About Chesterfield

Northern Gateway scheme underway with redevelopment of former Co-op building

12th December 2017

Work has begun to redevelop the former Co-op department store on Elder Way.

The £10.5 million redevelopment by Jomast Developments is part of the Northern Gateway project led by Chesterfield Borough Council.

The store has been empty since closing in July 2013.

When completed, the building will include:

Seven ground floor family restaurants and bars
A 92 bedroom Premier Inn hotel on the first and second floors
A health and fitness centre in the basement

Adam Hearld, commercial director, Jomast Developments, said:-

“This has been a difficult and complex project to get off the ground and having resolved a number of pre development issues we are now delighted to be able to start on what we believe will be an exciting and vibrant leisure scheme in the heart of the town centre.

“We are anticipating completing the comprehensive refurbishment of the former Co-op building in September 2018 with the Premier Inn, bars, restaurants and gym opening to the public shortly afterwards.

“The Council’s environmental improvements on Elder Way and Knifesmithsgate are key to the success of this scheme and will be coordinated with our development programme throughout 2018.

“These proposals together with the redeveloped multi storey car park and wider plans for Northern Gateway will be critical in revitalising this part of Chesterfield town centre to provide a really exciting environment for people to visit, stay, eat, drink and work in.”

Chesterfield Borough Council has supported the private sector companies in the development by gaining a £5.83 million grant from the Sheffield City Region Investment Fund for landscaping improvements to Elder Way and Knifesmithgate which will benefit the Co-op development and the wider Northern Gateway scheme.

Funding is also being sought for further environmental improvements to connect Saltergate with the heart of the town centre.

The existing Saltergate multi-storey car park will also be redeveloped by the council in a multi-million scheme to provide safe, secure 24 hour parking for people using the hotel, restaurants and local shops.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s deputy leader, said:-

“The Northern Gateway scheme is no longer a plan on a piece of paper, it is a reality.

“From here on the pace of the project will grow as the redevelopment of the former Co-op building will be followed in a few months by us starting work to demolish and replace the Saltergate multi-storey car park, before moving on to other parts of the scheme.

“The old Co-op is a dominant building in the town centre and it has been difficult to see it closed over the past few years. Seeing work start to bring it back in to use gives the town a real confidence boost.

“The growth of Internet shopping is causing hard times on high streets up and down the country but as people see work progress on this building they will see the northern side of the town centre coming back to life. The customers of this development will support existing town centre shops and help encourage other retailers to open shops to replace those that have closed down.”

Peter Swallow, chair of Destination Chesterfield, added:-

“The start of work on transforming the former Co-op building on Elder Way is a major step forward in the development of Northern Gateway and the regeneration of the town centre.

“Chesterfield is going through some very exciting times and the redevelopment of the Co-op building is just one of a number of development opportunities that are now coming to fruition which will change the face of the town and change it for the better so that it is equipped it for the future.

“It is a key development in helping increase the vitality of the town centre as well as preparing Chesterfield to take full advantage of the opportunities that the HS2 station will bring with it.”

The wider Northern Gateway scheme will see an enterprise zone for small and medium sized businesses on part of the site of Holywell Cross (Donut) car park and refurbishment of the existing Saltergate multi-storey car park.

It is estimated the scheme will create around 500 jobs.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Deadline looms for Enterprising Women nominations

12th December 2017

The annual quest to find the region’s most successful and inspirational businesswomen will come to an end soon after Christmas.

The final deadline for nominations for the 2018 East Midlands Chamber Enterprising Women Awards is Friday 5 January.

Winners will be announced at a glittering, ‘little black dress’ dinner on 2 March – coinciding with International Women’s Day.

Eileen Richards, Founder of ER Recruitment, Leicester, a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and one of the Co-Chairs of Enterprising Women, said:-

“If any enterprising women have time over the Christmas break – between balancing work and family through the holidays – then it would be an ideal time to nominate themselves for an award.

“Enterprising Women is all about finding and recognising women who make a serious contribution to the regional economy, often successfully balancing work, keeping home and motherhood, but not always being acknowledged for what they achieve.”

There are seven awards to be won this year – the 21^st year of the competition: Business Woman of the Year, Social Commitment, Apprentice of the Year, Female Employee of the Year, Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Team of the Year and Small Business of the Year.

Co-Chair Jean Mountain, a Past President at East Midlands Chamber, said:-

“By highlighting their contribution and telling their stories, hopefully we can inspire other women to pursue their business dream, which is why I would urge as many people as possible to send in nominations for the 2018 awards.”

Chamber membership is a requirement for nomination.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

New sensory area opened in Chester’s Den

12th December 2017

A new sensory area has been opened inside Chester’s Den in the HUB at the Proact Stadium.

Sensory equipment has been installed in the area, combining a range of stimuli to help individuals develop and engage their senses. These include lights, colours, sounds and sensory soft play objects, allowing children to explore and interact without risk.

Sensory areas can help those who have learning difficulties, developmental disabilities or sensory impairments learn to interact with the world around them.

Councillor Maureen Davenport, Mayor of Chesterfield, who performed the official opening of the area, said:-

“It’s an impressive addition to the play area which will help children with disabilities.”

Hayleigh Vasey, a representative from the Chesterfield FC Community Trust, said:-

“We are so happy to have been able to add this facility and we just can’t wait for people to come down and use it.”

The equipment has been installed by Chesterfield-based firm ROMPA, a world leader in sensory design and equipment, with Accessible Derbyshire also helping to fund the project.

Hayleigh added:-

“Without ROMPA and Accessible Derbyshire, we wouldn’t have been able to do this.

“We’re just so grateful we can put something in our play area that’s for all the community to use.”

Ryan Smyth, Commercial and Marketing Assistant at ROMPA, was at the launch to explain the uses of the equipment, he said:-

“The first area when you walk in is an active area for stimulating.

“We then have a tactile area, which is more based around tactile exploration and in the back corner is a more relaxing area.

“ROMPA works all over the world but to have a project right on our doorstep as part of the community is really pleasing. It’s great for the staff at ROMPA to to be able to see the benefits.”

Martin Thacker, East Midlands Regional Director for the National Deaf Children’s Society, also attended the launch. He said:-

“It’s very visual and it’s very tactile so I think it will be able to support children’s interests that have all five senses and those children who don’t have all five senses. They’ll be able to have an opportunity to explore, enjoy and learn.”

He also took time to praise the great work being done by the Community Trust, adding:-

“I think the Trust is in the forefront now of many Trusts across the country who are actually trying to improve their ways of developing inclusion for the local area.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

Radio station find their voices for charity

11th December 2017

Chesterfield Champion and online radio station, Spire Radio, will be playing themselves on the radio this Christmas – but it’s all for 2 great causes.

Dave Trickett, Community Director at Spire Radio, and one of his oldest friends, Paul Wilbraham have been raising money throughout 2017 in memory of Dave’s daughter, Kimberley, who lost her fight with cancer in 2009 at the age of just 20.

Since then Paul and Dave have been fundraising tirelessly for both Ashgate Hospice and Teenage Cancer Trust, raising over £80,000.

This year they are aiming to raise another £10,000 for the two charities. After running 5 marathons, a grueling 24-hour treadmill run at Tesco in August and holding a Posh Pie and Peas fund raiser in November this year, Paul and Dave are getting into the festive spirit to raise more money by becoming popstars.

The idea to release an original Christmas single to celebrate a mammoth year of fundraising was first mentioned back in April and it has taken trips to Stoke on Trent as well as recording sessions in Chesterfield to make this a reality. Everyone involved in the single has given their time for free with one simple aim – to raise as much money as possible for both Ashgate Hospicecare and Teenage Cancer Trust.

Dave Trickett, Community Director at Spire Radio, said:-

“This year has been amazing and the recent Pie and Peas night at the Proact Stadium in November was a great night- not just for Paul and I but for everyone that has helped and supported us. This isn’t the end, Paul has already booked for the Brighton marathon for next year, while I’m doing the London marathon for the Teenage Cancer Trust.”

Working with Lyn Sheppard at Positive Impulse Ltd, Dave and Paul provide the voices of Santa while many of the Spire Radio presenters have lent their voices to an original Christmas single written by Charlotte Elizabeth and featuring Chesterfield artists, Anthony Parsons, Georgii Bailey (Derbyshire Singer of the Year 2016), Amy J Bannister, Dino Bedrocker and Hattie Drury.

