Following a competitive tender, a three-year deal with the UK’s leading ports group, Associated British Ports (ABP), is set to turbo charge the growth of a Chesterfield-based energy business.

The multi-million-pound deal has seen Custom Solar appointed as the chosen solar partner to ABP, which will result in the company delivering, installing and maintaining the largest volume of solar panels onto commercial rooftops ever seen in the UK.

Custom Solar will install solar assets at the organisation’s 21 ports across England, Scotland and Wales over the next three years helping significantly reduce its CO2 emissions as well as its dependency on the national grid supplied electricity and playing a key role in ABP’s sustainable approach.

As part of the deal, Custom Solar will also support ABP in identifying suitable areas for solar panel installation in order to decrease individual ports’ reliance on external power sources and increase resilience at various port sites. Already ABP has invested in 8 megawatts of solar assets, covering approximately 20 acres, installed across 15 ports in the UK, designed to supply its ports, customers, and the national grid with clean, zero-emission power. Custom Solar will undertake a further 4.5megawatt installation between now and March 2018.

Chris Garton Director, Asset Management at ABP said “We are delighted to be working with Custom Solar and look forward to building a strong working relationship as we further develop our installed base of solar generation. Our existing 8 megawatts of solar generation has already made a major impact on reducing emissions from our operations and reducing our cost of energy. Together with Custom Solar we will identify and implement numerous new schemes as we go forward.”

Fellow Chesterfield Champion Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers assisted Custom Solar with the tendering process, preparing cash flow forecasts for the business in order to demonstrate affordability and lay the foundation for potential future financing options and projects.

Andrew McDaid, partner at Mitchells explained: “The team and I have worked with custom Solar since 2014 and we are delighted to see the business not only grow but flourish in what have been challenging market conditions in recent years, highlighting the level of service, experience and technical capability that Custom Solar is able to offer. The adoption of such a large scale commercial installation by ABP based on the return on investment, just demonstrates that solar is still very much a cost-effective solution for businesses.”

Commenting on Mitchells’ involvement in the deal Matthew Brailsford, Managing Director of Custom Solar, said: “Mitchells has been great in what was a complicated process that involved a lot of number crunching. Working with us, they helped us plan and forecast, gaining a concrete understanding of the numbers involved.”

He added: “Securing a framework contract with a major organisation such as ABP is a real testament to the dedicated and detailed work of our team and enhances the strength and stability of our company.

“It further builds on what has already been a very positive year for the business which has seen us deliver commercial solar projects and securing framework positions with multiple authorities. Additionally, we have significantly increased our operations and management business, supporting clients with existing solar systems to maximise their generation and energy savings. This has provided solid financial stability for the company via long term revenue streams and enabled a platform for us to develop our activities into other technology such as battery storage and electric charge points.”

Businesses across Sheffield City Region have been invited to bid for funds in order to enable new transport and infrastructure projects to get off the ground.

An open call has gone out for bids to fund projects that can fully commit the SCR resources within the next 18 months.

Funding for these schemes will come from the £650m Sheffield City Region Infrastructure Fund (SCRIF). This fund includes Local Growth Fund resources, which is part of the Government’s continued investment in the Northern Powerhouse.

Nigel Brewster, Vice Chairman of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said:-

“As our major capital investment fund, SCRIF invests in schemes across the whole city region and enables the city region to effectively leverage private and public sector investment, as we build a truly competitive centre of business excellence.

“The current SCRIF programme is made up of 30 major schemes, spread across the varied geography of the city region, including projects as varied as the Great Yorkshire Way, the new iPort facility and the innovative Grey to Green public realm project in Sheffield city centre.

“I hope that partners across the region will take advantage of this opportunity and put their bids forward before the closing date early next month.”

The aim of this call for bids is to build a reserve pipeline of exciting capital projects which can be funded as and when budgets allow, and also to ensure that the City Region is ready to respond effectively to national funding calls as they become available, thereby increasing chances of success.

Furthermore, the scheme will provide development partners with a route for their proposals to be assessed and developed without having to delay until formal budgets are announced, as well as ensuring funding allocations already secured by the city region are fully utilised.

As part of its campaign to make sure the needs of business drive the UK’s Brexit negotiations, East Midlands Chamber is leading a deputation – including Chesterfield based Global Brands – to deliver the message to the heart of Parliament.

About eight regional businesses, particularly those importing from or exporting to the EU, will be joining the Chamber at Westminster for a round-table discussion with MPs to talk about their fears for trading post-Brexit.

Philip Rycroft, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Exiting the European Union, is due to take part in the discussion, which is being hosted by Alex Norris Labour MP for Nottingham North. Chris Leslie, Labour MP for Nottingham East, was the sponsor for the Westminster visit.

With little progress being made in Brexit talks, businesses are becoming increasingly concerned about the possibility that tariffs could be imposed on imports and exports, which could drive up the cost of UK-made goods sold in the EU and make Britain less competitive.

The export of goods from the East Midlands to the EU was worth £17.7bn in 2016.

The companies joining the deputation on Thursday 23 November include some of the most prolific exporters from the East Midlands and will provide strong cross-sector input to the debate.

Others taking part in the Westminster visit include members of the Chamber’s International Trade Steering Group and national business award nominees in the international trade category.

Chris Hobson, Director of Policy at East Midlands Chamber, said:-

“We’re 17 months on from the Brexit vote, eight months on from Mrs May invoking Article 50 to trigger the UK’s exit from the EU and with just 16 months left before we hit the two-year deadline to secure a deal absolutely nothing has been agreed.

“The EU wants to talk only about how much money the UK will pay. The UK wants to talk about trade agreements, citizens’ rights, the customs union and other important things and is looking at potential trade deals with non-EU countries.

“Business wants guidance on what trading conditions will be like after 29 March 2019, whether they will still be able to supply EU countries without being hit by World Trade Organisation-prescribed tariffs and whether they’ll still be able to buy raw materials from EU sources tariff-free.

“They need to know whether the EU’s negative stance is going to lead to them being chucked out of EU-based firms’ supply chains or whether they will need to establish new supply chains for their own manufacturing processes and whether they will still be able to ship goods freely through the customs union.

“It’s essential that our MPs get behind business and help them deliver this message to the Ministers trying to secure future trade agreements with the EU, or at the very least a transition period to allow final negotiations to continue beyond next March.”

As a member of the EU, the UK enjoys EU-agreed trade agreements with over 60 countries. After Brexit, the UK’s trade with those countries will be subject to WTO rules unless other agreements can be secured.

Chamber representatives at the event will include Chris, Chief Executive Scott Knowles, Head of International Trade Laura Howard and Business Adviser Giles Jones. Ronan Quigley, Executive Director, Corporate Services will be speaking on behalf of British Chambers of Commerce at the event.

Companies already signed up for the deputation include Flexfab Europe, Global Brands, JA Kapasi, Joseph Clayton and Sons, Lemonpath, Marpak, Mills and Reeve, Morningside Pharmaceuticals, RSM and Toyota Manufacturing UK.

The round-table discussion is due to start at 1.30pm and last for 90 minutes in Room P, Portcullis House, Westminster, and will enable attendees to identify to MPs and any Ministers who attend the barriers to trade they fear could make continuing to export to the EU unsustainable.

Popular bakery and continental cake shop Patisserie Valerie is set to open its first store in Chesterfield in December 2017.

Patisserie Valerie, who create luxury handmade cakes and patisserie as well as offering a continental menu in cafes across the UK, will move into the former Coral betting shop on the High Street.

The decision to open the store in Chesterfield further strengthens the towns Food and Drink offering joining a number of new establishments to open in Chesterfield over the last year including Bottle & Thyme, Odyssey and Spire by Stephenson’s – all finalists in this years Best Newcomer category at the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards.

Patisserie Valerie are a proud UK based company with a Belgian founder, who have been making lovingly handmade cakes since 1926. They offer a variety of products from cake to pastries, gateau, breakfast and lunch menu’s. Afternoon Tea’s and artisan made cakes available on order are also available at a number of their stores.

A number of new jobs are set to become available in the coming months.

The renowned financial commentator Justin Urquhart-Stewart has urged people to take control of their finances.

He said: “Families need to become less British and start talking to each other about their finances. It is not acceptable to bury your head in the sand.”

Wearing his trademark red braces, Mr Urquhart Stewart addressed a crowded room of local business people and investors and at a breakfast seminar organised by Chesterfield-based Milestone Financial Planning.

He advised that families sit down and list all their assets and liabilities. “I think many families would be surprised to find they are better off than they think,” he added. “The next step is get independent financial advice, particularly around retirement and protection so that they can ensure they are financially safe in future years.”

Mr Urquhart-Stewart is the co-founder and head of corporate development at Seven Investment Management, who are one of Milestone Financial Planning’s key partners.

Michael Heath, Director of Milestone Financial Planning, who organised the event in conjunction with BRM Solicitors and Mitchells Financial Services, said: “There has been significant change within the financial services industry, particularly around the rules governing pensions, which is why good financial planning is more important than ever.”

At the event Mr Urquhart-Stewart addressed people’s concerns about the economy and Brexit, blaming the media’s negative headlines for giving the wrong impression and undermining confidence. “The UK is a vibrant economy, however confidence within it is being eroded because the media constantly talk it down.”

He described Brexit as ’infuriating’ and ‘messy’, however he believes that it presents the UK with an opportunity to reform some of its ‘dumb’ taxes, highlighting Stamp Duty as a key offender.

Stamp Duty is a lump-sum tax that anyone buying a property or land costing more than £125,000 has to pay. The rate you’ll pay the tax at varies based on the price of the property and the type. People purchasing residential properties are required to pay between 2% – 5% of the purchase price with the rate rising to 15% on additional properties.

“Stamp Duty actually delivers a very modest amount to the economy, however if it was abolished then homeowners would use that money to move and would then spend money on home improvements. The first thing you do when you buy a new property is decorate, put in a new kitchen and use local tradespeople. The additional revenue generated through VAT on these goods and services would generate a far higher amount to the economy and also support small businesses,” explained Mr Urquhart-Stewart.

Citizens Advice Chesterfield recently announced that it has been named as the winner of the 2017 Money and Financial Support Award in the National Citizens Advice Annual Awards.

Hailed as “a Lifeline Service”, the award was presented by Sir David Varney and by sponsors Financial Capability Strategy UK (Money Advice Service) at a ceremony in Manchester.

A judging panel selected Chesterfield`s `Money Skills for Life` Project to win the Money and Financial Support award. This is for a service or project that has made an outstanding difference to their clients or community through money advice, pensions guidance or in increasing financial capability.

The Money Skills for Life Project was set up to help people better deal with financial challenges that can follow traumatic life events such as homelessness and domestic abuse.

A spokesperson for National Citizens Advice said:-

“Money Skills for Life was selected because this service helps empower the most dispossessed members of the community regain and sustain independence, improve their mental wellbeing and to gain confidence through better money skills and knowledge. By preventing problems early, it enables families to secure better outcomes and break the cycles of disadvantage”.

Neil Storer, Chief Officer at Citizens Advice Chesterfield, said:-

“The Money Skills for Life Project has set a standard for innovation and creativity in working with people in most vulnerable situations.

“This award is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and commitment of staff and volunteers.”