About Chesterfield

Chesterfield Champion receives prestigious award from the Ministry of Defence

Home Instead Senior Care Chesterfield, an at home care company that provides care to people in their own homes, is honoured to have received a Silver Employer Recognition Scheme Award from the Ministry of Defence at a special awards ceremony last week.

The awards evening was held at Beaumanor Hall and the winners were presented with certificates signed by the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chief of the Defence Staff during a special ceremony.

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) rewards and recognises UK employers for their support and commitment towards defence. The scheme includes bronze, silver and gold awards for organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the Armed Forces community and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

Stephanie Metham, owner of Home Instead Chesterfield said: “We at Home Instead Senior Care are delighted to have received the ERS Silver award. Members of the Armed Forces bring great value to the care sector as serving and helping others is part of the core values of the military service.”

“Former service personnel have an affinity to nurture and support others and offer a wealth of knowledge and skills, and we are proud to continue our support of the Ministry of Defence.”

Home Instead Senior Care is one of the UK’s leading at-home care providers. Their service is tailored to the needs of individual clients and ranges from companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, post-discharge care, medication reminders, shopping and errands to personal care. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Home Instead Senior Care Chesterfield

Fiona Clark and Stephanie Metham from Home Instead being presented with their certificate from Air Commodore Simon Edwards.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield

Pantomime stars spread cheer at Gussie’s Kitchen

Families who use Gussie’s Kitchen in Chesterfield met a real life Cinderella and Prince Charming this week as stars from the forthcoming Cinderella pantomime at the Pomegranate Theatre visited the project.

Children’s TV favourite Naomi Wilkinson, who stars as Cinderella in the production, visited along with X Factor singer Rhydian Roberts who plays Prince Charming.

Both were impressed with the social eating project at Saints Augustine Church on Derby Road, which provides hot, healthy meals to local people weekly and gives the chance for people who may be isolated to meet and chat together.

They spent time speaking to people who use the project and the volunteers who prepare the food each week.

Naomi Wilkinson said: “It’s been really great to visit Gussie’s Kitchen and meet the lovely people who work here and volunteer here offering this delicious food to some people who really need it.”

“There’s a lovely atmosphere in this social space for people who need some companionship and a little bit of extra help.”

Rhydian Roberts added: “There are a lot of children here who are looking forward to the panto. One girl kept jumping up and down, she couldn’t believe Cinderella was in front of her.”

The project has received funding from Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council and is supported by local Tesco branches and Saints Augustine Church.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s deputy leader, said: “All the children were excited to meet Cinderella and Prince Charming.”

“They have been so good, having their photos taken with the children and serving the food. We’re really grateful to the pantomime stars.”

Cinderella runs at the Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield, from Saturday 1 December to Sunday 6 January. Click here for more information.

Cinderella Pantomime Gussie’s Kitchen

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

Local businesses celebrated at Derbyshire Times Business Awards

Celebrating their 30th year of caring for north-Derbyshire patients with life-limiting illnesses, Ashgate Hospicecare were named Business of the Year at the Derbyshire Times Business Awards 2018.

The awards were held at Chesterfield College and hosted by Dronfield entrepreneur Jessica Cunningham, star of TV show The Apprentice.

It is the 10th year that the Derbyshire Times has held their Business Awards, recognising the very best of the area’s commerce, trade and industry. Outstanding firms and the businessmen and women that run them were honoured in 14 different categories.

Derbyshire Times Editor Phil Bramley said: “The awards night was a great celebration of some of the outstanding business we have in our local community.”

“It was especially moving to see the standing ovation which Jillian Thomas received as she collected her Lifetime Achievement award and as she spoke powerfully about how being caught up in the Boxing Day Tsunami while on holiday in Thailand changed her life forever.”

“The judges had no hesitation in naming Ashgate Hospicecare as our overall Business of the Year 2018 and there can surely be no more deserving recipient.”

“It was especially fitting that they received the award in the year they mark 30 years of providing vital end-of-life care to people across north Derbyshire.”

The winners were:

The Innovation Award 

Winner: Auto Windscreen

Highly commended: Chesterfield Royal Hospital Foundation Trust, MOTUS Women Entrepreneurs Network.

People Development Award

Winner: A-Rock Construction

Community Contribution Award

Winner: Less Than Zero Barbers

Highly commended: Chameleon School of Construction

Customer Service Award

Winner: S44 Travel

Highly commended: Less Than Zero Barbers, Pinewood Properties

Apprentice of the Year

Winner: Jenna- Leigh Bates of Recruit 2 You Ltd

Highly commended: Declan Pike of Palamatic, Deborah Downes of  Van Dyk by Wildes

Independent Retailer of the Year

Winner: Itsy Bitsy Boutique

Lifestyle and Leisure Award

Winner: Stephensons Tea and Coffee House

Highly commended: Morley Hayes

New Business of the Year

Winner: Revilo Images

Highly commended: Edwards Employment Solutions Ltd, White Peak Distillery

Professional Services

Winner: Shorts

Highly Commended: Pinewood Properties

Small Business of the Year

Winner: Emerald Accountancy Services Ltd

Highly commended: Inspire Design and Development, Paperclip, Sanitaryware Supplies Company Ltd.

The Excellence in Manufacturing Award

Winner: BG Engineering

Charity of the Year award

Winner: Ashgate Hospicecare

Mitchells Anniversary Award 

Winner: Sanitaryware Supplies Company Ltd

Business Person of the Year award

Winner: Rupert Armitage of Auto Windscreens

Lifetime Achievement Award

Winner: Jillian Thomas of Future Life Wealth Management

2018 Business of the Year 

Winner: Ashgate Hospicecare

Derbyshire Times Business Awards

Derbyshire Times Business Awards 2018: Winners and runners-up join together for a group photograph at the end of the awards ceremony.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

Education and business sectors join forces to launch 12-month Made in Chesterfield campaign

A year-long campaign, which is sponsored by University of Derby, has been launched in Chesterfield to get more young people interested in careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

Established in 2014, Made in Chesterfield has traditionally been a month-long festival held during November. To mark its fifth year, the campaign has now been aligned with the National Curriculum and will run throughout the next 12 months.

Organised by Destination Chesterfield and Derbyshire Education Business Partnership, the Made in Chesterfield campaign brings together businesses and employers in the sector with schools and education providers.

This year, the campaign is supported by key employers in the local STEM sector, including Chesterfield Police, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar, Kingfield Electronics, Aztec Oils, Penny Hydraulics and Trans-Tronic, who are all opening their doors to teachers and pupils who are keen to know more about careers and jobs on offer.

Since establishing Made in Chesterfield, the campaign has resulted in over 2,500 young people from schools spending time in the area’s manufacturing and engineering businesses. School visits to businesses operating within the STEM sector are being organised by Derbyshire Education Business Partnership.

Chesterfield College has also credited the initiative with helping to make a difference to the awareness of careers linked to STEM subjects. The number of students studying STEM subjects at the College has increased from 265 last year to 440 in 2018.

Launched at Barrow Hill Roundhouse, the move to a 12-month campaign follows news that Spanish train manufacturer Talgo is considering investing in a £9 million innovation centre at Barrow Hill Roundhouse.

Speaking at the launch Dr Peter Dewhurst, Commercial Director, University of Derby, said: “Since opening the University’s Campus at St Helena’s in October 2016, the University has worked hard to support the town with us enrolling over 400 new learners and engaging with 12 local businesses to deliver Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. However, we are keen to do more to support the community and local businesses in achieving their potential and one way we are looking to achieve this is through our support for the Made in Chesterfield campaign.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield commented: “Talgo’s recent interest in Chesterfield has further put the spotlight on the town’s engineering and manufacturing sector. Our central location, engineering heritage and knowledge base makes us particularly attractive to companies operating within the STEM sector.”

“It’s a very exciting time for Chesterfield. We have the core ingredients to make the area a national hub of excellence for manufacturing and engineering. Initiatives like Made in Chesterfield which bring together education and business are so important in helping the town attract further investment to increase both job numbers and opportunities for everyone.”

Clare Talati, Director of Derbyshire Education Business Partnership said: “We have seen this initiative grow each year and we actively encourage all schools to get involved; bringing the world of work to life for learners is at the core of what we aim to deliver and the commitment made by local businesses is fantastic and not to be missed.”

In addition to the University of Derby, Made in Chesterfield is also run in partnership with MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd, NatWest and Placing Futures.

To find out more about Made in Chesterfield and how you can get involved, please visit: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/made/.

launch Made in Chesterfield campaign

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

Record occupancy for Chesterfield’s Innovation Centres

Occupancy figures at Chesterfield Borough Council’s innovation centres are at a record high despite the current economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit.

Both Tapton Park and Dunston Innovation Centres are more than 90 per cent let with only four offices still available to rent over both centres.

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “The level of lettings within the two centres shows the healthy state of local businesses in the borough.

“We built these centres to provide a space for new and innovative businesses to operate on ‘easy in, easy out’ terms so that they can establish themselves, grow and then expand in to bigger business premises within the borough.

“It is a model that has proved very successful over the years but demand seems even higher over the past 12 months.

“It is for this reason that we have recently submitted a planning application to build an Enterprise Centre on part of the site of the Holywell Cross car park to provide hi-spec accommodation for up to 32 businesses.”

Chesterfield Borough Council opened Tapton Park Innovation Centre in 1997 and Dunston Innovation Centre in 2002 to provide modern, high specification work space with in-house support services.

Hundreds of companies have used the centres over the years to successfully grow their businesses.

Somerville Associates recently established at Dunston Innovation Centre. Owner Andrew Somerville said: “Our initial interaction with the centre staff gave us the distinct impression that professionalism and commitment to excellence are paramount here.

“We really like the flexibility for future growth offered by facilities such as rent-a-desk. We have everything we need and working here is a pleasure.”

Various office sizes are available and range from a virtual office, rent a desk suite, to offices from 202 sq ft to 1500 sq ft. Lettings are processed quickly and terms are flexible, ideal for new businesses.

Other key features include ultra-fast internet connectivity, telephone, admin, post and reception support, a free on-site business advisor offering access to specialist innovation support, and access at discounted rates to the conference and meeting rooms in both centres.

Both centres are also located close to Chesterfield town centre, have free car parking, and excellent road and rail links with Derby, Sheffield and London.

Anyone with enquiries about Tapton Innovation Centre, Dunston Innovation Centre or the council’s other commercial premises should contact Hannah Ramsdale, or Michelle Shaw on 01246 345255.

To search for commercial property across Chesterfield try our online property search

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

New website to unearth mining history at Markham Vale

From dusty faces, holidays to Skegness and coalface training – lots of stories from Markham Colliery are being unearthed every day thanks to the launch of a new website.

The Story Mine website has been set up by a team of local volunteers, including local historian Sandra Struggles and has been funded by Derbsyhire County Council alongside a £35,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The new website gives details about the lives of the men who worked at the site, their jobs and the local mining community. Residents will also be able to use the website to send in their stories, memories or facts and hear about the project’s latest developments, events and discoveries.

Research into the lives of the thousands of local men who worked at the site between 1882 and 1993 has been carried out as part of the Story Mine project.

There are also real-life accounts of working down the pit from former miners and videos from relatives of the men who were tragically killed working at the site in the 3 major disasters in 1937, 1938 and 1973.

Shane Cooper talks about losing his father Gordon Richard Cooper in the 1973 disaster: “On the morning of the tragic accident my father kissed my mother goodbye and then me and my sisters, he grabbed his lunchbox and left the house whistling and singing away as he walked to the pit.”

“Miners innocently went to work and never came home to their families.”

Elaine Tidd, daughter of Markham miner Keith Bigg, said: “My father was a miner at Markham Colliery for the majority of his working life.”

“I remember living so close to the mine that our house would get dusty.”

“Each year we’d go on holiday to the miners’ camp at Skegness – we would see the same families that you would see all year round and it was fantastic. We’d have a cinema, ballroom, swimming and there was always a competition to enter.”

Markham Colliery has now been reclaimed by Derbyshire County Council and Henry Boot Developments and is home to the Markham Vale flagship regeneration scheme which is working to create 4,100 jobs for local people.

Councillor Tony King, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration said: “We’re delighted to see the launch of the Story Mine website – it’s interactive, informative and an excellent place for people to share their stories of Markham Colliery.”

“These stories are very important and it’s vital that we don’t forget the site’s mining history, the challenging jobs the pit workers had and the sacrifices they and their families made.”

“I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who has been involved in the Story Mine project – you should be very proud of what has been achieved.”

Councillor King added: “I’d also like to thank the Heritage Lottery Fund and National Lottery players for making the project possible.”

All the stories included on the website have been researched by a group of local community volunteers and this work will continue with help from members of the public.

Great strides have already been made at Markham Vale by us to remember its mining history with the permanent ‘Walking Together’ memorial which will eventually feature 106 figures stretching between the village of Duckmanton in Chesterfield and the former pithead which symbolises a miner’s journey to and from work and represents the 106 men who lost their lives in 3 major disasters at the site in 1937, 1938 and 1973.

The Walking Together memorial has been designed by Cheshire-based Artist Stephen Broadbent, commissioned by arts organisation Beam, who also manage the Story Mine project on our behalf.

The website can be found here: markhamstorymine.org

Unearthing stories from Markham Colliery: (from right) Councillor Tony King – Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration with relative and volunteer Alison Bull and relative Shane Cooper.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

Shorts acquire Lilleker & King

Chesterfield Champion Shorts is pleased to confirm that with effect from November 2018, they have agreed to purchase Clay Cross based accountancy practice Lilleker & King, as sole practitioner Andrew King looks to retire.

Andrew King began his career over 40 years ago, working for (what was then known as) Samuel Edward Short & Co, articled to Jim Briar. He previously worked alongside Andrew Heelin and remained in touch with his former colleagues after leaving the firm before he joined the business of Lilleker & King in 1990.

Andrew Heelin, who is now Shorts’ Accounts Director, comments “We are all looking forward to meeting Lilleker & King’s clients and ensuring that they continue to receive the level of service that they have previously enjoyed.”

Andrew King added “Having trained in my early career myself at Shorts, it was a natural decision for me to look to transferring my business to them when I retired. I know that my clients will receive a great service and be in safe hands with the team at Shorts.”

Andrew King will be working alongside Andrew Heelin over the coming year in order to ensure a smooth transition of his clients. Members of the Lilleker & King team have also joined Shorts.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development

First births registered at new Chesterfield Register Office

Chesterfield Register Office has moved from New Beetwell Street into Chesterfield Town Hall and has 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.

There are several rooms of different sizes to choose from for weddings, civil partnerships, renewal of vows and naming ceremonies all of which are newly refurbished. And there are attractive areas inside and outside for photographs.

Families are well catered for with a parent and baby room, and all the accommodation is on one level.

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.”

“Our new office is in the Town Hall, and 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 gives more space for the historic registers containing entries of all the births, deaths and marriages in Derbyshire since 1837.

The Register Office opening hours remain the same, Monday to Friday 9am to 4:30pm. The contact numbers have changed to: 01629 533110, 01629 533111 or 01629 53112.

Two new mums, their babies and Councillor Carol Hart outside Chesterfield Town Hall.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

University of Derby becomes first in the country to sign up to Student Success Framework

The University of Derby has signed a memorandum of understanding with Advance HE, making it the first higher education institution in the country to commit to embedding the agency’s best practice framework into all its programmes.

By adopting the Student Success Framework, the University will create a more consistent and integrated approach to curriculum design, as well as enhancing its digital offering. The University will adopt seven principles which will put students at the heart of the learning experience, including supporting student attainment, developing their skills as independent learners, connecting across disciplines and enabling them to become ‘game changers’.

During her visit, Advance HE Chief Executive Alison Johns met Vice-Chancellor Professor Kathryn Mitchell and her Executive Team, as well as other senior colleagues and students.

Professor Malcolm Todd, the University’s Provost (Academic) said: “Today’s signing reinforces the University of Derby’s role in being a force for positive impact, positioning us at the forefront of the sector.”

“Our aim is to embed the Advance HE Student Success Framework Series across the University, to support the broader aspects of learning and teaching in a more integrated and innovative manner. It aligns with our own Strategic Framework, which is designed to ensure our students graduate with the skills, knowledge, experience and attributes to enable them to fulfil their ambitions and make a positive contribution to the world.”

The signing reflects the University’s commitment to providing a high quality learning and teaching experience for its students, which this year has seen it:

The National Student Satisfaction Survey (NSS) reported in July that satisfaction with teaching at the University had risen to 88%. In the same survey, student satisfaction at the University overall had risen to 86%, above the national average.

This was reflected in the University’s success in the Times and Sunday Times league table, which saw it rise from 55th last year to 40th this year for student experience.

These achievements followed the Teaching Excellence Framework Gold ranking from the Higher Education Funding Council in 2017, which puts the University of Derby in the top 20% of all providers in the UK.

Professor Mitchell said: “We are delighted to formalise this relationship between the University of Derby and Advance HE. Our commitment to high quality learning and teaching is paramount to our students and staff alike. We look forward to working closely together to deliver on our commitment to an outstanding student experience.”

Alison Johns, Chief Executive of Advance HE, added: “We are delighted to be working with the University of Derby. Our Student Success Framework aims to help HEIs deliver practical solutions to improving teaching and enhancing learning. Working with the University of Derby is an important opportunity to foster collaboration so that we can share and learn from best practice.”

Vice-Chancellor Professor Kathryn Mitchell and Advance HE Chief Executive Alison Johns

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

Redbrik Half targets further growth after official launch

Organisers of the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon are targeting further growth after announcing that entries have opened into the 2019 edition, with an Early Bird price available until January.

Event directors, charity partners and sponsors gathered at Chesterfield’s Market Hall to launch the 2019 event following its huge expansion in 2018, when around 1,500 people signed up to take part – an increase from 800 the previous year.

Entry until 31 January is priced at £22, with the regular price of £28 applying after that date. Runners can also enter the Five Mile Run which takes place at the same time for just £18.

Organisers have set sights on a 2,000-runner total for the 2019 event, with more than 200 people having already signed up following the success of last month’s Half Marathon.

Leading estate agency Redbrik will be 2019 title sponsor for year three of its five-year partnership deal, and Ashgate Hospicecare will once again be the events main charity partner with Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice also an event charity partner.

John Timms, Event Director at Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, said: “We were really pleased with this year’s event. The Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon is an amazing group of people coming together to make something special happen in the town of Chesterfield.”

“Without all our partners, the event would not happen. The growth that we saw from last year to this year was incredible – let’s hope we can keep doing that, that’s the challenge that we’re setting ourselves.”

“Let’s keep building – we want to get to 3,000, even 4,000 runners, and through our partners I think we’re able to do that. The people of Chesterfield have been amazing in supporting the event – it’s so important to have their support. With their support, anything is possible.”

Mark Ross, Director of the event’s headline sponsor, Redbrik, said: “Being involved in the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon is fantastic for us as a business. It gives us the opportunity to give back to the town and help further enhance the wellbeing culture which everybody is looking to promote.”

“We’re huge advocates of Chesterfield, we want to promote what’s here and it’s a brilliant place to live and work. To have an event which is expanding, as the Half Marathon has done, is so crucial for the area.”

“It’s also a great opportunity to raise funds and awareness for brilliant local causes such as Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, charities which do so much for people across the region.”

For more information on the 2019 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon or to sign up click here.

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

Chesterfield Champion shortlisted for national service provider award

Chesterfield Champion Central Technology has been shortlisted for the prestigious ‘Best Small Enterprise Managed Service Provider’ at the Service Desk Institute’s IT Service & Support Awards 2019.

Central Technology is an IT and communications solutions provider founded in 2002 by Richard Thompson and Christopher Barr, both from Chesterfield. It has since grown to become one of the region’s leading providers of IT and communication solutions, supporting over 300 customers and employing over 45 highly qualified staff. In 2018, the business moved to new, fully refurbished premises following major growth and success.

Representatives from the Service Desk team will now present to a panel of Service Desk Institute judges with the goal of becoming a finalist for the national awards ceremony in March 2019. The ceremony will welcome over 600 people from across the world to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the brilliant teams and people working in the IT service and support industry.

Ryan Greveson, Digital Marketing Executive at Central Technology, says the company is proud of what they have achieved: “To be recognised by this worldwide organisation is a real accolade for our fantastic service desk team and the rest of the company. Over the past couple of years, we have worked hard to reach a level of maturity where we can offer world class services and consultancy to ensure all of our customers have a seamless customer experience that derives real business value.”

“The entire team here at Central Technology tenaciously adopts best practice and frameworks including ITIL & ISO; these combined with SDI frameworks will ensure we continue to offer the best future technology and services.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield

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