About Chesterfield

Chesterfield businesses can boost their bottom-line with Pokémon Go

3rd August 2016

Chesterfield-based Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers says small businesses should consider using the new Pokémon Go phenomenon to boost their business this summer.

Since being launched in the Apple App Store, it has turned areas of the region into Pokémon hotspots, attracting hundreds of people Pokémon hunting with the app.
Part of the game involves walking to ‘Pokéstops’ – checkpoints that correlate with real life places and businesses that give in-game items and where in-app purchases can be used to buy and use items known as ‘lures’ that attract rarer Pokémon.

Laura Pain, Head of Small Business at Mitchells explained: “Our offices are based in the centre of Chesterfield and we see people every day walking up and down Saltergate hunting for Pokémon. There’s a great opportunity for small businesses to use the Pokémon Go phenomenon to their benefit.

“Shops, cafes and restaurants in Chesterfield can offer discounts and incentives for players to walk into their premises, while other businesses can use their social media accounts to join in the online conversation. It’s a great opportunity for small businesses to engage with customers during the quieter summer months.”

For businesses that want to get make the most of Pokémon Go, Laura offers the following tips:

1. Use Lures – In Pokémon Go, there are things called lures. These can be obtained through levelling up or buying them through the online store and can be used at the millions of ‘Pokéstops’ around the world to bring more Pokémon to the area. Businesses have already been using these to attract people to cafés and stores and, sure enough, it’s working. A restaurant in London tried the method and ended up increasing revenues by 26%.

2. Talk about it on social media – We all know what a powerful tool social media can be, so use it to interact with your customers on a slightly more personal level than usual. Ask them what different types of Pokémon they’ve caught and get conversation flowing, it could lead to a visit into the store. Another idea that has been working well is to simply ask for a picture of a Pokémon being caught in your restaurant, café, or shop in order to receive a discount on the next purchase.

3. Talk to your staff about it – It is always good to build relationships with staff and discussing the current trends can be a great way to do so. Just asking your staff about what Pokémon they caught at the weekend can lead to a surprisingly lengthy conversation and you will soon find yourself getting to know your colleagues a lot better.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Take part in fun-filled nature events at Eastwood Park

2nd August 2016

Running from Monday 8 to Friday 12 August, there will be different activities on offer each day at the Chesterfield Borough Council owned park.

These include sessions called:

Compete in the insect Olympics
How do trees talk?
Food chains and pollination
Create a creepy crawly house
Create a giant land art sculpture.

Sessions take place each day from 10am to noon and 1pm to 3pm.

The activities are free but need to be booked in advance as places are limited. Children should be accompanied by a parent or carer.

Saturday 13 August sees a walk through Hasland, meeting at Hasland Junior School at 10.15am for a 10.30am start.

Participants can look at the nature en route before taking part in activities in Eastwood Park including bumble bee identification, healthy food workshop, advice on how to grow your own vegetables and how to make a yurt shelter.

The event finishes at 3pm.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing said: “We are committed to providing fun community events and these events at Eastwood Park will allow people of all ages to find out more about the wildlife in and around the park.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer

Funding available to help young Chesterfield people get active

2nd August 2016

A £37,000 funding pot for projects which will get inactive young people into sport or physical activity is now open for applications.

The Lottery-funded Sportivate programme is open to sports clubs, community groups and other organisations, which can apply for a share of the cash to run sport or activity sessions of six to eight weeks to get young people active.

And this could be the last chance to apply as the programme – led by Sport England and coordinated locally by Derbyshire Sport – is currently due to come to an end in March 2017.

The main focus for this round of funding is on inactive young people who are not yet taking part in sport once a week, so applications should be for projects which target this group, and Derbyshire Sport is also keen to support more innovative projects.

Projects can cater for young people aged 11 to 25-years-old, but priority will also be given to projects which focus on women and girls, young people aged 19 to 25 years, young people with a disability, or young people who are not in education, employment or training.

Funding can used to cover costs such as coaching, venue hire, equipment, transport and marketing. Projects must support participants to continue with their chosen sport or activity after the initial six to eight weeks, with sustainable exit routes, and applications should show a clear need for the project and demonstrate how it will attract and cater for its target group.

Applications are currently open and will close on August 31, 2016. Projects will need to be delivered between October 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017.

Sport Development Officer Lewis Adams, who leads on Sportivate for Derbyshire Sport, said: “Sportivate is all about giving young people the chance to try out a sport or activity that they may never have tried before, helping them to find something they enjoy and helping them to get and stay active.

“We are particularly keen to receive applications for projects which use innovative ways to get young people active, perhaps using different technologies or new ideas, and I would encourage any groups who are looking to attract more young people into sport to apply for funding.”

For more details and to apply go to www.derbyshiresport.co.uk/sportivate-funding

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure

Chesterfield accountant first to benefit from Sheffield City Region initiative

1st August 2016

Businesses and their employees are being encouraged by Chesterfield Borough Council to take advantage of a scheme to invest in training for staff.

Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers on Saltergate has become the first business to sign up to Sheffield City Region’s Skills Bank and Chesterfield Borough Council is hoping they will be the first of many to do so.

The scheme offers businesses the opportunity to expand and get funding to pay for training required by their staff, while employees are able to get the skills needed to further their careers.

Under the scheme employers agree Skills Deals which set out how their business will grow by them providing employees with relevant skills and training. In return funding is provided to support training costs, paid for by the European Union Social Fund (ESF) and Sheffield City Region Growth Fund.

Andrew McDaid, partner at Mitchells, said: “The Skills Bank is a great opportunity to access funding to directly invest in staff development to both upskill and retain employees. It fits perfectly with Mitchells’ ethos to develop people within the company.

“The application process was very straightforward and we got through it with remarkable ease. Most importantly, the funders were keen to help. Moreover, going forward, we’ll be recommending it to our clients who want to grow and develop their business.”

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “It is because of schemes like this that we have applied to become a member of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority and the economic devolution deal that comes with it.

“As businesses grow and new jobs are created we need to ensure that local people have the skills needed to benefit from these better paid jobs so that the benefits of growth are felt in our local communities.”

Businesses can find out more about Skills Bank at the next Chesterfield Champions breakfast meeting on Wednesday 31 August organised by Destination Chesterfield or by visiting the Sheffield City Region Skills Bank website at www.sheffieldcityregionskillsbank.co.uk

Further information on how to sign up to be a Chesterfield Champion and find out about their programme of events is available by visiting www.chesterfield.co.uk/destination-chesterfield/champions

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield

Find out what devolution means for Chesterfield

1st August 2016

A final consultation drop-in session for residents to find out more about devolution and what it means for the Chesterfield borough is to be held in Staveley.

The event will take place at the Healthy Living Centre, Barlow Road, from 4pm to 7pm on Monday 8 August.

It is an opportunity for residents to find out more detail about Chesterfield’s application to benefit from a devolution deal from the Government, which would see powers and funding transferred from London to a more local level.

To get a share of the £900 million on offer over the next 30 years and £484 million in the next five years Chesterfield has applied to become a full member of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority.

Councillor John Burrows, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “This is an economic deal to benefit the future of our children and grandchildren, as well as residents and businesses today.

“It is about giving people in Chesterfield communities the opportunities for high quality, well paid jobs; the skills and training they need to get those jobs; the opportunity to set up their own businesses and the housing they will need in the future.

“It’s not about changing geographical boundaries or other public services. Chesterfield is a Derbyshire town and will remain a Derbyshire town.

“Derbyshire police will continue to be our police service, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue will continue to be our fire service, East Midlands Ambulance Service will continue to run our ambulance service and Chesterfield Royal Hospital will continue to be our hospital.

“Chesterfield Borough Council will continue to run all our services. Derbyshire County Council will also continue to run its services as it does now with the exception of public transport services. These would instead be coordinated across a wider region to introduce Oyster card style ticketing across administrative boundaries.”

The move by the Government to implement devolution deals comes as other traditional forms of funding local government are facing cuts.

Councillor Burrows added: “We are in a new world in terms of the way local government funding is provided. This deal is an economic springboard for Chesterfield and if we don’t take this opportunity we are heading into a future of nothing but austerity cuts.

“The alternative Government money being offered is through devolution deals. This is the only place we can go that has the additional funding on offer. We need to take this opportunity to benefit our children and grandchildren’s futures.

“By having a seat at the table we can get at the additional funding available. Funding decisions are not based on the size of population or on deprivation levels in an area. They are based on areas putting forward business case proposals that demonstrate how gaining the extra funding would create jobs and enable businesses to expand.

“Chesterfield’s council and businesses have a good track record of doing this and so we need to bring these powers and funding from London to a local area.”

The Staveley devolution consultation drop-in event on Monday 8 August will complete a series of consultation events that has included:

a public meeting at the Winding Wheel
two other drop-in sessions in Chesterfield market
presentations to the public meetings at Staveley Town Council and Brimington Parish Council
two consultation events with the town’s businesses and
engaging with community groups.

There has also been a permanent information display stand at the council’s customer service centre in New Square.

The Sheffield City Region devolution consultation continues until Friday 12 August. Residents and businesses can take part by visiting www.sheffieldcityregiondevolution.org.uk or by getting a paper copy from Chesterfield Borough Council’s customer service centre in New Square.

Further information about what the devolution deal would mean for Chesterfield can be found at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/devolution

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield

New look Northern Gateway scheme approved

1st August 2016

A revised Northern Gateway scheme has been approved by Chesterfield Borough Council to improve the town’s northern entrance and create 489 jobs.

The new plan will see:

A major refurbishment of Saltergate multi-storey car park, which will see it modernised and the number of spaces increase from 408 to 529
A business enterprise centre built on part of the Holywell Cross (Donut) car park for start-up and small and medium sized businesses
Environmental and street improvements to Elder Way and part of Knifesmithgate, including wider pavements to create a terrace area

The £19.9 million revised project also includes the £10.5 million redevelopment of the Co-op store by Central England Co-operative and their partners Jomast Developments.

They already have planning permission for a leisure scheme that will include:

Six ground floor restaurants
A hotel on the first and second floors
A health and fitness centre in the basement

Premier Inn and Beefeater are two of the companies that will occupy the site.

The revised Northern Gateway project will be funded by a Sheffield City Region Infrastructure Fund grant of £5.83 million and £3.5 million from Chesterfield Borough Council, with the Co-op redevelopment being paid for by the private sector.

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We had to completely rethink our original plans for the Northern Gateway after the closure of the Co-op building and the change in the economy which meant that large food retailers were no longer looking to build large new stores.

“But by working with the owners and developers of the Co-op building we are now able to deliver the restaurant and leisure aspects of the original scheme.

“At the same time the Saltergate multi-storey car park is reaching the end of its working life and has to be refurbished.

“By incorporating this in to the scheme we can deliver a brighter and modern secure parking location that will meet the needs of shoppers, commuters, visitors and the hotel and restaurant users of the redeveloped Co-op store site.

“The addition of the enterprise centre to the plans enables us to meet the growing demand for business space in the town. Having a site like this in a town centre location will also support the existing town centre economy.

“The revised project is another example of how Chesterfield can benefit from gaining funding from the Sheffield City Region to deliver projects that will create jobs in Derbyshire.”

Work on Saltergate multi-storey car park is due to start this November and to be completed in summer 2017. The environmental improvements to Elder Way and Knifesmithgate will take place during 2017. Work on the enterprise centre is expected to begin in summer 2018 and be completed by summer 2019, subject to planning permission being given.

A rethink of the original plans for the Northern Gateway began last year after it became clear that no large food retailer could be attracted to the site, which was necessary to make the rest of the scheme viable.

The original plan also included proposals for town centre housing. While this is not in the revised plan, it remains an option for the future.

Councillor Burrows added: “The new parts of the revised scheme are in our hands which mean that we can directly control the delivery of them.

“We want to see more housing in the town centre area but I think it is important that we press on with the revised plan first and then look at that again once this work is well underway. But in is still very much a desire of ours to deliver more town centre housing.”

Sheffield City Region has already approved a £5.83 million grant in principle for the revised scheme but a full business case can now be submitted, which is required to get the final sign off for the funding to be paid.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Business banking insight website launched

1st August 2016

A new website has been launched to help businesses find their way through the maze of finance issues and funding opportunities available.

Business Banking Insight, a collaboration between HM Treasury, British Chambers of Commerce and the FSB (National Federation of Self Employed & Small Businesses) uses peer reviews to give first-hand knowledge of the performance of various finance and business support providers.

Online reviews include credit cards, asset finance, general business support, commercial mortgages, foreign currency services, insurance, interest rate management, deposit or investment accounts, international trade finance and support, loans, merchant services and payment and transaction services.

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber*, said: “There is a lot of uncertainty around at the moment, particularly around Brexit, and it is absolutely essential that businesses have confidence when making financial decisions.

“What better way is there to give businesses that confidence than to provide them with quick and easy access to reviews from peers who have already used the services they might be considering?

“The Business Banking Insight website will help to drive improvements and stimulate competition in customer services to business.”

The website can be found at www.businessbankinginsight.co.uk

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Craft company appoints managers for new Chesterfield store

1st August 2016

Global craft supplies company, Crafter’s Companion, has appointed two senior retail managers to head up operations and drive the launch of its new store in Chesterfield.

The store, which will be housed within the Dobbies Chesterfield Garden Centre and Shopping Village, follows the opening of the company’s first UK outlet in May and represents a further £250K investment as part of an ongoing retail expansion plan.

Scheduled to open in September, the store is designed to be a community hub and includes themed shopping areas covering papercraft, arts, sewing, home décor and haberdashery, along with demonstration areas for workshops and group sessions.

Gurvinder Barn, 39, from Doncaster will be taking on the role of store manager at the new outlet, while Sarah Jane Elliott, 29, from Matlock, will be joining as assistant store manager.

With over 23 years’ experience in retail management, Gurvinder, has previously worked for major household brands including Nike and Office.

The new store manager is hoping that his wealth of retail experience can help to inspire his team to deliver exceptional service to customers and make the company’s second UK store a success.

“I’m delighted to be part of such an innovative company, with such an incredibly inspiring story behind it,” said Gurvinder.

“Retail management is a real passion of mine and to join the business from the early stages of this project is a really exciting prospect for me, I can’t wait to get going.”

Assistant store manager Sarah has a keen interest in the craft industry having run her own business selling haberdashery and making bespoke wedding ribbon and products.

She previously held a position at The Works managing a number of stores and hopes to combine her love of crafting and her retail knowledge to make a positive contribution to the new store.

Sara Davies, founder of Crafter’s Companion, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Guv and Sarah to our family, they really fit into the Crafter’s Companion culture and they should make a great team when it comes to running our new store in Chesterfield.

“The shopping village is already a destination for many customers and hopefully our store will help to attract craft enthusiasts from all over the country to the area as well.

“It’s an incredibly exciting time for us and we can’t wait to see the store start to take shape.”

Focusing on education, enjoyment and inspiration, the 5,500 sq ft outlet will give both craft enthusiasts and people who are trying the hobby for the first time the opportunity to learn about craft and get to know the brand.

Crafter’s Companion, which was founded by Sara in 2005, specialises in manufacturing and distributing crafting tools and products to a global audience.

Having traditionally sold its products online via its website, on TV shopping channels across the world and via independent retailers, the new store will be the latest step in the company’s ongoing retail expansion plan.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Visiting

Ashgate Hospicecare nominated for Charity Times Award

1st August 2016

Ashgate Hospicecare has been nominated for ‘Fundraising Team of the Year: with an income under £5 million’ at this year’s Charity Time Awards.

The hospice, which has been nominated for its continuing specialised development and its outstanding professionalism under the category of fundraising, has been shortlisted to attend the awards on the 28th of September at the Park Plaza in London.

Lucy Nickson, CEO of Ashgate Hospicecare, said, “It is a huge honour that our fundraising team has been nominated for such a prestigious award.

The fundraising department is such a fundamental part of Ashgate Hospicecare’s team. We rely heavily on fundraising to keep our services running and without them, we wouldn’t be able to keep giving the incredible care that we do to people in North Derbyshire year after year.”

“As the demand for our services grow, so does the need for funding. The team were set very ambitious targets last year to raise the money required so we could increase the number of people we care for. They have worked so hard and to have over-achieved in some areas of fundraising at the levels they have done is worthy of recognition.”

Esther Preston, Director of Fundraising and Marketing, said, “I am immensely proud that my team have been shortlisted for this national award. I know what an amazing job they do and it is wonderful for them to receive such recognition.”

Esther added, “Fundraising can be very challenging, but it’s nothing compared to what our patients and families go through and I know this drives my team every day to be the best they can be. Working for a vital local charity is very rewarding in itself, so to be short listed for this award is really the icing on the cake.”

The objectives of the awards aim towards raising the standards of charity management and aims to provide recognition for those who are providing effective support to the sector.

Jean Horton, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said, “What a tremendous achievement to be nominated for this award. This accolade rightly acknowledges the excellent work done by our fundraising department who are all skilled individuals who work so effectively as a team under the leadership of an outstanding Director.

“This award recognises their dedication to Ashgate Hospicecare and their continued commitment to fundraising for our patients. The team members are under a great deal of pressure to raise considerable amounts of money, but always rise to the challenge and deliver the goods. Their aim is not only to ensure we have the finances to support the quality services Ashgate delivers but to be ready to fund future initiatives and patient needs.

“This nomination is a huge endorsement of the quality work of the fundraising team. Everyone at Ashgate is immensely proud of them and we wish them well for the Award’s evening.”

The awards ceremony, which is run by Charity Times Magazine, was attended by more than 600 guests last year and it’s hoped this year will beat all expectations.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Snetterton memories for Perez

29th July 2016

Perez travels to Snetterton this weekend for his next attack in the Simpson Race Products Ginetta Junior Championship.

After a six week Summer break the ever popular race series that supports the British Touring Car Championship is back in Norfolk and Perez hopes to continue where he left off after the twelve opening races of the season

He has had a well earn’t break and holiday but has been back on track in practice and ready for this coming weekend, as well as keeping fit and analysing his data and viewing footage from his previous races.

Last week saw him practising at Snetterton for the second time in a month showing what his JHR Developments Ginetta G40 race car was made of with some fantastic times, only a few weeks ago he was second fastest in the morning session at the circuit.

Perez’s first half of the season has seen a mixture of highs and lows. He has been placed well in mid field in most races for the season so far.

It all started in April at Brands Hatch with a disappointing two opening races for Perez due to brake and engine problems, finishing 11th and 10th, he moved to Donington Park a couple of weeks later that saw him retired after being punted off track in the second race finishing 11th in race one and 16th in race 3.

He moved onto Thruxton in Hampshire at the beginning of May where Seb outrun every other driver on the circuit in qualifying, taking fastest lap and to take his maiden pole position in the championship by one thousandth of a second. Things didn’t go to plan in race one getting blacked flagged and an 18th position finish and did not finish race two after retiring after a shunt.

After a month’s break Oulton Park in Cheshire was the next stop for Perez and after race one he commented ” this was my best race I have ever driven” he finished fourth just missing out on the podium, race two he finished 12th.
Before the summer break, 6 weeks ago Perez was in the driving seat again at Croft Circuit North Yorkshire where he competed in three races in the series, only the second 3 race weekend of the season to date and always a challenge both to car and driver.
Qualifying went well with a first lap flyer only to get a time disallowed on lap 3 for exceeding track limits before returning to pole for 4 laps. finishing in 4th position on 1:40.159s and a top speed of 76.37mph.

Seb commented “the car ran well, this is the only second weekend with 3 races and is always more demanding”

A second row place was reserved for Seb in race one and once the lights went out he had a good start but by turn two the grid got closed up after Wooder and Tregurtha made contact with each other, Perez battled to tenth but got spun on lap 6 and got knocked back to 18th position in the field where he finished the race.
Race two saw him line up in 18th on the grid and take the chequered flag after 8 laps in 11th position.

After the race Perez said ” I am happy with the result, the car was faultless Croft is a technical circuit and need to push the car and think about position, an extra race can be used to advantage”
Race three saw Seb on 6th row alongside Enzo Fittipaldi, the 14 year old grandson of famous F1 driver Emerson. again a great start where he pushed up to fourth only to loose out on a few places and finish a very respectable 7th place.

He commented ” The weekend has gone well, there was a tyre wear issue and we made the most of the moment” he added ” JHR Developments have done a great job with the car”
He added “I’m looking forward to getting to Snetterton, it’s a special circuit to me it was where I got my first ever podium in the Winter Series two years ago”

With five rounds to go Perez comes to Snetterton in 16th position with 94 points and his team JHR Developments who run 7 cars in Championship are in third place with 458 points.

You can follow Seb and all the action on Sunday on ITV 4 where his races are screened.

Editorial and Images by Paul Horton Motorsport Photography

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure

Great Bear Distribution get the keys to new base at Markham

28th July 2016

Great Bear Distribution is the latest and largest business to get keys to new premises at the regions flagship regeneration site leading the way for up to 400 new jobs.

The firm’s new 480,000 square feet distribution centre has taken eight months to build and is made up of enough concrete to fill 11 average size houses and enough steel to stretch 1,000 metres above Mount Everest.

Now work to kit out the inside of the building will begin and the official opening at the site located off junction 29A of the M1 motorway is expected to be in December this year.

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

Glenn Lindfield, CEO of Great Bear Distribution, said:

“We are extremely pleased with how quickly Henry Boot Developments and Bowmer & Kirkland have been able to deliver our new 480,000 square feet distribution facility at Markham Vale.

“The bespoke unit will add a significant amount of additional capacity to the Great Bear network and with the immediate access to the UK motorway system, Markham Vale will provide us with an advantage to servicing our clients up and down the country.”

Heage-based construction firm Bowmer & Kirkland was awarded a £16.2m contract to oversee the project by Henry Boot Developments.

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

“We’re delighted to welcome Great Bear Distribution to Markham’s growing network of businesses and pleased they chose the site for their expansion which is set to create up to 400 new jobs.

“Markham provides great opportunities for small, medium and large businesses to expand or relocate so please get in touch to find out what’s available for your company.”

Existing occupiers at Markham Vale include Meter Provida, inspirepac, Gould Alloys, AW Repair Group, MSE Hiller, Squadron Medical, Industrial Ancillaries, Andrew Page, Holdsworth Foods and Ready Egg Products.

Ben Ward, Director at Henry Boot Developments, said:

“We are extremely pleased to announce the completion of our largest unit on Markham Vale.

“This unit will become Great Bear’s flagship distribution centre in the UK and will act as a vital hub within the company’s portfolio.

“Markham Vale has become a well-established and successful development. It is a central UK distribution hub and Great Bear are an excellent addition to its occupiers.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development