About Chesterfield

New Chesterfield FC senior management roles announced

21st August 2020

Two key appointments have been made to strengthen the senior management team at Chesterfield FC.

This news follows the recent sale of Chesterfield FC to Chesterfield FC Community Trust.

John Croot, Chief Executive of Chesterfield FC Community Trust, takes up the same role at the club while Andy Fantom has been appointed as chief finance officer.

Commenting on the appointments, Chairman Mike Goodwin said: “John Croot played an important role in the Community Trust’s decision to purchase the football club after previously playing a crucial role in saving the club from folding in the past.”

“Having worked closely with John at the Community Trust, he has done a fantastic job as the Trust’s chief executive and he has the full support of the board to take charge of the day to day running of the club.”

“John has a wealth of experience, having first joined the board in the 1980s and his passion for the club shines through. He was urged by the trustees to remain on the board under the previous ownership as he is well respected in the town and in football. His knowledge and contacts are invaluable.

“It was also important that we brought in someone to closely control the club’s finances and Andy Fantom fits the bill perfectly.”

“Andy will be known to many after helping to set up the CFSS, who rescued the club following Darren Brown’s spell as owner. His commercial experience includes managing banks and building societies and his financial acumen will be vitally important.”

John Croot. Photographer: Gray Hughes

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure

Chesterfield squash courts and 3G football pitches to reopen

21st August 2020

After successfully reopening gyms, swimming pools and fitness classes, Chesterfield Borough Council is pleased to announce that squash courts and 3G pitches will be re-opening to the public from Tuesday 1 September.

Initially those customers who had regular bookings prior to closure will have the opportunity to continue their booking, which will be open to new customers once existing customers have had the opportunity to confirm their bookings. If you are an existing customer, the leisure team will contact you directly.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt cabinet member for health and wellbeing said: “Lots of people get their weekly exercise from playing squash or five a side football and it’s really important that we can help people exercise more by restarting these sports at our facilities.”

In order to safely reopen these facilities, the council has followed industry specific advice issued by England Squash and the English Football Association. As part of the restrictions for reopening, you can only play with people in your household or social bubble. You must also bring your own equipment in order to play.

There are several other guidelines in place. Find out more here: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/leisure-centres-re-opening (opens in new tab)

Booking can be made by calling Queen’s Park Sports Centre on 01246 345555, emailing qpscenquiries@chesterfield.gov.uk or for squash using the online booking system here (opens in new tab).

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

GCSE students at Chesterfield College celebrate results

20th August 2020

Students at Chesterfield College were celebrating GCSE success today after receiving the grades they need to progress with their studies and their careers.

The college supports students to improve or refresh the English, maths and biology GCSE grades they left school with. Many students study these subjects at the same time as studying vocational courses to boost their qualifications to help open up new career opportunities or options for higher level study.

Classes at college offer different ways of studying to a school environment to help students reach this goal. With smaller class sizes and a more practical approach to learning, students can develop the skills they need in new ways. This year, more students achieved their goal of a grade 4 or above across all three subjects compared to the previous year and 100% of biology students received the grades they needed.

After an anxious wait and an unusual end to the academic year, many students came back to college to collect results. They were eager to find out if their hard work and extra study had given them the results they needed.

Stephanie Bealing, was really happy when she opened her results to find she had the grade 4s she needed in English and maths. She said: “I started crying when I opened the envelope, I just couldn’t believe it! I’ve been getting 2s since I first did my GCSEs in 2017, every year I’ve resat and got 2s, it’s never been different until today. It’s been really hard this year as well so I didn’t expect to get these results, I’m so pleased that I’ve jumped up two grades.”

“The grade 4 in English and maths means that I can finally start my Level 3 plumbing here at college. I had to study an extra year to prove that I was capable of studying at Level 3 so getting these grades today makes me feel so much better. At the start of the pandemic I started giving up a little bit, I was shockingly bad at studying at home on my own, I missed having that social interaction and I was getting stressed when I didn’t understand something but my tutor Edie has been really supportive. We’ve had so many Zoom calls, she’s always been there for me. Now that I’ve passed, it’s given me hope again that I can be the plumber that I want to be. Then eventually I want to become a fully qualified gas engineer.”

Stephanie Bealing

Kieran Marriott, has put so much effort into his studies on the Kickstart programme so he was delighted when he opened his envelope to discover he had achieved a grade 5 in English. He said: “I am overwhelmed to be honest. I started college with a grade 2 in English and after a year at college I have got a grade 5. When I got my results after school I was devastated and I felt like I had let myself down. Now I’ve got it I feel like I can go on to do what I want to do now. I want to be a forensic scientist so I am coming back to college in September to study Public Services.”

Kieran Marriott

Jama Holden was very pleased to find out he had achieved a grade 5 in Maths: “The tutor support throughout my journey so far has been fantastic. With all of their support I’ve finally got there and achieved the grades I need. Next steps for me could well be a GCSE in Biology which I’m excited about. After 20 years in Royal Mail I finished work due to ill health and eventually decided to return to learning on the Access to HE for Health Professionals. Whilst it was daunting at first, that didn’t last long as I quickly realised how wonderful the support is here as well as the facilities and I’ve even become a Rep on the Students’ Union committee. The overall experience has really helped me regain my confidence.”

Jama Holden

David Malone, Deputy Principal officer at Chesterfield College said: “I am incredibly proud of all the students who have worked so hard to develop their maths, English and biology skills, often alongside other studies, juggling work and family life. We know how important these skills are to help people progress and secure a positive future in so many different careers.”

“It is wonderful to hear that so many of our students have been successful. I know many people collecting results here today may have had more than one attempt to get these qualifications and it is a testament to their resilience and determination that they now have the grades they need to progress. I hope it also demonstrates to school leavers, who might not have got the grades they were hoping for today, that they can achieve the grades they need alongside their other studies here at college.”

“Our message to anyone receiving GCSE results today, after the difficult few months and unusual circumstances surrounding exams, is that whatever your results it is vital to start the next stage of your education in September. We want to reiterate that their college place is safe and we are ready to get their learning off to a great start.”

A team of college advisors will be available to help GCSE students work out the best option for them, with a range of ways to access that support including:

over the phone on 01246 500500
via email at advice@chesterfield.ac.uk
via live chat on the college web site (available between 9am-5pm on results day)

The college has also reassured school leavers that applications are still open and there is still time to secure a place to start in September.

For more information visit the chesterfield College website here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Featured, Home

Designer Contracts shortlisted for National Business Award

20th August 2020

Designer Contracts, a nationwide flooring company based in Chesterfield, has been named as a finalist in the prestigious Lloyds Bank Business Awards.

The company has been shortlisted for the bank’s ‘Mid-Market Business of the Year Award’ with the winner being announced in November.

Peter Kelsey, MD of Designer Contracts, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be in the line-up for Mid-Market Business of the Year! We’re up against some tough competition, but to be recognised in such a well-known, high profile event, in what has undoubtably been a challenging year for many, is a credit to our business and its people.

“In the midst of the pandemic, we’ve had a number of success stories and were able to complete our planned move to a larger head office in Chesterfield – almost four times the size of our previous premises. We’ve also welcomed a number of new customers and continued to service our existing clients – thanks to our huge stockholding – which has been a blessing to many!

“We’re looking forward to the next stage of the awards process – which will include a Zoom interview with members of the judging panel in early September, before finding out our fate at the awards ceremony in November!”

Designer Contracts continues to enjoy significant and consistent growth and is on track to deliver an £80 million turnover as part of its five-year plan. It posted a 23 per cent growth at its previous end of year figures for the year to October 31 2019, boosting turnover from £38 million to £46.7 million.

Designer Contracts operates across 15 regional outlets throughout the UK and is now fully compliant with the UK government guidelines on managing the risk of Covid 19 – and has been certified as a ‘Covid Safe’ employer.

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

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home

Virtual careers fair launched for Chesterfield and North Derbyshire school leavers

20th August 2020

An innovative online careers and employability platform, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, has been launched today (20 August).

The launch has been timed to coincide with the release of the GCSE exam results, and whatever the outcomes, this platform is aimed at helping school leavers in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire make important decisions about their future amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

Developed by Chesterfield Borough Council, in partnership with Destination Chesterfield and the D2N2 North Derbyshire Careers Hub, the My Future platform aims to provide free careers information to Year 11 and 13 young people.

The virtual careers fair platform aims to give young people across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire access to the widest range of high-quality careers advice, employment support, skills and educational programmes, by showcasing up to 100 businesses, education and training providers across 10 zones.

Using innovative 360expo software, the My Future platform has been developed in partnership with Chesterfield-based Oasis Studio. It has been created in just a few weeks in order to provide support for young people facing uncertainty in their future as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ahead of the launch, the D2N2 North Derbyshire Careers Hub has worked with careers leaders from 21 schools and colleges across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, to reach out to all Year 11 and Year 13 school leavers encouraging them to access the My Future platform.

To encourage young people to visit the platform, the North Derbyshire Careers Hub is also giving away an iPad to one of the first visitors to the site who finds the golden spire which will be hidden within one of the virtual stands.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Whether you’re finishing GCSEs, A-Levels or college courses, what you have achieved this year is remarkable, especially given the extra challenges you have faced due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. Whatever your results are, you should be especially proud of yourself.”

“Now is the time to start thinking about the future and what that next step is, and the My Futures platform is the perfect way to get started.”

“My Future has led to a truly innovative digital platform that provides access to a wide range of careers advice, employment support, apprenticeships, skills and training programmes, all under one virtual roof. I hope that My Future will help young people to build the career and future that they want, so that we can continue to build a thriving borough together.”

James Brand, D2N2 LEP board member and Managing Director of United Cast Bar, a Chesterfield-based business which is featured in the engineering and manufacturing zone on the platform, said: “My Future is a fantastic platform which we were delighted to get involved with. It’s a great opportunity for businesses to reach out to young people during these challenging times. The platform will offer real support and guidance to school leavers who have been unable to access the careers information they would normally have had to help them make informed decisions about their future.”

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager explained: “Everyone has worked tremendously hard to get the platform up and running. We have been overwhelmed by the support and involvement of businesses and training providers to make My Future happen and support local school leavers during this challenging time.”

D2N2 North Derbyshire Careers Hub Lead Dan Heffernan said: “In these challenging times, it’s more important than ever to ensure our young people are given high quality and relevant transitions support. My Future will ensure that we continue to inspire our future workforce, give them advice on their future career prospects, and showcase the types of next steps that are available.

“On behalf of D2N2 LEP I want to thank all of the organisations that have contributed to this project so far, all of whom are helping to transform the skills and employability agenda across North Derbyshire.”

There are around 100 virtual exhibition pods active on the platform across 10 zones, including careers and transition, regeneration, enterprise and employment support, digital and technology, engineering and manufacturing, financial and professional services, health, community and public service, property and construction, logistics and distribution and tourism, hospitality and retail.

Young people can take control of their future by visiting My Future and learning about the many opportunities available to them at www.myfuture.org.uk from Thursday 20 August. The mobile app can also be downloaded here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Home

Virtual events provide medal opportunity for Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon runners

19th August 2020

Runners will have an opportunity to claim a 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon medal this year despite the event’s cancellation due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Virtual events have been confirmed for the original event weekend of 16th to 18th October, with participants invited to run a Half Marathon, Five Mile or 10k distance before publishing post-run pictures and/or times on the page’s Virtual Events Facebook page, or tagging the event on Instagram and/or Twitter.

The Redbrik Half was cancelled due to Covid-19 creating safety concerns, with the brand-new Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k replacing the event from 2021.

Entrants into the originally-planned 2020 Redbrik Half Marathon who have deferred their entries to the new Chesterfield 10k will receive a medal free of charge on completion of one of the Redbrik Half Marathon Virtual Events – as will those who have already entered the 2021 Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k.

Runners who have not entered either event but want to claim a Virtual Event medal can also enter online for a small fee, with details to be announced soon.

With the Redbrik Half Marathon’s charity partners – Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice – due to miss out on funds pledged by those running this year’s Half Marathon events, organisers have encouraged Virtual Event participants to raise funds for good causes which would ordinarily have received tens of thousands of pounds in donations.

John Timms, Event Director said: “We’re really looking forward to seeing people take to the streets safely for the Redbrik Half Marathon’s Virtual Events weekend.”

“This is a fantastic way for those disappointed at the event’s cancellation to still claim a medal and be rewarded for all the training and efforts they have been putting in over the last few months preparing for the event.”

“It’s also vitally important that we continue to pledge funds for great causes such as Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, which have both missed out on huge chunks of funding following the cancellation of events due to the pandemic.”

“It won’t quite replace the incredible buzz of the Chesterfield Half Marathon, but this is our chance to give back to those who supported the Redbrik Half in the three years since its inception, and those who have already pledged their support for the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k.”

Mark Ross, Managing Director of Redbrik Estate Agents, said: “It’s great that entrants into the 2020 Redbrik Half Marathon still have a chance to claim a medal despite the event’s cancellation – it’s certainly unusual and something I’ve not seen a lot of cancelled events offer to entrants.”

“It’s also a fantastic way in which people can still generate much-needed funds for causes such as Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, two charities which have done unbelievable work during the pandemic and continue to serve local people and communities despite the current circumstances.”

“We’ve been proud to support the Chesterfield Half Marathon since its re-launch in 2017 and look forward to seeing people take part in this year’s virtual events, as we head towards the all-new Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k in 2021.”

The Redbrik Half Marathon’s Virtual Events will be supported by Pronto Paints, a leading regional industrial paint manufacturer.

Pronto Paints Managing Director, David Beckford, said: “We’re delighted to continue supporting the health and wellbeing of the people of Chesterfield and the surrounding areas by pledging our support to the 2020 Redbrik Half Marathon’s Virtual Events.

“We love the idea behind the Redbrik Half Marathon’s Virtual Events and getting behind the event despite the ‘real’ Half Marathon being called off fits within our company ethos of continuing to support the health and wellbeing and physical activity of the community.

“We can’t wait to see medals being awarded for all those who take on the Virtual Redbrik Half Marathon.”

To find out more about the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10K, click here.

Image credit: Paul Horton Photography

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Further statues added to the Markham Colliery miners memorial

19th August 2020

Fifteen new statues have been have been added to the ‘Walking Together’ mining memorial at the Markham Vale Business Park to commemorate miners who tragically lost their lives in 3 disasters at Markham Colliery.

The business park was developed by Derbyshire County Council and HBD on the site of the former colliery and the memorial acts as a permanent reminder of the site’s strong mining heritage.

Each statue symbolises a miner’s journey to the pit and represents the men who lost their lives in the 3 accidents in 1937, 1938 and 1973.

The new statues takes the total of life-sized steel figures to 77 and Derbyshire County Council continue to work alongside partners to fundraise for all 106 miners to be commemorated.

Councillor Barry Lewis Derbyshire County Council Leader, said: “Although the landscape looks very different, Markham Vale is a hive of industry and employment today just as it was back when the pit stood there and, it’s important we don’t forget the area’s roots.”

He added: “As we enter the final stages towards completing the memorial project, I’d like to thank all the sponsors for their contributions so far, including Viridor Credits Environmental Company for funding the most recent group of figures through the Landfill Communities Fund.”

These most recent additions have been dedicated to:

Charles Bown, 27, contractor
George Clarence Briggs, 52, deputy
Joseph William Brocklehurst, 58, deputy
George Cyril Foulds Buckley, 40, contractor
John William Watson Commons, 33, contractor
George Eyre, 60, gearhead attendant
Clifford Brooks, 58, deputy
Joe Hardy, 37, Contractor
Clarence Hill, 29, belt-hand
Fred Reddish, 53, development worker
Harry Hudson, 26, gate-end
Benjamin Wallace, 29, road layer
George Henry Jackson, 43, contractor
William Edward Whelpton, 32, rope greaser
Michael Kilroy, 53, development worker

Due to the coronavirus pandemic it was not possible to hold a physical event to unveil the latest statues. Instead a short film has been produced as a virtual commemoration.

