N2 Chair Elizabeth Fagan CBE said: “Through the Getting Building Fund, D2N2 is investing in projects that will drive the regeneration of our regional economy, adapt to new opportunities, and create a more resilient economy for everyone.”
“I’m pleased D2N2 has been able to invest in this Centre of Excellence at Chesterfield College. Ensuring our workforce has the skills to take advantage of ever more sophisticated and greener construction methods is an essential part of our vision for a cleaner and more sustainable economy.”

David Malone, Deputy Principal of the Chesterfield College Group said: “This funding will allow us to give local people the chance to develop the skills they need to be competitive in the job market as demands of the construction and engineering sector change.
“The Centre of Excellence will allow us to enhance what we already offer students and apprentices and ensure employers have access to a talent pool of people with the skills they need. We are excited to be able to bring together expertise in digital technology with modern construction in one purpose built facility and we look forward to welcoming the first students through the doors in 2021.”

Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, Luke Hall MP said: “We’re supporting students across the country gain the skills they need to succeed in today’s new and emerging industries.
“That’s why we’re supporting Chesterfield College’s Centre of Excellence with a £500,000 Getting Building Fund investment.

“The innovative new facilities will allow local people to progress to high quality, well paid jobs while also meeting the recruitment demands of the region’s businesses.”

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Refurbishment of older persons housing in Chesterfield shortlisted for three awards

A £3.8m investment to transform and modernise housing schemes for older people in Chesterfield has been shortlisted for three awards at this year’s Constructing Excellence East Midlands Awards.

The project, which has seen the refurbishment of Brocklehurst Court, Glebe Court and Catherine Court has been shortlisted for the ‘Building Project of the Year’, ‘Health, Safety & Wellbeing’ and the ‘Integration & Collaborative Working’ at this year’s awards that will take place virtually on Friday 4 December.

Each of the older persons housing schemes have been refurbished and modernised by Chesterfield Borough Council’s main contractor, Fortem Solutions Ltd. as part the council’s commitment to investing in its housing stock to ensure that a supply of affordable, modern and attractive homes can be maintained for local residents in every stage of life.

The transformation of the sheltered housing in Chesterfield began in October 2017, when Chesterfield Borough Council appointed Fortem through the Efficiency East Midlands Framework. Brocklehurst Court was the first scheme to undergo a facelift, with the outdated 1970s building of bedsits and small flats converted into 17 comfortable one and two-bedroom flats.
After the success of Brocklehurst Court, Chesterfield Borough Council tasked Fortem with the £1.5m refurbishment of Glebe Court, then the £1.5m overhaul of Catherine Court, where properties refurbished throughout to create both a bright and welcoming living environment for residents.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “We’re delighted that we have been shortlisted for these awards and it is great to be recognised for the work that has been put in by Fortem and the council to help improve housing for older people in our local community.

“We are committed to improving the quality of life for local people and a key part of our housing strategy is to make sure that our homes are of excellent quality and create a modern and desirable environment. The specification and quality of the work on these schemes has drawn attention from other local authorities, with representatives visiting the schemes in order to see how they could transform sheltered housing in their areas.”

James Taylor, Contracts Manager at Fortem who is leading the Chesterfield refurbishment schemes, said: “The refurbishment of the sheltered housing schemes across Chesterfield has been an amazing journey. The transformation of the properties, through collaborative design and on site working between Fortem and Chesterfield Borough Council, have led to a sector leading standard of refurbishment.

“We are proud to work with the Council on schemes which are in the heart of the local community. The works have allowed us to provide a sociable, light, and spacious living environment for the residents, while supporting social initiatives such as Gussies Kitchen and the Cosy Hub, ensuring we leave a legacy in the area which will be felt for many years to come.”

The project to transform and modernise sheltered housing in Chesterfield is in progress, further works are in progress to refurbish Mallard Court and Leander Court and works will then follow on at Aston Court. When complete all the Council’s sheltered housing will have been transformed into high quality affordable homes for our older residents.

Find out more about living in Chesterfield here 

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The Chesterfield Elves have arrived in town

The Christmas magic continues in Chesterfield with the launch of the Elf Trail this week, as part of  Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council’s Christmas in Chesterfield campaign.

The cheeky elves have left some clues on how to find them and want you to spot them around the town centre in this special game.

