Author: Dom Stevens

Apprentices set to be honoured at Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards

28th September 2018

Three young people are set to battle it out to claim the Apprentice of the Year title at the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards next month.

Celebrity chef Lesley Waters will announce the winner of the prestigious title at a glittering awards ceremony being held at Chesterfield College on Wednesday 31 October.

Ben Forster from Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa, Corey Elliott from The Lilypad Café & Restaurant and Courtney Slater from Katey’s Coffee Shop at Hollingwood Hub are all in the running for the award which is sponsored by Apprentice Town (Led by Chesterfield Borough Council).

The finalists will be recognised alongside more than 30 businesses from the town’s food and drink sector which have been shortlisted across 15 categories in the annual Food and Drink Awards, organised by Destination Chesterfield.

All shortlisted apprentices were nominated for the award by their employers.

Commenting on being shortlisted, Ben Forster (19), a Level 3 apprentice in Professional Cookery at Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa, said: “Everyone at work is really happy for me. It’s really good to have been chosen to be one of the finalists and recognised at work for how I’m progressing. I love the buzz and energy of working here. It’s amazing. I could never do anything else.”

Ben, who has ambitions to own his open seafood restaurant or bakery decided to do a professional cookery apprenticeship after undertaking work experience at Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa when he was at The Bolsover School.

Fellow Level 3 Professional Cookery apprentice, Corey Elliott (17) has been with The Lilypad Café & Restaurant since he was 15 years old and worked part time in the kitchen washing dishes. He is now a valued member of the food preparation team. Corey enjoys cooking in his own time, often cooks for his parents at home.

He commented: “I love the atmosphere at The Lilypad Café & Restaurant and get on with my team really well. Cooking is my passion, it’s what I like to do in my own time, so it’s nice to be recognised for the hard work I put in here.”

Courtney Slater (20) from Katey’s Coffee Shop has completed her Level 2 apprenticeship in Hospitality and Catering and is now a manager. She commented: “Every day is different when you work at Katey’s Coffee Shop; it doesn’t even feel like being at work. I love the team I work with and really enjoy my role here. I’m looking forward to the awards ceremony.”

Courtney, who loves watching The Great British Bake Off, has even developed new products for the shop and has ambitions to be a pastry chef at a top restaurant.

Ben, Courtney and Katey all hope to claim the ‘Apprentice of the Year’ title

Alongside Ben, Corey and Courtney, three businesses have also been shortlisted for the Apprentice Employer of the Year title, sponsored by Learning Unlimited (The Chesterfield College Group). The shortlisted businesses include:

The Rectory
Stephenson’s Tea & Coffee House
Van Dyk

Both the Apprentice of the Year and Apprentice Employer of the Year awards are new to the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards line up for 2018. The new awards are designed to recognise and commend the valuable contribution both apprentices and their employers make to Chesterfield’s food and drink scene.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “Apprentices play a vital role in the town’s food and drink sector and we’re delighted to be able to recognise the young talent we have here in Chesterfield, as well as the employers that are supporting them through their apprenticeships.”

Other supporters of the awards include Banner Jones Solicitors, BHP Accountants, Casa Hotel, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire Times, Derbyshire Building Control Partnership, Elder Way by Jomast Developments, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire), FEAST (The Food and Drink Forum), Hoods Florist, Jumble Creative Design, Kier Group, MSE Hiller, Owen Taylor & Sons, Peak FM, Reflections, Shorts Chartered Accountants and Winster Foods.

For more information about the Food and Drink awards, please visit https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards/.

Winners of the Chesterfield Food & Drink Awards 2017 celebrate

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards

Ashgate Hospicecare unveil new Garden Room and Dementia Friendly Courtyard thanks to a generous donation

28th September 2018

Last week, Ashgate Hospicecare officially opened the doors to their brand new dementia friendly courtyard and garden room thanks to the amazing generosity of the Westfield Health Charitable Trust.