Find out more information about the colliery and the miners who lost their lives on The Story Mine website.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development, Home, Leisure

University of Derby invites local businesses to sign up to employee mental health support scheme

19th August 2020

Local businesses are being offered the chance to boost productivity by working with the University of Derby to provide better mental health support for employees.

The Mental Health and Productivity Pilot will see the implementation of new workplace interventions at pilot organisations and the rollout of existing approaches in small, medium and large businesses across the Midlands Engine region.

The programme aims to:

contribute to the reduction of mental health distress
break down the barriers to accessing care faced by people experiencing mental illness
support their continuation in and return to work
make a positive contribution to organisational productivity, in terms of wellbeing and economic outcomes

Dr Paula Holt, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean of the College of Health and Social Care at the University of Derby, said: “The cost to the economy of mental health across the Midlands could be in excess of £45bn this year. Yet research shows that for every £1 invested in supporting the mental health of employees, the return to the employer in productivity is £5. Those returns are greater still when employers take preventative, rather than reactive steps to help their staff.”

Around 1,900 employers took part in the first phase of project, exploring the issues of how mental health and wellbeing are currently dealt with in the workplace and its impact on performance.

Around a third of those taking part reported sickness absence among staff due to mental health issues, and a similar proportion recorded presenteeism, particularly in the hospitality and business services sectors.

Factors negatively affecting mental health of employees include:

Lone or remote working
Client expectations on time, quality and cost
Job insecurity
Recruitment practices

Dr Holt added: “A healthy and inclusive workplace is essential for all businesses, so providing appropriate support for employees, creating a culture of openness and tackling discrimination and stigma, will help to remove some of the barriers to growth and development for firms.”

“The research we have carried out shows that employers recognise that understanding how to address mental health issues effectively can boost morale, engagement and motivation, but also reveals that they are not always sure where to obtain the help they need.”

The pilot will link employers directly to initiatives such as Every Mind Matters, This is Me and Mental Health First Aid, which all provide expert guidance.

Once embedded into an organisation, the guidance aims to help reduce the prevalence of mental health difficulties and increase productivity among the workforce.

The University is now offering businesses of all sizes and from all sectors in Derbyshire and the surrounding areas with the opportunity to work with them integrate effective mental health provision into their organisation.

Training courses which not only help to raise awareness but could be used to support continuing professional development (CPD) are also available.

Businesses taking part will be asked to commit to an initial meeting to discuss how the programme would work for their company, creating a roadmap for its success, and promoting their commitment to the pilot in the workplace.

To find out more about the pilot, click here.

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.

The University of Derby’s Chesterfield campus, St Helena

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home

Groups invited to apply for Youth Activity Grants

18th August 2020

Community groups, clubs and charities that work with young people are being invited to apply for a share of £220,000 by Derbyshire County Council.

Grants are available for projects for young people aged from birth up to 19, or up to 25 if they have a disability. There’s no set amount of money that can be applied for.

Successful applicants, who will need to be a properly constituted group, will need to show that they can meet all or some of the following:

Support young people’s physical, mental and emotional development
Help young people to understand how to protect themselves from harm and neglect
Help young people to get more personal satisfaction out of their education, training and recreation time
Enable young people to make a contribution to society through volunteering programmes
Help young people to become socially responsible and economically independent adults.

Councillor Alex Dale, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Young People, said: “We are keen to hear from groups across the county about their plans to help young people this summer.”

“If you’re involved with a community group, club or charity in Derbyshire an Youth Activity Grant could be just the helping hand you need.”

“The process is quick and simple and if you apply now we’ll aim to give you a decision within three weeks, or within six weeks if you apply for £10,000 or more.”

The Youth Activity Grants are available until the end of the year, or until all the money has been allocated.

This image was taken prior to the coronavirus pandemic

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home

UKATA announces first Corporate Associate

18th August 2020

A brand-new Corporate Associate partnership with the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) means that thirty thousand SMAS Worksafe members now have access to industry-leading asbestos training.

SMAS Worksafe, a leading health and safety assessment company, is UKATA’s first Corporate Associate following the launch of the strictly invitation-only scheme last year. It is open to like-minded associations, charities and not-for-profit organisations, professional and industry registers.

The partnership recognises the aligned aims of both organisations and comes at a critical period for the UK construction industry. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, workers in the sector are having to play catch-up with asbestos training that they were unable to complete during lockdown.

Commenting on the new partnership Craig Evans, UKATA Chief Operating Officer explained: “It made absolute sense to invite SMAS Worksafe to become a Corporate Associate. Like us, they have a commitment and support to continued improvements and developments within the asbestos industry, in particular training.”

As well as upskilling SMAS Worksafe members, the partnership will also see members of each organisation benefit from an ongoing information share between UKATA and SMAS Worksafe of best practice in their respective fields.

The partnership will also enable members of SMAS Worksafe to respond to growing demand from construction companies for contractors to demonstrate their compliance with Environmental and Quality Management.

Trish Meyer, Business Development Manager at SMAS Worksafe, said of the partnership: “The aim of this partnership is to raise standards in asbestos across the industry. I look forward to working with the team at UKATA to ensure that our members are kept up to date with all the relevant asbestos information and know how to identify relevant and accredited training.”

Craig added: “Our collaboration recognises the quality standards of both organisations and aims to assist members and the wider industry alike to demonstrate their commitment to workplace safety.”

With around 5,000 deaths per year as a result of exposure to asbestos, it is imperative that the relevant workers have the appropriate level of asbestos training to help prevent putting themselves or others at risk in the course of their work.

Asbestos-related health issues, such as lung cancer and mesothelioma, are not identified immediately after exposure to asbestos as it takes a minimum of 15 years and up to 60 years, before deadly asbestos-related diseases present themselves.

A majority of UKATA-approved training providers are now fully operational and either delivering training courses by video conference, e-learning or within the classroom whilst observing social distancing guidelines.

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

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home

New local radio station launched for Chesterfield, Matlock and North Derbyshire

17th August 2020

Launching as a local radio alternative to big national brands; Radio Rewind is a new digital age radio station for the communities of Chesterfield, Matlock and North Derbyshire.

The aim is to provide a professional-sounding radio station with friendly and familiar presenters who care about issues and events across Chesterfield, Matlock & North Derbyshire.

The station has been founded by two locals; Andrew Haslam and Joseph Turton, who both grew up in the Chesterfield area, surrounded by local radio and media. Between the two, they have previous experience working at online radio stations, an extensive history with a range of live events and knowledge of the broadcast media space.

Andrew Haslam and Joseph Turton

As a part of the station’s big plan, a local drive time show has been penciled in to start later this year, as well as putting several other local show slots together ready to be filled with local talent. One of which is local radio presenter James Hilton, who has over 20 years of radio experience.

Playing a range of music, from timeless 80s hits, right through to the latest charts and local music, with other shows dedicated to Rock, Blues, Late Night Love Classics and Dance Music, Radio Rewind is designed to appeal to radio listeners in the area, and fill the gap that has been left behind.

Radio Rewind’s Station Manager, Andrew, said: “As someone who grew up listening to local radio in Chesterfield, I am excited to be working on this new local radio station, and hope that we are supported by people and businesses in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire so we can work towards bringing local radio back on the dial, as well as online.”

He then added: “With more than half of radio listening now being via digital platforms such as DAB, smart speakers and other online sources, now is the right time to launch Radio Rewind, which is proud to stand as a local station.”

Co-Founder, Joseph Turton said: “A goal for us with Radio Rewind, is to be able to offer a professional sounding local radio station which endeavours to support local businesses, community groups and residents. As a station we pride ourselves on offering high quality and entertaining shows, along with, travel updates, local content & national and local news.”

“As support and listening increases for the station, we can bring on more and more local shows.”

To help make a difference in the area of North Derbyshire, Radio Rewind runs ‘Local Focus’, which is designed to help promote local events and not-for-profit organisations looking to showcase their groups and encourage people to join in with activities. Local Focus is free for any non-commercial group in the area and features will run regularly across the day.

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