When you find one of the elves you can scan the ‘Elf QR Code’ which gives you access to some very special and secret Elf webpages, which we’ve hidden on the Destination Chesterfield Christmas website.

On the webpages you will find out more about each elf and you’ll see their special letter. Collect all the letters – spell out the secret elf word – and you will be entered into a competition to win an Annual Family Pass for Matlock Farm Park.

You’ll also find discounts and gift guides for shopping locally to support your local high street this Christmas.

The Christmas in Chesterfield campaign is based on the magical story of the Chesterfield Elves and how they saved Christmas. The first part of the Christmas campaign – The Amazing Magical Santa House – opened last weekend and is now completely sold out. Families are reminded if they can no longer make their slot, they can easily cancel by going to their confirmation email and clicking on cancel. This will ensure other families get the chance to see Santa this Christmas.

The story is the perfect Christmas bedtime story and it is now available to download here

You can also download The Cheeky Elf Colouring Book which will keep everyone entertained this Christmas.Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy at Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “The Christmas season has got off to a great start with the fantastic Amazing Magical Santa House which has proved to be very popular, selling out completely and giving families a wonderful start to the Christmas season. The Elf Trail adds to the great Christmas feel across the town centre. It really feels like Christmas in Chesterfield now.

“It is great to see our town centre shops open again with shoppers following Covid safety guidance. It’s just what we need right now – a busy but safe town centre.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “This year’s Christmas campaign really does showcase what an innovative and resilient town Chesterfield is. The Elf Trail offers safe fun for all the family to explore Chesterfield town centre this year. It’s also an ideal excuse to shop local. Santa may not be here in person, but the elves most definitely are, and I hope families will enjoy discovering them as well as the myriad of shops, stores and market stalls that Chesterfield has to offer.”

The elf trail is a contactless experience using mobile phones. When scanning the QR code you don’t need to touch the window just scan it from a distance. Once scanned move away from the window to read about the elf and find the competition clue. Please maintain social distancing if someone else is scanning the QR code of the Elf and wait until they have moved two metres away before scanning.

Full details on everything happening this Christmas, including gift guides and shopping offers for our many unique and independent shops can be found here with further details on council services at Christmas on the Borough Council’s website.

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Derbyshire Voluntary Action welcomes new recruit to help Chesterfield residents feel more connected

Debbie Fennell has joined Derbyshire Voluntary Action in the newly-created role of ‘Social Connectedness Development Worker.’

Derbyshire Voluntary Action is a membership organisation for North Derbyshire’s health and wellbeing related voluntary and community sector. North Derbyshire spans the districts of High Peak, Derbyshire Dales, Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire and Bolsover.

Through specialist infrastructure services, the organisation actively engages with and support 320+ members, which range from tiny volunteer-led self-help groups through to local and regional charities delivering projects to the benefit of large numbers of Derbyshire residents.

Debbie joins the DVA team to play a key role in the ‘Feeling Connected in North East Derbyshire and Chesterfield’ project – an initiative to improve local approaches to tackling social isolation and reducing the impact of loneliness.

Debbie, who describes herself as a ‘people person,’ has nine years’ experience of working in the voluntary and community sector, most recently as a Project Coordinator at Age Concern Chesterfield and District, where she was responsible for the ‘Active Age’ project.

In her new role, she will work out and about in communities across Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire, supporting residents and communities to create and take up opportunities to be better socially connected.

Debbie says, ‘My role is about building relationships with people who want to make a difference in their street, estate, village, town or workplace – and to be responsive in helping them in whatever way they need. It’s a challenging time to be starting a job like this, but even in lockdown there are many ways we can all keep our spirits up and continue to connect with family, friends and the people who live around us.’

If you have ideas about keeping your community connected this winter, Debbie would love to hear from you. Call her on 07547 342251, email debbie@dva.org.uk or find her on Facebook: FeelingConnectedNEDC.

Derbyshire Voluntary Action supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

 

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East Midlands Chamber and Chesterfield Borough Council join forces to help businesses create jobs for young people via Kickstart scheme

East Midlands Chamber has teamed up with Chesterfield Borough Council to encourage businesses to get more young people into work by taking advantage of the new Kickstart scheme.

The Government programme covers the cost of a six-month work placement for 16 to 24-year-olds who are on Universal Credit or at risk of long-term unemployment.

Employers that want to create at least 30 placements can apply directly to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for a grant to cover the costs, but companies with fewer than 30 roles must apply via recognised gateway organisations, such as the Chamber.

To date, the Chamber has signed up almost 340 businesses and facilitated more than 1,000 potential placements across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. About a third of these are digital and technology roles, with other popular jobs include business and finance, as well as transport and storage.

To engage more businesses to create job opportunities for young people in their communities, and benefit from the additional resources offered by work placement students, the Chamber has collaborated with local authorities and other organisations.

As part of its latest partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council, it will hold a free virtual information session on Monday 7 December for businesses to find out what the scheme involves and giving them the opportunity to join 20 other organisations in the borough of Chesterfield – which together want to create 59 placements – in making applications.

Diane Beresford, deputy chief executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “We know young people have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and the huge amount of unemployment it has created, so the Kickstart scheme is an important mechanism for helping them to get the skills they need to prepare for the world of work.

“Businesses that take part will be playing a vital role in their communities by supporting and preparing our future workforce, but there are also many benefits for employers.

“As this is a fully-funded scheme, it allows organisations to trial new roles, and provides relevant training and mentoring to ensure the young person has the most up-to-date skills and knowledge. There is also a relatively risk-free opportunity to identify good-quality apprentices, opening a pathway for both the employer and employee to grow together.

“It’s important that the public and private sector work together, and our partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council is a great example as we want to make sure as many companies as possible take advantage of these opportunities.”

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, deputy leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, added: “We understand that Covid-19 has affected our communities in a variety of ways, but it has especially impacted on our younger workforce, with the number of 18 to 24-year-olds claiming out of work benefits nearly doubling since March 2020. We’re delighted to be working with East Midlands Chamber to help support the economy and assist both businesses and workers in mitigating the negative impacts of Covid-19.

“One of the council’s key aims is to ensure that Chesterfield is a thriving borough and the Kickstart scheme will open up much-needed opportunities for young people to develop their skills and careers for the future. There are also many benefits for our local businesses who participate in this scheme during this challenging time. Therefore, we’re encouraging businesses to engage with this fully-funded programme to offer our younger generation vital work roles that will build fundamental skills.

“The information session we are running on Monday 7 December will be a beneficial tool for businesses, helping them to gain further insight into the scheme and the support on offer to them in making applications. We encourage all businesses that are interested to attend and utilise this free resource available to them.”

The £2bn Kickstart scheme was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak as part of his Plan for Jobs to help young people into work and spur Britain’s post-Covid economic revival.

A quarter of a million people aged under 25 have claimed unemployment benefits since March, while the unemployment rate among young people is far higher than the overall rate of 4.8%, reaching 14.6%.

The Chamber has already held four online information sessions that attracted 250 attendees, many of which are among the 320 businesses that have since registered with the Chamber to recruit for placements. Some of these organisations have multiple vacancies.

Acting on their behalf, the Chamber applies to the DWP for funding, which pays 100% of the age-relevant National Minimum Wage, national insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week.

Employers can choose to top up this wage and are also eligible for a £1,500 Government grant for training people on a Kickstart placement.

The Chamber started making applications on 1 November. Once they are accepted, young people are referred into the roles via a Jobcentre Plus work coach. Application can be made until December 2021 initially.

Diane added: “The number of businesses that have already booked on to our information sessions shows there’s great appetite out there among businesses to take advantage of these opportunities.

“Businesses receive the full salary cost for six months, but we’re also educating them about the finer details, such as how they must provide employability skills to individuals so they will be well-equipped to land permanent jobs in the future.”

The Kickstart Your Business: Accessing the Kickstart Programme session being run by the Chamber in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council will be held via Zoom on Monday 7 December from 12pm to 1pm.

It is free for both members and non-members of the Chamber, and open to anyone regardless of whether they are based in the Chesterfield area.

It will feature a welcome by Cllr Amanda Serjeant, presentation by the Chamber’s deputy chief executive Diane Beresford and education and business partnership manager Pieter Eksteen, and a Q&A.

Businesses can sign up to the event here.

Other upcoming online information sessions include:

chamber video export

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

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