About Chesterfield

Across the board growth for Mitchells triggers five new appointments

18th November 2016

Following across-the-board business growth of 20 per cent in 2016, Chesterfield-based Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, has made five new appointments.

Chartered Accountant and Sheffield University graduate Emily Coy strengthens the firm’s corporate team. She joins from a local accountancy firm and brings a broad range of experience in a wide variety of business sectors to her new role at Mitchells.

Commenting on her appointment, Emily, who is originally from Somerset, said:-

“The opportunity to join a well-respected and large firm, yet still be hands-on and involved with my own portfolio of clients, attracted me to the role at Mitchells.”

Vaughan Carr from Chesterfield also joins the firms as an AAT accredited Senior Accountant. Alongside Emily, his appointment supports Mitchells’ current growth while a further three new appointments will support future business development and the firm’s commitment to developing talent from within the firm.

Connie Shaw, from Sheffield joins as an AAT Apprentice and Mathew Nutt from Owlthorpe joins as a Tax and Employer Solutions Apprentice, working with Mitchells’ Small Business and Tax and Payroll teams respectively.

Completing the new appointment line-up is Abigail Chadburn, who joins from Sheffield Hallam University on a 12-month undergraduate placement and will be supporting Mitchells’ Corporate Services team.

The addition of Auto Enrolment services to Mitchells’ portfolio last year has contributed to the firm’s growth and also helped enable the firm to attract new clients.

Mitchells has also experienced significant growth in its corporate business, working with current high growth clients and attracting new clients who are looking to access finance and grant funding.

Over the last eighteen months, Mitchells has secured in excess of £75 million for businesses across Derbyshire, including Chesterfield-based care home group Hill Care, which the firm secured a £26 million finance package earlier this year to enable it to expand the business further nationally.

Richard Trueman, Managing Partner of Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, commenting on the new appointments and firm’s strong performance in 2016, said:-

“Mitchells goes into 2017 in impressive shape. We have an excellent team made stronger by our recent appointments. We are now looking to make further senior appointments within the firm during 2017.”

The recent appointments recognise Mitchells’ commitment to ensuring over capacity in employee numbers to ensure its staff have a work/life balance. This commitment, alongside its investment in staff training and development, led to Mitchells being shortlisted for the People Development Awards in the 2016 East Midlands Chamber and Derbyshire Times Business Awards earlier this year.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Toby Perkins backs college request to increase investment in further education

18th November 2016

Toby Perkins MP visited Chesterfield College today and pledged his support for a call to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to increase investment in further education when he makes his Autumn Statement on 23rd November.

As a member of the Association of Colleges, Chesterfield College has joined other further education providers from across the country urging the Government to ensure the provision of high quality technical and professional education and training can continue to meet local needs.

At a time when student numbers are rising but funding is forecast to fall, the Association of Colleges is urging for spending on education and training to increase from 4.5% to 5% of GDP. They point out this will help to train more teachers in maths, engineering, and health and care, for example. Publicly-funded further education and sixth form colleges are also currently subject to VAT. They believe that on the day that the UK leaves the EU, this must stop.

Stuart Cutforth, Principal of Chesterfield College highlighted the crucial role the college plays in making sure local businesses can recruit employees from Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire with the skills they need at the same time as improving the life chances of local residents. He said:-

“Colleges are at the forefront of providing a skilled workforce as well as inspiring futures and changing the lives of the students who we work with. Without investment in further education our ability to do that will be seriously compromised and local people will be seriously disadvantaged.

“I want to see this college, where I was inspired to follow the career path I love, to carry on making a difference to people and businesses in the area for many more years. That is why we are asking the Chancellor to consider how crucial his decisions are to current and future students.”

Toby Perkins MP said:-

“Britain’s future depends on improving productivity, where we lag behind our competitors. This needs a skilled workforce and investment in infrastructure.

“Colleges are crucial in providing the skills Britain needs but Further Education has borne the brunt of huge cuts.

“I hope the Chancellor will listen to this plea for the shot in the arm Chesterfield College needs.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

Great Bear announce second development at Markham Vale

17th November 2016

Distribution and logistics giant Great Bear are making their mark on the Chesterfield regeneration site as they announce plans to open a second distribution centre creating up to 400 new jobs.

The announcement comes four months after the firm got the keys to their new distribution centre which is set to open next year at Markham Vale located at J29A of the M1.

Building work is set to start on the company’s second 479,285 sq.ft distribution centre in January 2017 and completed in June next year.

Established in 1994, the Chester-based firm operates in 30 locations nationwide providing warehousing and distribution for clients such as PZ Cussons, BMW, Unilever, Mars and Mondelez.

Peter Yarwood, Regional Operations Director at Great Bear Distribution, said:-

“The deal agreed between Henry Boot Developments for a second distribution unit is evidence of the quality of space Markham Vale has to offer.

“Being located on the M1 corridor, the site fits our needs perfectly.

“Henry Boot Developments has already delivered a bespoke facility for us at the site and we are confident the second unit will allow us to further enhance our capacity to service the wider UK more effectively.”

After successfully building Great Bear’s first unit at the site, Heage-based construction firm Bowmer & Kirkland have been appointed by Henry Boot Developments − Derbyshire County Council’s private sector property partner − to build the company’s second premises.

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

“We’re really pleased Great Bear has chosen to build a second distribution centre at Markham Vale bringing a further 400 jobs.

“It shows great confidence in the site’s location and in Derbyshire as a place where businesses thrive and grow.

“We’re very proud of Markham’s progress to date − it’s now home to 40 businesses and has brought over 900 to jobs to the area so far.”

When Great Bear’s second distribution unit is complete, the firm will occupy just under one million sq.ft of land at Markham Vale making them the largest business on the site to date.

Vivienne Clement, Director at Henry Boot Developments, said:-

“This second investment by Great Bear is a testament to our successful approach to the delivery of high quality, bespoke buildings at Markham Vale.

“The new unit will join the 225,000 sq ft unit currently under construction for Ferdinand Bilstein UK on Markham Vale North, which is due to be completed in January 2017.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Heritage students seize engineering opportunity

17th November 2016

As part of the town’s annual Made in Chesterfield festival, which celebrates the manufacturing and engineering sector, six Year 10 students from Heritage High School visited MSE Hiller, based at Markham Vale.

The popular month-long festival, which is organised by Destination Chesterfield and brings businesses, primary and secondary schools and training providers together to showcase the sector to school children across north east Derbyshire

This year, more local engineering and manufacturing firms than ever have signed up to offer students a chance to tour their facilities and try their hand at a range of activities in a bid to spark their interest in a career in the sector.

Other manufacturing businesses offering secondary school experiences include United Cast Bar, Brampton Brewery, Cathelco, Techman Engineering, Palamatic, Trans-Tronic and Precision Products UK, while Mintdale Engineering and Krantech have organised tours for primary schools at their facilities.

‘Hands on’ education was the name when six Year 10 Engineering students from Heritage High School visited MSE Hiller, based at Markham Vale for some practical work experience.

The day began with a tour of the work site. Interesting sights included viewing one of MSE Hiller’s machines worth £1 million, which is one of the largest machines in the country. Also impressive was the large indoor concrete bunker which protectively houses a massive centrifuge.

Seeing the way that sludge and water are separated was demonstrated in the laboratory.

One student, Harry Clarkson said:-

‘This was just like our school science labs but much more modern and state of the art.’

After an informative video presentation explaining how hydraulics work and looking at the different components of Hiller’s machinery, students were literally thrown in at the deep end of engineering and asked to weld metal together and imprint their initials upon it.

Students donned overalls, steel capped boots and welding helmets to begin their first practical engineering task. The difficulties of the task were soon obvious.

Adam Hendley, Heritage student admitted:-

‘It was a bit daunting to start with but luckily I soon got the hang of it!’

The visit was set up by Mrs Oley-Jones, the school’s Alternative Curriculum & Achievement Coordinator as part of November’s Made in Chesterfield festival which celebrates local manufacturing.

Student Owen Ordidge highlighted the positive nature of the work experience. He said:-

‘The visit has made me much keener to focus on Engineering GCSE. Now that I have experienced how the subject comes alive in the work place, it has made me realise that studying in the first instance is the key to doing well in a subject like Engineering.’

Visits like these are invaluable to secondary school students as they are able to witness engineering skills first hand and with facilities that just can’t be replicated in a school environment.

Made in Chesterfield is coordinated by Destination Chesterfield in partnership with MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd, NatWest, Derbyshire Education Business Partnership, Placing Futures, NLT Training, Department of International Trade, East Midlands Chamber, the University of Derby and Positive 4 Young People.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Made in Chesterfield

Chatsworth brings former Game Larder back to life as Landscape Interpretation Space

17th November 2016

The Chatsworth House Trust has been awarded an £80,000 grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund to help convert a grade-II listed former Game Larder into a place where visitors can learn more about the historic landscape.

Thanks to National Lottery players, work is now underway to design and install the new information displays in the Game Larder, which is due to open, seven days a week, from mid-December. Free to enter, the octagonal building in the park only 100 metres from the house at Chatsworth, will contain panels of images with historical facts information covering the last 500 years, with hands-on displays for visitors to explore and audio storytelling to explain the landscape as seen through its seven floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as its flora and fauna.

The Chatsworth House Trust is thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, and is confident the Game Larder project will help people of all ages and all walks of life to enjoy and learn more about the heritage of their local landscape and its management.

The Game Larder project is part of a nationwide celebration of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s 300^th anniversary. Its displays include the enormous impact Brown and his famous successor Joseph Paxton had on the ‘natural’ landscape, including the diversion of the river Derwent; the building of Edensor village; and the development of the famous 105 acre garden with its huge rockery, and plants and trees from around the world.

The opening of the Game Larder is a culmination of a project which has been running throughout the year which saw guided walks and talks on the evolution of the landscape.

The Devonshire Educational Trust at Chatsworth and the Capability Brown Festival are also supporting outreach work with a range of deprived community and refugee organisations in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, exploring the landscape at Chatsworth.

Rachel Parkin, Education Coordinator, says:-

“We’ve welcomed visitors who were originally from as far afield as Iraq, Sudan, Bangladesh, Syria, and Bulgaria, and visitors from deprived communities in the region many of whom had not previously seen much of the English countryside. The reaction from all involved has been really positive, which is great because we want to encourage visits and engagement with the landscape and countryside from a wider range of people.”

Sitting approximately 100 metres from the house, the Game Larder is an octagonal building on a stone plinth. Built in 1909, it was used for decades by the Dukes of Devonshire to store game in cool conditions but became derelict following arrival of modern refrigeration systems in the mid-20^th century. During the 1950s and 60s the Game Larder was used as a chicken shed by Duchess Deborah Devonshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Jobseeker claimant count continues to fall

16th November 2016

Data recently released from the Office for National Statistics reveals that the number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance in Chesterfield in October was 1,125 – down 15 from last months figure of 1,140 and a considerable 55 less claimants than the 1,180 recorded 6 months ago in April.

However, overall the number of people out of work across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire has increased in the last three months. The number of people unemployed rose 4,747 from 103,301 at the end of June to 108,048 at the end of September. The number of people in work fell 4,315 from 2,294,544 to 2,290,229 over the same periods.

Underlying trends continue to paint a more positive picture, however. The number of people in employment in the three months to the end of September 2016 was 22,547 higher than for the same three months in 2015 and 72,612 higher than two years ago.

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive at East Midlands Chamber, said:-

“The underlying trend is the better indicator of the strength of the regional economy and that remains fairly positive.

“We’re not surprised, however, to see the figures levelling off. Immediately after the EU Referendum recruitment companies were reporting difficulties placing people. This was an expected reaction to the result of the vote, which surprised many people.

“We have been saying since the referendum that Government needs to be doing more to provide businesses with the reassurances they need that UK plc will continue to be a good place in which to invest after we leave the EU.

“The figures also show a need for Government to invest more today in closing the skills gap, the difference between what school-leavers can offer and the expectations of potential employers. The jobs are out there, but employers are reluctant in uncertain times to invest in long-term training.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

UKATA General Manager scoops Business Person of the Year Award

16th November 2016

The UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) is celebrating after a double victory at the Derbyshire Times Business Awards on 10 November. An audience of local business leaders, assembled at the Casa Hotel, saw UKATA awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in the Small Business of the Year category and UKATA General Manager Craig Evans named Business Person of the Year.

Held annually, The Derbyshire Times Business Awards recognise and celebrate the very best in local business and commerce and this double success is recognition of a highly successful 2016 for UKATA. The Markham Vale office has spearheaded a series of successful national initiatives, including Train Safe, Work Safe, Keep Safe; with UKATA members offering free asbestos awareness training to small businesses throughout the country.

Craig Evans, UKATA General Manager, commenting on the awards said:-

“I am obviously delighted to have been named as Business Person of the Year.

“However, my award, and the commendation in the Business of the Year category are fitting recognition of all the hard work of both my colleagues and our members this year. It is a proud moment for me personally and UKATA collectively and we certainly couldn’t have made the progress we have this year without the backing of a great team.”

While UKATA is a national organisation with members throughout the UK, the Association does a great deal of work in the region, both on asbestos awareness and training and in support of local charities.

Craig continued:-

“At UKATA we recognise the importance of playing an active role in the local region, both in terms of asbestos awareness and supporting local charities.

“It’s great these awards recognise the contribution of both individuals and organisations like UKATA in the local community. We joined Chesterfield Champions to support efforts to raise the profile of the town and these Awards demonstrated there are a lot of really impressive businesses and business people operating in this area, and we are proud to be among their number.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

HS2 Midlands route announcement welcomed by D2N2

15th November 2016

Confirmation today (November 15) that plans for an East Midlands HS2 route – which would pass through the D2N2 area, bringing major economic benefits – will be taken forward by Government, have been warmly welcomed by the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Proposals for Phase 2 of the national HS2 high speed rail network include a western leg (Crewe to Manchester) and an eastern leg (West Midlands to Leeds).

The Department for Transport has today confirmed the Phase 2 proposals (with some realignment) will be taken forward as its preferred route and will be safeguarded for future planning purposes. This will include putting in place a statutory compensation regime for properties directly affected.

The D2N2 LEP has welcomed route plans for its area including a regional HS2 ‘rail hub’ at Toton, Nottinghamshire, and a network maintenance depot at Staveley, near Chesterfield, as part of the eastern leg; and the associated benefits the western leg of Phase 2 (towards Manchester) will also bring to north Derbyshire.

Government has said there will need to be extensive public consultation on the proposed route through the East Midlands but, if it receives planning permission, it is currently planned for trains to be operating on it in 2033.

More than 30 representatives from the region’s local authorities, businesses and Local Enterprise Partnerships – including D2N2 – have already formed an East Midlands HS2 Strategic Board; to ensure the area reaps the maximum employment, skills, economic and development benefits associated with the eastern leg route’s development. The Board is chaired by Nottingham City Council Leader, Councillor Jon Collins.

The East Midlands HS2 Strategic Board will formally launch its initial East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy report on Friday (November 18), detailing those anticipated benefits. They include:

the creation of 74,000 (direct and indirect) jobs;
£4billion GVA (or gross value added, the official measure of the value of goods and services an area produces) added to the East Midlands’ economy by 2042, around ten years after it is expected that trains will begin running on the HS2 route;
an HS2 regional ‘rail hub’ at existing rail land at Toton, Nottinghamshire, with four ordinary rail platforms and two high-speed through lines, plus associated commercial and housing development;
a regional HS2 maintenance depot at Staveley, five miles north-east of Chesterfield, to serve Midlands’ HS2 lines, which would support up to 800 new jobs onsite;
greater connectivity to London and to the north

Peter Richardson, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and a member of the East Midlands HS2 Strategic Board, said today:-

“We and our partners have campaigned hard for this decision, clearly spelling out the strong economic case for this proposed route through the East Midlands, and Government has listened.

“This is just the beginning. It is now vital that there is wide consultation on the HS2 route with businesses, local authorities and communities in the region to develop a more comprehensive Growth Strategy; ensuring everyone in the area benefits from this once in a generation development opportunity.”

As part of his announcement today Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has also awarded a further £625,000 to the East Midlands HS2 Strategic Board, to further develop its Growth Strategy around the HS2 eastern leg.

Councillor Jon Collins, Chair of the East Midlands HS2 Strategic Board and Leader of Nottingham City Council, added:-

“I am delighted about today’s announcement. HS2 will transform connectivity between our local economies and those of the West Midlands, the North of England and Scotland, as well as London and the South East.

“It will open up new opportunities for jobs and growth, including in our world class rail engineering sector and for firms working in the construction industry. There is also the potential to run high speed trains from Leicester via the Hub Station to Leeds and Manchester, provided that the Midland Main Line is electrified.”

Councillor Anne Western, Vice-Chair of the East Midlands HS2 Strategic Board and Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said:-

“The proposals for serving Chesterfield Station with high speed trains is a game-changer for the Derbyshire economy. As a result journey times to London will be reduced to just 71 minutes, supporting growth and investment in the town and boosting our vibrant visitor economy.

“Together with the maintenance depot of Staveley, HS2 will significantly improve job opportunities for local people, although we will also have to make sure the environmental impacts are minimised.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

Chesterfield College students named as pollinator heroes in national awards

15th November 2016

Defra Minister Lord Gardiner presented Chesterfield College with a Bees Needs award for one of the best youth projects in the UK designed to create bee friendly environments yesterday.

The Bees’ Needs Champions Awards, hosted at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, brought together 30 champions to celebrate bee-friendly initiatives, from playgrounds to parks and farms to famous shopping streets. The award, presented to Chesterfield College, recognised the importance of the work a group of foundation studies students did with Chesterfield Borough Council’s Park Development Officer, Sarah Poulton at Eastwood Park in Hasland earlier this year.

The students spent several weeks helping to make the community garden a blooming lovely place to be for the local community and local wildlife.Together with Sarah, they worked on looking after the garden by weeding, composting, maintaining gardening plots, sowing seeds and growing their own vegetables as well as preparing the area to grow wildflowers.

They also created some artwork for the garden and the park that helped to raise awareness about the importance of UK native wild flowers and plants. They worked with a local artist after they successfully applied for funding from Grow Wild, who inspire communities, to come together to transform local spaces, by sowing, growing and enjoying native wild flowers.

Speaking ahead of the Bees’ Needs Champions Awards, Minister for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity Lord Gardiner, said:-

“Pollinators are essential for food production and the environment. The Bees’ Needs champions show us how to keep our pollinators happy and healthy all year round, and their efforts are an inspiration for us all. They show that whether you have access to acres of land or just a window box, everyone can play a part in helping these vital insects thrive.”

Kerrie Robertson, Student Enrichment Co-ordinator at Chesterfield College collected the award at the celebration event at Kew. She said:-

“We are so proud that the work the students did on this project has been recognised by DEFRA. It is thanks to the passion and enthusiasm of Sarah and Chesterfield Borough Council that the students were given this opportunity to get involved in a project that not only benefits the local community but also gave them different and new experiences. Developing these kinds of skills ignites a passion in students that lasts a lifetime or gives them additional skills that are useful in everyday life.”

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, added:-

“One of the council’s key priorities is improving the quality of life for local people and we’re proud that our staff and the borough’s parks have played a part in helping local young people in developing a sustainable environment.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

Votes needed for Community Dig

15th November 2016

Chesterfield Canal Trust have recently applied for a grant from the Aviva Community Fund for an archaeological dig in Staveley next August. The Aviva Community Fund offers the public the opportunity to vote for community projects and worth while causes they believe will benefit from funding.

If the Trust gets enough votes and receives the grant, the dig will run for a fortnight overseen by a professional archaeologist. The project would serve a number of goals; providing an engaging and education experience for the local community, raise public awareness of the canal and its environment and potentially uncover interesting artefacts that can be conserved for display and education purposes.

The Last Cuckoo Project is a community history and archaeological project with a focus on the Chesterfield Canal at Bellhouse Lane, Staveley. The canal basin, now a small, insignificant patch of overgrown wasteland was once a thriving industrial complex with wharves, tramways, gas works and a lost, unique Chesterfield Canal narrowboat (cuckoo). The funding would cover all necessary costs associated with the dig including a professional archaeologist, a machine digger and driver, insurance, tools and PPE and conservation costs.

Andy Robertson, a representative from the Chesterfield Canal Trust who applied for the grant commented:

“Please vote for our project and help us secure the funds we need to build an amazing, educational and exciting community event in Staveley!”

Voting closes this Friday. To find out more information or vote click here.

Posted in About Chesterfield

Lighting up for Christmas cheer

14th November 2016

Residents and visitors to Chesterfield can join in the fun of the town’s Christmas lights switch-on event this Sunday, 20 November.

The annual event, organised by Chesterfield Borough Council, gets underway with a market, games, fairground rides and entertainment from noon.

Youngsters will also have the opportunity to meet children’s favourite Peppa Pig in Rykneld Square at 11am, 12.20pm, 1.40pm and 3pm.

Chesterfield Market Hall will also be open from 11am to 6pm on the day with selected traders open.

Children will be able to meet Santa in the Market Hall from noon to 4pm. Santa will be upstairs on the mezzanine level, overlooking the sales hall. A visit to Santa will cost £3.50 and each child will receive a present.

Many of the independent and high street shops in the town centre will also be open to allow people to stock up on special Christmas items.

The Christmas lights stage show in New Square gets underway at 3.30pm with presenters from Peak FM hosting the show offering opportunities for people to join in the fun.

Stars from Aladdin, this year’s pantomime at the Pomegranate Theatre will be on stage including Lee Brennan, lead singer of late 90s boy band 911 who plays Aladdin; Keith and Ben Simmons who play the Chinese Policemen and Greg Ashton who plays Dame Gladys Twankey.

The lights will be switched on a at 4.45pm by Chesterfield mayor, Councillor Steve Brunt, with panto star Lee Brennan and Peppa Pig.

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

“Each year our Christmas lights event gets bigger and better and this year is no exception.

“We hold the event each year as part of the council’s commitment to hosting fun, family-friendly events and it’s a great opportunity for families to come together and get into the festive spirit.

“It’s also a great opportunity to bring people into the town centre and support the vast array of Chesterfield businesses by shopping local for their Christmas presents.”

Chesterfield residents can use their parking disc to park for free in the following Chesterfield Borough Council off-street pay and display car parks:

Albion Road
Derbyshire Times
Devonshire Street
Durrant Road
Hollis Lane
Holywell Cross
Queen’s Park (North and South)
Spa Lane
Station Road
St Mary’s Gate
Theatre Lane
West Street.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas