About Chesterfield

Thousands turn out for Derbyshire Skills Festival

1st October 2015

The Derbyshire Skills Festival came to Chesterfield College this week and was a chance for young people aged 15 to 19 to find out about their options and make the right choices for their future.

Young people and their parents and carers met representatives from colleges, sixth forms, apprenticeship providers, universities and employers.

Derbyshire YOUTHINC careers advisors were on hand to chat to the young people about the options open to them and there were even bigger and better ‘have-a-go’ to try out a new skill.

This included virtual welding, changing spark plugs on a car engine, cake decorating, nail art, window dressing and even analysing their own fingerprints.

Stuart Cutforth, Principal of Chesterfield College said:-

“It was fantastic to see so many people at the Derbyshire Skills Festival. It was an honour to host the event and work alongside other organisations who are as keen as we are to make sure we give young people in the area the skills they need for the future.”

Derbyshire County Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, deputy cabinet member for children and young people added:-

“Supporting young people to take the next step is a vital part of our work. We need to ensure they have the skills and knowledge needed to be the best they can be and properly prepared for the 21st century jobs’ market.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Colourful addition to Chatsworth Road

1st October 2015

A vibrant new wool shop has been welcomed to Chesterfield’s diverse range of shops and restaurants at Chatsworth Road.

Named Chameleon, the new business stocks an entire rainbow of wool, hand-dyed yarns and knitting accessories and is easily spotted with its colourful new signage – created and installed by local agency Jumble Design.

Chameleon’s Tracy Oldfield says: “Andrew has been very supportive in the preparations for the new shop, working closely with me and really understanding the nature of my business and how to promote it to its full potential. I always try to work with local businesses wherever possible and this was the perfect opportunity. I’m thrilled with the end products and have received many positive comments’.

Andrew from Jumble Design, who has also created a stylish new logo and marketing materials for the new venture adds: “‘It has been a pleasure to work with Chameleon on their new brand. I wish them all the best for the future.”

Chameleon is now open at 420 Chatsworth Road for all your knitting needs.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Chesterfield College raises cash for new Macmillan cancer care centre

30th September 2015

Staff and students at Chesterfield College took part in Macmillan’s world’s biggest coffee morning last week raising over £2000 towards Chesterfield’s planned Cancer Care Centre at the Royal Hospital.

The day started with a 5km fun run leaving from the college’s Heartspace at the Infirmary Road Campus along the canal and back to college and continued with cake and a croquembouche over 6ft tall!

Aside from the traditional cake sale, many departments across college got on board to bring in the cash for this important cause with activities like leg-waxing, a book sale and a ‘Don’t Show Your Teeth’ competition.

Elena Wynn, Director of Learning for Business and Commercial Enterprise at Chesterfield College said “It is amazing to see everyone get behind this brilliant cause. It’s really important to work together as a community to raise the funds we need for the cancer care centre. Cancer is a disease that touches so many people’s lives so it’s a cause that is close to people’s hearts. I am delighted with how much money we have raised and would like to thank everyone who has donated time, money and cakes to help us make today such a success.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Proposals welcomed for redevelopment of Co-op building

29th September 2015

Destination Chesterfield and the East Midlands Chamber have today welcomed news that redevelopment plans for the town’s landmark Co-op building On Elder Way, will be submitted to Chesterfield Borough Council’s Planning Department.

Find out more about the scheme and download details of opportunities

The Co-op closed the doors of its department store in 2012 and it has been a key target for redevelopment since. A joint venture has now been agreed between Midlands Co-operative and Jomast Developments Ltd to re-use the existing four storey building and create a new leisure development for Chesterfield. The developers propose to turn the former department store into a hotel, restaurants and a gym, retaining many of the building’s original design feature.

Planning permission is expected to be submitted for consideration on 12 October.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, the town’s inward investment campaign, said: “I’m delighted that the potential of the former Co-op building has been recognised by investors. It has a prime spot in the town and plays a key role in the town centre master plan. Chesterfield already has very low shop vacancy rates and the proposed redevelopment of the former Co-op store will further enhance the town’s offering, helping us attract further town investment as well as make us a go to destination for shoppers and tourists.”

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), said: “It was a huge blow to Chesterfield when the Co-op closed its doors in 2012, but it’s great to see that significant progress has been made to bring the iconic building it vacated back into use to boost the town’s leisure offering.”

The news of the proposed redevelopment plans for the Co-op building follows on the back of the announcement earlier in the year that £1billion of investment is taking place in the Borough over the next 10 years, including the £400 million Peak Resorts, £320 million Chesterfield Waterside, £88 million Markham Vale and Northern Gateway developments.

Peter Swallow added: “We want Chesterfield to be a place people stop and stay in, rather than travel through to the Peak District and Destination Chesterfield is an important part of that. We forged ahead with our marketing plans through the recession and we are now reaping the rewards of that as investors are now looking at the town.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Leisure, Visiting

New future planned for former Co-op store

29th September 2015

A planning application is to be submitted to Chesterfield Borough Council seeking permission to convert the town’s landmark former Co-op store for a mixed leisure and restaurant use.

Find out more about the scheme and download the opportunities brochure

The large site in Elder Way has been empty since the town’s Co-op department store shut its doors to customers for the final time in July 2013.

Now, Central England Cooperative, which still owns the site, is working in partnership with Jomast Developments Ltd, who will shortly submit a planning application for a scheme. It is anticipated that this application will include:

An 89 bedroom hotel on the upper floor
Six family restaurants, of between 2,929 sq ft and 3,796 sq ft in size, on the ground floor
A 16,000 sq ft health and fitness area in the basement

The developers plan to refurbish the existing building and keep most of its original features.

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “The former Co-op store is a really important site because it occupies such a large and prominent part of the town centre.

“Our economic development and planning teams have done a huge amount of work behind the scenes with Jomast and Central England Co-operative to enable us to get to a day where a planning application can be submitted that proposes a new future for this important site within the town.

“However, as with all planning applications, the council’s planning committee will have to consider the application with an open mind, balancing all aspects of the scheme, and taking into account the opinions of the public, businesses and other bodies, before coming to a decision.”

It is expected that a planning application will be formally submitted in the week beginning 12 October. It is anticipated that a decision will be made within eight weeks. During this period there will be a 21 day consultation with the public, businesses and other interested parties.

Adam Hearld, development director for Jomast, said: “This is a hugely exciting opportunity to revitalise a significant landmark building and create a vibrant leisure destination comprising restaurants, hotel and health and fitness accommodation in the heart of Chesterfield town centre.

“We are in the process of talking to a number of established national operators who are keen to locate in the town and benefit from a market which is currently lacking in real choice for leisure consumers.

“We will hopefully be successful in securing planning consent and able to commence works on the scheme in the New Year.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Top honours for Tupton Hall footballers

25th September 2015

Tupton Hall School Under-12s Girls Football Team had an evening to remember at last night’s (Thursday) 2015 Derbyshire Schools’ Sport Association (DSSA) Awards after winning the Secondary Team of the Year category.

They pipped Ecclesbourne School KS3 Girls Badminton Squad and Noel-Baker School Basketball Team to the prize at the ceremony held at Chesterfield FC’s Proact Stadium in front of more than 200 guests.

Tupton were nominated after being crowned National Champions at the FA Youth Futsal Festival National Finals, having progressed from district and county finals.

The team also went on to make the last four of the ESFA National Cup and the last eight of the Football League Kinder+ Sport competition, just one game away from a national final at Wembley Stadium.

The top award of the night, Sportsperson of the Year, was retained by Allestree Woodlands School golfer Bradley Moore, but the North East Derbyshire district had two individuals highly commended in that category.

Eckington School’s Tilly Simpson, 14, was nominated as the reigning English Schools Junior Girls 800m Champion and national outdoor and indoor 800m champion, while Tupton Hall School’s Lauren Hill was put forward as a gold medal winner at the English Schools Athletics Cup Final in the javelin.

The Chesterfield area had its own share of successes, too, with Josh Ryder-Flint of Hasland Hall Community School highly commended in the Young Leader / Ambassador – Secondary School category.

Adult volunteer Nia Yule and Media and Arts contributor to School Sport Katie Marshall, both of Brookfield Community School, were highly commended in their respective categories.

