About Chesterfield

D2N2 seeks views of businesses on coronavirus economic recovery

30th July 2020

As the local economy of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire looks to recover from the Coronavirus pandemic, D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the D2N2 Growth Hub are continuing to ask local businesses for their insight by completing the D2N2 Covid-19 Business Survey.

Over 700 businesses have so far contributed, giving their perspectives on the effects of the pandemic on their businesses and the support they need during recovery.

The data gathered by the D2N2 Covid-19 Business Survey feeds directly into the recovery activities of university economists and Local Authorities, as well as D2N2 LEP and the D2N2 Growth Hub.

D2N2 LEP is the Local Enterprise Partnership for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire and is tasked with encouraging economic growth in the region.

Frank Horsley, Head of Business and Innovation for D2N2 LEP said: “Our D2N2 Growth Hub has been central in helping businesses across the area respond to the challenge of Covid-19. They’ve worked tirelessly with other organisations and sectors in ensuring SMEs can access the support needed to prepare for recovery and growth.”

“Ensuring our services are tailored to what our customers need is fundamental to the Growth Hub, the survey allows us to listen to businesses first hand and respond in a pro-active manner with the support required.”

“I would urge all businesses to spend a few minutes telling us their story and the issues that they face.”

D2N2 Growth Hub Manager Chris Pook said: “It is vitally important that businesses continue to tell us how they are being impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic so that we can tailor local business support for the recovery phase.”

“Over 700 D2N2 businesses have completed the survey since April, providing valuable insight to policy makers. We now have a refreshed version of the survey which will help to maintain a clear picture of the ongoing impacts on SMEs as lockdown measures are eased.”

Funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) via D2N2 LEP in order to boost competitiveness amongst SMEs in the region, the D2N2 Growth Hub offers support to start-ups, growing businesses, and companies who are ready to scale up their operations.

During the pandemic the Growth Hub’s business adviser team have been on hand to provide advice to thousands of local businesses on financial support as well as adjusting their business practice to social distancing.

Businesses can complete the survey by going to d2n2lep.org/covid-19-business-survey

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home

New board member for Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

30th July 2020

With a wealth of more than 30 years of NHS experience, Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is announcing Berenice Groves as its new Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer from late autumn.

A trained paramedic by background and currently the Director of Operations at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, she will take responsibility for the day-to-day operational management of the hospital – ensuring that exceptional patient care is provided in a safe environment and in line with national standards of performance.

Alongside her clinical and senior management roles, she has also worked on large-scale national programmes – developing NHS111 services across the North East of the country and as the national Head of Improvement for the Emergency Care Intensive Support Team (ECIST).

Paramedic training gave Berenice the foundations to lead in a crisis and her current role includes board level responsibility for emergency planning, which she will also continue to be accountable for here at the Royal. In Blackpool she is supporting the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery and restoration of services – and is looking forward to working with staff to make sure the Trust can proactively respond to the challenges the NHS will face this winter.

She comments: “I am absolutely delighted to have been given the chance to become part of the team at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. This is clearly an excellent organisation with exciting opportunities to develop and further improve care and services for patients. On my visits so far I have been struck by how engaged staff are – and how proud they are to work here. I am looking forward to working with colleagues, partners and our patients to make a difference.”

Angie Smithson, Chief Executive says: “We are so pleased that Berenice is joining us to support the Trust with its goals and ambitions. With her skills and knowledge, she will be a real asset to the Board and – like me – she is clearly passionate about making sure patients receive exceptional care and that hardworking staff are supported and looked after. I am confident that she will address our day-to-day operational challenges by working with colleagues and the Derbyshire health and social care ‘system’. She will bring a new dynamic to our Board we look forward to welcoming her.”

The appointment of Berenice to the Board will enable its current Chief Operating Officer, Tony Campbell, to focus on the huge improvement plan the Trust is setting out to deliver. As Director of Strategy and Transformation he will take on full responsibility for the variety of programmes and plans in place or due to start over the next few months. These range from multi-million pound new builds, through to new clinical partnerships and care pathways and service re-developments.

“To become an even better hospital we must concentrate on our strategy and the critical factors that will help us to reach our goals,” continues Angie. “With these changes to our structure, the Board of Directors is illustrating that improvement is at the heart of everything it does. Over recent months, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen the impact of rapid, large scale improvement and the difference it has made. Working with colleagues and partners from across Derbyshire we have the best opportunity we’ve ever had to continue to bring new ideas to life for our patients, our staff and the communities we serve. ”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home

New Chesterfield running event launched

29th July 2020

A brand-new running event will be coming to Chesterfield town centre after organisers confirmed that the 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon would not take place due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The all-new Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k will take place at 10 am on 17 October 2021, starting from Queen’s Park.

It will replace the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, with the expectation that the ‘more accessible’ 10k distance will increase runner participation and in turn, increase charity partner revenue while supporting the health and wellbeing of local people.

All entries into the 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon and Peak FM Five Mile Run have automatically been deferred to the 2021 Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k.

Runners also have the opportunity to donate the difference in their entry fee to the 2020 Redbrik Half Marathon charity partners, Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, in response to their work in the local area during the Covid-19 crisis.

Event organisers will be contacting all runners who have entered the 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon to date with further details. Entry fee refunds can be requested.

Full entry into the 2021 Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k will cost £22.50, with Early Bird entry priced at £18 and available until 28 February 2021.

As its name suggests, the Redbrik Foundation will be a new charity partner of the 10k event, alongside Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.

The Redbrik Foundation is a newly formed charitable trust which will support a number of local organisations each year, primarily seeking to enhance the lives of children and young people, the elderly or vulnerable and those with disabilities.

Meanwhile, event organisers will confirm plans soon for ‘virtual’ events taking place in Chesterfield over the original weekend of the 2020 event, designed for runners who were hoping to take part in the 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon and its partner events the Peak FM Five Mile Run and Pronto Paints Well Being Challenge.

An all-new 2021 Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k route will be announced in the coming months and will be the first time a 10km event takes place in Chesterfield town centre.

The route will start and finish in Queens Park and will be centred on the heart of Chesterfield, taking in major landmarks such as the town’s famous crooked spire. It will also feature service and cheer stations on the course and will have a later 10am start.

John Timms, Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k Event Director, said: “Naturally, we are extremely disappointed at the cancellation of the 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

“Under the current guidance available, we as organisers feel that it is in the best interest and safety of all involved to cancel this year’s event.

“However, this has given us a unique opportunity to analyse the success of the Redbrik Half, as well as areas which can be further improved and developed, together with our event partners.

“We have launched the 10k event with a view to further enhancing the experience of both participants and the local community, and ways of generating even more revenue for the event’s charity partners, with almost £150,000 raised by the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon to date.

“As event organisers, we once again want to thank event sponsors and partners, and the wider community for their support since the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon launched in 2017.

“We want to thank our key partners, including Redbrik, as well as Chesterfield Borough Council. They have been very supportive throughout this process and we look forward to building on the Redbrik Half’s success with the new 10K.”

Mark Ross, Trustee of the Redbrik Foundation, said: “We love Chesterfield, and we want to see the town, its people and its businesses thrive.

“With this in mind, we’re excited to launch the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k. We are all very disappointed that this year’s Redbrik Half could not take place due to the Coronavirus pandemic. However, we’re delighted to be bringing this new event to the town.

“The local community has supported the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon since its inception, and with a new route and additional event partners, we can’t wait to see the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k develop.”

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We’re disappointed that the Redbrik Half Marathon cannot go ahead on this occasion, but we’re looking forward to welcoming visitors back to Chesterfield next year to take part in the 10k.

“The route for the 10k will start and finish in the Queen’s Park. It will take in some of Chesterfield’s major landmarks and will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase the town to runners and visitors.

“We hope that lots of our residents will join us in supporting this great event by either taking part or coming along to cheer on the runners in 2021.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Leisure

North Derbyshire logistics scheme approved for extra 574,000 sq ft

29th July 2020

An additional 574,000 sq ft of warehouse and logistics space at a high profile new development in north Derbyshire has been given the go-ahead.

Joint venture partners St Francis Group and iSec have secured planning consent for a second phase at Horizon29, just off junction 29a of the M1 between Sheffield and Nottingham, for three more industrial units ranging in size from 113,000 sq ft to 250,000 sq ft.

The additional planning consent will bring the total space at the landmark scheme to an impressive 1.4m sq ft, with the potential to create more than 2,000 jobs for the region.

Work at Horizon29 is already underway with extensive ground works completed and infrastructure changes and highways and service upgrades about to commence.

The first phase of the development, for 824,000 sq ft across five units, ranging from 73,000 sq. ft to 310,000 sq. ft, was granted planning consent earlier in the year and plots are now available for development.

Gareth Williams, Development Director of St Francis Group, an expert in brownfield development and regeneration, said: “We and our partners, iSec, are delighted to have worked closely with the local planning authority in order to deliver this major consent for the second phase of our strategic logistics project, Horizon29 at Markham Vale.

“The East Midlands has seen a good take up of large, bespoke industrial premises over the last 12 months. We expect keen interest from a range of occupiers wanting first class accommodation, prime location and labour supply.”

Last week it was announced that the South Yorkshire Pension Fund and the SCR Jessica Fund have provided a £15.25 million senior and mezzanine debt facility to support the development of vital infrastructure which will be the catalyst for the delivery of this regionally strategic logistics and manufacturing site. This is the first joint loan provided by the Funds.

Nigel Lax, Development Director of iSec said: “This scheme is one of the most prestigious industrial developments in the East Midlands and will not only deliver much needed, state-of-the-art space, set within highly landscaped grounds, but thousands of jobs for the region.

“Securing phase two planning at Horizon29 means that the project can be pushed forward at pace to deliver this landmark scheme.”

Rebecca Schofield of joint letting agents, Knight Frank, added: “The site offers the opportunity for bespoke or build to specification accommodation for occupiers with leasehold and freehold requirements for the eight premium industrial/warehouse units.

“We welcome the opportunity to discuss and understand occupiers specific requirements so that detailed proposals can be tabled.”

St Francis Group and iSec is working closely with North East Derbyshire District Council, Bolsover District Council, Derbyshire County Council and the D2N2 LEP that has provided grant assistance to the project.

Sajeeda Rose, chief executive at D2N2, which invested £5.79m into the project via the Local Growth Fund, added: “As we look towards the economic recovery from Coronavirus, we at D2N2 are delighted to see the Horizon29 site continue to expand into a scheme ready to deliver new jobs to the North-Derbyshire and wider economy.”

Find out more about investing in Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home

Shortlist revealed for 2020 Chesterfield High Street Awards

29th July 2020

The very best shops, market stalls, events, projects and businesses on Chesterfield’s high streets have been revealed by Destination Chesterfield.

Thirty-six finalists have been named in the 2020 Chesterfield High Street Awards. Postponed since March, the finalist line-up and confirmed awards ceremony date, now come at a time when it is more important than ever to shop locally.

The High Street Awards have never been more relevant. Previously known as the Retail Awards, the Chesterfield High Street Awards recognise the exceptional businesses, people, events and regeneration projects in the town centre, Chatsworth Road, Whittington Moor, Staveley and Hasland that are working together to overcome the challenges of a rapidly changing retail environment.

This year, two new categories have been introduced to the awards line up – High Street Business of the Year and the Future High Street Award – recognising the contribution that non-retail businesses, projects, initiatives and developments make to the modern high street.

Members of the public nominated from December to February. The nominations have now been counted and online reviews have been assessed by Destination Chesterfield, resulting in a 36-strong shortlist across 12 categories.

At the awards ceremony, one of the 27 shortlisted retailers will take the overall top title of Retailer of the Year, sponsored by East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire).

To ensure the safety of both finalists and guests, Destination Chesterfield will host a virtual awards ceremony later in the year. The winners of the Chesterfield High Street Awards will be announced live on the evening of Wednesday 21 October, and everyone is invited to watch.

Tara Underhill, Senior Destination Chesterfield Coordinator said: “The people behind the town’s high street businesses have shown such resilience during challenging times, and we could not be more proud of them. The team at Destination Chesterfield is pleased to have adapted by taking the awards ceremony online. An advantage of taking the ceremony online is that we are able to welcome many more guests to recognise the achievements of high street businesses. ”

“After months of lockdown, never have high street businesses needed our support more than in the current trading conditions. The ceremony is an opportunity to say thank you to them and show all high street businesses our ongoing support.”

Winners of the Chesterfield Retail Awards 2019

The businesses shortlisted so far in the 2020 Chesterfield High Street Awards include:

High Street Business of the Year
Chatsworth Travel
Pinewood Properties
Strada Estate Agents

Future High Street Award
Flexible Leasing at Vicar Lane Shopping Centre
Premier Inn, Elder Way
Vicar Lane Shopping Centre’s Big Screen

Best Town Centre Event
1940s Chesterfield Flea Market
Chesterfield Food and Drink Festival
Chesterfield Motorfest

Best Customer Service
Curious Goods
Crazy about Cakecraft
Tallbird Records

Best New Store
Nana B Baby & Children’s Wear
Shop Indie
The Wool Cabin

National / Multiple Retailer of the Year
Marks and Spencer
Warhammer
Waterstones

Food and Drink Retailer of the Year
Brampton Brewery
Chesterfield Craft
Love Brewing

Fashion and Footwear Retailer of the Year
Charles Hedley
Dotique
Ingmans

Hair and Beauty Business of the Year
Belle Vie
Fifty Shades of Beauty
One Nine Three Hair and Beauty

Home, Gifts and Leisure Retailer of the Year
Adorn Jewellers
Huckleberry Willow
Quinney’s Pet Supplies

Market Trader of the Year
Ibbotson’s Fresh Quality Produce
Simon Harding’s Fruit and Veg
Steph’s Sustainable Stuff

Independent Retailer of the Year
Fred’s Haberdashery
H&F
Little White Dress

The 2020 Chesterfield High Street Awards are supported and made possible by a number of sponsors, including Adorn Jewellers, Apprentice Town (led by Chesterfield Borough Council), BRM Solicitors, Chesterfield Borough Council, Chesterfield College Group, Derbyshire Times, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), eBusiness Works, JP Fire Safety Solutions, The Pavements Shopping Centre, Peak FM, Q2 Creative and Redbrik Estate Agents.

Destination Chesterfield has a few sponsorship opportunities remaining. If you would like to support the high street please click here or contact Tara Underhill, Senior Destination Chesterfield Coordinator, by emailing Tara.underhill@chesterfield.co.uk or calling 01246 207207.

Something Special Bridal received two awards at the Chesterfield Retail Awards 2019

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home

Savings on the cards for local magazine readers and an opportunity for businesses to attract new customers

28th July 2020

Tens of thousands of families are benefiting from a unique scheme designed to help them enjoy savings when they spend money in their local economy.

Heron Publications, the family-run company behind four long-established local community magazines, is delivering 52,000 loyalty cards to readers who can use them to enjoy a range of savings and incentives offered by local businesses, month after month.

The scheme is completely free for residents and businesses alike with no hidden charges or membership fees.

Each month, listings of where cards can be shown to make savings will appear in the free distribution ‘Dronfield Eye’, ‘Twist’, ‘Active8’ and ‘Wings’ publications.

Director Mike Firth (below) said: “We are an independent business ourselves, so know only too well the pressures almost all local companies are under at this time. We wanted to do something that would make a difference in our communities and this scheme is already paying dividends for our readers and for shops and services.”

“Hundreds of businesses feature in the pages of our publications each and every month, but this scheme is open to absolutely every local tradesman, shopkeeper, restaurant owner and more.

“It’s the closest thing to our communities issuing their own currency.”

The scheme is been supported by Chesterfield Borough Council, Dronfield Town Council, Wingerworth Parish Council and South Yorkshire Police.

For further information, call Heron Publications on 01246 416027.

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

Local Labour MP reopens Chesterfield training academy

27th July 2020

Local training provider GBS celebrated their 10th Birthday on Thursday 16th July with the re-opening of their Chesterfield academy by Labour MP Toby Perkins.

The Academy had been temporarily closed following the government lockdown announcement on 23rd March, and since then GBS have adopted a remote working method with all of their programmes to ensure minimal disruption to the learning opportunities for local learners.

Adhering to social distancing measures, a small number of representatives from local employers and key stakeholders, as well as members of the Chesterfield Borough Council were in attendance. National engineering company ERIKS Industrial Services were also present, who are working in partnership with GBS to utilise their apprenticeship levy to invest in their current workforce and employment of entry-level recruits on apprenticeships in Engineering, Professional Services and IT & Digital.

Local Labour MP for Chesterfield and Shadow Minister for Apprenticeships and Lifelong Learning, Toby Perkins, was delighted to cut the ribbon during the intimate ceremony, officially opening the doors to local apprentices: “In terms of the economic challenges that are facing the country at the moment, apprenticeships have never been more important. To have an organisation based here in Chesterfield that is performing on the national stage, and on the local stage, providing excellent quality learning for young people around the town and bringing the next generation through is exactly what we want. Congratulations on the ten years and on re-opening and surviving this far through the very tough Covid period. It is my great pleasure to declare these premises open”.

Penny Guard, Director for Quality and co-founder of family-run GBS, thanked everyone for their support during the day: “Thank you to everyone who not only organised the meeting, but travelled from as far as London to be here with us on what is a key milestone for GBS. Although recent events have meant a slight shift in delivery, the team have worked hard to ensure we are still delivering high-quality training to the future workforce, and we hope we can continue to support young people back into work and ensuring employers have the right skillsets within their businesses to thrive.”

To understand more about the governments recent apprenticeship incentives, or for a a free consultation with the GBS team, please contact GBS by calling 01246 925 923 or emailing info@gbs-ltd.co.uk

GBS 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, Apprentice Town, Business, Home

Manufacturing expert joins NLT board

27th July 2020

Simon Winfield, Group Managing Director of Chesterfield-based Phoenix Group, has joined NLT Training Service’s Board of Directors, bringing more than 20 years’ experience in the manufacturing sector to the board.

Simon joins the eight strong board and will play an active role in advising on and shaping strategy for the future development of NLT and its charitable activities.

Phoenix Group, a manufacturer of high-quality industrial sealing products, has recently acquired NLT’s headquarters, Devonshire House in order to expand its operations.

NLT will continue to be based out of Devonshire House and will look to expand its range of training provision with support from Phoenix Group using its own expert engineers to deliver high quality joint integrity training. The appointment of Simon will also help NLT stay ahead of the curve with the manufacturing sector and respond accordingly to the expected surge post-lockdown.

Simon commented: “I am delighted to join NLT’s board It is a fantastic organisation that I really believe in and the people are great too. Training is essential to the world of manufacturing and engineering. It has always been something I’m passionate about, so the connection and collaboration with NLT makes complete sense.”

Simon is positive about the UK’s manufacturing and engineering sector: “Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, it has never been more important to shop local – contributing to the country’s economy. We’re now looking to expand the manufacturing side of the business as we believe there will be a real surge in UK manufacturing after this terrible pandemic,” he said.

For information on how NLT is continuing to operate during the Covid-19 pandemic, please get in touch with the team on 0333 880 3540. Or, to view the range of commercial training available with NLT, please visit www.nlt-training.co.uk/courses.

NLT Training Services 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, Home

The ‘Energy for Business’ grant fund re-opens for applications

27th July 2020

Local SME businesses can apply for 40% of project costs from the ‘Energy for Business’ grant fund, an EU funded project delivered by the Energy Innovation and Collaboration team at the University of Nottingham.

Funding can assist projects such as implementing sustainable energy technologies, improving energy efficiency within the business or reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Only business located within in Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire are eligible for the funding. Please see additional eligibility information below:

The minimum cost of the project must be no less than £2,500
The maximum cost of the project must be no more than £20,000
It is a capital funds grant that is 40% match funded
The monies are awarded once the work/purchase is completed
Recipients will be chosen by an independent panel and their decision will be deemed to be final.

To find out more, or to apply for funding, enquiries can be made by emailing energy@nottingham.ac.uk.

The closing date for applications for the current round is Friday 28th August 2020.

To find out more about the University of Nottingham’s Energy Innovation and Collaboration team and how it supports businesses, click here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

Help for those affected by recent flooding

25th July 2020

More than 450 businesses and households affected by the November 2019 and February 2020 floods are able to get help to pay for flood mitigation measures.

Derbyshire County Council are set to administer a scheme that gives eligible properties a £5,000 grant to put in measures to help stop properties being flooded in the future. These could be flood doors, sealing brick work and external walls, replacing airbricks with flood airbricks, flood barriers and moving electrical sockets up the wall.

£500 of every grant will need to be spent on a specialist survey, which will ensure that the right mitigation measures are recommended and installed.

Around 300 businesses and households were affected by the floods in November 2019, which were in South Derbyshire, Derbyshire Dales, Chesterfield and Amber Valley. The February 2020 floods hit 160 properties in Derbyshire Dales, Erewash and South Derbyshire.

Derbyshire County Council will write to all those eligible for the grant, and claims for those who flooded in November 2019 will need to be submitted by the end of October, with work carried out by February 2021.

The deadlines for applications for those affected by the February 2020 floods and not yet known.

Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, Councillor Simon Spencer, said:”This money will help businesses and householders put in some simple but effective flood mitigation measures that will help should the floods take place again.”

“The council will administer the scheme, process all applications and sort out a specialist survey, which will make sure that the right measures are recommended for each particular property. Surveyors will also check that the work gets completed to a good standard.”

“We saw a high number of properties flooded in many parts of the county, both in November 2019 and February this year, and I am sure that this money will help should we face similar circumstances again.”

Derbyshire County Council will use the services of specialist surveyors who are already used by the Environment Agency.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Featured, Home

Chesterfield Borough Council adopts ambitious plan to rebuild economy

24th July 2020

Chesterfield Borough Council has adopted an ambitious plan to support and rebuild Chesterfield’s economy in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Chesterfield Economic Recovery Plan, which was approved by the council’s Cabinet on Tuesday 14 July, outlines what the council, with the backing of other partner agencies, will do to support the town’s businesses to bounce back and help restore business and consumer confidence.

The Plan sets outs a comprehensive set of fully funded measures that include delivering a new business start-up support programme, which will encourage entrepreneurs and workers who may have lost their jobs due to covid-19 to bring forward new business ideas. Funding and expert advice will be available as will a premises location service.

The council will also be launching a portfolio of skills delivery initiatives. The initiatives will focus on the skills and training needs of local people, particularly young people, to enhance their prospects of securing the jobs on offer. Chesterfield residents and businesses will be able to access a new virtual skills and careers information hub. Particular attention will also be paid to the establishment of initiatives to reskill and upskill the current workforce.

Innovative promotional campaigns are already being rolled out with Destination Chesterfield to encourage people to shop local and support town centre retailers and market traders. The Plan also includes a series of initiatives aimed at raising the profile of Chesterfield as a visitor destination and hub.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Rebuilding the local economy following the easing of lockdown restrictions is a top priority for Chesterfield Borough Council and we have already implemented a number of financial and promotional measures to help our businesses through these challenging times.

“We understand this will be a worrying time for business owners of all sizes and it is important that the council and its partners continue to do all we can to ensure that local businesses receive all the help they need in these most challenging of times.

“Whilst there remains a high level of uncertainty about what the future holds, the Chesterfield Economic Recovery Plan provides a comprehensive roadmap for ensuring that Chesterfield continues to be a thriving borough.”

The council has to date paid out £25.7 million in small business grants to 2,202 Chesterfield businesses, administered business rates relief to a value of £18 million to 661 businesses and shared a further £1.05 million with 120 businesses via the Local Discretionary Grants Fund scheme.

The council has also provided expert advice and support to over 300 local businesses since mid-March and as a landlord to over 400 commercial tenants, amended rental terms including rent free periods for some and rent deferral arrangements for others.

The work done with retailers, market traders and licensees to safely and successfully re-open Chesterfield town centre has seen thousands of people return to the high street since 1 June.

The council has also not shirked from continuing to progress its ambitious £1 billion growth programme that when complete will deliver thousands of new jobs to the town and borough both during the construction phases and once works are complete. This includes the Northern Gateway Scheme where construction of the new Enterprise Centre on Holywell Cross (Donut) started on site during the lockdown period. Plans are also well advanced in progressing improvements to the public realm on Elder Way and taking forward the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project which will see a number of enhancements made to Chesterfield’s famous market grounds.

As part of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Hub, Chesterfield businesses can access an experienced business advisor and the council’s Economic Development team is always on hand to talk through and help develop solutions for businesses facing challenges large and small. You can contact the team by e-mail at economicdevelopment@chesterfield.gov.uk.

More information on the support that is available to businesses can be found at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/your-council/coronavirus-information-hub/businesses-information

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield