Author: Dom Stevens

Business rates boost bid successful for Derbyshire

2nd January 2018

Derbyshire could benefit from up to £21m extra funding following a successful Government bid which will see the county taking part in a business rates pilot scheme.

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid announced Derbyshire’s successful bid to become a 100% Business Rates Retention pilot as part of the local government finance settlement statement in Parliament on Tuesday 19 December 2017.

The exact amount of the extra funding is still to be confirmed but the final amount will be used to boost economic growth, support vital services, support infrastructure and promote new development across the county and Derby city.

Derbyshire County Council led the successful bid on behalf of the county’s eight district and borough councils, Derby City Council and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service − which are all business rates authorities.

The bid was one of only 10 to be successful in this round.

Derbyshire County Council Leader Councillor Barry Lewis said:

“This is fantastic news for the county as a whole and will benefit a wide variety of important projects that will make a huge difference to communities and our local economy.”

At the moment all local authorities currently retain 50% of business rates and the Government is looking to move to all local authorities retaining 75% of business rates by 2020-2021 and eventually to 100%.

A number of 100% retention pilot schemes are already running so that the Government can assess how well the scheme works in practice, test it out across a wide range of environments and learn lessons before it is rolled out across the country.

Derbyshire’s successful bid will see all business rates income from all county authorities being ‘pooled’, which will bring the additional ‘one-off’ funding.

Each authority will receive a share of 70% of the total extra money to support their own services, which could include building new homes, bringing back into use existing properties, supporting children’s social care, waste and recycling, promoting tourism and supporting community safety and safe and well checks.

The remaining 30% of the total amount must be used to support economic regeneration across the county and city. The Derby and Derbyshire Authorities Joint Committee for Economic Prosperity will make the decisions on how this money is allocated for individual projects.

Councillor Lewis said:

“To be chosen as one of only 10 authorities in this round shows that our bid was very strong.

“We obviously welcome the one-off extra funding this will bring, and working with our partners we have an excellent opportunity to see how this scheme will work in practice and what benefits it will bring to the county in the long-term.”

Representatives from each Derbyshire authority will now form a board which will be responsible for guiding and managing the day-to-day running of the pilot.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

Milestone moves to new offices

2nd January 2018

Following significant growth since launching less than 18 months ago, Milestone Financial Planning has relocated to larger offices.

The independent financial planner’s new headquarters, in Dunston Court in Chesterfield, is over two floors, boasting office space, meeting rooms and a boardroom. Headed by Michael and Jo Heath the firm has seen stellar growth since it was established in July 2016 with five staff appointed to manage Milestone’s growing client list.

Michael Heath, Director of Milestone Financial Planning commented: “The team and I are extremely excited for the future of Milestone. We now have the space we need to manage our further plans for expansion. It’s a very exciting time for the business and to be based in Chesterfield. The town is on a growth trajectory and it feels great to be part of that.”

As part of the office move, Milestone appealed to local school children to help decorate the reception with their artwork. Judging took place at the grand opening of the new offices in December. Hana Morley was declared the winner. Her artwork, and that of all the entrants, will now be displayed in a collage within the reception area.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Win cash for you old electricals

28th December 2017

Have you got any old, broken or unwanted electricals? Dig them out and take them to your local household waste recycling centre in the New Year for your chance to win one of fifteen £100 cash prizes.

From hair-dryers to hedge-trimmers, fairy lights to fridges and toasters to TVs, there’s a wide range of household appliances you can take to Derbyshire County Council’s recycling centres. And from 2 January, you can exchange them for a golden ticket – which means you could be quids in.

Simply ask for your golden ticket from a member of staff at any of the county council’s nine recycling centres, type in your unique ticket number online at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/electric and find out if you’re an instant winner. The more items you recycle, the more tickets you’ll get.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure Councillor Simon Spencer said: “This is a great way of putting unwanted electricals to good use – with the added bonus of a chance to win £100.

“It’s a shocking fact that across the UK we throw away more than a quarter of the electrical items we buy instead of recycling them.

“We spend £20 million a year dealing with waste in Derbyshire which residents choose not to recycle.

“But if every Derbyshire household took just one electrical item to one of our recycling centres in January we could recycle an additional 333,000 appliances, saving not only tax-payers cash but also the precious metals and other valuable materials they contain.”