Also announced on the night were the winners of the Derbyshire School Games championship trophies, with Dronfield Henry Fanshawe confirmed as Secondary Champion School.

Joint Primary Schools’ Champions were North East Derbyshire School Sport Partnership, along with High Peak School Sport Partnership, while Chesterfield School Sport Partnership were both Secondary Schools’ Champions and Competition Plus Champions.

Special guest for the night was shot putter Sam Ruddock, who represented Great Britain at the London 2012 Paralympics, while also in attendance was the Mayor of Chesterfield, Cllr Barry Bingham.

Image: Secondary School Team of the Year. Winners: Tupton Hall School Under-12s Girls Football Team. Back, Students are, from left – Katy Webster, Mollie Stanley, Abbie Greaves, Leah Harrison, Elizabeth Clayton, Elodie Edwards. Front – Olivia Buckley, Aidan Greenfield, Emma Wilbourne, Millie Standen, Georgia Hagues-Stirk, Maisie Glasby-Hemmings.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure

Skills review to create best local job opportunities for students

24th September 2015

Business leaders from Local Enterprise Partnership Sheffield City Region have come together with nine local colleges including Chesterfield College to review the area’s future economic and educational needs.

The Area Based Review (ABR) takes place as the LEP negotiates proposals with Government on a second devolution deal, which would see further powers and funding handed to local leaders to create 70,000 jobs and 6,000 new businesses over the next decade.

An ABR Steering Group has been set up to oversee the Review and it will be co-chaired by private sector LEP Board members Julie Kenny and Nigel Brewster. The Group will be made up of Chairs of Governors from the ten Sheffield City Region colleges, supported by their chief executives and/or principals. Government commissioners and representatives from Education Funding Agency (EFA) and Skills Funding Agency (SFA) will also make up the Group.

Julie Kenny (CBE), ABR Steering Group co-chair, said: “Our Review is being designed to grow the local economy and ensure that young college leavers in Sheffield City Region are getting the skills that our local businesses need, now and in the future. Improving opportunities for local young people to get the qualifications to succeed is at the heart of this work.”

Nigel Brewster, ABR Steering Group co-chair, said: “This Review will give local leaders and colleges a firmer business case as we negotiate greater control over funding and powers from Westminster. I’m looking forward to working closely with these nine high quality colleges to make sure our skills provision and business needs are the closest match possible.”

The nine Colleges involved are already working together collaboratively and in a joint statement said: “We will be actively involved in the area review and work with all of the stakeholders to achieve the best possible outcome for further education provision in the Sheffield City Region. There is an opportunity to increase our contribution to employers by addressing skills gaps and supporting regional economic growth which, in turn, will help to create jobs and careers for our students, and support our local communities.”

The first Sheffield City Region ABR Steering Group will take place on Monday 28 September and the Review is expected to be completed by Spring 2016 with recommendations being followed over the next four years. Sheffield City Region is among the first wave of areas in the UK to undertake an ABR, alongside Birmingham and Greater Manchester.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Chesterfield pottery to appear on BBC 2’s Great British Menu

21st September 2015

The work of award-winning Chesterfield ceramicist Clare Gage will be showcased on BBC 2 next month, when it appears on The Great British Menu displaying the culinary creation of top chef Pip Lacey.

Pip Lacey, head Chef at Murano London, Angela Hartnett’s Michelin-starred restaurant in the Heart of Mayfair, is one of 24 talented chefs who are in competition to cater a banquet which will celebrate the centenary of the Women’s Institute at London’s historic Drapers Hall.

Pip used the plates, cups and saucers from Clare’s range to display her dessert course – ‘a play on scones’ – to Great British Menu judges – Prue Leith, restauranteur Oliver Peyton and award-winning critic Matthew Fort.

Originally from Leicestershire, Pip’s menu is appearing in the Central heat of the competition, where she will go up against two other chefs from the region who have been challenged to produce 21st-century dishes that honour the custodians of first-class home cooking.

The first part of Pip’s four course meal will go before the judges on Monday 28 September, with her dessert course being shown on BBC 2 at 7.30pm on Thursday 1 October 2015.

Clare Gage’s textile inspired ceramics celebrate the British tradition of afternoon tea, so were the perfect accompaniment to Pip Lacey’s very British dessert of scones. Clare Gage’s ceramics are designed and made by Clare herself in Chesterfield. Her work features lace, buttons, patchwork, cross stitch as well as knitted and woven fabric designs. The beautiful range includes cups and saucers, mugs, tableware, vases, jewellery and hanging decorations.

Explaining her decision to choose Clare Gage’s creations to display her menu, Pip Lacey said: “I chose to use Clare’s cups because of the link to the brief: Celebrating the Women’s institute. They are very unique, hand crafted and made by a woman. The Institute is all about learning new crafts and Clare’s style was perfect for the dessert I did – a play on scones. Scones are something that the Women’s Institute would eat at tea breaks when knitting, so the style of Clare’s cups tied in perfectly. Knitting and baking still go together now.

“I know that the crew liked the cups, but I have no idea as to anyone else’s reaction to them or even myself as I’ve not seen any of the show yet.”

Clare added: “It was an honour to have my work selected by Pip. My collection stems from a real affection for the quintessentially English tradition of afternoon tea, so to have my designs used for a dish that will celebrate the Great British Institution that is the WI seems very fitting.”

The winners of each regional heat will go on to compete in the final where 4 chefs – one for each course, will be selected to cater the banquet. Finals Week and the Banquet show will be aired the week commencing Monday 5 October.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

Who will be Chesterfield’s Young Chef of the Year?

16th September 2015

Chesterfield College student set to be named as 2015 Young Chef of the Year

Three budding chefs are hoping to take the title of Young Chef of the Year at the 2015 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, organised by Destination Chesterfield and sponsored by Chesterfield College. The winner of the award will be announced on Wednesday 28 October.

Chesterfield College students James Greatorex, Leanne Billyeald and Liam Slinn, all in year two of the Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Professional Cookery course, have been named as the three finalists in the tough competition after preparing a two course meal for judges.

Judges included winner of the 2014 Chef of the Year title Adam Warwick from Blu Bistro, category sponsor Patrick Coleman, the Vicar from The Parish Church of St Mary and All Saints ( the Crooked Spire Church) and Chris Mapp chef and owner of The Tickled Trout in Barlow, Chesterfield.

James Greatorex (18) from Chesterfield, who also works at The Devonshire Arms at Middle Handley, prepared Szechwan Lamb and Lemon Grass and Coffee Pavlova for the judges. He said: “I am used to working in a busy kitchen producing high quality food for customers but I know I had to do something extra to impress the experienced judges. I was pleased with what I produced but the dishes the other competitors produced looked really impressive too so you never know. We’ll have to wait for the results on awards night.”

The judges were wowed with Leanne Billyeald’s menu of Roast Corn Fed Chicken Breast and Lemon and Passion Fruit Cheesecake. Leanne (18) from Chesterfield said: “It’s brilliant to be part of the Young Chef of the Year competition. I hope I managed to control my nerves and impress the judges. Cooking in those kind of conditions really tests your skills and it’s brilliant experience for working in the industry.”

Liam Slinn (18) from Chesterfield served up roast belly pork and lemon meringue pie to judges. She said: “This competition really puts everything you learn at college and in work to the test. It proves how much I have learnt since I decided I wanted a career as a chef. Cooking for judges who are so well respected in the local industry adds some extra pressure but I enjoyed the challenge!”

The winner of the Young Chef of the Year title will be announced at the glitzy award ceremony at Chesterfield College’s Heart Space building, which is being hosted by celebrity chef Theo Randall. As well as sponsoring the awards, the College also uses the awards ceremony as a learning exercise for its hospitality students. This year, fifty students from the College will also be catering and silver serving a two course meal to more than 250 people attending the event, working over three days on all areas, including kitchen and front of house.

38 businesses and individuals are up for 13 awards in this year’s Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards. A full list of the finalists can be seen at www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards

Other supporters of the awards include the Derbyshire Times, Peak FM, Franke Sissons, Holdsworth Foods, Banner Jones, Black Eyed Susan, Reflections, Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, Chesterfield Borough Council, East Midlands Chamber, Hooper’s, Jumble Design, BHP Chartered Accountants, Kier and MSE Hiller,

To find out this year’s winners of the Chesterfield Food and Drink awards live on the night, follow @DesChes on Twitter using hashtag #cfda15 or visit www.chesterfield.co.uk

Posted in About Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Leisure, Visiting

Artists Turn up the Volume at Chatsworth

16th September 2015

More than 25 leading artists, curators and writers are heading to the Peak District this weekend (Friday 18 – 20 September) to launch ‘The Chatsworth Festival – Art Out Loud’, a major new literary festival dedicated to art.

Festival speakers include Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry CBE considering art history’s web of connections and influences and what they mean for artists; and the writer, broadcaster and art historian Tim Marlow talking about Ai Weiwei as a major new exhibition of the artist’s work opens at the Royal Academy.

They are joined by journalist and author Simon Jenkins; portrait artist Jonathan Yeo; BBC Arts Editor Will Gompertz; novelists Esther Freud and Hannah Rothschild and many more (see ‘notes to editors’ for full list) to discuss their work, their influences and inspirations and the latest developments in the arts world.

Conrad Shawcross, who stole the show at this year’s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, will also be speaking about his work including his vast modular sculpture ‘The Dappled Light of the Sun’. A variation of this sculpture is on view at Chatsworth as part of ‘Beyond Limits: The Landscape of British Sculpture 1950-2015′ (14 Sept-25 Oct), Sotheby’s 10th annual monumental sculpture exhibition, which is running in the garden.

Talks will take place in a marquee on the private South lawn and in the historic Theatre. Tickets are on sale at www.chatsworth.org priced at £12.50 per talk and include entry to the garden and the sculpture exhibition, Beyond Limits.

‘Art Out Loud’ continues Chatsworth’s long association with the literary world. The Duke of Devonshire owns the antiquarian bookshop ‘Heywood Hill’ in Mayfair where his aunt Nancy Mitford, author of ‘Love in a Cold Climate’, worked during WWII, while his mother Deborah Cavendish was a successful published author of more than a dozen books including ‘Wait for Me’ and ‘Tearing Haste’.

‘Art Out Loud’ is the latest addition to a burgeoning arts scene at Chatsworth. As well as ‘Beyond Limits’, the ‘Make Yourself Comfortable’ exhibition of contemporary seating takes place in the house until October while the ‘Grand Tour’ programme of exhibitions and events began in July in conjunction with Nottingham Contemporary, the Harley Gallery and Derby Museums.

Beyond Limits features more than 30 monumental sculptures in the grounds at Chatsworth – the largest Beyond Limits show to date. Other highlights include Barbara Hepworth’s ‘Three Obliques (Walk-In)’ and Anthony Caro’s ‘Sunshine’, alongside works by Antony Gormley, Sarah Lucas, Reg Butler and Philip King.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Employment continues to rise in Chesterfield

16th September 2015

The number of people out of work and claiming job seeker’s allowance in Chesterfield fell again in August, according to figures released this morning.

There were 1071 JSA claimants in Chesterfield – 84 fewer than in July and 540 fewer than a year ago.

Chesterfield is now below the national average for the percentage of claimants for the first time since records began in 2006.

In the East Midlands as a whole, the number of people in employment increased over the three months to the end of July to 2,172,663, a rise of 18,539 compared with the 2,154,124 in the previous three months.

The employment rate for the region over the same periods rose from 74.4% to 75% and unemployment dropped from 5% to 4.8%.

Scott Knowles, Acting Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “Yet again, Derby and Derbyshire are recording strong employment growth. That is excellent news, especially as there will have been a cohort of 18-year-olds leaving school this summer – the first since the school-leaving age was increased from 16 – and appearing on the figures for the first time.

“What is important is that these jobs are sustainable, which means they must be created alongside improvements in productivity [output per employee] if regional growth is to be sustained.

“Over the next few months we can expect to see a spike in employment as companies recruit temporary staff, some on zero hours contracts, to cope with the Christmas rush.

“What we must hope is that, come the new year and the end of those contracts, we don’t see a large dip in employment or spike in JSA claimants.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business