About Chesterfield

Footballers Trade Places with Engineers for National Apprenticeship Week

20 apprentices from Chesterfield Football Club will hang up their boots and swap the pitch for the workshop when they trade places with 18 mechanical engineering apprentices during National Apprenticeship Week (9 – 13 March).

The Big Apprentice Swap, which takes place on Friday 13 March, has been organised by Chesterfield Champion NLT Training Services; a specialist training and provider of apprentices in welding, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.

The Chesterfield FC apprentices will experience a day in NLT Training’s workshop gaining hands-on experience in welding, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. NLT’s apprentices will spend the day as footballers undergoing physical training both in the gym and on the pitch at the Proact stadium.

14 of the NLT apprentices taking part in the event are currently undertaking Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships with local employers. Four outstanding learners from NLT’s pre-apprenticeship programme Evolve, have also been selected by tutors to take part in the training at Chesterfield Football Club.

Andy Sheppard, CEO of NLT Training Services said: “The Big Apprentice Swap highlights perfectly the diversity of apprenticeships available in Chesterfield today. There is literally something for everyone.

“National Apprenticeship Week 2015 gives us the opportunity to showcase the far reaching benefits of apprenticeships. For young people they provide them with a solid platform for their future career. 83% of young people who are in apprenticeships tell us that their ability to do their job and career prospects had improved.  For employers, apprenticeships, particularly in the manufacturing and engineering sector, are essential to filling the skills gap and securing the future growth of these companies.”

Spireites Chief Executive, Chris Turner said: “We are pleased to be able to support this initiative to help raise awareness of apprenticeships and the opportunities they offer. The club’s youngsters will benefit from the experience of spending a day in a different environment, learning new skills in the NLT Training workshop, while our coaches will enjoy putting the NLT apprentices through their paces!”

Since 2010, two million apprenticeships have been started with 90% of apprentices remaining in employment after successfully completing their apprenticeship.

National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service and is designed to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

The Big Apprentice Swap is just one of number events being organised by NLT Training Services during the week-long celebrations for National Apprenticeship Week both locally and further afield. Other events include:

  • Monday 9 March: A day in the Life of an Apprentices. Staff will be taught by NLT’s own Level 3 apprentices;
  • Tuesday 10 March: NLT is holding a mini careers convention for Yr11s at Springwell School;
  • Wednesday 11 March: NLT learners are attending the UK’s young scientists and engineers fair The Big Bang at Birmingham’s NEC;
  • Friday 13 March:The Big Apprentice Swap
  • Saturday 14 March: NLT Training Services Open Day from 12:00- 4:00pm. A chance for local companies and young people to view the facilities, and talk to the Business Development team about the Evolve Engineering programme and apprenticeships.

(Image features apprentices Casey Allen and Matt Jamson.)

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Prizes on Offer to Celebrate Tourism in Chesterfield

Visitors to Chesterfield can win prizes in a series of competitions run by Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre.

Designed to celebrate tourism in Chesterfield as part of English Tourism Week from 14th – 22nd March, competitions include:-

• A word search to win tickets for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Winding Wheel;
• A Chesterfield quiz to win a family ticket to Hardwick Hall;
• Name 25 things you can buy on Chesterfield Market to win a £5 market voucher;
• How to spend 24 hours in Chesterfield to win a voucher for Stephenson’s Tea and Coffee House.;

Entry forms cost £1.50 and are available from the Visitor Information Centre.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism said: “We have a great range of attractions for people here in Chesterfield and these competitions encourage people to think about the variety of things to do in the town.

“I’d encourage anyone to call into the Visitor Information Centre to pick up an entry form and take part to win one of the great prizes on offer.”

The deadline for entries is Tuesday 7 April.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Funding Available for Chesterfield Community Groups

Chesterfield community groups can now apply for funding of up to £5,000 through Chesterfield Borough Council’s Community Chest.

Registered charities, community and voluntary groups in Chesterfield or with strong links to the borough can apply for grants between £1,000 and £5,000 from the scheme which aims to improve facilities for residents.

To be eligible for support, all activities must support the priorities set by local people at the council’s Community Assembly meetings.

Councillor Sharon Blank, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Executive Member for Customers and Communities, said: “The Community Chest is a great opportunity for local organisations to apply for funding which will improve the quality of life for our residents.  “I’d encourage eligible groups looking for funding to get in touch and apply.”

The deadline for applications is Friday 24 April with successful organisations receiving the funding in June. Further funding will also be allocated in the autumn.

More information is available on Chesterfield Borough Council’s website at http://www.chesterfield.gov.uk/Community-Assembly-Community-Chest-1403.html

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure

Psychic Sally Morgan Heads to Chesterfield

One of the nation’s favourite mediums – Sally Morgan – is back on tour and due to bring her jaw-dropping show to Chesterfield this April.

Formerly medium to Diana, the Princess of Wales, International star, Sally has a long list of celebrity clients and has performed in front of a combined audience of over 750,000 people in hundreds of venues.  Her TV show Sally Morgan: On the Road ran for three series and continues to be shown around the world. Sally is also the best-selling author of several books and is a regular guest and panellist on other popular television shows.

Sally says: “I love being on the road, reaching out to my fans and comforting people about life after death. Every night when I’m on stage amazing things happen and it’s a privilege to be able to pass on messages of love and comfort to the people I share my gift with.”

Sally Morgan comes to the Winding Wheel on Thursday 2nd April. Tickets are available at http://chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/shows/sally-morgan.aspx#.VQFp4vmsV1Y

 

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Chesterfield Chosen to Host National Canal Festival

A popular national canal festival is to be held in Chesterfield for this first time in over ten years.

Organised by the Inland Waterways Association (IWA), the National Trailboat Festival will take place at Staveley Town Basin during the 2016 spring bank holiday weekend.

Highlights of the event include an illuminated parade of boats on the Saturday night and a convoy right up to the River Rother at St Helena’s on the Monday.

Robin Stonebridge Chair of Chesterfield Canal Trust said:

“We are delighted that the IWA has chosen to return to the Chesterfield for its 2016 Trailboat Festival.

“The boaters who came here in 2002 or 2005 will see a great change, both on the canal and in the surrounding area.

“Canals get restored by continuously making the case, by hard graft and by spreading the word and building support from across the country.  Although we still have eight miles to restore, the festival will be a good way to celebrate the trust’s efforts thus far and for visitors to have a really good time here in North East Derbyshire.”

As with the yearly canal festivals held at Staveley, this national event will also include boat rides, canoeing, children’s rides, plenty of entertainment, dozens of stalls plus food and drink including a real ale bar.

The vital difference with this festival however – say Canal Trust members – will be the number of boats. It is expected that dozens of trailboats will be moored in the basin and back towards Constitution Hill Bridge. Many will be decorated, creating a really colourful spectacle.

As trailboats are towed, it will also be possible to be launch them down the slipway at Staveley Basin – where they will enter the stretch of water between Staveley and Kiveton Park which is currently inaccessible to normal canal boats due to ongoing restoration work.

IWA national chairman Les Etheridge said: “Our 2016 Trailboat Festival will help to demonstrate the community benefits that flow from the revival of functioning waterways. As well as providing a great day out, we hope the festival will stimulate renewed support from the public and local interest groups for the Trust’s sterling restoration work.”

Derbyshire County Council owns this section of the canal. The Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure Councillor Dean Collins said: “The newly developed Staveley Basin has made Chesterfield Canal an attractive area for boats and we’re delighted to be hosting the National Trail Boat Festival in Derbyshire next year.

“We’re committed to helping to improve Derbyshire’s economy and tourism has a massive role to play.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming the boating community to Derbyshire to enjoy our beautiful county and all it has to offer.”

Chesterfield Canal Trust has previously run IWA Trailboat Festivals at Tapton Lock in 2002 and 2005. Both were hugely successful, as was the IWA Campaign Rally held at Kiveton Park in 2009.

For more information visit http://www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk/

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

Young Spireites Winger Signs New Contract

Exciting Spireites winger Gboly Ariyibi has signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract.

The former Southampton player has impressed in recent weeks after being given his chance in the first team.

Commenting on the news, Spireites Manager, Paul Cook said: “Gboly is a very, very exciting young prospect who has great ability and pace. He is still developing as a player so there has to be some patience shown by fans as he learns the game.”

Ariyibi, 20, joined Chesterfield in the summer after a spell at Leeds United. He made his debut in the JPT tie at Scunthorpe in September and has now made a total of eight appearances.

Born in Virginia, USA, before being brought up in England, Ariyibi is a USA Under-20 international.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

New Artisan Market Set to Launch in Chesterfield

A vibrant artisan market is coming to Chesterfield town centre this spring.

Starting on 31st May, the new attraction will take place on the last Sunday of every month and offers a wide selection of locally produced food and individually hand crafted items, showcasing the very best of products from Chesterfield and Derbyshire.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said:

“We have an excellent track record of offering fresh produce on our market and now residents and visitors will be able to buy a new range of exquisite local produce and trinkets.

“They will be able to speak to the stallholders, ask about the products they have made, try new flavours and discover unique treasures.

“Local entertainers will also be performing each month to show their talents and add to the buzzing atmosphere.

“I’m sure this will be a popular addition to the successful markets we already run in Chesterfield, including the monthly farmers’ market and the weekly flea market.”

Joining forces with Chesterfield Borough Council, Denise Valente, Director of The Market Co said: “We are very excited to bring our artisan market concept to Chesterfield.

“The local area has so many incredibly talented artisans, all very eager to showcase their fantastic products.”

For more details about the artisan market, visit: www.themarketco.co.uk.

Chesterfield Market Place also hosts a variety of other markets each week with a general market each Monday, Friday and Saturday, a flea market each Thursday and a farmers’ market on the second Thursday of each month.   For more details click here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Celebrate Chesterfield Event a Sell Out!

Destination Chesterfield’s event to toast the town’s success has been declared a sell out.

Celebrate Chesterfield, which is being held at the Winding Wheel on Wednesday 25 March from 07:30am – 11:00am, is now set to welcome more than 200 people to the venue.

To add your name to the waiting list in case of cancellations, please visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/celebrate.

The free event, held in association with headline sponsors Markham Vale and The Corrugated Case Company, offers local businesses the chance to be the first to hear about the exciting plans for the town in 2015.

The breakfast event will also look back on the success of Destination Chesterfield, the town’s inward investment campaign, during the last 12 months. The campaign, which has been running since 2011, and will launch a new plan to promote the town until December 2016.

People who have missed out on getting a place at Celebrate, can keep-up-to-date with what’s being discussed at the event by following it on Twitter @desches and using #celebrate15.

Delegates at the event will also have the opportunity to question local leaders and politicians on a Question Time-style panel.

Dominic Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager said: “There has once again been exceptional demand attend our annual Celebrate event. It’s a great opportunity to look at all we have achieved together as a town as well as what is going to be happening.

“It is with the support of our sponsors, Henry Boot Developments and The Corrugated Case Company that we are able to run this event bringing people together to celebrate and share in the success of our thriving town.”

The event will also include talks from local business people, including the University of Derby which will present the much-anticipated plans for the St Helena’s site in Chesterfield.

Ben Ward of Henry Boot Developments said, “Markham vale has grown successfully to become one of Chesterfield’s prime employment sites over the last 12 months which is great news for the local economy. During the next 12 months we are hopeful to be able to announce some further significant new investment projects for the site and region.

“We are delighted to sponsor this event and continue our support to promote Chesterfield, often overshadowed by its larger neighbours. There is a wealth of good news in the area which needs to be celebrated. This includes the decision by both Inspirespac and Gould alloys to retain their roots in Chesterfield and invest to significantly grow their businesses at Markham.”

Tony Hession, Director of The Corrugated Case Company said: “As a Chesterfield based company with customers and staff based here, we’re thrilled to be involved with the Celebrate Chesterfield event. It is vital that we promote all that is good about our town; its centrally located geographic position, its historic (and present day) creative manufacturing and engineering prowess and of course its location on the edge of the magnificent Peak District and all that has to offer! We look forward to meeting friends both old and new at the Destination Chesterfield event.”

As well as following the event on Twitter, people are also being urged to Like Chesterfielduk on Facebook and to check Destination Chesterfield’s website: www.chesterfield.co.uk to ensure they don’t miss out on the news throughout the event.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield

Proact to Host Funny Photoshoot for Comic Relief

Players and staff at Chesterfield Football Club are inviting visitors to take part in a funny photoshoot for Comic Relief.

Club photographer Tina Jenner will run a pop-up studio at the Hub at Proact Stadium on Monday 9th March from 1.00pm – 6.00pm in return for a donation of at least £2 per image.

There will also be a funny face competition, with the winner receiving a print similar to the poster shown here with their image in the middle, signed by the featured players.

Those taking part will need to complete a photo consent form, which will act as a model release form, which can be downloaded from the Chesterfield FC Community Trust website. Under-18s who attend alone will need to bring a signed form with them.

The Trust’s sport & activity manager, Rachel Booth, said: “As a charity, the Trust is really happy to support such a good, charitable cause.

“We are really looking forward to working with the football club and Tina Jenner Photography to stage such a fun event at The HUB. All of the staff will be joining in and we can’t wait to see our funny photos!”

For more information on the event, please visit http://www.spireitestrust.org.uk/rnd2015/

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Council Tax Frozen for Second Year Running

Council tax paid by residents for services provided by Chesterfield Borough Council has been frozen for another year.

The unanimous vote was taken at the council meeting on Thursday 26 February.

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Leader, said: “Despite the fact we are, again, facing a huge cut in the funding we receive from the government, we have frozen council tax again to help families in the borough who are doing their best to make ends meet in these difficult economic times.

Councillors also voted to accept the council’s proposed budget for the coming year.

Although Chesterfield Borough Council collects council tax, it only keeps 10 per cent of the money.

For the average band A property, this means the council keeps only £96.59 each year or £1.86 each week of the money collected to fund its services including: refuse collection, street cleaning, sports and park facilities, regeneration, housing, markets, museums, theatres and tourism.

The rest of the money goes to different authorities including Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Constabulary and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Each of these authorities has chosen to increase its portion of council tax by just under two per cent. This means that although the amount residents pay towards services provided by Chesterfield Borough Council will remain the same, the overall amount they pay will increase.

Posted in About Chesterfield

Chesterfield to Host International Cricket in 2015

Queen’s Park, Chesterfield, will once again be in the media spotlight when international cricket returns to the town in an Ashes summer when England Under-19s face Australia Under-19s in the second of five One-Day internationals in August.

The match is to be played on Friday 14 August and is a chance for supporters to watch the England and Australia stars of the future, including a potential appearance from Derbyshire fast-bowler Will Davis who was recently selected for the Under-19s tour of Australia.

The match will bring a second helping of high quality action for the Chesterfield public following Derbyshire County Cricket Club’s annual Festival of Cricket, in association with Chesterfield Borough Council. This will be held in July and includes LV= County Championship action against Glamorgan and NatWest T20 Blast fixtures versus Northamptonshire Steelbacks and Yorkshire Vikings.

Chesterfield Cricket Club Chairman Mike Taylor said: “We are looking forward to another great summer of cricket here in Queen’s Park.

“In July, we will host Derbyshire County Cricket Club’s Festival of Cricket and it’s great that we’ll bring the curtain down with an Ashes battle between the best young players in England and Australia.

“Hosting both these high profile events is great news for the town and also great news for Chesterfield Cricket Club. Watching some of the best players around always inspires our youngsters at the Club and local schools and these big matches provide us with opportunities for us to raise funds which help us continue to run a very successful league cricket club.

“We’re proud to host Derbyshire‘s Festival of Cricket and hope the Festival will continue for many years. It’s been great to host additional matches in recent summers like the England Women, Yorkshire versus the Unicorns and now the England and Australia Under-19s.

“It’s well documented that Sachin Tendulkar called our ground the most beautiful he’s ever played on. Hopefully we’ll send some English and Australian stars of the future away with a similar view.”

Entry for the match is free of charge beginning at 10.30am.

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

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