The town ‘steels’ itself for Made in Chesterfield Week
Chesterfield Champion, Franke Sissons Ltd is kicking off an entire week dedicated to celebrating the town’s manufacturing heritage by unveiling a brand new sculpture which has been designed and made by the firm’s apprentices and students from Parkside School.
The unveiling of the sculpture is the start of a series of Made in Chesterfield events, organised by Destination Chesterfield and taking place from 10 – 14 November. The week will celebrate the town’s manufacturing heritage as well as raise awareness of the wealth of job and career opportunities in the sector amongst young people and their teachers.
The idea of the sculpture was conceived by Franke Sissons Ltd to recognise the town’s manufacturing heritage and also the company’s 230th Anniversary which it will celebrate during Made in Chesterfield Week.
The sculpture will be sighted outside the Coach Station in The Pocket Park, a community collaboration being delivered by Chesterfield and District Civic Society to mark their 50th Anniversary, in association with Franke Sissons Ltd and Chesterfield Borough Council. As well as the sculpture, The Pocket Park will feature a number of Norway Maple Trees supplied by N T Killingley Ltd to enhance Chesterfield’s town centre.
Bryan Thompson, Chairman of the Chesterfield and District Civic Society said: “This is a wonderful example of the private and public sectors, a school, and a community interest group happily working together to make the town a more attractive place for all, which will make a difference both now and for future generations. We would like to see more well-sited Pocket Parks, to help reinvigorate a sense of identity both within neighbourhoods and across the Borough.”
Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader and executive member for regeneration said: “Chesterfield Coach Station is the first view that many visitors have when they arrive into the town and I’m sure this new sculpture will help welcome them to the town. As a mechanical engineer, I’m proud to have played a small part in the construction of this artwork.
“I’m also proud of the fact that the sculpture gave opportunities to Chesterfield apprentices and schoolchildren to put their design and manufacturing skills into practice, they will be in a place where we can all admire them.”
Franke Sissons’ design apprentice worked with pupils from Parkside School to develop the design for the sculpture. It comprises three cube frames within each other, features icons that the students felt were representative of Chesterfield today; Nature, Manufacturing, and Community. It will sit outside Chesterfield Coach Station and will stand 1.3m high and 1.5m wide.
Andy Dukelow, Managing Director of Franke Sissons Ltd said: “Our business is rooted in Chesterfield and the surrounding areas. We’re thrilled to be kicking off Made in Chesterfield Week with this magnificent sculpture. I am very proud of what Franke’s apprentices have accomplished with the students of Parkside School. The statue has been a real team effort and one I cannot wait to see in situ.
“Young people play an important role in Chesterfield’s manufacturing sector and I am keen to see more consider a career within it. Having started my career as an apprentice myself with the company 33 years ago, I know first-hand that the sky really is the limit where career progression is concerned.”
Made in Chesterfield Week is taking place between 10 – 14th November and will feature a series of events. Coordinated by Destination Chesterfield, in partnership with a steering group from Natwest, United Cast Bars, Chesterfield College, Derbyshire Education Business Partnership, Positive 4 Young People, Placing Futures , Derbyshire County Council and Chesterfield Borough Council, the festival is designed to showcase Chesterfield and North Derbyshire’s thriving manufacturing sector and its associated industries to students, raising awareness of the employment opportunities within it as well as the number of varied and exciting roles.
A number of Chesterfield companies have signed up to run activities for schools. Events taking place during Made in Chesterfield Week (10-14 November) involving students and teachers from schools throughout north east Derbyshire, include workshops with StraightCurves Crafts and NLT Training, factory tours at MSE Hiller, Franke Sissons Ltd and United Cast Bar.
Software company Magnifica Technologies Ltd and Kingfield Electronics, are also hosting a competition for schools via the social media network Twitter. Using software built by bespoke technology specialists Magnifica, a Quadcopter (drone) will be controlled using data collected from Twitter at Kingfield Electronics’ new manufacturing facility on Sheepbridge Industrial Estate.
Local camping brand Field Candy will also be challenging students to come up with unique artwork for a new designer tent.
The activities are designed to embrace the modern face of the town’s thriving manufacturing sector as well as looking at the manufacturing practices of a bygone age.
Dominic Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager, said: “Chesterfield has such a rich heritage in manufacturing and we have a thriving sector with a number of companies doing business on a global scale. Made in Chesterfield Week is a great celebration of this heritage and the sector. The different events that are happening throughout the week will highlight the career opportunities and open young people’s eyes to a career in manufacturing within the town.”
To find out more information about Made in Chesterfield Week, visit:www.chesterfield.co.uk/made
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