Champion of the Week
Meet our Champion of the Week: Dawn Brown, the founder of DogLand
Hi, I’m Dawn Brown, the founder of DogLand, a 5-star doggy boarding and daycare centre in the heart of Chesterfield.
What makes Chesterfield and North Derbyshire a good place to work?
Chesterfield and North Derbyshire are fantastic places to work because of the strong sense of community and the support for local businesses.
There is a real culture of collaboration between organisations, local authorities and the business community, which makes it easier for businesses to grow and succeed. The area also benefits from a great balance between town and countryside, making it an attractive place for employees and families. Being part of a community that values local enterprise and supports independent businesses has played an important role in the success of DogLand.
What is your organisation looking forward to?
We are looking forward to UNMASKED, a one-day business experience I have created for ambitious female business owners.
Taking place on 7th September 2026 at Aston Hall Hotel, UNMASKED will bring together female business owners for honest conversations, practical strategies and meaningful connections. We’ll be exploring leadership, resilience, people, wellbeing and sustainable growth, with plenty of real-world experience that attendees can take back into their businesses.
What sparked your decision to invest in Chesterfield and why?
The decision to invest in Chesterfield was driven by both opportunity and community. The area has a large number of dog owners and a real need for high-quality dog daycare services. From the beginning, it felt like the right place to build a business that focuses on care, trust and professionalism.
Chesterfield has also proven to be a supportive place to start and grow a business, with strong local networks and organisations that actively support local entrepreneurs. Investing in the area allowed DogLand to grow while remaining connected to the local community.
Who has provided advice and how has it helped your organisation?
Throughout the journey of building DogLand, advice and support from local business networks and professionals have been invaluable. Guidance from experienced business mentors and organisations within the Chesterfield community has helped shape key decisions around growth, management structure and long-term planning.
Having access to advice from people who understand the local economy and business environment has helped the organisation develop with confidence and ensure that it continues to grow sustainably.
What places would you recommend to someone planning a two-night stay?
The Hunloke Arms pub has great food and is dog friendly. Also, a must is a visit to Chatsworth House and the surrounding gardens.
Chesterfield Champions have been helping to promote Chesterfield and North Derbyshire for over 15 years. What have you most enjoyed supporting during this time?
What we have most enjoyed supporting is the promotion of Chesterfield and North Derbyshire as a place where local businesses can genuinely thrive. Being part of a community that actively champions its local businesses creates a strong sense of pride and collaboration.
It has been particularly rewarding to see how initiatives that promote the town, encourage local investment and highlight the success of local organisations help strengthen the entire business community. Supporting these initiatives not only raises the profile of Chesterfield as a great place to live and work, but it also creates opportunities for businesses like ours to connect, grow and contribute to the local economy.
Most importantly, we enjoy being part of a network that celebrates local success and works together to make Chesterfield and North Derbyshire an even better place for businesses, employees and the wider community.
DogLand is one of over 200 Chesterfield organisations that are proud to support the local economy, working closely with Destination Chesterfield to showcase Chesterfield and North Derbyshire as a destination to live, work, visit and invest.
Find out more about our Champions network.