Amy Hartshorn, Director at Spire Radio, said:-

“I began working with the Trickett family around 5 years ago, the whole family are amazing and have such strength having been through such tragedy. Kim was a beautiful, inspirational person and as such has inspired all of us to keep her legacy alive. Spire Radio raised £5,100 for Kim’s memorial fund in early 2016. Kim was cared for by both Teenage Cancer Trust and Ashgate Hospice which is why Dave and Paul have taken on these epic challenges this year to raise such a huge sum of money.

“They are quite simply two of the most amazing men I have had the privilege to meet, and we will continue to support them in all of their future challenges, and it has been brilliant to be involved in the Christmas single and I’d like to thank everyone that has been involved – even if they’ve only sung one line – we couldn’t have done this without you.”

Debs and Denise, the LOL Girls, Ali Murray, Alan Wilkinson, Maisie Saikia from Spire Radio were joined by the Senior Musical Theatre students from Chesterfield Studios as well as Market Hall traders and the Ashgate Hospice Warblers to raise some festive cheer this Christmas.

The single, A Children’s Christmas Time costs 99p and is released as a digital download via Amazon Music and Spotify.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas

Chesterfield celebrates dance

6th December 2017

Over 120 young people took part in ‘UDance’ showcase celebrating dance in Chesterfield at the end of November.

The event, held in the Winding Wheel, was the 12th staging of the platform and a real opportunity to showcase and celebrate the talent and creativity or the young dancers.

UDance is a programme run by One Dance England which seeks to increase the number of youth dance performances and support those who organise them.

A packed out audience watched 17 dance routines from students from across 6 secondary schools and 1 community dance organisation.

The dance festival was opened by Netherthorpe School with their KS3 Pom Team performance. Their excellent and energetic performance was a great opening for the event. Outstanding performances followed from Brookfield Community School, Outwood Academy Newbold, Springwell Community College and St Mary’s Catholic High School.

Local company Crystal Cheer and Dance opened the second half of the evening with a mash up of different street dance pieces. An excellent display of talent from all the secondary schools followed during the second half, including a beautiful duet performance from St Mary’s Catholic High School.

A final solo performance from Netherthorpe School ‘Goodbyes’ drew the evening to a close. A wonderful contemporary piece beautifully demonstrated by a GCSE student drew a large applause from the audience. All the performers returned to the stage for the grand finale, taking the much deserved applause from the crowd.

Clare Limb, Head of Dance Development and Learning for Derbyshire Youth Dance Company said:-

“Dance is a cultural entitlement for all young people. These young people are the future of dance in and out of school, young choreographers in their own right. I encourage them to run their own clubs, make their own dancers and find ways of performing them.”

Mayor of Chesterfield, Councillor Maureen Davenport described how proud she was adding:-

“I’m particularly pleased to see so many schools are taking part, almost every secondary school in the borough has been involved and it’s brilliant.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

New commercial development completed in Chesterfield

5th December 2017

Dunston Trade Park is a new commercial development which has recently been completed on Dunston Road in Chesterfield.

The 8,900 square feet development by Peppermint Grove, includes up to five units of 1700 square feet.

Tony Cordin of Peppermint Grove said “We researched the local market with support from Chesterfield Borough Council’s Economic Development team who gave us insight into what type of units were in demand locally.”

“Our aim was to deliver a modern looking development and from the comments we have received so far we think this has been achieved.”

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “We have dealt with well over 1,000 enquiries from businesses looking to buy or rent commercial and industrial units in the past 12 months.”

“We therefore very much welcome Peppermint Grove’s investment in new high quality units at Dunston, which will help meet this unprecedented demand and also bring new jobs to the borough.”

To find out more about development opportunities and to search for commercial property in Chesterfield visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/invest or contact the Economic Development Unit at Chesterfield Borough Council on (01246) 345255

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Chesterfield Champions join forces to hold free support surgeries for businesses looking to grow

5th December 2017

SMEs in north east Derbyshire looking to grow are invited to a series of free drop-in support surgeries in the New Year.

Organised by Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, in collaboration with Sheffield City Region Growth Hub, the sessions are designed to help local businesses of all sizes and across all sectors, understand the support on offer from the Growth Hub.

Working alongside a range of private and public sector partners, the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub has access to over 60 streams of business support, from trade and export to skills, innovation, access to finance and specialist support, as well as guide businesses through the services most relevant to them.

Both Mitchells and Sheffield City Region Growth Hub have a long history of helping businesses achieve their goals and realise their potential. To date, Sheffield City Region Growth Hub has worked with more than 4,000 businesses, while Mitchells has assisted businesses access over £6.2m in grants helping create and safeguard over 660 jobs between 2013 and 2017 across the East Midlands.

There are three free to attend sessions being held on Wednesday 31 January, Wednesday 28 February and Wednesday 28 March 2018. All the sessions are being held at Mitchells’ offices on Saltergate in Chesterfield. To book a slot simply email andrewmcdaid@mitchellsaccountants.co.uk quoting a requested time slot.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Banner Jones bolsters Family Law division

5th December 2017

Multi-disciplined law firm Banner Jones has expanded its Family Law division with the appointment of two Family Law specialists, Kelly Parks and Cathryn Young, bringing 23 years of experience to the team.

Kelly Parks joins the Chesterfield-based Banner Jones team following five years at Stowe Family Law, the UK’s largest specialist Family Law firm. Graduating from Nottingham Law School, Kelly brings with her 15-years of experience in Family Law.

Also joining the multi-service practice’ Mansfield-based Family Law team, Cathryn Young brings 8-years of specific Family Law experience to the team.

The new appointments follow recent international recognition for Banner Jones as part of this year’s Legal 500 – the most comprehensive worldwide coverage on recommended law firms broken down by area of specialism – in which the East Midlands based Family Law and Personal Injury teams ranked for the fifth consecutive year.

Director and Head of Family Law, Toby Netting, said that the appointments will ‘further strengthen’ Banner Jones’ award winning Family Law team, as well as ensure that the firm is well placed to meet growing demand from both private and public law work, such as issues relating to divorce proceedings, prenuptial agreements, cohabitation matters and children-related cases.

He said:-

“Kelly and Cathyrn are both welcome additions to our established family team bringing with them considerable expertise and experience, and further bolstering our ability to meet increased demand.”

Kelly commented:-

“With increasing scope to be involved in regional, national and international cases, I am delighted to be joining the Family Law team at Banner Jones during a period of growth and expansion.”

Cathryn commented:-

“This is a very exciting opportunity to join an award winning, ambitious law firm with a long-established reputation for excellence.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Make Every Minute Count in 2018

5th December 2017

Workers across Derbyshire are being encouraged to ‘Make Every Minute Count’ in 2018 by taking part in the Derbyshire Workplace Challenge.

A new eight-week challenge is being launched in the New Year, helping encourage people to get active with regular bite-sized chunks of 10 minutes of activity during, before and after the working day.

The activity logging challenge will run from January 8 to March 4, 2018, and new participants can sign up for free now at https://www.workplacechallenge.org.uk/signup

Adding small chunks of activity throughout the day can help, such as switching the lift for the stairs, walking to work, or going for a lunchtime run or walk with colleagues. Getting active together can also help to improve mood, boost concentration, increase communication and team morale, and help sleep.

Rachael Dyer from Active Derbyshire, which runs the Derbyshire Workplace Challenge, said:-

“Winter can be especially hard with dark mornings and dark nights, so getting active at lunch can really help.

“Research has shown that if our peers are active then we are more likely to stick with it, so invite your colleagues to get involved too – a little friendly peer support is a top motivating factor to getting active at work.

“With many of us spending 60% of our waking hours at work there’s no better time or place to start than in the New Year with the Derbyshire Workplace Challenge.”

Points are earnt every time activity is logged at www.workplacechallenge.org.uk/derbyshire, helping to introduce an element of competition as people can see on leaderboards how they are getting on against their colleagues and other businesses both locally and nationally.

A range of prizes will also be on offer throughout the challenge including a FitBit Alta Wristband, a £10 High Street shopping voucher, and £25 Central Health vouchers, which can be used for any treatment at Central Physio, Central FootClinic or Central Osteopaths.

Throughout the challenge, there will be a particular emphasis on stepping away from your desk during the lightest and brightest part of the day and tackling the culture of a desk-bound lunch. NHS guidelines state that getting plenty of regular exercise, particularly outdoors and in daylight, can help to improve symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

‘Make Every Minute Count’ will run from January 8 to March 4, 2018, and new participants can sign up for free now at https://www.workplacechallenge.org.uk/signup Participants of previous challenges can also take part without the need to sign up again.

Posted in About Chesterfield

D2EE project saves Chesterfield businesses in carbon emissions

4th December 2017

The D2 Energy Efficiency (D2EE) project, a partnership run by the University of Derby, Derby City and Derbyshire County Councils, has been helping small and medium sized businesses in Chesterfield and across Derbyshire to reduce their energy use.

The D2EE project recently awarded £11,000 of funding to Tidyco Ltd helping reduce its carbon emissions by six tonnes per year. The hydraulic and pneumatic components manufacturer applied for the investment to part-fund the costs of installing a new energy efficient LED lighting system at its premises in Derby. The system uses 60 per cent less energy and will save the company £1,740 a year on electricity.

The D2EE project is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to provide support and grant funding to help small and medium sized businesses in Derby and Derbyshire to reduce their energy use. In addition to funding, the Low Carbon Business Network, hosted by University of Derby Management School, offers assistance in a wide variety of areas, including green funding, public tendering and carbon footprinting.

Through its Green Accreditation, the network also offers support to SMEs to achieve an accreditation for their product, process or service.

Tidyco applied for funding after it identified an opportunity to make significant cost and energy savings by upgrading the lighting in its premises.

Philip Mason, Production Director at Tidyco, said: “We have worked with the D2 Energy Efficiency team to improve our lighting and save on electrical costs while helping to also reduce our carbon footprint. The whole process from application to the completion of the project was quick and easy.”

The company made an ongoing commitment to becoming a low-carbon business by reducing its energy consumption and carbon emissions. It has already invested in a solar photovoltaic (PV) system to meet its electricity demand from renewable solar energy.

As a result of the funding, the company’s whole site now has LED lights controlled by daylight and movement sensors, and has significantly reduced its carbon emissions.

Councillor Martin Rawson, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy at Derby City Council said:-

“The D2EE project is providing a really valuable service promoting the win-win of reducing businesses’ carbon emissions and saving them money.”

As part of the Low Carbon Business Network, the University recently launched its Green Growth Accelerator Programme, a two-part workshop which aims to help businesses establish how they currently operate within the low carbon economy and identify opportunities to grow their business.

Dr Fred Paterson, Low Carbon Business Network Project Lead at the University of Derby, added:-

“The Low Carbon Business Network has been working with SMEs in the D2N2 region since November 2016. Over the past year, the Network has worked with LED manufacturers, community interest companies, renewable energy installers and energy management companies, and now our Green Growth Accelerator is proving to be particularly popular with businesses.”

For more information on D2EE grant funding click here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

10 sites offer development opportunities across Chesterfield

4th December 2017

Ten sites totalling more than 22 hectares of land are set to be available for development or sale in Chesterfield over the next 18 months alongside a further eighty-five sites totalling almost 190 hectares of land in the Sheffield City Region.

They include Eyewitness Works, the historic Grade ll listed former cutlery factory in Sheffield; a cemetery lodge in Chesterfield; the Earth Centre in Doncaster; redundant offices; and an industrial estate.

The SCR’s latest Land Development and Disposal Plan (SCR LDDP) covering Quarter 3 (2017/18) updates the list of what is available from the nine local authorities in the region. The 85 sites can all be used for a mix of residential and commercial development or wider investment activity.

This City Region level LDDP, the first of its kind in the country, was created after requests from developers to provide transparency around public sector land opportunities.

To download a spreadsheet with further details click here: http://bit.ly/2tPOzCA

Further information on the sites included in the LDDP can be obtained by clicking on the appropriate link (in the Local Authority column) or by making contact with the identified key contact.

The SCR LDDP has been developed by the SCR Joint Assets Board which has a key focus on speeding up the sale of surplus public sector assets to maximise opportunities for housing and economic growth, and to make the most efficient use of the public sector estate.

Over the coming months, the SCR LDDP will be developed in order to include all surplus public sector land across the SCR, including opportunities from across a range of local and national government departments, as well as health partners.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business