The new garden room provides a homely sanctuary to patients and their families who want non-clinical, modern space to spend precious time together. The garden room is also a gateway to a welcoming outdoor space which has been designed to be dementia friendly. There are sensory plants, a tranquil water feature, comfortable seating and a mural that all contribute to creating a peaceful outdoor space.

Graham Moore, Chairman of the Westfield Health Charitable Trust, said: “As a longstanding supporter of Ashgate Hospicecare we are delighted to have funded the new courtyard and garden room, which I had the privilege of officially opening. This is an amazing space where patients and their families can spend quality time together, which I’m sure will have a positive impact on the wellbeing of patients.”

The transformed area will significantly improve the Hospice experience for all of our patients and their families, particularly for those with cognitive difficulties, as well as providing families with a place to take loved ones that is easily accessible but close by to the nurses which is important for continuity of care.

John Beeston, a patient in Ashgate Hospicecare’s Inpatient Unit, said: “This was my first time seeing the courtyard and I think it looks amazing. It reminds me a lot of being at home because we get a lot of sparrows in our garden, just like those painted on the mural. It’s wonderful to have the bird feeders too because hopefully they will attract lots of birds into the courtyard.

The garden room is a wonderful addition too! It’s lovely because it can be used all year round and you can open up the bi-folding doors and feel like you’re outside even if you’re inside.”

Richard Gosling, who is also in Ashgate Hospicecare’s Inpatient Unit, said: “I think that the courtyard is super! It’s just what we wanted. I spend a lot of time in the gardens at the Hospice, so having this extra outside space is great.”

Local businesses also added to this special addition to the Hospice. Without the support of Gary Fletcher Surfacing, John Plant MBE, Tesco’s Bags of Help, K B Rouse, Peter Barber, Walton Landscapes, TG Beighton, Hospice garden volunteers, Valley Reclamation, the DEEP Group, the Hospice Dementia Champions and CMC Aluminium this project wouldn’t have been possible.

Julie Foster, Ashgate Hospicecare Matron said: “We are so grateful to the Westfield Health Charitable Trust and everyone else involved who made this project possible. We have known for a long time that the environment has a huge impact on patient wellbeing, this new space is a home from home, a space for patients to relax, to celebrate with loved ones, to simply enjoy when it matters most.”

The Hospice was awarded ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission in 2015 for our care, the garden room and courtyard are now outstanding spaces to match this care and have inspired the Hospice to make improvements to other areas on the Inpatient Unit.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development

Chesterfield in Bloom winners announced

28th September 2018

Alongside East Midlands in Bloom awards, where Chesterfield received the Overall Gold Award in the small city category for the third year running and received 6 awards in total, gardeners across the borough have also been celebrating after the winners of the Chesterfield in Bloom awards were announced at a separate ceremony at Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa.

John Ramsey, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Principal Greenspaces Officer, said: “We would like to congratulate all the entrants to Chesterfield in Bloom, but particularly the winners.”

“The standard of entries was incredibly high and the efforts of everyone involved brought a real sense of colour to the area and of pride in the borough of Chesterfield.”

“A particular highlight this year was having the new categories for council house tenants. We were really pleased with the number of entries and the interest there was among tenants. It brought the awards to a new audience and increased awareness of the wider Chesterfield in Bloom project.”

The Chesterfield in Bloom committee is looking for new members to help build on this year’s success and deliver even more community projects during the next year.

Please see below for a list of winners, or click here for a detailed list of all winners and runners-up.

Chesterfield in Bloom Winners 2018

General competition

Best overall winner: Richard and Sharon Smithson, Newbold

Best front garden: Barry Lomas, Staveley

Best small back garden: Richard and Sharon Smithson, Newbold

Best large back garden: Lynne Gilbert, Tapton

Best container / hanging basket: Margaret and Stephen Wright, Rother

Best pub / restaurant: Britannia Pub, Brampton – John and Jody Wray

Allotment competition

Best small allotment plot: Nigel Masters, Rufford Close Allotments

Best large allotment plot: Colin Bloom, Hunloke Avenue Allotments

Best allotment site: Hunloke Avenue Allotments

Best market stall – section winners:

Simon Harding – Fruit and Veg

Mark Brookes – Plant

Shirley Carmedy – General trader

Lorraine Jukes – Freds Haberdashery

Best overall: Mark Brookes – Plant

Council tenant garden competition

Best front/back and side garden: Shirley Bradbury, Boythorpe

Best hanging basket/container garden: Evelina Lowe, New Whittington

Estate champion: Tony Hedley, Holmehall

Schools gardening competition

Fabulous flowers:

Staveley Junior School

Speedwell Infant School

Duckmanton Primary School

Calow C of E Primary School

Spire Infant School

Wonderful wildlife:

Speedwell Infant School

Calow C of E Primary School

Spire Infant School

Brimington Junior School

Radical recycling: Staveley Junior School

Wheelbarrow competition: Hasland Hall Community School

Painting competition:

Reception to Year 2 category – Seth Grass Smith, Hasland Infants School

Year 3 to year 6 category – Eve Anderson – Old Hall Junior School

Click here for a detailed list of all winners and runners-up

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Blooming fantastic Chesterfield achieves golden treble

27th September 2018

Gardeners in Chesterfield have proved they are not so much green fingered as gold fingered after the borough scooped six East Midlands in Bloom awards.

Chesterfield received the Overall Gold Award in the small city category for the third year running, with a score of 179 out of 200, compared to 173 points 12 months ago.

Residents, businesses and community projects in the borough picked up five further awards from the judges. The winners are:

Holme Hall Unite, who received a special award as the most inspirational project out of 105 projects in the East Midlands region, as well as a ‘thriving’ level 4 award in the It’s Your Neighbourhood programme. The scheme saw the community group work with Chesterfield Borough Council’s housing service and staff from Marks & Spencer to transform a piece of land within their community.
The Britannia Pub in Brampton, which got a gold award in the best pub/hotel category.
Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa in Brimington, which picked up a gold award in the Best Commercial Premises category.
Inspire Community Garden, off Ashgate Road, who received a judges’ award for their work to create a community gardening space.
Jane Land, from Walton, who received a gold award in the Frank Constable category for the quality of the front garden at her house.

The borough’s entry is coordinated by the Chesterfield in Bloom committee, which is managed by Chesterfield Borough Council but involves volunteers and community groups who give up their time to work on projects to keep the area’s streets and open spaces attractive places to live, work and visit.

In their overall remarks the judges – Richard Stephen, Caroline Pollard and Martha Woorsching – said: “There was evidence of the campaign going from strength to strength. We were given a real sense of the passion and dedication of all those involved. Well done Chesterfield.”

John Ramsey, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Principal Greenspaces Officer, said: “To achieve the gold East Midlands in Bloom award standard for the third year in a row is a real achievement for the borough.”

“A huge amount of hard work goes in to keeping the borough’s streets, parks and open spaces attractive places to be and this award recognises the efforts of Chesterfield Borough Council staff and the many community volunteers who work throughout the year to improve the quality of life for Chesterfield residents.”

“It is a real team effort as has been shown by the fact that so many projects in the borough have received gold awards in addition to the main one.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Derbyshire community groups urged to apply for Action Grants before deadline

27th September 2018

Local community groups are being urged to apply for one of Derbyshire County Council’s £500 Action Grants to support their activities as the deadline for current applications approaches.The £1.5m Action Grants scheme was launched in May and the deadline for the next round of applications is this Sunday (September 30).

In just 4 months Action Grants totalling more than £210,000 have been awarded to 113 community groups, clubs, charities and other non-profit organisations across Derbyshire. Successful applicants were able to show they promoted one or more of the four Action Grant themes – youth activity, community action, sport and physical activity or community safety – or a combination.

There are 2,000 small grants of up to £500, a number of grants worth up to £5,000 and for schemes which can be shown to offer long-term benefits for local people and promote 2 or more of our Action Grant themes there are potential grants of £10,000.

Derbyshire County Council Leader Councillor Barry Lewis said: “There are many groups across Derbyshire who do amazing work to provide opportunities for residents in their communities and we want to support them.”

“An Action Grant could be just the helping hand they need to do even more to provide lasting benefits for people across Derbyshire.”

“The application form is simple and easy to complete and there’s still time to apply for this round of £500 grants.”

The current round is for grants of up to £500. If applicants miss this week’s deadline the next one is 31 December 2018. The Action Grants scheme will run until 31 May 2020.

For more information click here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Helping residents to recycle right during National Recycle Week

26th September 2018

Recycling is something most Derbyshire residents already do and as a nation we are recycling more than ever before. But there is more to be done! Derbyshire County Council is putting the call out to residents to get behind Recycle Week and keep up the momentum in driving down the county’s waste.

Recycle Week runs from 24 – 30 September. It celebrates the fact that we are recycling more but is focusing this year on getting the recycling right. The national campaign organised by Recycle Now puts out the clarion call to people to recycle more, recycle right and be proud of what they’re doing – because it matters.

Over three quarters of UK households (76%) add one or more items to their recycling collection that is not accepted locally, which can be problematic in the recycling process. Meanwhile more than half (54%) put at least one item in the general rubbish that could be recycled.

There are some simple things that we can all do to make our recycling even better:

Recycle more of these items: aerosols (empty), plastic cosmetic bottles such as shampoo, shower gel (rinsed out) and plastic cleaning bottles including bleach (emptied, lids on, triggers can also be recycled).
Make sure these never go in the recycling bin: plastic bags, film or food wrappings (e.g. crisp packets, potato bags, bubble wrap); tissue and kitchen roll; dirty nappies.

Anyone who is unsure about how to recycle a specific item or would like further information on recycling can visit Derbyshire County Council‘s website.

Councillor Simon Spencer Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure said:

“This year many of us have taken more notice of our impact on the environment. Programmes like Blue Planet II have inspired people up and down the country to cut their use of plastic – especially single use plastic.”

“All of this helps as does recycling more and making sure we get our recycling right. There’s also a sound economic argument for recycling. It currently costs Derbyshire County Council £34 million a year to dispose of waste that could have been recycled at source.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

Continued funding to help raise aspirations across Derbyshire

25th September 2018

Derbyshire County Council are continuing to fund Raising Aspirations, a countywide project aimed at helping vulnerable young people gain skills, employment and further education. The project, developed by Bolsover Partnership, aims to remove the barriers relating to aspiration and engagement that face some young people.

The Derbyshire County Council cabinet has approved £231,000 of funding to enable Bolsover Partnership to extend the delivery of the Raising Aspirations project in selected schools across Derbyshire.

Councillor Carol Hart, Cabinet Member for Health and Communities said:

“The Raising Aspirations project aims to provide targeted, intensive work with small groups of young people who might need extra support and motivation in order to move into education, training or employment when they leave school.”

“The project offers real opportunities for young people and delivers great results. In 2016 /17 the project worked with 95 young people.”

“Out of that 72% went onto college, 14% went to a sixth form, 7% started an apprenticeship and 4% started with a training provider.”

Mandy Chambers, Chair of Bolsover Partnership said:

“I am delighted that this much deserved initiative will continue to receive funding for a further two years. The innovative approach of the Raising Aspirations programme gives young people intensive support to improve their confidence, aspirations and post-16 progression.”

Raising Aspirations, which will be delivered by Derbyshire Education Business Partnership on behalf of Bolsover Partnership, uses a wide range of techniques including the use of positive role models and mentoring, intensive support and opportunities to take part in employment, education and training.

The funding comes from the public health localities and place-based programme for 2018-2019 and will run for two years from September 2018.

In 2017-2018 the project was delivered in 13 schools and 175 students from years 10 and 11 received support from the project. In addition a further 960 students took part in motivational activities and work to help improve their chances of finding employment.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town

Quit smoking for good this Stoptober

25th September 2018

1 October 2018 sees the launch of this year’s Stoptober challenge where Derbyshire smokers are being urged to quit for 28 days and see the difference that it can make. The annual campaign, run by Public Health England, attracts thousands of people keen to quit.

Councillor Carol Hart, Cabinet Member for Health and Communities said: “Smoking remains one of the biggest causes of preventable illness and premature death in Derbyshire. If you’re thinking of quitting smoking, Stoptober is a great opportunity to sign-up with thousands of other people who are keen to quit.”

Research shows that you’re four times more likely to quit with your local stop smoking service, and Derbyshire has seen a reduction in estimated adult smoking from 20.5% in 2010 to 15.1% in 2017.

Councillor Hart added: “We are working hard in Derbyshire to help reduce the harmful effects of smoking and our Live Life Better Derbyshire healthy lifestyles services offers free help and support to people who want to quit for good.”

Live Life Better offers stop smoking clinics across Derbyshire or find more help and support to stop smoking.

Posted in About Chesterfield

University of Derby named 13th for teaching quality in league table

24th September 2018

The University of Derby is the 13th best university in the UK for teaching quality, according to the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 league table.

The table, to be published this weekend, will show that the University has climbed from 22^nd to joint 13th in the country for its teaching quality.

University of Derby Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kathryn Mitchell, said: “The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide ranking is a very important assessment of a university’s progress across a range of measures. To be ranked joint 13th in the country for teaching quality is a fantastic achievement, and further reinforces our commitment to delivering teaching and learning excellence at Derby.

“Our teaching strategy encourages our academic teaching staff to be innovative in their approach to teaching and to be flexible enough to support the learning needs of individual students. We aim to help every student fulfil their potential and prepare them for their future career or further study.”

This league table position is the latest in a long line of achievements for the University of Derby, which this year has seen it:

Ranked as one of the UK’s top 30 universities overall in The Guardian’s University Guide for 2019 – it’s highest ever overall position
Named among the world’s top 250 modern universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) Young University rankings
Presented with the Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year Award at the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards (THELMAs)

The National Student Satisfaction Survey (NSS) reported in July that satisfaction with teaching at the University of Derby had risen to 88%. In the same survey, assessment and feedback had moved up to 79% satisfaction, with student satisfaction at the University overall rising to 86%, above the national average.

In August, University of Derby Online Learning (UDOL) Academic Manager Paula Shaw received a National Teaching Fellowship – the most prestigious individual award in higher education – in recognition of her outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession.

And Dr Ian Turner, Associate Professor in Learning and Teaching at the University, was shortlisted in the ‘Most Innovative Teacher of the Year’ category for the 14th annual Times Higher Education Awards 2018. The award ceremony takes place in November.

Those successes followed the Teaching Excellence Framework Gold Award from the Higher Education Funding Council in 2017, which puts the University of Derby in the top 20 per cent of all providers in the UK.

This year’s Times and Sunday Times league table also puts student experience at the University of Derby at number 40, up from 55^th last year. Overall, the University was ranked 75^th, up from 81^st in last year’s table – its highest ever overall ranking in the Times and Sunday Times league table.

Professor Mitchell added: “The importance of the student experience of Derby is inextricably linked to outcomes, and we have worked hard with our student body to ensure that they have a greater voice in the way the university is run, as well as investing in new accommodation and facilities.

“Our vision is for Derby to be recognised as an inclusive university, providing the knowledge, experience and support that give our students the skills and confidence to achieve what they are capable of.”

Read more about the University of Derby’s Chesterfield campus, St Helena, by clicking here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Made in Chesterfield

BHP boosts business with 21 new starters

24th September 2018

One of the region’s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants, BHP, has welcomed 21 trainees into the company this month.

BHP, which has offices in Chesterfield, Sheffield, Cleckheaton, Leeds and York, has appointed 12 graduates, four year-long placements and five trainees.

The new starters have been appointed across the Audit and Assurance, Tax, Corporate Finance, Healthcare and Financial Planning departments.

Lisa Leighton, who joined BHP as a graduate in the Audit team and is now a Partner at the firm, said: “We’re very excited to welcome this latest intake of trainees who bring with them fresh ideas and talent. I know first-hand what it’s like joining as a graduate and the opportunities it offers to grow and develop your career. We very much look forward to supporting these new starters to flourish in their roles.”

This is also the first time a graduate has been appointed to the Financial Planning team which has witnessed exceptional growth over the last 18 months.

Louise Allen, Head of HR at BHP, said: “We firmly believe in training and retaining future talent as much as possible and these appointments are a testament to the exceptional growth of the business.”

“We’re very proud of our apprenticeship and placement programmes which strike a good balance between work, study and training, while equipping young people for the future of work.”

Nadeem Alam, a graduate in the Audit and Assurance department, said: “I chose to work at BHP because I could see that it has such a warm and welcoming environment.

“Starting a new job can make you feel very nervous but everyone has been very welcoming in my first few weeks which made it easy to settle in.”

“In the future, I would like to achieve my potential and I believe this is possible at BHP because they encourage internal progression which is crucial for your development. After speaking to people here I know I made the correct decision to join this ambitious firm.”

BHP has more than 350 staff, including 31 partners. Over the last 10 years the business has increased turnover from £8m to more than £20m.

For more information about BHP visit their Chesterfield Champion page here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

New florist brings floral fancy to Chesterfield

21st September 2018

Bolsover Flowers is bringing new floral fancy to the area whilst giving back to the armed forces, with the opening of its new store.

Having launched two months ago, Bolsover Flowers is the realised dream of Marie Carline, who brings her 25 years of experience and floral passion to the local community.

Marie started working with blooms as a trainee florist in Letchworth aged just 19, then built her experience all across the country as she moved around with her husband, who was in the Royal Air Force. It’s this link to the forces that inspired the design of her store, paying homage to those who have fought for their country with fitting poppy artwork adorning the walls. Marie’s support doesn’t stop there, however, giving back to the armed forces by donating a proportion of profits to the benevolent fund.

Going on to gain Interflora and E-Florist experience, Marie then completed the Interflora examination backed by years of honing her craft, before setting out on her own with Bolsover Flowers.

It’s not solely about the blooms for Marie, however – flowers mark some of the most important moments in peoples’ lives and she becomes more of a friend to her customers than just the florist. From happy occasions such as weddings and births, to the more sad moments such as deaths and funerals, Marie recognises the individual needs of her customers to provide a truly personal experience, closing the store or extending her opening times to give privacy when required, with a box of tissues always at the ready. Whatever the request, Marie is happy to deliver. From favourite hobbies to nicknames, Marie utilises her artistic flair to create something special to commemorate a loved one, or can provide long lasting silk flowers for a graveside tribute.

With her flowers coming fresh from the great quality Pride Flowers in Derby, with whom Marie has worked with for over 20 years, plus a weekly delivery from Holland and plants and flower supplies coming from the local Sheffield markets, Marie takes pride in the quality of her flowers. From Willy Wonka-esque rainbow roses to classic white lilies, Marie can make up a bouquet in front of her customers to suit their personal taste. She also stocks a range of gifts from floral filled watering cans to spiky cactus pots and delivers throughout Chesterfield and further afield throughout the UK.

Marie comments: “Floristry is my passion and all I’ve ever wanted to do – I’m actually quite taken aback that I’m finally realising my dream of owning my own florist! The feedback from my customers has been incredible and I can’t wait to create more floral masterpieces for both existing and new customers as I go from strength to strength whilst giving back to the armed forces.”

Bolsover Flowers is open now.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business