The competition prizes are being funded by Advantage Waste Brokers – the contractor which works on behalf of the county council to collect and recycle electrical items taken to its recycling centres.

Electrical goods can be exchanged for a golden ticket at the following recycling centres:

Ashbourne (Mayfield Road)
Bolsover (Buttermilk Lane)
Buxton (Waterswallows Road)
Glossop (Melandra Road)
Ilkeston (Manners Avenue Industrial Estate)
Loscoe (Heanor)
Newhall (Swadlincote)
Northwood (Darley Dale)
Stonegravels (Chesterfield)

Posted in About Chesterfield

Businesses need greater certainty and support in 2018

22nd December 2017

Despite strong performances by exporters cashing in on the pound’s lower value during the earlier parts of 2017, businesses will be looking for greater certainty and support from Government next year and beyond.

That was the underlying message of the responses to the East Midlands Chamber* Quarterly Economic Survey for the final three months of the year.

Expected inflationary pressures, particularly arising from the cost of importing raw materials, resulted in a cooling of business confidence in the final quarter, but overall it remained strong.

The percentage of companies that reported confidence in turnover in Q4 was slightly down on Q3 but finished the year about ten percentage points higher than in Q4 2016. Confidence in profitability showed an even stronger finish to the year, up almost 20 percentage points over 12 months earlier.

Uncertainty about the future meant business expressing increased investment intentions throughout 2017 were fewer than in 2016 but, overall, ended the year about two percentage points higher than it started.

Recruitment difficulties remained a constant problem for businesses throughout the year, with 60% of respondents saying they had tried to recruit and 58% of them saying they’d struggled to find suitable candidates.

In the survey, over a third (36%) of respondents said they had recruited staff during the previous three months compared with just ten per cent that said they’d reduced their workforce.

Intentions to invest in equipment and training remained relatively weak in the fourth quarter compared with historic levels and the concerns about future price increases, which have been a feature of the past 12 months, remained.

Chris Hobson, the Chamber’s Director of Policy, said: “As we move into 2018, businesses will be looking for greater certainty and support to give them the confidence to invest and help grow productivity.

“The skills gap remains a key strategic issue for UK growth and one that Government policy needs to respond to in a meaningful way.

“Despite the uncertainty, however, the State of the Economy Index – compiled from the net results of the Quarterly Economic Survey – ended the year at 360, the second highest it’s been since Q2 2015.

“With Brexit talks now beginning to look at more positive things such as trading arrangements and the customs union, we hope that our negotiators will keep the needs of business to the fore so that we don’t lose momentum when it comes to confidence and investment plans.”

Posted in Business

Ashgate Hospicecare receives grant from Westfield Health Charitable Trust

22nd December 2017

is thrilled to announce that they have received a generous grant of £103,035 from the Westfield Health Charitable Trust.

The grant, that is going to used to create a beautiful garden room and dementia friendly courtyard for our patients, their families and visitors, will ensure there is a space where families can make positive memories and remember their lives together.

Graham Moore, Chairman of the Westfield Health Charitable Trust, said: “It is a pleasure to be funding the improvements on the Inpatient Unit at Ashgate Hospicecare.

It will create a stunning, comfortable and dementia-friendly sunroom and courtyard for the patients, their families and visitors. I look forward to seeing the completed project in the late Spring.”

Tina Croley, Trust and Grants Fundraiser at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “We are so grateful to the Westfield Health Charitable Trust for their generous grant to the hospice. We share their aim to take care of people’s health and wellbeing, and the passion to look after them.

With their support, we will be able to meet a key priority of creating space for families to be together whilst addressing the needs of our patients with dementia and other cognitive difficulties.”

In 2015, Ashgate Hospicecare achieved an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ from the Care Quality Commission. The report showed the Hospice provides high quality, safe and innovative care and that patients, their relatives and carers were highly complementary and satisfied with the care given, which they often described as excellent, exceptional or outstanding.

Karen Walker, Ward Manager of the Inpatient Unit at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “We are really proud of our ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission for our care.

The wonderful grant from Westfield Health means that we will have an outstanding area to match that care.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

Monkey Park purchases its premises following Natwest funding

21st December 2017

A Chesterfield-based multi-award winning social enterprise that promotes the personal and social well-being of the community has bought the Brampton building that it is based in since receiving a £142,000 grant from the Power to Change Foundation, a subsidised mortgage from Natwest.

