Derbyshire County Council and Henry Boot Developments Ltd recently announced a significant rise in the number of people working full time at Markham Vale.

The results were announced after data was collected from the annual job survey at the industrial park, which found 1076 people are now employed full time at Markham Vale.

There a number of new businesses that are in the early stages of meeting their staffing needs that will add at least a further 400 jobs to this figure in the coming months alone.

More opportunities will be created when the three developments that are under construction start recruiting their staff. As further announcements are made, more employment opportunities will be created.

One of the three developments under construction is the new Great Bear Distribution building which is on target for completion in October 2017, thereafter it will be handed over to the client in order for them to complete their fit-out works ready for it to become operational.  The progress that is being made by the Derbyshire-based construction company, Bowmer and Kirkland, is being recorded via a live video feed.

Peter Storey, Head of Markham Vale, comments:-

“Markham Vale is going from strength to strength and continues to attract more companies wanting to invest in Derbyshire because of their prime location in the centre of England, excellent transport links, the attractive environment that is being created and the availability of a highly skilled workforce.”

In fact, to attract more employees to the area a number of new – and improvements to – existing footpaths, footways and cycling routes are being implemented across the 800 acre site such that connections between the local communities and villages around Markham Vale, and the new businesses locating to the site, are improved thereby enabling employees to have greater choices of travelling to and from work.

The Derbyshire Times Business Awards return to Chesterfield this November 9. Nominations are now being taken for the awards, which aim to recognise and celebrate the very best in local business and commerce.

Entries can be submitted for any business within Chesterfield and the surrounding areas, across all sectors from both small and larger organisations. The awards span across a range of categories from Small Business of the Year to Customer Service Award, Retailer of the Year to the most sought after 2017 Business of the Year Award.

To support local business in writing their applications for the awards, the Derbyshire Times are offering local business the opportunity to attend a free business workshop. The the 90 minute workshop taking place at the Casa Hotel on July 6 – and led by Lucinda White from Pure Awards Creative – will give local businesses an insight into the benefits of entering business awards and some key tips on how to ensure their entries stand out to the judging panel.

Phil Bramley, Editor of the Derbyshire Times, comments:

“Businesses are the lifeblood of our community, they provide the jobs we need so we can do the things we love – raising families, putting down roots and growing communities.

“The Derbyshire Times business awards are a chance to shine a glowing spotlight on the fantastic work local businesses do day in, day out – highlighting their innovation, their dedication, their talent.

“They are a way of honouring the cream of north Derbyshire’s commerce and industry, raising the profile of companies, celebrating achievement and recognising the sheer hard work that their staff put in to make them what they are today.

“We really want to make the awards a true celebration of the brilliant businesses in our community – so please make sure you get involved and put forward your achievements so they get the full recognition they deserve.”

Winners from last years awards include Craig Evans from UKATA, Adorn Jewellers,  Casa Hotel, Cost Advice and Andy Dukelow from The Sanitaryware Supplies Company.

The high profile awards, sponsored by a range of Chesterfield business including  Shorts Chartered Accountants, Casa Hotel, Learning Unlimited and Mitchells Chartered Accountants, offer organisations a platform to celebrate their success whilst providing an opportunity raise their profile and enhance their reputation.

More information and entry forms can be found by clicking here. Final entries must be made by September 28. 

Business is hoping for a period of stability after tonight when a vote by MPs on adoption of the Queen’s speech could determine whether Theresa May has a mandate to govern.

Confidence has been hit three times in the past two years with two General Elections and the outfall of the EU Referendum, but despite the uncertainties created by those events the regional economy has remained robust.

Business remains bullish about the future, according to the latest research by East Midlands Chamber covering the second quarter of the year.

But recruitment remains a perennial issue for employers and there are still concerns over future price rises and their impact on margins.

In the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey for Q2 2017, 43% of respondents reported growth in domestic performance in the second three months of the year and 40% expected improvements in the third quarter.

A further 37% said performance had remained constant and 45% expected consistency over the next three months.

A similar picture emerged for performance in overseas markets where the significant growth recorded in the post-referendum period of 2016 continued unabated in both the first and second quarters of 2017.

With continuing political uncertainty, almost two-thirds of respondents (63%) said they expected prices to remain about the same over the coming three months but a third (32%) said they expected prices to rise in the short term, suggesting continued upward pressure on inflation as the year progresses.

The volatility of exchange rates continues to inhibit the ability of exporters to plan ahead, the survey showed. Although advantageous for companies manufacturing in the UK and exporting, the relatively weak pound creates challenges for importers.

As a result of the weakened pound, inflation has risen to 2.9%, a rate not seen since Q2 2013. With inflation expected to continue through the latter stages of 2017, evidence suggests companies will eventually pass cost increases on to customers.

Business confidence in respect of both profitability and turnover remained relatively robust in Q2 2017. Two-thirds (67%) of respondents said they anticipated turnover would increase in the coming three months, with 57% expecting profitability to increase in the short-term.

Almost two-thirds of companies (64%) said they expected their labour force to remain constant. Respondents said they continued to have difficulty recruiting suitably-skilled staff, particularly to professional and managerial roles.

Chris Hobson, Director of Policy at the Chamber, said:-

“Businesses in the East Midlands continue to drive forward with growth plans, regardless of the obstacles being thrown up.

“With Brexit negotiations now underway, it is essential that Government works with businesses in this region to ensure the real life experiences of the wealth generators informs the discussions that take place.

“However, while the these negotiations will inevitably form the backdrop against which the economy performs over coming months, the day-to-day concerns of business relate more strongly to the domestic issues that remain in our gift to control.

“As we look to show the UK as a being a place for investment and where business gets done, it is essential that we inject momentum into major local and national infrastructure schemes that have already been agreed and announced.

“We need to cut back on the high upfront costs that businesses face – around things such as business rates and employment – and move forward with an industrial strategy that recognises the strengths of what East Midlands businesses bring to the national economy.

“Uncertainty is a killer of confidence. More than anything, businesses want to see a functioning and capable Government that can deliver on the day-to-day priorities of businesses and communities as well as handle the strategic discussions that must now take place.

“A strong partnership between Government and business has to be a cornerstone of making this happen.”