About Chesterfield

Chesterfield home to 2 of the fastest growing tech companies in the north of the UK

Chesterfield based businesses Evolution Funding and eBECS have been announced as number 25 and number 97 respectively in the North’s Fastest Growing Tech Companies, compiled by Tech Nation.

The league table was born out of GP Bullhound’s annual Northern Tech Awards. Tech Nation saw an opportunity to work together to shine an even bigger spotlight on as many companies as possible by producing the publication.

The rankings are based on revenue growth over the past three years. To be eligible to apply, companies had to prove they were an active technology company with at least £500,000 revenue in 2015, and based in the North of the UK.

Established in 2002 in Chesterfield, Evolution Funding employs 270 people UK-wide and provides market-leading motor finance products to consumers through a network of more than 4,000 approved dealer partnerships and groups.

CEO Jeremy Levine is committed to reinvesting the company’s profits to drive growth across the group, optimising operating efficiencies and customer journeys across the firms main brand, Evolution Motor Finance, as well as its vehicle loans business, vehicle rentals brand and vehicle retail arm.

Evolution Funding have celebrated a 63% growth this last year.

Headquartered in Chesterfield, eBECS has established itself as one of the Uk’s leading suppliers of Total Microsoft Business Solutions and Managed Survices, helping businesses to cut their costs and complexity since 2009.

In November 2016, eBECS became a strategic alliance partner of IT services giant CSC, becoming its channel delivery partner for Microsoft Dynamics business solutions across the UK. The company’s success in designed and delivering lean and ahile solutions for business in the finance, insurance, manufacturing and retail sectors helps eBECS win the Microsoft Dynamics Services UK Partner of the Year award every year from 2010-2015 and again in 2017.

eBECS celebrated a 11% growth over the last year.

From a perfect location, to quality workforce and a vibrant business community – Chesterfield is not your typical market town – and there are many reasons as to why businesses are deciding to Invest in Chesterfield.  There is currently over £1 billion of regeneration projects in progress and many more opportunities on the way.

chesterfield tech companies

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Leading Chesterfield based manufacturer to extend geographic footprint

Chesterfield based manufacturer , Cathelco, are to extend their geographic footprint and expertise in cleantech systems following acquisition by Evac Group.

Cathelco, a leading global manufacturer of equipment for ships and offshore installations, today announced that it has been acquired by Finland-based Evac Group, the world’s leading provider of integrated waste, wastewater, and water management systems for the marine, offshore, and building industries.

Cathelco has established relationships with Evac’s existing customer groups in the marine and offshore industry, including ship owners, shipyards, fleet managers, rig owners and operators, oil companies, navies, and marine architects and has an excellent product fit with Evac’s portfolio. The acquisition gives Cathelco the opportunity to further expand its geographic footprint and expertise in cleantech systems while also opening up new business opportunities.

With the acquisition, Cathelco’s pipework anti-fouling, hull corrosion protection, fresh water generation, and ballast water treatment systems will become part of the Evac Complete Cleantech Solution. This includes both standard and customized vacuum collection, wastewater treatment, and dry and wet waste management systems, as well as fresh water generation systems for environments ranging from the world’s largest cruise vessels and naval and cargo vessels to small work boats.

Justin Salisbury, Group Managing Director of Cathelco Group, says:-

“Our already broad geographic footprint and expertise in cleantech systems will be augmented considerably by Evac’s broad portfolio, which will enable our customers to meet all their needs from a single reliable partner.”

Tomi Gardemeister, Evac Group CEO and President, says:-

“An extended cleantech system offering, together with an enlarged sales and service network, will allow us to offer a more comprehensive range of solutions and services to our customers. This acquisition also provides a tremendous opportunity for Evac and Cathelco to work together to become a leader in the field of ballast water treatment systems.”

Chesterfield based manufacturer

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Local shopping centre reveals moving WW1 tribute

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre recently unveiled a “poetry walk” on part of its site, in a touching tribute which marked 100 years since the end of World War I.

The town’s Mayor cut the ribbon of the Vicar Lane WW1 tribute exhibition on 14th May, with press and members of the public in attendance.

In situ until January 2019, the piece is made up of 11 different poems engraved onto the wall in the link walkway to the car park, installed as part of the WWI commemorations across the town lead by Chesterfield Borough Council. The poems on display include timeless works from Rudyard Kipling, John McCrae and other famed war poets.