Monkey Park – a café, bike repair shop and shared working environment – was established on Chester Street in 2015. Led by a group of local volunteers who are committed to community inclusion, Monkey Park provides a safe haven and an environment which encourages the development of the community.

Since 2015, the once derelict former tile warehouse has been transformed into a vibrant community hub creating four jobs within the local community.

With experienced legal support from the commercial services department of regional law firm Banner Jones which advised on the purchase of its building, Monkey Park can now ensure that it will be used for the good of the community for many years to come.

Recently awarded the ‘Organisation of the Year Award’ at the Voluntary Sector Awards for North Derbyshire, Monkey Park has won a bid to provide free ‘Equipped to Succeed’ courses for local people with limited opportunity.

Christine Redding, trustee of Monkey Park, has commented: “I am delighted that we have been able to purchase the premises of Monkey Park, which will allow the organisation to become much more sustainable. Now that the purchase is complete, we will be able to respond more efficiently to the needs of the community.

“The purchase of the property would not have been possible without the indispensable legal advice of Ian Osborn at Banner Jones who ensured we made the right long-term decisions to secure the future success of the organisation.”

Ian Osborn, commercial property specialist at Banner Jones, has commented: “Over the last two years, Monkey Park has provided many people in the local community with the opportunity for development. The purchase of its premises is a great achievement and I look forward to continuing to follow Monkey Park’s journey.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Mitchells strengthens team with new appointment

21st December 2017

Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers has further strengthened its corporate team with the appointment of a Chartered Accountant.

Kelly Scaysbrook ACA from Brockwell in Chesterfield joins the Saltergate-based firm as a Corporate Manager. Kelly gained a 2:1 BA (Hons) degree in Accounting and Financial Management in 2012 and became a fully qualified Chartered Accountant in 2015.

Experienced in a variety of areas including accounts preparation, auditing, corporate and personal tax, Kelly makes the move from a Derby-based firm of Chartered Accountants.

Commenting on her appointment, Kelly said: “I am delighted to join a local, trusted business that really knows and understands the clients it serves. Mitchells is a relaxed and friendly environment to work in while maintaining a great level of professionalism, which really sets it apart from other firms.”

Outside work, Kelly enjoys socialising with friends and family as well as spending time at the gym. The move to a local firm now allows her a work life balance and will also give her the opportunity to get involved with the local community.

Posted in Business

University of Derby launches £1,000 Derbyshire Bursary

20th December 2017

The University of Derby has launched a bursary to encourage more people in the county to participate in higher education and develop the necessary skills to help grow the local economy.

Derbyshire residents and students from eligible schools across Derbyshire, who apply to study first year full-time undergraduate courses starting in September 2018 at the University, will receive the £1,000 Derbyshire Bursary to help support them through their first academic year of study.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “I am delighted to announce our Derbyshire Bursary. This significant investment will support school leavers in Derbyshire in making the transition from school to higher education, and people considering a return to higher education study.”

The government’s Industrial Strategy, the Midlands Engine initiative and the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership Strategy for Growth 2013-2023 have identified that skills need to be nurtured in order to address national skill shortages, and the bursary aims to address this to provide the region’s businesses with ‘work-ready’ graduates.

Professor Mitchell added: “We are proud to be the only University in Derbyshire and recognise the role we have to play in raising aspirations and boosting skills across our county.

“Studying a degree is a big decision and financial commitment, but the benefits of higher education are well known and we have seen so many examples at Derby where it has genuinely transformed people’s lives. Through this bursary we want to open up the opportunity to as many people as possible, including school leavers and mature students, so that they can develop the technical and professional skills required for their careers after graduation.”

To qualify, students need to apply for a first year undergraduate place on a full-time course with University of Derby by 15 January 2018. Providing they meet the requirements of the entry offer, the bursary will be paid into their bank account during the first academic year of study.

In addition to bursaries, the University provides a range of additional financial assistance for students including a £100 study resource e-voucher to spend at Blackwell’s bookstore and free bus travel on the Derby Unibus services.

For more details about the eligible schools, courses and for full terms and conditions visit www.derby.ac.uk/derbyshire-bursary.

New £6.9 million University Campus brings history and future together in Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield

New soft play comes to North Derbyshire

20th December 2017

Matlock Farm Park has recently opened its brand new Rainforest soft play.

The new all year round facilities are an indoor place of adventure in a Rainforest, with a new cafe lounge in the ruins of an Inca temple. It has an underwater themed soft play area for the toddlers with an interactive eye spy panel.

The Rainforest also has two new rooms for use with birthday parties and as classrooms.

Admission to the facilities are included with the entry fee to the Farm Park.

A Matlock Farm Park spokesperson said ” We needed to make Matlock Farm Park more of a 12 month facility, this new barn provides a warm dry area for those cold rainy days. Also we have the new Ark, where we will winter some of our animals are housed and there for a visit.”

“The Farm Park Vision, was to create an indoor play/learning centre, incorporating an overflow café with two classrooms.”

The new facilities were part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Christmas, Leisure, Visiting

New Derbyshire Building Control Partnership to host free breakfast launch event in Chesterfield

20th December 2017

Employers within the local construction sector can learn about how they can access thousands of pounds of funding to enable them to train and upskill their employees at a free breakfast networking event.

The event, which is being held on Tuesday 16 January at the Proact Stadium is being organised by Derbyshire Building Control Partnership, a newly formed company.

Representatives from the Construction Industry Training Board, CITB, will be at the free-to-attend event, sharing help and advice on how SMEs can access up to £10,000 of funding and up to £500,000 of funding for collaborative training.

Flexible Funding is currently available for a range of skills, including training on new software accounting systems, marketing skills, social media training, as well as the general development of management and workforce skills.

As well as learning about available grants, the event will also serve as a platform to launch the newly formed company – Derbyshire Building Control Partnership, to businesses within the area.

Derbyshire Building Control Partnership was formed at the end of 2017 and incorporates six established Local Authority Building Control Services from Derby City Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, North East Derbyshire District Council, Bolsover District Council and Amber Valley Borough Council.

Together, they have joined forced to form the newly created Derbyshire BCP providing a complete local authority building control approval service across Derbyshire, operating out of the company’s two offices based in in Chesterfield and Derby.

All building control managers and related support staff were transferred from their respective local authority employer to the new company. Derbyshire Building Control Partnership now brings together years of experience and a wealth of building knowledge to deliver a modern and efficient building control service to help the local construction community.

Commenting on the event Neil Johnson, Managing Director of Derbyshire Building Control Partnership, said: “A great deal of behind the scenes work has gone in to establishing the new company, so I delighted to be able to officially launch Derbyshire Building Control Partnership. As well as finding out about the new organization and the services we now offer, it will be an ideal opportunity to learn first-hand about government funding that is available to help businesses of all sizes within Derbyshire’s construction sector address skills shortages.”

To book onto a free event, please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dbcp-breakfast-networking-event-tickets-41282650519

Posted in Business

Over a thousand Santas heading to Queen’s Park this Christmas Eve

19th December 2017

Around 1,300 people have signed up to take part in the CBD Training Ltd Chesterfield 5k Santa Fun Run & Walk and Unit 1 Martial Arts 1500m Santa Fun Run & Walk in Queen’s Park on Christmas Eve.

John Cannon, Organiser of the event, who staged the first Santa Fun Run 12 months ago, is delighted with the response. He said:-

“People will be travelling from all over England and abroad to take part, all dressed as Santa, which is fantastic.

“With Christmas carols from Ashover Band, together with demonstrations from Unit 1 Martial Arts, a Chesterfield FC Community Trust target game, stalls and walking football, it promises to be a great day.”

Money raised from the event will be split equally between Ashgate Hospicecare, Weston Park Cancer Charity and retreat@Royal for the Mayor’s Appeal.

At the event there will be both a 5k which is 4 laps of Queen’s Park on park footpaths and a 1500m run that is three and a half laps of the cricket pitch. Both runs are traffic free and marshaled, suitable for all abilities to run or walk the chosen distance.

In addition to the main sponsors, CBD Training LTD and Unit 1 Fitness and Martial Arts, the following organisations are also kindly supporting the event: Chesterfield Borough Council, Queen’s Park Leisure Centre, Chesterfield FC Community Trust, North Derbyshire Running Club, The Unique Network, Elastic FM, Fredericks Ice Cream, The MOT Centre, Siddalls Roofing, Mercol Engineering and Banner Jones Solicitors.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas