About Chesterfield

Chesterfield accountants prepare checklist to support SMEs to return to work post lockdown

11th May 2020

Mitchells Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers has produced a helpful checklist to help SME businesses in Derbyshire to help them prepare for returning to work in anticipation of an imminent easing of the lockdown restrictions.

With increased obligations and requirements on businesses – from ensuring adherence to social distancing measures through to implications of furloughed staff and possible use of PPE – businesses have additional obligations.

The checklist is a useful reminder of the key things that businesses need to put in place to get their business functioning efficiently, effectively and in accordance with government requirements and guidance.

Commenting on the checklist, Andrew McDaid from Mitchells Chartered Accountants said; “As businesses look to return to work post-lockdown, they have increased obligations and responsibilities – to their staff, their customers and to ensure the viability of their business. We want to help SMEs make the necessary adjustments. The checklist will be a helpful ‘aide memoir’ as it is a handy list of the key things they need to do – from how to look after their people returning to workplaces after working from home or being on furlough; through to how to engage with customers, what their health and safety obligations are and making sure that their business is viable.”

The checklist is practical and is structured around the four pillars of business organisation, namely: operations and technology; finance and resourcing; people; and marketing and communications. There is also section on insurance.

Concluding, Andrew commented; “Businesses have enough to contend with during these tough trading and market conditions. Using this checklist will help them make sure they can efficiently deal with their broad business issues and focus the majority of their time and energy on trading.”

Businesses can obtain a copy of the checklist from their website here

https://www.mitchellsaccountants.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Mitchells-Planning-For-the-Future.pdf

Check out the Destination Chesterfield Coronavirus Business Support Page

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home

Chesterfield Museum offers online activities

10th May 2020

Chesterfield Museum has launched a range of free online activities to help educate and entertain you and your family, without having to leave the house.

The museum itself might be closed, but that doesn’t mean the creativity and learning has to stop as the team have put together a programme of activities for the whole family. From craft ideas and experiments you can do at home, to quizzes and poetry, there’s something for everyone to get involved in.

For those wanting to find out more about Chesterfield’s past, or if history is on your home-schooling timetable, there’s a variety of online exhibitions available at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/museum.

You can learn more about the history of the Crooked Spire, the black and white buildings of Chesterfield and take a look back into the brewing industry of our town. You can also find out more about life down the pit and the extraordinary women of Chesterfield’s past.

Keep an eye on the Chesterfield Museum Facebook page too, as items from the museum will be showcased and you can learn more about the story behind them.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager at Destination Chesterfield said “It is great that this resource has been created by the Chesterfield Museum, so people can access the collections and activity during the Coronavirus Outbreak, another brilliant addition to our Supporting Local website.”

Discover more ideas for things to do at home with the family on the Destination Chesterfield Supporting Local Pages

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Summer, Visiting

Retailers optimistic about future of Chesterfield’s high street

9th May 2020

Chesterfield’s retailers are proving resilient in the face of adversity. While the Covid-19 pandemic has led to many retailers in Chesterfield town centre closing their doors, many remain operational, taking orders by phone, retailing online and offering free delivery to customers.

Some food retailers remain open in the town, including Ibbotsons fruit and veg stall which has been a fixture on the market since 1945. “We have had a lot of lovely feedback and comments of gratitude that we are still working and providing such high quality, fresh produce,” said Nick Ibbotson.

“We have reduced hours as the footfall in the town centre dramatically decreases in the afternoon. Everyone seems to come out in the morning. We have slightly reduced the items offered, selling a little less exotic produce as we do not have the passing trade.”

And while there is no chance of passing trade as people only venture out for essential shopping, Nick says: “There is a pleasant feel as everyone is very patient and friendly.”

Despite current trading conditions, Chesterfield town centre’s independent retailers which are currently closed, are optimistic about their future with some even welcoming the lockdown.

Laura Jo Owen, owner of Adorn Jewellers in Chesterfield Shambles, explained: “We see lockdown as a warning or the ‘ghost of Christmas on high streets yet to come’. With empty highstreets during lockdown people have had a real chance to see what may happen if they choose not to shop on their local high street.

“With many people relying on local businesses through the lockdown period our feedback has been that people are immensely grateful they still have local shops. Rather than a threat to the high street we see lockdown as an opportunity for people to continue shopping locally and to ensure that Chesterfield maintains its excellent mix of independent and multiple retailers.”

Lisa Swift, owner of Shop Indie based in Chesterfield’s Vicar Lane Shopping Centre, echoed this, saying: “We believe that after the lockdown has ended and people are allowed to move freely that they will have a much better appreciation of local businesses they have been reliant on during lockdown. We are hopeful that they will continue to Shop Local once the restrictions are lifted and this may lead to a rejuvenation of the high street.”

The subsequent appreciation of the high street means that many businesses do not feel the need to offer discounts and reopening offers to entice shoppers back after lockdown. Rather they see themselves offering added value services, such as continuing to provide their products and services remotely in addition to their stores being physically open.

Albert Naso, owner of Geeks Headquarters explained: “Post lockdown I believe that there will still be a significant portion of the population that will still be unable to leave their homes. These people need to feel valued and connected so we will continue to offer delivery and shipping of items to their homes.”

Small businesses in particularly have been able to adapt quickly to the lockdown. The fact that Chesterfield’s town centre is characterised by a number of independent retailers enabled them to be agile in the response to the lockdown.

Many communicated with customers directly via social media and made use of organisations like Destination Chesterfield to promote themselves and raise awareness of how they are continuing to operate.

Supporting the retail community, the town’s marketing campaign Destination Chesterfield launched a new microsite during lockdown specifically designed to help Chesterfield’s independent retailers continue to operate and supply their services and products.

The website – www.chesterfield.co.uk/supportinglocal has details of nearly 100 shops, food and drink businesses, training, support and service providers in and around Chesterfield that are continuing to operate by adapting their services to meet the needs of the community.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager commented: “The mission for Destination Chesterfield has always been to encourage as many people as possible to support the town and celebrate its achievements.

“We’re encouraging everyone to #LoveChesterfield and continue supporting small independent businesses and service providers throughout lockdown. Every trader and service producer plays an important part in the local economy and we all need to work together to can ensure their survival beyond these extremely challenging times.”

Social media and websites have been a powerful tools for businesses to remain connected with customers during lockdown and generating footfall into their stores once they re-open.

Geeks Headquarters has taken its micro-community of gamers online, enabling them to continue enjoying their favourite tabletop games and tournaments as well as keeping each other company.

Laura Jo added: “In the same way as other successful businesses we have kept our conversation with our lovely customers during the lockdown period. Our ‘Friday Night Live’ on Facebook has given our customers the opportunity to win gift cards for our shops which they will be able to come and spend when the restrictions are eased.”

Lisa added: “As a smaller independent business, our bricks and mortar shop may be closed but we are still trading online and have also introduced a local delivery service via our website. Being able to adapt to meet social distancing requirements means that we can continue trading.”

Despite the challenging circumstances that the national high street finds itself operating under right now, Alberto, Laura Jo and Lisa are all optimistic about the future of Chesterfield’s high street, with Shop Indie even looking to expand the business post lockdown. They are also unanimous in their praise of the support they have received from Chesterfield Borough Council and central Government.

“The help provided by the government means that we can look forwards to being able to reopen our shop in Chesterfield in the coming months. Small businesses have been afforded a high level of support during this crisis and are arguably much better placed than larger chains.” explained Lisa.

Alberto added: “Chesterfield Borough Council is working with small, large, new or established businesses to keep the town alive. Everyone is doing all they can to help each other to keep our shopping as local as possible. This is the key to see Chesterfield and possibly the whole country rise again.”

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We are aware that many local businesses and retailers in Chesterfield town centre will have been affected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Rebuilding the local economy following the pandemic is a priority for Chesterfield Borough Council and we have therefore implemented a number of financial and support measures to help our local businesses in these challenging times.

“We will continue to support our local businesses and retailers as much as we can to ensure the long-term viability of the town centre as a place to visit, shop and socialise.”

Laura Jo added: “Fortunately Chesterfield has the ‘golden triangle’ of a successful market, independent shops and multiple retailers. We personally believe that it will be a slow and steady return to spending after lockdown ends as we begin to discover our new normal.”

To find out more about the new ‘Supporting Local’ site, please visit: www.chesterfield.co.uk/supportinglocal.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Businesses urged to take advantage of free online training to protect them from scams

8th May 2020

National Trading Standards has launched Businesses Against Scams – a free online training tool to protect businesses, employees and customers from costly scams.

Derbyshire Trading Standards is encouraging businesses to take advantage of the free resources available and make themselves aware of how the fraudsters are operating.

Criminals are seizing the opportunity to target employees who are isolated from colleagues as a result of lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic.

Scams include criminals impersonating government officials or a senior member of the business in order to put pressure on employees to give out sensitive information or make payments.

Criminals will also try and gain access to businesses’ devices and networks and everything stored on them. They can do this by:

sending emails with malicious attachments
exploiting vulnerabilities in your operating systems if they are not up-to-date
trying to get you to click links or visit malicious websites.
Once they have access to your device and your data, they may try to steal that data or extract money from you by getting you to pay a ransom.

Councillor Carol Hart, Cabinet Member for Health and Communities at Derbyshire County Council, said:

“Businesses are already facing difficulties posed by the coronavirus pandemic and the last thing they need is to fall prey to scams from criminals seeking to use the current situation for their own ends.

“Derbyshire Trading Standards is working to protect Derbyshire residents and businesses and I would urge businesses to join Businesses Against Scams and use the free tools to train their workforce and to make their staff aware of potential scams.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

University provides X-ray machine and scanner to local hospitals

8th May 2020

The University of Derby has continued to support hospitals in Derbyshire during the coronavirus outbreak by providing x-ray and scanning equipment.

The University has loaned a digital mobile x-ray machine to Chesterfield Royal Hospital, which is being used on the assessment wards for taking chest x-rays of patients confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19.

A medical ultrasound scanner has also been provided to the Royal Derby Hospital to help the hospital manage the increased demands generated by the pandemic.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “Universities across the country are making contributions to the fight against coronavirus, and at Derby we are continually looking at the resources we have which can support the work being done in our hospitals and other care settings.

“I am very pleased that we were in a position to offer some of our diagnostic imaging resources, which would ordinarily be used by radiography and ultrasound students, to help medical staff assess patients for COVID-19 or to manage the additional pressures placed on their scanning equipment at this time.”

As part of its civic response to the crisis, the University has already provided thousands of items of personal protective equipment for local hospitals, and hundreds of its nursing students have been supporting frontline healthcare staff across the region. A temporary primary care assessment hub is based at its Kedleston Road site in Derby and staff are working with local manufacturers to provide protective visors to be worn by those who are treating coronavirus patients.

Professor Mitchell adds: “It is important to also highlight that in addition to these efforts, many of our students and staff members have made, and continue to make, important individual contributions in their own communities, brilliantly demonstrating how we can all make a difference during these unprecedented times.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home

NHS England and Health Education England commission NHS 111 course from University of Derby

7th May 2020

The University of Derby is providing a free (online) educational and information resource aimed at supporting pharmacists who have been redeployed to NHS 111 services.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been increasing pressure on NHS 111 services. As part of the strategy to mitigate this pressure, NHS England and NHS Improvement are redeploying pharmacists from other settings, including community pharmacy and CCGs, into a new ‘NHS 111 COVID-19 CAS’. This service has been set up to manage patients who require a discussion with a clinician following their use of NHS 111.

To support the rapid upskilling of pharmacists supporting the NHS 111 COVID-19 CAS, and in response to positive feedback from IUC pharmacy leads about the University of Derby’s full Integrated Urgent Care Clinical Assessment Service (IUC CAS) pharmacist course, two of the courses’ three modules have been made available online for free.

The course aims to introduce pharmacists to the IUC setting. Pharmacists wishing to further develop their knowledge and skills in this area can also apply for a full training course – as places are currently available.

NHS England and NHS Improvement, in partnership with Health Education England (HEE), first commissioned the University of Derby to develop and deliver an Integrated Urgent Care Clinical Assessment Service (IUC CAS) pharmacist programme 18 months ago.

The programme is aimed at NHS 111 and urgent care pharmacists and commissioned as part of the Pharmacy Integration Fund. The programme’s fifth cohort of pharmacists started on 27 March 2020.

Jill Gould, Lecturer in Post Registration Healthcare at the University of Derby, who has been leading the development of the resource, said: “This is an example of another successful collaboration between the University and Health Education England to facilitate transforming the workforce to deliver this essential 111 service. The online education resource, which was created rapidly in line with sector demands thanks to the online learning expertise within the University, aims to support the continuing development of frontline staff who have been making such a difference during these challenging times.

“As an applied University, this is an excellent model of a timely and relevant online course needed to support the current COVID-19 pandemic.”

Professor Kathryn Mitchell DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “As part of civic responsibilities, it is essential that we do all we can to support the brave and dedicated medical teams delivering care to those who have contracted, or who are showing symptoms, of the virus.

“Hundreds of our second and third year nursing and allied healthcare professions students are already supporting staff on the frontline in hospitals across the region, and we have donated thousands of items of PPE kit.

“This online course, which has been developed and made available to redeployed pharmacists for free, is another example of how the University is using the resources, skills and knowledge at our disposal to support the amazing work being done during these challenging times.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home

Derbyshire building firm secures Markham Vale development project

7th May 2020

A Derbyshire based commercial construction company have been selected to work with Transcare 28 Ltd on their new build site at Markham Vale.

Goodward Construction, a commercial construction company from Derbyshire, has begun work on the site which will house a new workshop and offices for Transcare’s onsite and workshop-based maintenance services for commercial vehicle operators.

Goodward Construction’s Managing Director, Simon Knighton said, “We are delighted to be working with the Transcare team again. This time it’s slightly challenging in the current climate, but we have been fortunate to be able to implement the new social distancing measures and our colleagues have been flexible to ensure we have a minimum number of people on site.”

Transcare 28 Ltd provide HGV repair and maintenance solutions throughout the Midlands and into South Yorkshire, offering a full range of onsite and workshop-based maintenance services for all commercial vehicle operators. This includes trucks, trailers, light commercial vehicles and PSVs.

Managing Director, Darren Parkin says “We’re very excited at being part of the Markham Vale community and working with the Goodward Construction team. Having previously worked together and knowing Simon and the team’s high standards, we are looking forward to the completion of our new depot.”

Find out more about the Markham Vale development

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home

Support for market traders from Chesterfield Borough Council

7th May 2020

The indoor and outdoor markets are an important part of Chesterfield’s heritage and at this challenging time, there are a number of traders who are continuing to provide essential services to local residents.

Chesterfield Borough Council has ensured that these traders can continue to trade and has provided guidance on social distancing in order to help them comply with current restrictions and health and safety requirements.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We are working very hard to ensure that market traders and retailers in the town centre receive the support they need to trade safely. For over eight hundred years the market has been part of the fabric of the town and it is heartening that in this hour of need, traders are still there offering food and other permitted goods to local residents.”

Council staff are also ensuring that only one member of the public enters the market hall at any one time in order to maintain social distancing.

Traders on the open market who are continuing to trade are not being charged rent for their stalls and anyone who is not trading but plans to resume will not be charged back-rent when they stand next time.

Rent for the Market Hall traders has been deferred and they will not be charged interest on this. The council is also working closely with traders to highlight the various support programmes available to them. If any traders would like advice on these, please contact the council by calling 01246 345345.

Once restrictions on trading have been lifted, we will be working with traders to re-ignite our shop local campaign and to promote the town centre and its fantastic retail offer. Our ambitious multi-million pound ‘Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield’ project will also continue to improve and support our town centre offer. The next stage of the project will include working with the town centre’s stakeholders and bringing forward design and infrastructure options, with the aim of work commencing later in the year.

You can keep up to date with the latest news from the market including trading times by visiting the Chesterfield Market Traders Facebook page: www.facebook.com/chesterfieldmarkettraders

chesterfield-market place

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards

Optician supports Chesterfield Royal Hospital with hamper donation

6th May 2020

An appeal from the team at Specsavers Chesterfield has seen the store’s friends, neighbours, family and customers join forces to donate a range of essential items for Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

The store’s Optometrist Director, Allissa Charlesworth, launched the campaign earlier in April following an appeal from the hospital for patient toiletries, supplies of which were running low as a result of the lockdown visitor ban.

Within a few days of launching the appeal, donations from the town’s residents flooded in, resulting in over 35 kilograms of items, from toothpastes to shampoos, collected for the hospital.

Allissa comments: ‘After seeing the request from the hospital for toiletries, we felt compelled to help, where we can, and support our local NHS staff and patients in which ever way we could.

‘It must be extremely difficult for patients who can’t have visits from family members, both emotionally, but also practically, in getting hold of the personal care products they might need.

‘I’ve been totally blown away with the community spirit in Chesterfield, and I’m extremely thankful to those who have donated products and money to the cause. I’m sure the donations will have a tangible impact locally, for those who need it most.’

Allissa concludes: ‘We would like the community to know that although we have suspended all routine eye and hearing tests, we are still very much open to assist with any eye health or vision related problems. Many can be resolved without needing to visit the store as we’ve launched RemoteCare, which sees our optometrists on hand for video call and telephone consultations. It’s vital that people feel like they’re able to discuss their concerns and that anyone with an eye problem is able to access the care they require.’

The donation also collected just under £100 in cash which will be donated to the patient welfare charity at the hospital.

Following the Coronavirus outbreak, staff at the Chesterfield store have been out in the community delivering glasses to residents who are self isolating, whilst also keeping the shop open for emergencies such as the needs of Key Workers.

Specsavers’ teams are classed as key workers to provide urgent and essential eye care to those who need it. That includes supporting other key workers who couldn’t function without their help and people who would come to harm without their health expertise, especially where the usual hospital services and NHS facilities are being prioritised for the fight against COVID-19.

As well as RemoteCare, anyone concerned about their eye and hearing health can access care through a variety of ways, including ‘Specsavers Ask the Expert’ public group on Facebook and the Specsavers website care hub. Customers who have an existing prescription can buy glasses and contact lenses online at specsavers.co.uk

For more information about the RemoteCare service visit https://www.specsavers.co.uk/online-consultation-service

Posted in About Chesterfield, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Home

Vicar Lane helps to raise over £500 for NHS Trusts through The Great British NHS Quiz

6th May 2020

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre, Chesterfield, has so far raised over £500 for NHS Trusts, by inviting would-be eggheads to take part in The Great British NHS Quiz.

People in Chesterfield can join those from all over the UK to enter the 60-question online multiple-choice quiz by making a small donation to their local NHS. Points from each region will be tallied and entered into a leader board and the five highest scorers from each region will then go head-to-head in a fun live final to see which region is the smartest.

Contestants will be quizzed on sport, music, films, geography, history and general knowledge via Facebook messenger.

Those wishing to take part in the quiz can simply visit www.thegreatbritishnhsquiz.com.The fundraising campaign, launched by the popular shopping centre on 25^th April, has been enabled by a range of collaborators including social media engagement platform Maybe*, fundraising platform Give as you Live and a new High Streets Rewards service. The quiz aims to raise as much money as possible to show our collective support for the NHS while also lifting the nation’s spirits. The funds raised will go to NHS Charities Together.

Polly Barnfield OBE, CEO, Maybe* said, “Now more than ever communities are looking for ways to rally around their local NHS services from their own homes. It struck us that since we are in lockdown for a while longer, a national quiz could be a great, entertaining way of bringing people together. By introducing some friendly competition between regions, we believe we can help raise our collective spirits and funds for the NHS and help keep the nation entertained.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

Former Chesterfield Register Office to be sold

6th May 2020

The former Chesterfield Register Office has been sold for an undisclosed fee.

A meeting on Friday 17th April 2020 agreed the sale of the former register office and a two-storey house on the site. The three-storey former registry building sits next to the 45-space Beetwell Street multi-storey car park, opposite Tesco Metro and close to the Portland Hotel. It was built in the 1940s and used for four decades by residents registering births, marriages and deaths.

Derbyshire County Council said: “In principle and subject to planning permission, the site is suitable for a range of uses including residential, commercial office, community uses, healthcare or other institutional uses.”

“The site is not in the primary retail area or an otherwise established retail frontage, but could be suitable for retail or food and drink use of an appropriately limited scale.”

“We are advised that Chesterfield Borough Council’s preference would be for conversion and re-use of the existing buildings.”

In 2018, Chesterfield Register Office moved from New Beetwell Street into Chesterfield Town Hall and in November 2018, it welcomed the first families to register the births of their babies.

The new venue offers improved facilities for those who use the Register Office, and will offer a greater choice of rooms for weddings and civil partnerships. The new office is also much larger and includes separate waiting areas for people who are registering a birth to those who are registering a death.

Councillor Carol Hart, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Communities said:“The register office has been in New Beetwell Street for over 40 years but wasn’t giving us the opportunity to offer the sort of services we want to.”

She also added that the new office in the town hall “will be a much better place to visit to register a birth or death, celebrate getting married or a civil partnership.”

The new register office also gives more space for the historic registers containing entries of all the births, deaths and marriages in Derbyshire since 1837.

Image credit: Derbyshire County Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home