About Chesterfield

Civic Society’s Blue Plaque reminds us that Erasmus Darwin and Sir Robert Robinson were educated in Chesterfield

12th November 2015

Following a short remembrance service at the former Chesterfield School, Old Cestrefeldian and Civic Society Treasurer, Frank Gorman unveiled a blue plaque to commemorate the former grammar school and its alumni. He thanked the Civic Society and the College for their help.

Frank Gorman said:

“On a day we remember the ultimate sacrifice paid by former Chesterfield School old boys, it is fitting that we also celebrate this great school and those former pupils whose work contributed so much to society”.

Stuart Cutforth, Principal, Chesterfield College said:.

“We are very proud to have the old grammar school building as part of the college campus. The blue plaque reminds everyone of Chesterfield School’s history. The renovated school building as part of our improved campus will continue to contribute to education in Chesterfield”

Civic Society Executive Committee member Hugh Quigley said:

“We plan a few more blue plaques to help raise public awareness of Chesterfield’s great cultural heritage.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

Hundreds flock to inspiring Careers Fair event

12th November 2015

More than 500 students and parents flocked to Tupton Hall Careers Fair to discover the wide range of career paths open to them.

The second event of its kind saw employers, training providers, support services, voluntary organisations, colleges and universities gather under one roof to inspire and inform students.

The event was open to students from right across the school from Years 7 – 13 and it was extremely well attended, with students showing a clear interest in their own futures.

Big names such as Barclays, Tesco, Aldi, the NHS, and Lafarge Tarmac were talent scouting alongside local firms like MSE Hiller, Millbrook Precision Engineering, Rykneld Homes, KH Hair and Cheetham Jackson financial planners.

Training providers included Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), NLT Training and CITB. There were also colleges and universities represented from places as diverse as Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield to Leeds and Birmingham. Not forgetting Tupton Hall’s own Sixth Form college.

The Army, RAF, St John Ambulance, Derbyshire Police were also present to inspire young minds.

Careers Fair organiser Mrs Lisa Savino said: “The students had an exciting evening packed full of useful information about their future career choices.”

“The main purpose of the Careers Fair was to raise aspirations amongst our students and to open their eyes to the many different opportunities available to them.”

“The feedback from students, parents and staff has all been really positive and the event was a great success. We must say a very big thank you to everyone who attended for their inspiring presence.”

Several Tupton Hall alumni – or former students – came back for the evening to share their experiences with current students. They included Jade Ashmore who is a world class competitive boxer, Sammi-Jo Wright who owns her own flourishing hair salon in Clay Cross, Alex Bramley a university graduate and primary school teacher and Mark Heardman who worked in Royal Mail’s IT department but is now a creative mural artist.

Each student who attended the event was entered into a prize draw to win a top-of-the-range laser printer and scanner which was generously donated by event sponsor Frugal IT. The winner, Year 9 student Holly Wright, said the Careers Fair had inspired her to pursue her dream career as a doctor.

She said: “I got the chance to meet universities about which courses would be best for me. I would recommend the Careers Fair to any other Tupton Hall students and I will probably be there myself next year!”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield

More positive job figures for Chesterfield

11th November 2015

The number of people out of work and claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) in Chesterfield continues to fall according to figures released today by the Office for National Statistics. In October, there were 922 JSA claimants , 60 fewer than in September (980) and 505 fewer than in October 2014 (1485). The current percentage of people claiming the benefit remains below the national average for a third month (1.4% for Chesterfield compared with 1.6% for the UK and 1.5% for the East Midlands).

The figures across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire continues also to fall, In October, there were 31,550 JSA claimants across the three counties, 1,490 fewer than in September (33,040) and 9,680 fewer than in October 2014 (41,230).

The number of unemployed people in the East Midlands fell by 7,980 to 103,109 over the three months to the end of September, meaning that the region’s unemployment rate now stands at 4.5%. Over the same period, the number of people in work decreased slightly, by 747, to 2,168,138.

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber said: “The employment figures released today are positive and, while taking into account the usual spike in seasonal employment we normally see at this time of year, once again show that the region continues to lead when it comes to creating jobs.

“Although the figures remain robust, there are underlying issues in the economy which still need to be addressed. Chamber members continue to report problems recruiting people with the skills they need, while the region still lags behind the UK average when it comes to productivity.

“It’s important that the jobs being created by East Midlands businesses are sustainable, which means they must be created alongside improvements in productivity.

“To keep the momentum going, we need to continue to invest in the skills and experience of our workforce and focus on attracting and retaining the best talent.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Chiquito recruiting for December launch

11th November 2015

Chiquito are recruiting for their new Chesterfield restaurant which is planned to open this December. The new restaurant is creating around 80 jobs for the town.

The restaurant is currently recruiting for team members, cocktail bar tenders and door hosts. A recruitment week starts on Monday 16th November. To apply send your CV to careers@chiquito.co.uk or chesterfield@chiquito.co.uk before Sunday 15th November.

The popular mexican eatery is coming to Alma Leisure Park at the site of the former Wacky Warehouse.

Jody Millward, Regional Marketing Coordinator at Chiquito said:-

“We’re thrilled to announce that Chiquito is to join Chesterfield’s growing food and drink offering and hope to be open to the public in December.

“The combination of our quality food, quality drinks and cocktails, soaked up in our authentic and fun surroundings will take you to places you haven’t been before! Fresh, vibrant and colourful!

“Our team is the heartbeat of our restaurant and we look forward to meeting local candidates who are as passionate as we are about food, drink and all things Tex Mex.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Visiting

Two of the top ten East Midlands hotels are in Chesterfield

10th November 2015

Hotel search website trivago.co.uk have revealed the results of their inaugural Top Hotel Awards and the Casa Hotel in Chesterfield has been named the top-rated hotel in the East Midlands.

trivago.co.uk have used aggregated online user ratings in order to recognise the best rated hotels, both regionally and nationally

The majority of the top-rated hotels are clustered towards the centre of the East Midlands region, with easy access to the Peak District. Two hotels are located in Chesterfield, alongside first place Casa Hotel is the Peak Edge Hotel which was named equal 5th in the survey.

To view the full results, please visit: checkin.trivago.co.uk/2015/11/04/trivago-uk-top-hotel-awards- 2015/#EastMid

Stuart Downham, Operations Director, Casa Hotel: “We are thrilled to be named as the number one hotel in the East Midlands for trivago’s 2015 Top Hotel Awards, the team at Casa work tirelessly to ensure the best stay for our guests. Being an independent hotel we are able to really tailor our service to the needs of our guests and every decision we make is made with the guest as our number one priority. We value all of the feedback we receive, we use it to get a little bit better every single day and recognition for our consistently high levels of service will give us all even more motivation to exceed our guests’ expectations.”

Denise Bartlett, UK Public Relations at trivago.co.uk said “With their attention to detail and attentiveness towards their guests, it is easy to see why Casa is our top-rated hotel in the East Midlands this year. Given the high number of independent hotels and guest houses in the top 20 for this region, it is only fitting that an independent hotel should take this title.

The trivago Top Hotel Awards aim to judge all accommodation fairly, whether they are chain hotel in Lincoln, a guest house in the Peak District, or a luxury independent hotel. It is really encouraging to see such a range of accommodation, both in terms of price and geographical location, in our top 20.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Christmas, Development, Leisure, Visiting

Chesterfield College Student Wins National Motor Industry Outstanding Achievers Award

10th November 2015

The award winning apprentice James Grayson scooped another prestigious award last week at an Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) ceremony held at Silverstone. He was crowned outstanding achiever of the year in the Paint Apprentice category. HRH Prince Michael of Kent and the Head of the IMI Steve Nash presented James with his award.

James was up against some strong competition from all over the UK but was recognised for his excellent attitude towards learning at college, his IMI Skill Auto Gold medal win and his involvement in the UK World Skills team.

James has now completed his apprenticeship and is working for Wheeler Dealers TV Presenter Mike Brewer, at Mike Brewer Motors on Bramall Lane in Sheffield.

His tutor at Chesterfield College, Paul Sewell said:

“Congratulations to James. We know he has a promising future ahead and the IMI have obviously recognised that too. It is fantastic to see how students develop during their time with us and over the process of their apprenticeships. What a fantastic way to end his apprenticeship!”

Mike Brewer said:

“We knew James had something special when he applied. It is important that we have only the very best in the industry in our team, and we’re pleased to say that he is. This national award is a well-deserved recognition of his skills. We are proud to have him as part of our team. Congratulations James!”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

George Stephenson launches Made in Chesterfield 2015

10th November 2015

Month long manufacturing festival aims to reach thousands of young people

Chesterfield Museum’s very own George Stephenson officially launched Made in Chesterfield 2015 at a special event on Tuesday 3 November.

The month long Made in Chesterfield festival aims to raise awareness of the town’s manufacturing and engineering sector to young people and schools in the hope they will consider a career in it. Last year more than 400 young people were introduced to the sector in just a week and this year organisers Destination Chesterfield are hoping to reach thousands during Made 2015.

As part of the celebrations schools from throughout North East Derbyshire, including Tupton Hall, The Bolsover School, Shirebrook Academy and Parkside School, will be visiting companies and training providers in the sector to gain hands-on experience.

At the launch Councillor Amanda Serjeant, vice chair of Destination Chesterfield and cabinet member for town centre and visitor economy at Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Engineering has always played a major part in Chesterfield’s economy and these events show that this heritage is continuing today.

“Engineering companies are also at the forefront of work in the town to create apprentices to give young people high quality job opportunities.

“This festival is an opportunity to showcase all they do and raise awareness of the many different types of products being manufactured in the town.”

The museum is also hosting a special Made in Chesterfield Exhibition, celebrating the wide range of amazing and sometimes quirky products being made in Chesterfield both today and bygone days, including George Stephenson’s cucumber straightener.

As well as George Stephenson, Chesterfield is welcoming a number of high profile names from manufacturing and engineering during the festival, including Mantra – AMRC’s travelling showcase for advanced engineering, which pupils from across the county will be visiting at MSE Hiller.

A life size replica of Bloodhound, the vehicle which is Britain’s latest attempt to break the world land speed record, travelling at a speed of 1,000mph, will also be rolling into Chesterfield College for the festival.

The arrival of Bloodhound in Chesterfield has special significance for the town as local industrial weighing specialists Weightron Bilanciai Ltd, has supplied the weighing systems that have been use throughout the build of the project. The company is also supplying a system to measure the weight distribution through the wheels of the car, to allow the balancing of the vehicle.

Ivan Fomin, managing director of MSE Hiller and Destination Chesterfield board member responsible for manufacturing and engineering, said: “The support of companies in the sector is vital to the success of Made in Chesterfield. Manufacturing is the lifeblood of the economy, feeding other sectors such as retail and leisure, and its continuing success relies on today’s students considering it for a future career. Made in Chesterfield is designed to open their eyes to this and show them the varied job roles available and also how the sector has changed. However, we can only do this of companies come forward and actively get involved.”

Made in Chesterfield is organised by Destination Chesterfield in partnership with MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd, Natwest, Derbyshire Education Business Partnership, Chesterfield College, Derbyshire County Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, Placing Futures, NLT Training, UKTI, East Midlands Chamber, Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Positive 4 Young People.

To find out more about any of the Made in Chesterfield business events and to register to attend, please visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/made

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Made in Chesterfield

Chesterfield accountants appoints grants and finance specialist

10th November 2015

Chesterfield-based Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers has appointed FCCA Qualified Accountant Hari Mehta.

Hari (33), from Nottingham, joins from a leading Derby firm of accountants. His appointment further strengthens Mitchells’ Corporate and Care Home team which has reported more than 300% of growth in transactional financial due diligence assignments in 2015.
Amongst his considerable experience, he specialises in accessing government grants and corporate finance, having secured more than £1m of Regional Growth Fund funding for clients in the last 12 months. In addition to grants and finance, Hari also has extensive experience with Auto Enrolment and his appointment further secures Mitchells as being one of only a few accountants in the UK to provide specialist auto enrolment services.

Mitchells has enjoyed a period of impressive growth since the beginning of the year. Earlier this year the firm appointed two new partners and committed to creating five new jobs, which includes three qualified accountants within the firm before the end of the year, one of which is Hari’s appointment.

Explaining what attracted to him to the new role at Mitchells, Hari said: “Mitchells is an ethical company which is long established with ambitious growth plans. The enthusiasm, honesty and integrity shown by the team in dealing with their clients attracted me to both the role and firm.”
Hari, who is married, enjoys boxing and playing golf outside work. He is also a keen traveller, having family based all over the world.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Walking and cycling superstars at Westfield Infants

6th November 2015

Westfield Infants School in Chesterfield has received a national award for encouraging pupils to enjoy a more active, safer and greener commute.

The Modeshift STARS bronze accreditation recognises the school’s efforts in getting more children to travel on foot, by bike or via other sustainable means of transport, such as scooters, public transport or car sharing.

Supported by parents, staff, Derbyshire County Council and Sustrans – a national charity working towards sustainable travel – the school has taken part in a number of practical initiatives over the past academic year. These included ‘Scooter Smart’ training run by the County Council, and ‘Skills to Ride’ delivered by local cycling safety experts, Wheely Fun Wheels.

Westfield Infants has delivered great results, having more than doubled the amount of children walking, cycling or scooting to school on a daily basis.

The bronze award was presented to pupils at a school celebration held on Wednesday 4th November by Philip J. Smith, Senior Transport Officer from Derbyshire County Council, and Lisa Hopkinson, a Sustrans volunteer.

Mr Whitham, of Westfield Infant School, said: “Undertaking the Modeshift STARS award scheme has helped to raise the importance and profile of travelling in a sustainable way. Children loved the engaging assembly to kick-start the program. More and more of our children are coming to school on scooters and bikes, we are even looking into purchasing a new bike shelter to hold all the bikes!”

Following the successful bronze initiatives, the school is continuing the scheme and hopes to achieve the silver award in 2016.

Every school in England can participate in the Modeshift STARS scheme for free, and achieve bronze, silver or gold level awards. It is supported by 52 local authorities and more than 11,000 schools nationally.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield

Local sporting stars up for county awards

6th November 2015

A host of Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire athletes, teams and officials are in the running to win a Derby Telegraph Sports Award.

Representatives from the two areas have been invited to attend the county’s premier sports awards night – to be held next Thursday, November 12, at Derby’s Roundhouse – which this year celebrates its 10^th anniversary.

Among those contenders are Staveley taekwondo player Aaron Cobley, who has won gold medals at the UTIF British Championships, MWTA British Championships and UITF English Championships and, as a result, has been shortlisted as Young Sportsman of the Year.

He is attending the WKU World Championships in Spain, where he will represent England in four events and is targeting the senior World Championships in Argentina in 2017.

The 16-year-old will go up against two other talented performers from the county in the shape of High Peak judoka Eric Ham and Derby golfer Bradley Moore.

In the Young Sportswoman of the Year category, Chesterfield’s Alicia Barrett will go head to head with Shirland’s Niamh Emerson and High Peak swimmer Abbie Wood.

Alicia, from Newbold and a student at St Mary’s RC High School, is a member of Chesterfield and District AC and on the Derbyshire Institute of Sport programme.

The 17-year-old made the final of the 100m hurdles Commonwealth Youth Games final and finished sixth at the IAAF World Youth Championships, having set an UK Under-18 record in a qualifying round.

Among those vying for the title of Junior Team of the Year is Tupton Hall School Girls Under-12s Football Team, who have been shortlisted alongside Mickleover Sports Dynamos Under-13s Football Team and the Noel-Baker School Basketball Team.

Their outstanding achievements as a tight-knit group include winning the FA Youth Futsal National Championship, finishing as Football League Kinder+ Sport Northern runners-up and reaching the semi-finals of the ESFA National Cup.

Shortlisted in the Club of the Year category is Unit 1/BKKA, a martial arts club based in Chesterfield, who have made the top three alongside the UDSU Buxton Sportability Club and Glossop North End AFC Juniors, both of the High Peak.

The inclusive club has more than 500 members, ranging from four to 75 in age, teaching the core values of respect, humility, discipline, teamwork and dedication.

Inter-club tournaments are held, while members compete at regional, national and international events, with 41 world title winners among the ranks.

They have raised around £40,000 for local and national charities over the last few years with ‘Kickapolooza’ events, while free self-awareness/self-defence sessions are held for women and a coaching programme runs for 14 to 24-year-olds.

Those successful winners around Derbyshire’s nine districts and boroughs were automatically forwarded as nominees at county level and a shortlist of individuals, teams and clubs were then selected by a panel of sports officials, together with Derby Telegraph sports staff.

Awards will be handed out in 15 categories in all, recognising the cream of sporting talent both in performance-level and participation sport.

Photographs show Young Sportswoman of the Year finalist Chesterfield’s Alicia Barrett

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure

Brave team at BHP kick off Macmillan fundraising mission

4th November 2015

Two partners and four employees at Barber Harrison and Platt (BHP) have had their legs waxed for charity, raising £800 for The Chesterfield Royal Macmillan Cancer Centre Appeal.

This is the first event of several BHP is planning to help fundraise for what they see as a vital project for the area. The firm says it is a cause which has struck a chord with many businesses in Chesterfield.

Partner Dominic Staniforth said “The local community is very important to us – and we encourage staff to do all they can to support the causes that they are passionate about. Sadly, cancer affects a huge amount of people and has touched on many people’s lives.

“The new cancer centre will be extremely welcome in the area, helping to make what will always be a difficult time that little bit more bearable. We think that both Macmillan and the hospital are doing a great job and are pleased to be able to do our bit to support them.

“We would very much like to thank the staff and students from the Beauty Department of Chesterfield College for their generous support in our first event.”

On 26 November BHP is running a Race Night which is already gathering support – with sponsors MTM Products, NatWest and Padley and Venables already signed up to really help make it a success. For tickets or sponsorship information email tanya.addy@bhp.co.uk.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business