During the opening of the exhibition, the Royal British Legion collected donations on site, with all funds raised being donated to the Poppy Appeal – a charity which offers welfare support for those in the Armed Forces community who are facing difficulties – supported by the Royal British Legion Riders and the Chesterfield RBL.

Shaun Brown, Operations Manager for Vicar Lane, said:-

“We are honoured to be able to partake in these important celebrations, and to pay respect to those who fought for us. We hope that the exhibition will inspire Chesterfield and make our community proud.”

Chesterfield businesses and voluntary groups are also invited to work with Chesterfield Borough Council to help plan commemorations in the borough to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Chesterfield Borough Council, in partnership with Chesterfield Combined Ex Services is also planning a poppy cascade from the balcony of Chesterfield Town Hall in the week of Armistice Day this November, which will require thousands of knitted, crocheted or felt poppies.

A number of organisations in Chesterfield are planning events during the year and in particular for the period 11 October to 11 November.

vicar lane ww1 tribute

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer

Chesterfield businesses invited to take part in RISE Graduate scheme

Small to medium Chesterfield businesses are being invited to access expert help to attract, select, recruit and train graduates through a city region-wide funded scheme.

The Sheffield City Region RISE graduate recruitment programme is delivered in partnership with the SCR Growth Hub, University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University and the private sector.

RISE is a free graduate recruitment programme to help SMEs based in in the nine regions of the SCR (including Chesterfield, Dronfield, NE Derbyshire and the Derbyshire Dales) to find the best graduate talent for their business. The project will write an advert for the graduate placement, advertise the role across the UK and put candidates through a variety of recruitment tasks. Businesses can also access line manager training, interview guidance and toolkits.

It aims to connect growing businesses with ambitious graduates – and take the hassle out of recruitment. Local organisations that have been involved in the project to date include Chesterfield Champions Casa Hotel,  Global Brands and BHP  Chartered Accountants.

Rachel Moss, Regional Head of Projects, Today Translations, said:-

“RISE took the time to understand our requirements and provided excellent candidates and an extremely positive interview experience.”

Sinead O’Neill, HR Manager, Magtec:, said:-

“At Magtec we have used RISE to recruit several outstanding graduates.  The whole process was so simple, from helping understand our skills need to writing the job descriptions in a way that would attract graduates, we got the right mix of candidates through the selection process.  We had a great experience and I hope to see RISE continue into the future to help other SMEs too.”

Business can participate in RISE, whether they want to appoint a graduate to a six month internship or a permanent post with a six-month probationary period. The only eligibility criteria is that they have less than 250 employees and are based in the Sheffield City Region.

The organisation must commit to an excellent induction, management support, salary and appraisal package. In return, they can access a fully-funded recruitment programme to help manage the process and ensure the best possible result for both employer and employee – plus there’s a £1,000 wage subsidy available.

To find out more about the RISE project click here. The deadline for applications to get involved is June 19th.

chesterfield rise graduate

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Communications aid for patients launched at the Royal

Chesterfield Royal Hospital has launched a booklet, supported by the Trust’s Charitable Funds, to help patients keep important information about them in one place.

The booklet is aimed at patients who might find communicating with clinical staff difficult, or who might have sensitive information they want to share.  It can fit easily into a pocket or handbag and is an easy to use reference guide, intended to help health professionals during clinical discussions with patients that goes beyond what is included in a person’s medical record.

Vikki Develin is the Trust’s Patient Experience Manager, she said:-

“This booklet would never have come about if it wasn’t for Sue Towner in our Patient Advice and Liaison (PALS) Team and one of our patients; the idea was developed following a conversation they had as he asked if there was anything he could use to support his conversations with clinical staff.  It was a great idea and we have a number of patients who might struggle with conversations for lots of different reasons; perhaps they have Dementia or have had a stroke, they may have a learning disability or been diagnosed with Autism.

“The booklet highlights straight away whether a patient has any communication difficulties.  It will allow our clinicians to see, at a glance, some of the vital information that they would possibly have difficulty obtaining, as well as helping them to quickly understand how they can best communicate with the person they are seeing.

“The kind of information the booklet will contain includes whether or not they need help with certain everyday tasks such as standing, going to the toilet or eating, it explains what aids they should have with them, for example glasses, hearing aids or dentures and if they need communication aids such as an interpreter or hearing loop.

“It also details any speech problems, if they have sensory issues such an aversion to loud noises, bright lights or busy places and what medication they might currently be taking. There are sections where the patient can write in more detail about how the health professional might be able to help them, what else they might need to know quickly, for example if they’re diabetic, have a particular allergy or if there is a person they might need to contact to help with any decisions.”

The Patient Experience Team produced the booklet thanks to support from the Chesterfield Royal Hospital Charitable Funds Committee, who provided the money to have it printed. The ‘About Me’ booklet was developed in partnership with patients and the public, and the views of patients and visitors were also gathered during the Annual Members Meeting.  The team would like to thank those people who were involved in developing and reviewing the booklet, including the Trust Reader’s Panel, Derbyshire BME Forum and autistic people in our local community and on Twitter who offered their instrumental views and suggestions.

“It isn’t there to replace medical notes,” Vikki added, “it’s owned by the patient and acts as an up to date, point in time reference that our clinicians can see and gather important information at a glance that may affect how they treat patients and what medication they can prescribe.

“Above all else we hope that the booklet will help our clinical colleagues to understand the patient more as a person by going beneath the condition that has caused that person to require treatment. It’s about us being able to see at a glance why conversations might prove to be difficult and allow us to overcome these obstacles quickly so that our patients are treated effectively and with dignity and respect.”

Patient Simon Cramp, who was the inspiration behind the idea, added:-

“I welcome the fact that my idea was taken on board and that the Trust has developed this little booklet to help patients with additional needs. It will help to make their stay here a better experience and is also a great example of how the Equality Act 2010, from the Trust’s point of view, is a welcome and helpful tool to improve the service to better patient care.”

The ‘About Me’ books can be picked up at the Royal’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) in the main entrance and will also be handed out to patients in outpatient clinics and on wards over time.

Royal Hospital launch communication aid

Posted in About Chesterfield

Peak FM breakfast pair to host Chesterfield Retail Awards 2018

Peak FM breakfast show presenters, Ricky and Becky, have been confirmed as the hosts of the Chesterfield Retail Awards 2018.

The pair will host the black-tie awards ceremony at the Winding Wheel on Wednesday 13 June. At the ceremony Ricky and Becky will announce the winners of 15 categories in the annual awards which are organised by Destination Chesterfield.

Only 50 tickets remain for the popular awards ceremony, which last year saw 200 people attend.

Thirty-one Chesterfield retailers and individuals are hoping to claim at least one of the titles, with 14 of them nominated for the first time and 7 hoping to defend their 2017 titles. At the ceremony the coveted overall title of Retailer of the Year, sponsored by East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), will also be revealed.

Becky, who joined the Peak FM breakfast show earlier this year, said:-

“I am so excited to be hosting the Chesterfield Retail Awards, especially with it being my first time. I’d just like to say a huge congratulations to every business that’s been shortlisted for an award.”

Co-host Ricky added:-

“I’m delighted to be hosting the awards for the second year. I am looking forward to seeing some familiar faces, along with some new businesses, getting recognition for their hard work. It’s a celebration of all the retailers in Chesterfield.”

The shortlisted businesses and individuals in this year’s Chesterfield Retail Awards include:

Hair & Beauty Business of the Year

  • The Body Shop International
  • Finesse Hair, Nails & Beauty
  • The Therapy Lounge

Fashion and Footwear Retailer of the Year – sponsored by In the Works PR

  • Blanc & Blanc Occasions
  • Ingman’s
  • Marks and Spencer

Jewellery & Accessories Retailer of the Year

  • Adorn Jewellers of Chesterfield
  • Green & Benz
  • Libby’s

Home & Gifts Retailer of the Year

  • H&F
  • Karen’s One Stop Gift Shop
  • Olympia House Antiques and Craft Centre

Food & Drink Retailer of the Year

  • Lambs Cupcakes of Chesterfield
  • Northern Tea Merchants
  • R P Davidson Cheese Factor

Leisure Retailer of the Year – sponsored by Peak FM

  • Geeks Headquarters Ltd
  • I Fix Tech Chesterfield
  • StraightCurves Creative Ltd

Market Hall Business of the Year

  • DHC Countrywear
  • Lambs Cupcakes of Chesterfield
  • Quinney’s Pet Supplies

Best New Store 2017/2018

  • Baby to Bigger
  • Dotique
  • Urban Flamingo

Market Trader of the Year – sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council

  • Ibbotson’s Fresh Quality Produce
  • Lavender Dog Shop
  • Rate Good Brownie Boxes

Independent Retailer of the Year – sponsored by Jumble Creative Design

  • Adorn Jewellers of Chesterfield
  • Ibbotson’s Fresh Quality Produce
  • Green and Benz

National Retailer of the Year – sponsored by The University of Derby

  • The Body Shop International
  • The Fragrance Shop
  • Specsavers

Excellence in Customer Service – sponsored by The Pavements Shopping Centre

  • Adorn Jewellers of Chesterfield
  • Green & Benz
  • Specsavers

Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by Apprentice Town (led by Chesterfield Borough Council)

  • Chloe Hall – The Therapy Lounge
  • Jodie Tomlinson – The Lounge

Apprentice Employer of the Year – Sponsored by Learning Unlimited (The Chesterfield College Group)

  • Ashgate Hospicecare
  • Bliss Hair
  • Specsavers

Best Retailer in the Pavements Shopping Centre

  • The Fragrance Shop,
  • The Full Monty Barbers
  • Masserella’s

Supporters of the 2018 Chesterfield Retail Awards include: Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire Times, eBusiness Works, JP Fire Safety and Temple Safety.

Follow Destination Chesterfield (@desches) on Twitter to find out the winners of the awards as they are announced on Wednesday 13 June.

For more information about the awards, visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards

 

peak fm chesterfield retail awards

Posted in About Chesterfield, Chesterfield Retail Awards

Chesterfield food producer goes national thanks to Growth Hub

Thanks to help from Sheffield City Region Growth Hub, a much-loved potted beef – created by Chesterfield food producer Granny Mary’s Original Recipes – is being sold nationally, aided by a combined £30,000 in grants and intensive business advice.

Eddie Sutherland started selling his wife’s potted beef when he worked as a travelling salesman for Lyon’s tea in the Twenties. Sacked when a supervisor noticed, he and his wife Mary decided to make it a full-time business – and it became a multi-million-pound brand stocked on supermarket shelves.

In the 1980s the business was sold to a European food giant. But in 2012 William Sutherland, Eddie’s great grandson, persuaded his father Alistair to start up commercial production again, calling the business Original Recipes.

The Chesterfield business quickly discovered two challenges –  the limited capacity and the standard of the premises they used initially did not appeal to national clients. As a result Original Recipes had been focussed on low volume retail sales.

Advised by City Region Business Growth Specialist Darren Buxton and Access to Finance Advisor Steve Errington, they reviewed their strategy and went into the wholesale market with a fresh approach – creating a new upmarket terrine range, ‘Prochef’, and focussing on wholesale outlets.

Prochef, which took off immediately, is designed for chefs in busy pubs and restaurants: the recipes are of exceptional quality and sold in modern bespoke moulds that make life easier in a hectic professional kitchen.

With this new approach and by investing heavily in new high quality premises at the Storforth Lane trading estate in Chesterfield, the business is now winning national orders.

Alexa Greaves, Chair of the SCR Growth Hub Board, said:-

“I’m delighted to hear this success story and I’m very pleased that we have been able to work with the company to help it reach the right market with the right product.

“The Sheffield City Region is all about innovation and business expansion, and it’s good to see a family enterprise working with the Growth Hub to bring out new products and to take a lead in modern food production.”

The factory, which the firm designed and had built within 12 days, has been supported by a £25,000 grant via the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub Business Investment Fund, plus another £5,000 support via the Growth Hub Enhancement Project, an ERDF funded project, to look at extending the shelf life of the terrines with new packaging. It’s ultra clean and has been designed to exceed even the very rigorous hygiene requirements of the British Retail Consortium.

Alistair Sutherland said:-

“It’s wonderful that as a family we have been able to revive my grandmother’s tasty sandwich filling – her potted beef is still our customer’s favourite of all our 30 different lines.

“It’s lovely to work with my son William, and I’m very impressed with the help and support we have had from the Sheffield City Region Business Growth Specialist Darren and Steve.

“They guided us through all the paperwork, helped us see how to target the right markets, and now we’re looking forward to beating the sales made by Eddie and Granny Mary!”

chesterfield food producer granny marys

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

Phase two sold out at £6.0m Chesterfield housing development

The developers behind the popular £6.0m Chesterfield-based Ringwood Meadows have confirmed that all 11 houses on the second phase of the project have now been sold; with the first purchases expected to be this June, and building work on this Phase scheduled to be completed in the Autumn.

Rockliffe Homes, which is building a total of 37 new two, three and four bedroom modern and contemporary family homes, confirmed that it is also on track to announce the launch of the third and final phase of the development in July.

With interest in the remaining plots already attracting interest from buyers, according to local estate agent Wilkins Vardy which has been appointed to oversee sales, the success of the development to date is reflective of the ‘very pressing’ need for more housing in and around Chesterfield.

Alex Spencer-Mills, Development Director at Rockliffe Homes’, said:-

“Whilst Ringwood Meadows is ideally located next to beautiful open countryside, as well as local amenities including everything the Hollingwood Hub has to offer which makes it a very attractive option to buyers, we have been delighted by the level of interest that there has been from people looking to settle in the area.

“It is great that we have been able to provide families and young professionals with access to well appointed, quality homes – going some way to addressing the very pressing need for more properties for sale in the local area.

“We are also delighted to be able to offer the Help to Buy scheme to purchasers which is a fantastic initiative dedicated to helping people who are looking to make their way onto the first rung of the property ladder to fulfil their ambitions.”

The 37 homes that make up the Ringwood Meadows development, which got underway last year thanks to financial backing from the Homes & Communities Agency, now known as Homes England, as part of the £3 billion House Building Fund, is expected to be fully occupied by late Spring, 2019.

Today Rockliffe Homes also confirmed that it has secured additional funding from the Homes England which will allow it to acquire and develop new sites in the region with a focus on bringing high quality homes to areas experiencing a housing shortage.

Commenting on the development Craig Johns, Senior Transaction Manager at the Homes England, said:-

“Providing a loan to Rockliffe Homes, will not only create 37 new homes in Brimington, but will also support Rockliffe Homes in its continued expansion. It is fantastic that our investment will not only increase the number of homes available for local people but will also create skilled jobs on brownfield land.”

Dan Elliott, Managing Director of Chesterfield based estate agents Wilkins Vardy, said:-

“We have been met with superb levels of interest for this development. We already have names and numbers of people wanting to reserve on phase 3, which will be released in the summer.

“We know that there is real demand for quality, family housing in and around Chesterfield, and so it is not surprising that so many people are responding quickly to what promises to be a very practical yet picturesque development.”

Chesterfield housing development

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

New Chairman for Peak Tourist Board

Firm foundations laid over the past four years have paved the way for an even brighter and more secure future for tourism in the Peak District and Derbyshire.

That was the message from the incoming Chairman of official tourist board Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, Paul Jones, as he took over the helm from outgoing Chairman Paul Roden this week (Friday May 25).

“Since Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire was reorganised in 2014, so much has been achieved to keep it moving forward to address the ever-changing demands and challenges of the competitive tourism industry,” said Paul, Marketing & Communications Director of The Camping and Caravanning Club, one of the tourist board’s Patrons.

“During Paul Roden’s chairmanship, huge progress has been made in putting the tourist board on a sustainable financial footing, creating a responsive infrastructure to take it forward and devising and taking part in creative and innovative marketing campaigns to attract more staying visitors from both the UK and overseas.

“I’ll be looking to consolidate and build upon the hard work that has already been done, by supporting Managing Director Jo Dilley and her outstanding team to offer an even more effective service in the future.”

Since 2014, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire has:

  • Secured £1.49 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to fund a comprehensive, three-year business support programme, currently being delivered until March 2019
  • Successfully bid – with a range of other tourist boards and partners – for around £5.2 million from VisitBritain’s Discover England Fund to bring in more staying visitors from key overseas markets such as Australia, China, Germany, The Netherlands and the USA
  • Revamped and relaunched its website to make it more customer friendly and responsive when searching for accommodation, attractions, activities and events in the area
  • Run carefully targeted multi-media marketing campaigns, such as ‘The Land to Forget Time’ (aimed at affluent 25- to 35-year-olds) and the current #Unique District (aimed at a variety of audiences, including millennials, empty nesters, groups and camping and caravanning enthusiasts)
  • Organised scores of educational visits for national and international media, online influencers and travel trade buyers across the UK and in key overseas markets – including leading titles such as The Times and Sunday Times, The Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph and The Guardian, plus growing markets such as China, Germany and the USA
  • Restructured its skilled and committed team to heighten the area’s profile at home and abroad and provide an even better service for visitors, members, Patrons and public and private sector partners

Added Paul: “I’m delighted to take over the role of Chairman at such a pivotal time for the tourist board. Our two organisations have had a long and mutually beneficial relationship – we work very creatively together and complement each other.

”Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire was the first tourist board we actively partnered with, and our strong working links have been so successful that we have used them as a blueprint for working with other destination management organisations across the UK.

“I will be aiming to bring added value in areas such as membership, finance and partnership working. I’m also keen to actively support the tourist board’s mission to encourage more people to come and stay here and to extend their stays, so that they spend more in the local economy to support jobs and boost overall prosperity – that’s very important.

“I want to be an effective ambassador for the organisation and for the Peak District and Derbyshire, and am both excited by, and very much looking forward to, the challenge.”

Outgoing Chairman Paul Roden, owner of Losehill House Hotel & Spa, Hope, who took up the post in June 2014, said: “The past four years have proved to be a busy and rewarding phase for Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, as it successfully negotiated a period of transition after reorganisation in late 2014 to keep pace with the constantly evolving tourism market.

“It’s been a privilege and a pleasure to be part of this crucial phase in its development, and I would like to thank all the members of its small, but dedicated team for their  hard work and commitment, as well as all our public and private sector partners, Patrons and members for their continuing loyalty and support.

“I wish them and my successor, Paul Jones, every success as they embark on another exciting phase to further develop and grow the tourism sector for the benefit of local businesses, residents and the local and regional economy.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Nominate now in the 2018 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards

Nominations are now open for the sixth annual Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards.

The town’s thriving food and drink sector will once again be celebrated by awards organiser, Destination Chesterfield. It is now urging people to nominate their favourite restaurants, bars, cafes, pubs and tearooms across 10 categories.

And it’s not just businesses you can nominate in the 2018 awards. Apprentices and apprenticeships are also being recognised this year with the introduction of two brand new categories – Apprentice of the Year and Apprentice Employer of the Year.

Nominations across 10 categories can be made online until midnight on Monday 11th June 2018 at www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield is now urging people to get nominating. He said: “Each year we get more and more nominations proving that we’re a town that appreciates good food and customer service. There are so many fantastic businesses and  people working within them in the town. For them to have a chance of taking home one of the prestigious awards, they have to be nominated – their future is in your hands.”

“I hope the people of Chesterfield get behind us once again and nominate to help make the 2018 Food and Drink Awards 2018 the best yet.”

Once again, The Chesterfield College Group is the headline sponsor of the prestigious awards and will also be hosting the glittering awards ceremony in its Heart Space building later this year.

Julie Richards, Principal and Chief Executive of the Chesterfield College Group said: “It is fantastic to be able to support this annual celebration of the best of our local food and drink industry once again this year. The event highlights local talent in the industry at the same time as giving our catering and hospitality students some amazing opportunities to showcase their talent. I look forward to welcoming the shortlisted nominees to Chesterfield College in October.”

Nominations can be made across 10 categories in the 2018 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards include:

Other supporters of the awards include the Apprentice Town initiative led by Chesterfield Borough Council, Casa Hotel, Derbyshire Times, Elder Way (Jomast), Owen Taylor & Sons, Peak FM and Reflections.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

University of Derby climbs 25 places to rank in Top 30 in The Guardian University Guide 2019

The University of Derby has been ranked in the Top 30 in The Guardian University Guide 2019 which is a climb of 25 places.

Derby is now ranked 29th after jumping from 54th place out of 121 institutions making it the sixth most improved university in the country. Importantly this is our highest ever ranking.

Welcoming the results from today’s The Guardian University Guide 2019, Professor Kathryn Mitchell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “To achieve our highest ever ranking is fantastic news for the University and formally recognises the outstanding commitment of staff and students.

“It is particularly pleasing to be recognised in the Top 30 in the country by The Guardian league tables, which focus on student experience, student satisfaction and employability – values which have always been at the heart of our institution. This is a very positive outcome which will further enhance our global profile.”

As well as an overall ranking, The Guardian University Guide 2019 also produces league tables for each subject area, which has seen some equally impressive performances for Derby.

These include Top 10 rankings for:

  • Hospitality, Event Management & Tourism
  • Business, Marketing & Management.

The University of Derby has also been ranked in the Top 20 for:

  • Art
  • Education
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Fashion & Textiles
  • Journalism, Publishing & Public Relations
  • Nursing & Midwifery

The Guardian university league tables, published today, rank universities according to a variety of criteria considered most relevant to students, including students satisfaction with the course, teaching, feedback and student-to-staff ratio. Institutions receive an overall score and individual assessments are also given for a whole range of criteria including employability, spend per student and, new for this year, continuation.

Many prospective students rely on annual guides published by national newspapers and elsewhere to decide on where they will study, and Derby showed improved performance across a variety of criteria.

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

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Development