About Chesterfield

Improving quality of life for Chesterfield tenants

Council tenants in Chesterfield are benefitting from a series of improvements to their neighbourhoods.

Work is currently being carried out by Chesterfield Borough Council in St Helen’s ward, amongst others, including Flamsteed Crescent, Chantrey Avenue and Malson Way, providing enclosures for tenants to place their bins in communal garden areas and resurfacing car park areas owned and maintained by the council.

This is part of a first phase of work in a £6 million plan to be delivered over five years, which has been drawn up after consultation with residents who have identified which improvements would be of the most benefit to them.

Typical works will include, works to surfacing on garage sites, drying areas, footpaths, fencing and gates.

Councillor Helen Bagley, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for customers and communities said:-

“One of our key priorities is to improve the quality of life for local people.

Our tenants have identified that having somewhere secure to put their bins and somewhere to park their car safely is important to them and this is why we have developed this series of improvements.”

Chesterfield Borough Council is the biggest landlord in Chesterfield, managing 9,400 houses, flats, maisonettes and garages in the borough.

Previous estate improvements carried out in the last year include: new areas for tenants to dry their clothes, in areas including New Whittington and Loundsley Green as well as improvements to garages and gardens in Newbold.

Posted in About Chesterfield

Chesterfield College Fabrication and Welding department named as a showcase centre

Students and staff in the Fabrication and Welding department at Chesterfield College are celebrating after being named as a Showcase Centre for the third consecutive year by awarding body, ABC Awards.  The department holds on to the Showcase Centre title for another year because of the way it continues to work with learners and employers to ensure both get the skills they need to succeed.

Paul Eeles, Chief Executive at the Skills and Education Group, visited the college to present them with their award. He spent the afternoon meeting students and tutors as well as looking at the facilities in action.

He said:-

“For us this is all about rewarding high quality learning, teaching and assessment as well as sharing good practice. It’s also about the engagement in the wider community, working with employers and developing qualifications that meet their needs. The fabrication and welding team at Chesterfield College certainly ticks all of these boxes for us, hence this Showcase Centre award. This is the second time I’ve been to the college to present this award and it’s fascinating to see how the equipment is being used to develop student skills.”

The Fabrication and Welding department provides courses designed to meet the needs of employers and offers a flexible approach to full time learners who may still be making choices about their future career paths.

Ray Peet, Career Pathway Leader for the department said:-

“It is an honour to be named as a Showcase Centre again. We work really hard to make sure what we do here develops a highly skilled workforce. We see the importance of making links with schools to inspire the next generation of engineers as well as providing outstanding learning opportunities for the students who have already decided that this is the career for them. It is a real achievement to know that the way we work has been recognised as best practice.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Whittam Cox Architects hit the ground running for local charities

Staff from North Derbyshire-based Whittam Cox Architects will be putting their best foot forward this weekend when they take part in the Dronfield 10k to raise money for two local charities.

Twenty-one  employees and a further 19 family and friends, will be dusting off their running shoes on Sunday (19 March) for the two-lap road race set in Dronfield Woodhouse, near Sheffield.

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice North Anston, near Rotherham, and Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield will benefit from the money raised by the participants.

Throughout 2016, Whittam Cox Architects, formerly WCEC, also raised £5,000 for the charities through various fundraising events including raffles, a coffee morning, a Bake Off inspired baking challenge, and dress-down days every Friday at their office in Chesterfield.

Bluebell Wood offers care and support to children with a shortened life expectancy, both in their own homes and in the hospice in North Anston. Every year, they aim to raise £4 million to keep the hospice running.

Ashgate Hospice provides care to patients across North Derbyshire at the hospice, in the community and at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. The hospice also provides a wide range of community-based care and support services to enable people to stay in their own homes for as long as possible.

Julie Hampson, corporate fundraiser at Bluebell Wood, said:-

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to Whittam Cox Architects for their fantastic fundraising over the past year. From taking part in the Dronfield 10k to holding ‘Bag it Up’ days at the office; their £2,500 would pay for 120 hours of specialised nursing care for a Bluebell Wood child.

“Of the £4 million we need to keep our doors open, we need to raise 90% from our community and corporate supporters, so every penny raised does make all the difference to our children and families.”

Jon Godwin, Technical Director and Head of Charity at Whittam Cox Architects, will be running the race dressed as an Angry Bird.  He said:-

“We’re always thinking of new ways to raise money for our chosen charities and the Dronfield 10K is a great, physical challenge for our team to get involved with.

“We are delighted to be able to help Bluebell Wood and Ashgate Hospice with our donation. The work they do for people with life-limiting illnesses, and their families, during what can be a very difficult time is absolutely invaluable.

“Both charities rely on donations to maintain the level of service they provide and we are happy to offer our continued support to these fantastic services.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

Derbyshire prepares to welcome top women cyclists

Two of the world’s elite cyclists have visited Derbyshire ahead of the Women’s Tour which takes place in June.

The prestigious race will take place on Saturday 10 June following the success of last year’s event which saw Lizzie Deignan (née Armitstead) win the stage in an exciting finish in Chesterfield town centre before going on to be the competition’s overall winner.

Riders Gabriella Shaw and Hannah Walker of Sheffield-based team WNT attended the launch event in Chesterfield ahead of the race, which will set off outside Chesterfield Town Hall before setting off on an 81-mile route.

This will see the cyclists race through the Derbyshire Peak District and pass through Wirksworth, Belper, Bolsover and Staveley before finishing in Chesterfield market place.

Gabriella Shaw said:-

“For us personally it’s going to be our closest to home stage with our title sponsors WNT being based in Sheffield.

“It’s a really exciting prospect for the team to be in the race with such a prestigious stage, the penultimate stage, taking place here.”

Hannah Walker added: “It’s a great stage. It looks really hard but it will be exciting and it will be great for the crowds to come out and watch.”

The Women’s Tour is being jointly brought to the county by Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said:-

“Two of the council’s key priorities are to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents and to boost the local economy.

“Welcoming The Women’s Tour back to the borough gives people the chance to join in the race and take part in activities which will promote the benefits of cycling as well as encouraging them to support local businesses by visiting our shops, bars and cafés.”

Councillor Dean Collins, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure said:-

“Seeing the world’s top women cyclists battling it out on the roads of Derbyshire isn’t something you see every day and will be well worth a watch.

“I hope local people will be inspired to get active and take the opportunity to enjoy what will be an exciting event which will bring visitors from far and wide.”

A range of activities for people to take part in are being planned both in Chesterfield town centre and in towns and villages around the route.

The Women’s Tour will take place between Wednesday 7 and Sunday 11 June. Highlights of every stage will be broadcast on ITV4 and available on demand via the ITV Hub.

The Women’s Tour is a part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour, comprising 20 events around the world in 10 different countries.

For more details, visit: www.womenstour.co.uk.

 

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Visiting

Chesterfield advisors act in manufacturer’s sale to French rail specialist

Chesterfield-based Shorts Chartered Accountants has represented Sheffield rail depot equipment manufacturer, Mechan, in its sale to French rail transport specialist, CIM, for an undisclosed sum.

Sheffield-based hlw Keeble Hawson also acted for Mechan on the deal which sees Mechan managing director, Richard Carr, finance director, Zahir Altaf and a 20-strong team continue to operate under the same name from the Sheffield site. They will be supported by CIM whose portfolio of products and services includes railway infrastructure supply and construction projects.

Richard Carr said the takeover would help accelerate the company’s international development:-

“I will continue to lead Mechan’s expert team and as far as existing clients are concerned, it will be business as usual.

“However, we are looking forward to raising CIM’s profile in the UK and becoming part of an organisation that has demonstrated its dynamism through consistent growth.”

Alain Lovambac, Chief Executive of the CIM Group, commented:-

“Mechan is a particularly innovative and successful company whose high-quality products are complementary to our own.

“This acquisition strengthens our ambition to become a world leader in the design and supply of turnkey railway workshop solutions.”

Andy Ryder, Corporate Finance partner with Shorts commented:-

“We are delighted to have advised Richard and Zahir on the successful completion of, what was, a complex transaction. We look forward to seeing Mechan continue its exciting growth story as part of CIM”.

Paul Trudgill, Managing Partner of hlw Keeble Hawson, said:-

“Mechan boasts a strong reputation in its field and we are pleased to have played an instrumental role in the purchase which will enable the business to make global inroads backed by CIM – a highly respected international player.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Peak Home Care acquires Pegasus Care Limited

Chesterfield based domiciliary care provider Peak Home Care has acquired a Derbyshire based rival provider which supports over 60 clients in the Chesterfield Area.

Pegasus Care LTD was founded by Barbara Sowden in 1992 and has grown and developed over the last 26 years to become one of the preferred providers in Derbyshire. Under Barbara and Stephen Sowden’s guidance and expertise, Pegasus recently received a ‘Good’ CQC report, and built up excellent working relations with Derbyshire County Council.

Speaking of the sale, Barbara and Stephen said:-

“We’re delighted that Peak Home Care have acquired Pegasus Care Ltd. The staff we met from Peak Home Care have the same high standards as Pegasus Care, which made it easier to let Pegasus go. We wish them well for the future.”

Joe Cattee, Director at Peak Home Care added that the acquisition would help the company ‘evolve’, he comments:-

“We have seen Peak Home Care grow over the past 3 years, both in reputation and service provided, and I am immensely proud of all our Staff who have made this happen. The opportunity to acquire a local company which stands for the same principals and ethos as us is an exciting time for us.

“I look forward to welcoming the Pegasus Staff into Peak Home Care, and getting to know them better. We want to say a huge thank you to both Barbara and Stephen for giving us this opportunity, and all at Ironmonger Curtis LLP & Shorts Chartered Accountants, who enabled us to finalise the deal.”

Shorts Chartered Accountants were engaged as Lead Advisers for Pegasus in the sale, researching the market to identify a strategic buyer with Matt Milnes assisting to shape the deal and providing support throughout the transaction and Due Diligence process. Ironmonger Curtis LLP also advised.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

New company to develop surplus land

A new company, Derbyshire Developments Ltd, has been set up by Derbyshire County Council to develop surplus land to build much needed homes and to bring in much needed cash.

Profits from the company will return to Derbyshire County Council to help run front line services, and the company has hit the ground running with plans to develop two sites in Derbyshire. One, on the site of a former primary school in Danesmoor, Clay Cross, is at the planning stage. Plans have been submitted to build 28 houses and work is expected to start later this year.

The second site is in Duffield and has been used for many years as a council highways depot. Architects are currently preparing a planning application for housing.

Councillor Andy Botham, Cabinet Member for Council Services at Derbyshire County Council,  said:-

“With declining Government grants and increasing demand for many of our services we need to find new ways to bring in money. Setting up Derbyshire Developments is a bold and innovative way to do just that. By developing land we no longer need ourselves we will keep the profits we make in Derbyshire.

“I’m delighted that the company is now up and running and look forward to seeing work progressing in Danesmoor soon.”

There are a further 10 sites across Derbyshire identified for development, and another 300 sites the council have decided they no longer need. Derbyshire Developments will consider potential uses for all of these sites as part of a strategic development programme.

Leading figures from the property world have been appointed to lead and run the company. Jon McLeod has been appointed non-executive director and chair of the board for the company. Jon has a strong track record in regulatory, financial and legal affairs. He has a very wide range of client experience, with a specialism in real estate, property and regeneration.

And Aidan Kelly has been appointed managing director. Aidan brings extensive experience in both the private and affordable housing sectors, having worked across the country to deliver a range of housing developments.

Jon and Aidan join Councillor Botham, and Chief Executive Ian Stephenson, on the board as strategic directors.

Jon McLeod, Derbyshire Developments Chairman, said:

“Derbyshire Developments is an innovative public interest company designed to generate returns for the people of Derbyshire, both in terms of the new housing and infrastructure it creates, and in terms of the income it generates for the benefit of council tax payers. I look forward to leading this exciting new project.”

Aidan Kelly said:

“This is an exciting venture with the opportunity to both develop much needed homes and ‘Profit with a Purpose’, that is to help the county council to invest in critical local services.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

New road opening leads way to more jobs at Markham Vale

Plans to create around 2,500 new jobs move a step closer with the opening of a new £7.56m link road to the M1 motorway, at Markham Vale.

Seymour Link Road will give access to businesses that will be based on the north side of Markham Vale Enterprise Zone through Erin Road to Junction 29a of the M1 motorway.

Two of the plots available for development on Markham Vale North have already been taken by Great Bear Distribution and Ferdinand Bilstein UK which are both set to create up to 400 new jobs each over the next few years.

Derbyshire County Council have already received a number of enquiries from a range of businesses interested in the remaining plots at the site.

Councillor Anne Western, Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Policy, Economic Development and Budget at Derbyshire County Council, said:

“This is a key milestone in the development of Markham Vale North which has opened up easy access to the M1 motorway for businesses that will be based there.

“Markham continues to thrive and is playing a key role in achieving our ambition to build a strong economy in Derbyshire and create new jobs.

“The north side is opening up extra capacity for up to 2,500 jobs − that’s on top of the 938 already generated elsewhere on the site and we look forward to welcoming more companies looking to invest in Derbyshire here soon.”

The council have funded the road jointly with the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (which promotes economic growth across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire), and the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.

David Ralph, Chief Executive of the D2N2 LEP, said:

“Markham Vale is playing a big part in boosting Derbyshire’s economy.

“Investing in the development of Enterprise Zone sites is key to our economic ambitions and at the heart of D2N2’s Strategic Economic Plan, with its overarching ambition to create 55,000 new private sector jobs in key industries over ten years.”

The link road has been built by international contractors, Eurovia.

The jobs figures are an estimate based on the size of the development.

Markham Vale

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

North Derbyshire mortgage adviser named best in the UK

A North Derbyshire independent mortgage adviser has scooped one the financial industry’s top awards.

Daniel Bailey, director of Middleton Finance, has been named as the Mortgage Adviser of the Year in the 2017 Unbiased Media Awards.

The Unbiased Media Awards celebrate the work of financial advisers and journalists who promote the value of advice. They are open to more than 26,000 independent financial advisers and Daniel was just one of 14 professionals to be honoured at the central London awards ceremony.

Daniel is regularly quoted in the national press commenting on the UK mortgage market and, as part of his award nomination, had to submit a number of articles which had been published in newspapers such as The Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and Daily Express.

Commenting on his award win, Daniel said:-

“I am delighted to win the award. It is fantastic to be recognised for my contribution and opinions in the media on the mortgage market. With more than 75% of all mortgages being organised through a mortgage broker today, there is increasing demand for my services from the media, particularly for comment that is jargon-free and decodes an increasingly complicated and changing industry.”

Prior to the win, Daniel had been shortlisted for the prestigious award for four consecutive years, before scooping the industry accolade in February this year. He fought off competition from five other shortlisted mortgage advisers to be named as the winner by a panel of top financial journalists.

Daniel established Middleton Finance in 2009 and since then has quickly risen to become one of the country’s top independent mortgage advisers and is regularly called on by the media for comment and opinion.

He added:-

“Getting a mortgage to buy a home is easier to get than many people think. After 15 years in the industry I still get a buzz from finding exactly the right mortgage for my customers. Buying a property remains one of life’s biggest decisions, and it’s a rare privilege to play a part in helping people realise their hopes and aspirations.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Soap Heartthrob to star in Panto at Chesterfield’s Pomegranate Theatre

Popular soap star and ‘Dancing on Ice’ champion Sam Attwater is set to glide onto the stage at the Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield, this Christmas when he stars in The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan.

Bringing a touch of swagger and cutting a dashing figure Sam will play the role of the ultimate panto baddie, Captain Hook.

Sam has been a regular fixture on our screens since his first foray into soap land in 2009. After completing his professional training at the prestigious Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts Sam landed his first TV gig playing Ricky in the popular Chester based soap Hollyoaks. Following a stint on the hit show, Sam became a regular on Eastenders, stepping onto the infamous Albert Square as the effortlessly cool East End bad boy and ladies’ man Leon Small. A student, who often bunked off school in favour of the boxing ring, Leon quickly earned a reputation as one of the square’s biggest womanizers, becoming involved in some of the soap’s biggest storylines in the process.

From the dramas of the East End to Dancing on Ice, Sam took part in the sixth series of the smash-hit skating show. Over the ten week series Sam rung up top scores with the all-star judging panel and the viewing public alike, going on to spin, arabesque and butterfly jump his way into the final where he and his partner Brianne performed The Bolero in front of Jane Torvil and Christopher Dean and over nine million viewers at home. They were crowned the winners of the popular programme with this final passionate performance winning them the hearts –and votes – of the public.

Among his many theatrical credits are leading performances in End of the Rainbow, Dreamboats and Petticoats, The Rocky Horror Show and Jason and the Argonauts to name just a few.  With time spent treading the boards, in addition to his film work and a guest appearance in the popular ITV drama Mr Selfridge Sam has never been out of the limelight since he took his first steps onto the Hollyoaks set.

Paul Holman, Pantomime producer, said:-

“I am thrilled to have such a talented and accomplished actor taking the lead in this year’s pantomime. His years of showbiz experience will bring flair to this fabulous festive production.”

The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan opens on Saturday 2nd December 2017 and plays till Tuesday 2nd January 2018. Tickets are available to purchase from Monday 3rd April from the box office (01246 345 222) and online.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Visiting

Hosein commits future to Derbyshire

Wicketkeeper-batsman Harvey Hosein has signed a two-year contract extension to keep him at Derbyshire until the end of the 2019 season.

The Cricket Derbyshire Academy in partnership with the University of Derby graduate has featured in 18 first-class fixtures since making his debut in 2014, scoring 713 runs at an average of 32.

The 20-year-old enjoyed an impressive end to the 2016 season, hitting 423 runs in four Specsavers County Championship games, including a career-best 108, at an average of 105.

The gloveman has also appeared in three List A matches and five Twenty20 fixtures for Derbyshire.

Kim Barnett, Director of Cricket, said:-

“Harvey is yet another quality young player we have and we’re delighted to secure his future at the Club.

“He made some impressive contributions last year, when he was given the opportunity, and he will once again get plenty of chances to show what he can do this summer.

“Harvey is certainly one for the future, and working with Gary Wilson will help him improve his own game, but he’s also a player we can turn to this summer with both the bat and gloves.”

Hosein added:-

“I’m thrilled to sign a new deal at Derbyshire and commit my future to the Club.

“I’m pleased with how I finished the last couple of months of last season and now I want to push on and make major contributions to help Derbyshire win games of cricket this summer.”

Posted in About Chesterfield