About Chesterfield

Chesterfield property and construction firms encouraged to enter regional awards

The nomination deadline (Thursday 31 August) is approaching quickly for East Midlands Business Link’s East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023.

Property and Construction firms in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire still have the opportunity to showcase their business, teams, outstanding developments and boost morale with an entry for the annual celebration of the industry.

Taking place on Thursday 28 September, the Bricks shine a light on the exceptional work of those shaping the landscape of our region, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the East Midlands – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools.

The glittering awards ceremony revealing winners, at the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, will also offer the ideal chance to establish new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region.

Entries for the awards are open until Thursday 31 August. To nominate your (or another) business/development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, go to: https://www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk/mag/bricks-2023/

The awards to be presented on the evening are as follows:

• Most active estate agent
• Commercial development of the year
• Responsible business of the year
• Residential development of the year
• Developer of the year
• Deal of the year
• Architects of the year
• Excellence in design
• Sustainable development of the year
• Contractor of the year
• Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, the winner will be selected from those nominated)

The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.

Tickets are also now available for the event, which allows delegates to connect with local decision-makers over canapés and complimentary drinks, while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. Find out more here.

Chesterfield boasts an active Property and Construction Group, which brings business leaders of the region’s property sector and Chesterfield Borough Council together to shape and drive forward collaboration, investment, sustainability and skills within Chesterfield.

The group works across four key themes, that are led by members of the group, specifically the skills agenda, business support, promoting investment in Chesterfield and sustainability and wellbeing.

Find out more about the group at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/propertygroup/

east midlands bricks awards

Image courtesy of East Midlands Business Link

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First ever Chesterfield Children’s Festival attracts more than 8,000 attendees

More than 8,000 people attended the first Chesterfield Children’s Festival last weekend, with over 4,000 children participating in the weekend’s workshops and activities.

The free two-day event at Queen’s Park was organised by local arts charity, Junction Arts and was funded by Arts Council England.  The line-up included live music, comedy, silent disco walking tours, theatre, art workshops, storytelling and games – with children of all ages taking part.

Junction Arts Project Coordinator, Jemma Burton said: “Wow, what an amazing weekend! It was great to see so many families turn out for our first Chesterfield Children’s Festival, thousands of people came along to Queen’s Park to have fun with family and friends.

“It was a celebration of childhood and imagination with a host of free activities for families to enjoy and take part in.  Visitors enjoyed impressive live performances including a brass band, a string quartet, a comedy club, theatre shows, Chinese music and daring circus skills!   Children of all ages participated in the various activities trying new things with our interactive art workshops, actual arcade games and silent disco walking tours.

“They also got to explore The Garden of Imagination a newly commissioned artwork for the festival, which took the form of a child’s bedroom and had lots of interactive elements for them to play with, including sound sensors and fantasy characters.

“The aim of the event was to create a welcoming space, where young people and their families could explore art, culture and creativity in an accessible way. I hope that everyone enjoyed it as much as we did and made lots of memories.

“We’d like to thank everyone who came along and created such a lovely atmosphere, we hope to see you all again next year!”

Looking for more events and activities to keep the family busy in Chesterfield this summer? Get all the inspiration you need on our Summer in Chesterfield page!

Junction Arts is an award-winning participatory arts charity, that organises a number of festivals and events, including the Tapton Lock Festival and Bolsover Lantern Parade.

The charity supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Chesterfield Childrens Festival 2023

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Chesterfield-made drinks awarded two stars at prestigious Great Taste Awards 2023

Hogg Norton, an independent producer of fruit liqueurs and other alcoholic beverages has taken two stars at the Great Taste Awards 2023.

Great Taste is the world’s largest and most trusted food & drink accreditation scheme, with products across the world being put to the test by a panel of more than 500 experts.

Hogg Norton’s Rhubarb Liqueur and Gooseberry Liqueur have both been awarded two stars, meaning they have been rated as ‘outstanding.’

The producer has now won a total of 10 Great Taste Awards, after winning accolades in 2019, 2020 and 2021 for various products.

Michael Norton, Co-Owner at Hogg Norton commented: “We are so proud to win the awards, as it is judged by industry experts.

“Winning the awards shows that we consistently deliver a quality product which gives confidence to our customers and also makes us stand out against our competitors.  Having these international awards just shows what local producers can achieve and what amazing products are produced in Chesterfield.”

“It is so important that we use local products, as all our liqueurs are made from all-natural products and are free from any additives, preservatives, colours or flavourings – so the full flavour of the fruit comes through. Being based in Chesterfield and on the edge of the Peak District gives us a fantastic location to source our products.”

Other local winners from our area include Chatsworth Estate Farm Shop, which was given a two-star ‘outstanding’ award for its Chatsworth Honey Ale, and also Global Brands, which recieved a ‘simply delicious’ rating for a number of products across its ‘Franklin & Sons’ range of drinks.

Find out more about Chesterfield’s fantastic range of producers, retailers and food & drink businesses at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/

Hogg Norton supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Hogg Norton selling drinks at the Norton Arms

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DBCP confirmed as sponsor for this weekend’s Eat in the Park festival

DBCP, the leading provider of building control services in Derbyshire and Staffordshire Moorlands, has been announced as one of the sponsors of Chesterfield’s inaugural Eat In The Park festival.

The exciting family-family food, drink and live music festival, which is already successfully established in Buxton, is coming to Queen’s Park in Chesterfield this weekend (5 – 6 August 2023.)

Thousands of people across Derbyshire are expected to attend the two-day festival which will showcase an array of local traders serving up food and drinks from around the world, as well as top tribute bands and magicians providing entertainment for all the family.

As part of the sponsorship, DBCP banners will be displayed throughout the festival. With many of the team based remotely, DBCP’s 30-strong team of building control surveyors and technical staff will also be using the event as an opportunity to get together.

Jake and George of Eat in the Park said “We are delighted to bring Eat in the Park to Chesterfield this year. To enable us to do this successfully we need to partner with brilliant local organisations and DBCP is certainly one of those. We are excited to showcase their sponsorship at the event and cannot wait to welcome the team to Queen’s Park on 5th and  6th August.”

David Pratt Building Control Manager explained: “DBCP has been a part of Chesterfield’s business community since 2015 and we see our sponsorship of Eat in the Park as an excellent opportunity to both support the town and showcase who we are and what we do to property owners and residents throughout the area.

“DBCP is not just here for our communities in times of emergency, when buildings are compromised, we are to provide advice and support to help ensure properties meet the legal requirements of Building Regulations and are safe, secure and energy efficient for all users.”

Most recently DBCP has overseen building control for Chesterfield Royal Hospital’s new £24million A&E department. The department has been labelled “a jewel in Chesterfield’s crown.” The new building is the hospital’s largest development in almost 40 years and can accommodate 115,000 patients per year.

John Taylor, Senior Building Control Surveyor at DBCP who issued the Building Control certificate for the completed A&E building in April this year praised its high standard of construction saying: “I am very impressed at what has been achieved at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. It is a building everyone can be proud of.”

DBCP is the amalgamation of eight Local Authority Building Control services across Derbyshire and Staffordshire Moorlands, including Amber Valley Borough Council, Bolsover District Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derby City Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, High Peak Borough Council, North East Derbyshire District Council, and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

David added: “The team and I are looking forward to attending Eat In The Park. It will be a fantastic event for Chesterfield.”

The two-day festival is a ticketed event with under 5s free. Tickets can be purchased at www.eatinthepark.uk/visitor-information

Find out more about the fantastic range of events and activities taking place across Chesterfield this summer on our Summer in Chesterfield page.

DBCP Supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Eat in the Park Main Stage

Eat in the Park Main Stage

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Chesterfield Champions announce further success and growth

Businesses in the town’s network of Chesterfield Champions have announced further growth and successes.

Firms including Roaring Mouse Public Relations, Banner Jones Solicitors and MTM Products and Pinelog Ltd. have announced exciting news in recent weeks.

Find out about the latest growth and success stories from across our town in the roundup below.

Roaring Mouse Public Relations partners with Scottish robotics firm

James Taylor Roaring Mouse

A remote robotics company focused on subsea operations, has appointed specialist B2B technology PR and content agency Roaring Mouse to help support strategic communications as the company moves to its next round of fundraising.

Based in Aberdeen, HonuWorx combines autonomous submarines, robotics, AI and advanced communications technologies to reduce the risk, cost and carbon footprint of subsea exploration and intervention. It enables a wide range of subsea activities to occur without humans having to leave shore.

HonuWorx has engaged Roaring Mouse to reach and help establish a ‘SpaceX of Subsea’ reputation for the company with prospects and potential partners in the European defence, offshore energy and ‘blue economy’ sectors, as well as potential investors.

James Taylor, managing director of Roaring Mouse, comments: “HonuWorx is a true pioneer with a fantastic robotics, AI and communications proposition, a great team and a fascinating ‘SpaceX of subsea’ story to tell. The technology it is bringing to market could fundamentally change subsea access in much the same way SpaceX is opening up access to space, and we are thrilled to be on board.”

New hires and investment for MTM Products

MTM Jess Gardiner

There have been some recent changes at MTM Products Ltd to cater for expanding business: such as a new office for the design estimating and sales teams and new hires.

Over the last 47 years, MTM have established themselves as one of the leading UK industrial graphics suppliers.

MTM Products’ Managing Director , Mark Niblett said: “We have recently invested in new, modern equipment for screen and digital printing and finishing equipment and a digital transformation programme.

“We have expanded our workforce in areas like management accountancy and sales and continue to value our workers with longevity awards across the company.

“Our latest edition to the team is Jess Gardiner, joining the design and estimation team.  Jess has recently located from East London – a city in South Africa and has settled in Chesterfield with her husband.

“The business has historically been situated in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, where we have two facilities (two factory units: 0.5km apart). Being in this central region of the country, we are ideally located for distribution throughout the UK, with great transport links to major motorways, ports and airfreight.”

“MTM supply other original equipment manufacturers in the UK & EU particularly: automotive, electrical & electronic, rail, medical, construction and machinery equipment. We provide industry-specific stock management systems including lineside stocking, buffer stocks & call off orders.

“We pride ourselves on our technical/applications engineering expertise, friendly teams, competitive prices and MTM Express quick turnaround service.”

Banner Jones advises on acquisition of Nottinghamshire quality cast stone products manufacturer

Andrew Fielder 873

Banner Jones’ Business Legal Services department has acted for the shareholders in the sale of Nottinghamshire based stone products manufacturer Serene Stone Limited’s shares to Nene Capital.

The business, which boasts a wide range of quality architectural cast stone dressings and concrete solutions, has been acquired by Nene Capital, which will now look to accelerate the business’s growth trajectory over the coming years.

Primarily investing in UK-based SMEs, Nene Capital concentrates on realising long-term value and maintains an active role in commercial operations to support the delivery of strong financial outcomes.

Founded in 2011, the company has been involved in the design and supply of stone materials for highly bespoke projects across the luxury housing and commercial markets.

As part of the deal, Andrew Fielder Head of Banner Jones’ Business Legal Services department – supported by colleague and employment law expert, Katie Ash – advised the sellers on the transactional sale, as well as on the Settlement Agreements and on their Consultancy Agreements with the buyer moving forwards.

Andrew commented: “It was a pleasure to assist Christopher and Paul with the sale of the business that they have worked so hard to develop. All of the professionals involved in the transaction worked very much in partnership, and I am sure that the business will continue to grow and succeed.”

Superior Wellness Appoints New Finance Director

James Orton superior wellness

Superior Wellness has  announced the appointment of James Orton as the new Finance Director. With over 20 years’ experience across a broad range of sectors, he brings a wealth of experience to the role.

With an impressive career spanning more than two decades, James brings exceptional financial expertise and strategic leadership to his new position.

Before joining Superior Wellness, James was CFO of Nuvias UC Limited, a specialist IT Distributor operating across Europe.

A highly experienced, Financial Board Executive with over 10 years extensive grounding at PwC and a further 10 years of varied experience in industry. His unique experience includes an extensive Corporate M&A track record across multiple sectors and territories and that of financial leadership for fast growing businesses.

As the Finance Director, James will play a pivotal role in shaping Superior Wellness’ financial strategy and driving sustainable growth. He will oversee all financial operations working closely with the Senior Management Team to support the company’s expansion plans and long-term vision.

Rob Carlin, Managing Director said: “We are delighted to welcome James Orton to the Superior Wellness team. His extensive experience and proven track record as a financial leader make him an excellent addition to the team.

“We are confident that James will contribute significantly to our continued success as we continue to grow globally. James’ experience will continue to strengthen our existing team and I am looking forward to working closely with him.”

New Finance Director James Orton said: “I am very excited to join the team here at Superior Wellness. The business is extremely well placed for further significant growth, building upon the strong foundations in place due to the quality of its partner relationships, product offerings, and its people.

Based in Chesterfield, Superior Wellness is the world’s fastest growing hot tub manufacturer with a network of global partners.

New appointment for Pinelog set to drive sales in independent holiday park sector

Judy Barwell - Pinelog

Judy Barwell has joined Chesterfield-based Pinelog Limited, one of the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of luxury timber lodges and buildings, as Sales Account Manager.

She joins from Adlington, a developer of award-winning retirement developments. Within her new role Judy will work alongside Associate Director Paula Skelton in driving forward the company’s ambitions to increase its share of lodge supply to the holiday park sector.

She commented: “I am really excited to be working with such a high quality product that uses natural materials. The sustainability credentials of Pinelog are very important to me both personally and professionally.”

Judy, who lives in Dronfield, brings experience in property sales as well as having a design background. She previously worked in a range of design, development and supply chain roles in the clothing industry, as well as lecturing in design for a number of years.

She explained: “The role at Pinelog combines my technical, design and sales experience. As well as understanding the production process, I am able to guide purchasers through the entire process from initial enquiry to the design and delivery of a lodge.”

Her appointment follows the company’s relocation to a new, larger site in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, earlier this year. Prior to its relocation the company had been based in Bakewell since being founded in 1974.

The new, larger site at Sheepbridge has enabled the company to bring its entire production process under one roof, increasing both jobs and production of its class-leading lodges.

As well as the production of complete holiday lodges, components for the construction of timber Glulam framed commercial buildings designed and built by Pinelog are also manufactured at the site.

Welcoming Judy to Pinelog, Nick Grayson, Chairman of Pinelog Group, said: “Judy’s appointment and our move to the new facility marks a new chapter in Pinelog’s story; one which has seen us modernise, invest in new technology and further improve the business to help holiday park operators capitalise on the ongoing demand for staycations.”

Find out more about why Chesterfield is the perfect location to base your business at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/

Roaring Mouse, MTM Products, Banner Jones and Superior Wellness and Pinelog support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

 

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Triple Award success for Travel Counsellors

Travel Counsellors, an agency which provides people in Chesterfield and beyond with their dream holidays and trips, has taken home three prizes at the Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards 2023.

The annual Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards are the largest celebration of the travel trade in the UK & Ireland, and the highest accolade for travel agencies and agents. Travel Counsellors won a hattrick of accolades at the event:

  • Home working Agency of the Year (Large)
  • Best Agency to Work For (Large)
  • Sustainability Champion of the Year (Large)

Travel Counsellors prides itself on creating an experience unique to each customer, with every detail taken care of.

Speaking on the company’s award success, Chesterfield-based Travel Counsellor Katie Styring commented: “Personally this is extremely important to me and my business. Sustainability is something that is very important to us, and we are doing our best to drive and improve this across the business. We even have a dedicated person now working in our support team to lead our sustainability strategy.”

“As a business, we collectively strive to ensure we’re delivering the best customer service possible, both across our support teams and our travel agent franchisees.

Speaking about doing business in Chesterfield, Katie added: “My business is built on word of mouth and referrals, with the majority being local customers from Chesterfield. I support businesses locally and I’m an active member of small business networking groups, this has absolutely helped to grow the business to be the success it is, and I am beyond grateful to all clients that have gone on to spread the word.

Find out more about Travel Counsellors and get in touch with Katie at: https://www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/katie.styring/ Alternatively, get in touch via email at katie.styring@travelcounsellors.com or by calling 01246 660006.

The company also has a team which can support businesses in Chesterfield with their travel needs. Chesterfield business we collaborate with to support all their travel needs. Find out more.

travel counsellors award win

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Property and construction businesses build talent pipelines through inspiring workshops and placements

In Chesterfield, £2billion of regeneration is underway. Additionally, a report by CITB, highlights by 2026 that 3,500 construction workers per year will be needed in the East Midlands Region. So, the need to attract more skilled people to the sector remains a key priority.

Recognising the range of exciting opportunities available across the sector and the need to develop a local talent pipeline; property and construction businesses from across Chesterfield joined forces to deliver Careers Made in Chesterfield.

This summer, 11 students from three Chesterfield secondary schools got to go behind the scenes at local firms to gain first-hand experience of careers in the sector.

Organised as part of the new Made in Chesterfield scheme, the work experience was the final part of a year-long pilot. The pilot included a series of workshops to showcase the range of careers available in the industry. In total, 20 professionals from 11 local businesses helped to deliver the programme to 110 year 10 students.

How did the students get on in their end-of-scheme placements? We spoke to some of the businesses and schools involved in showcasing careers in property and construction to the next cohort of future talent.

House designers in the making 

Wayne Barrett, Technical Director for Harron Homes North Midlands, tells us about the range of departments students got to experience:

“Harron endeavours to support those looking to develop their skills in the construction industry, whether that’s on-site or in the office. It’s been fantastic to support Chesterfield schools and give them an insight into working life within an office environment. Students experienced a range of roles from finance to quantity surveying, architecture, civil engineering, sales, and legal.”

Harron Homes property and construction

Harron Homes office

Nigel Kingham, teacher at Whittington Green School, explains how students went above and beyond:

“I got to visit three of our students on work experience at Harron Homes. Each of the students had with them examples of some of the design work they had completed during their placement. Max had been taught to use some design software and he had used this to produce his own plans for a newly designed house. He had really enjoyed his placement and was really enthused about house design.”

“Corey had drawn his own designs and kept an extensive diary of his time at Harron. Again, he was really positive about his experience. He even said it had got him thinking about a future career in something like architecture.”

Cory_Sketch 873x466 property and construction

Artwork by Cory, student at Whittington Green School

Max, student at Whittington Green School, added:

“I had a great time, and everyone was helpful with what I was trying to do!”

Building careers in property and construction

Students from Whittington Green and Parkside School got to experience all aspects of a local construction business. Jack Kidder, Business Manager at Henry Boot PLC, explained:

Henry Boot 873x466 property and construction

Henry Boot tour for students

“We were delighted to welcome two students from Whittington Green and Parkside Schools to join the business for a week. They learnt all about the real estate sector with a focus on construction and social value. They took part in a range of activities including estimating and education engagement, met a range of colleagues from across the business, and visited our Kangaroo Works scheme in the centre of Sheffield.

“Supporting work experience placements is a great way for us to inform local learners about the wide range of careers available in our business and industry as well as learn more about the expectations and aspirations of learners and create excitement about our sector.”

Liam, student at Parkside Community School, commented:

“I really enjoyed the placement at Henry Boot. I hadn’t really heard of them before, I didn’t know how big the company was. It was really interesting learning about the business and the things they do. But the best bit was going visit to the site at Sheffield!”

CGI and Virtual Reality

Oasis Studio 873x466 property and construction

Oasis Studio and Parkside student

Providing an insight into the digital process in the sector, Oasis Studio hosted a student from Parkside School. Tony Buck, Associate Director at Oasis Studio, said:

“We welcomed our placement student to the studio to gain hands-on experience as if he were a true member of the team.

“We exposed Seth to a variety of typical tasks carried out at Oasis Studio. Tasks included transforming 2D technical drawings into a 3D digital model of a building using the latest software and techniques. He used his 3D model to create various formats of visual content including photorealistic CGI’s, floorplans and a marketing brochure. Also, Seth contributed towards internal project meetings and got involved with development projects in Virtual Reality.

“Overall, this placement not only provided valuable experience for the student. It brought fresh perspectives and innovation to the business, reinforcing our commitment to nurturing young talent.”

Oasis Studio and Parkside student property and construction

Oasis Studio and Parkside student

Seth, student at Parkside Community School, added:

“I enjoyed my time at Oasis Studio. It was a really nice place, with a good atmosphere and the staff was great. I even had a go at designing buildings and adding renders using CAD (Computer Aided Design). It was a really good placement.”

Matthew Gould, Head of PE and Careers at Parkside Community School, commented on the Made in Chesterfield programme:

“It’s been a pleasure to be involved with the Careers Made in Chesterfield programme. Engagement from students in the workshops delivered at the school and work experience has been fantastic.

Three of our students have benefitted from a work placement thanks to local business. We’re grateful for the opportunity and hope to link more young talent with Chesterfield businesses.”

Find out more

Could your business benefit from encouraging young people to consider careers in property and construction?

To find out how your business could get involved with the next Careers Made in Chesterfield scheme, contact Emily Williams, Skills Delivery Officer at Chesterfield Borough Council on 01246 959717.

To consider how your business could offer an apprenticeship to support careers in property and construction visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/hiring-an-apprentice/.

Are you a business operating in the property, construction, manufacturing, and engineering industries? You could get involved with the Made in Chesterfield programme by opening your doors to local schools. Find out more at: www.chesterfield.co.uk/made/.

Careers Made in Chesterfield header image

Careers Made in Chesterfield

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Peak Gateway appoints Stirling Prize winning architects

International, award-winning architects, Stanton Williams have been appointed to design The Gateway at PEAK, consented on 300 acres of reclaimed land located on the eastern boundary of the Peak District National Park, near Chesterfield.

The Gateway is intended to play an important role in cementing Chesterfield as a destination town as part of the Peak District experience and providing visitors and the local community with low impact ways to explore the National Park thanks to a zero-carbon travel hub.

Alongside Stanton Williams, a multi-skilled project team has been assembled, led by Milligan, a specialist destination and mixed-use real estate developer, who are working closely with regional strategic partners, including Chesterfield Borough Council, The University of Derby and the Peak District National Park Authority.

Peak Gateway Properties has briefed the team to define and design the Gateway build and operations around the principles of a ‘regenerative enterprise’, promoting the restoration and regeneration of natural resources and social systems.

The founders of Birchall Properties, the landowner, have already invested over 35 years in nature recovery and passive rewilding on the 300-acre Birchall Estate which had been the subject of extensive open-cast activities. By way of the Environment Act 2021 any development on the property must achieve a biodiversity Net Gain of at least 10% on its pre-development status.

The Gateway at PEAK will be an international standard tourist destination providing a basecamp and a gateway into the 550 square mile Peak District National Park.

Like a ski resort the PEAK Resort will be built around a carless mobility service, not in this case to mountains and skiing, but into the Peaks for biking and hiking, for nature, heritage, sport and culture. The commercial village will comprise of experiential retail, locally sourced dining and unique spaces for events, artisan craft and learning experiences.

Gateway @PEAK location

John Milligan, CEO of Peak Gateway Properties and Chairman of Milligan said: “It used to be that an iconic building was one that stood out from its surroundings. The Gateway will be iconic, but we’re setting a new standard for what that means. Here buildings will integrate with their surroundings and work to enhance biodiversity beyond what will be mandated.

“We want to attract a discerning visitor, who cares about the protection of the UK’s original National Park and wants to enjoy the wellbeing benefits that nature and being in the outdoors, for either leisure or sport, can provide. A wide range of experiential retail brands with a unique proposition centred on nature and the outdoors will help create the destination.

“The travel hub is central to the Gateway’s proposition, allowing visitors to transition into electric or hydrogen vehicles for onward exploration of the Park, its stunning landscapes and thousands of activities and attractions. This is a way to expand access to the park and support more destinations in a low impact way. Currently 85% of visitors travel into the Park by car which is not sustainable. Last year we ran the first trial for the travel hub alongside Toyota and other local partners. The technology operated on a 40% regenerative energy basis which is fantastic. The trial stakeholders and users endorsed the urgent requirement for this sort of service – when it’s up and running we hope it will be an exemplar for other hubs around the Park and for other National Parks in the UK to follow.”

Gavin Henderson, Principal Director at Stanton Williams, said: “We are delighted to be working with PEAK Gateway Properties to realise their ambitious vision for this exceptional site. The Gateway will be a unique destination designed as a cohesive group of buildings integrated into the landscape. The scheme embraces the principles of the circular economy and uses highly sustainable, durable materials including local stone and timber. As well as regenerating a former open-cast mine, it supports natural ecosystems through habitat protection and enhancement, while connecting people with nature and encouraging active and low-carbon travel to and within the Peak District.”

Rupert Carr, a founder shareholder in Birchall Properties, the landowner, and a director of PEAK Gateway Properties said; “The planning consents for PEAK Gateway Resort were implemented and safeguarded in 2016. We are very pleased to be moving forward again after surviving the challenges of Brexit and COVID.

“The realisation of Gateway fulfils our long-held ambition to showcase regenerative enterprise through land reclamation, a low carbon build and significant local employment creation.

“It is particularly pleasing to be a first mover in respect of offering tourists a zero carbon, carless mobility service to the attractions and landscapes of the UK’s first national park and to the medieval market town of Chesterfield.”

The Gateway’s zero carbon mobility service and its related infrastructure are critical to the delivery of this £300m investment programme into the visitor economy. The intention is to emulate the success of an international ski resort by providing hospitality and mobility from the outside of a national park. The Gateway, phase one of the PEAK Gateway Resort, represents a £150m capital investment and over 1,000 jobs, secured through a ‘green economy’ skills academy.

Section 73 and Reserved Matters Applications relating to the consented planning approvals will be submitted to Chesterfield Borough Council early Autumn.

Birchall Properties supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

The Gateway @PEAK Bird's Eye View

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Landmark figure reached as 10,000 complete lifesaving course

A Chesterfield community organisation is celebrating a significant milestone, after helping to train 10,000 people in life-saving skills.

Seven years ago, CSALS organised a first aid lesson on the pitch at Chesterfield FC’s stadium which saw 1,795 people taking part, setting a Guinness World Record.

In 2018, a free ‘Prepared to Save a Life’ online course was launched at Westminster, in partnership with Virtual College.

Those who take the course, which takes around an hour to complete, are provided with the knowledge to save a life.

To mark the number of people completing the course has passed the 10,000-mark, guests gathered at Chesterfield’s SMH Group Stadium for a celebration event.

Trustees and representative of CSALS were joined by the Mayoress of Chesterfield and a host of other guests including former England footballer Tony Currie and veteran entertainer Bernie Clifton.

Dr Cheryle Berry MBE, chair of CSALS, said: “We were delighted to have reached five figures and it was fitting to mark the occasion at the home of the Spireites, having set the world record there.

“It is wonderful to think that we could fill the stadium with the number of people who have completed the Prepared to Save a Life course.”

Debra Johnson, CSALS’ community facilitator, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who attended the event, together with all the companies who support our activities, including Motan Colortronic and Technique Learning Solutions.”

Mayoress of Chesterfield, Councillor Suzie Perkins, added: “I was delighted to attend the event, where I took the opportunity to find out more about the tremendous work being done by CSALS.

“Learning how to administer first aid is vitally important and I would urge people to do the online course.

“I would like to congratulate everyone involved with the charity for reaching the landmark and wish them every success in the future!”

CSALS  supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

CSALS

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Events to celebrate 100 years of entertainment at the Winding Wheel Theatre

A series of events and activities are planned to celebrate a century of entertainment at the Winding Wheel Theatre in September.

On Sunday 10 September from 7pm there will be a Centenary Gala Concert to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the building opening. This will feature performances from nine different local theatre schools, performing arts groups and theatre companies, and will be compered by Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist impressionist Tony Rudd, with a special guest appearance from comedy legend Bernie Clifton who lives locally.

From 11 September to 15 September there will be cinema screenings showing a film from each decade over the last 100 years to celebrate A Century of Cinema, since the building opened. These were selected through a public vote in June. Classic films being shown are Metropolis, The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, The Bridge On The River Kwai, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, The Godfather, Chariots of Fire, The Full Monty, Bridget Jones’ Diary and Paddington.

There will also be a free exhibition with objects and photos telling the story of the last 100 years and exclusive tours of the building including the backstage areas.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The Winding Wheel Theatre has a rich history in our town and residents of all ages will have fantastic memories of performances they have seen at the venue over the years. We’ve made sure there is something for everyone to enjoy and join in the centenary celebrations.”

Originally built in 1923 for the Chesterfield Picture House Company it was intended to be the most luxurious destination in the town. As well as a cinema the building also housed an elegant ballroom and silver service restaurant.

In 1937 it was renamed as the Odeon but maintained the lavish interiors. In the 1970s the Ballroom was used as a well-known disco venue.

The cinema closed in 1981 before being taken over by Chesterfield Borough Council and reopening as an entertainment venue in 1987. Since then, it has hosted live music, conferences, theatre productions and cinema screenings.

In March 2023 Chesterfield Civic Society installed a Blue Plaque on the Grade II listed building to mark its historical importance in the town.

Tickets for the Centenary Gala Concert are £19.20 and confirmed performers include Academy of Dance, Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra, Chesterfield Operatic Society, Chesterfield Studios, Diana Bradbury Theatre Dance School, Directions Theatre Arts, Gekkota Arts, Rumpus Theatre Company and Wise Owl Theatre Company.

Cinema performances are £5.20 per ticket but visitors can also book tickets for all centenary films for just £20.20. Tours of the building are free but must be pre-booked.

Tickets for the concert, cinema screenings and tours of the building can be booked on the Chesterfield Theatres website: www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/100

Winding-Wheel

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Young professionals in the East Midlands urged to have their say in survey that aims to retain region’s emerging talent

Young professionals in the East Midlands have been invited to take part in a survey as part of a project to enhance their development opportunities.

East Midlands Chamber’s Generation Next network has launched the study to gain a deeper understanding of what young people want to achieve and what support they require to realise aspirations.

The survey results will help it to improve the network, which supports 18 to 35-year-olds working in the region to develop their skills, access mentoring opportunities, broaden their networks and have their achievements recognised through an annual awards programme.

With only about a third of graduates from the region’s six universities remaining in the East Midlands after completing their studies, this will also support Generation Next’s wider mission to retain more young talent in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

East Midlands Chamber director of resources and Generation Next lead Lucy Robinson said: “Graduate retention is one of the major issues holding back our economy from realising its tremendous potential as having a young, skilled workforce can attract businesses to invest here, which creates the jobs and wealth that allows our communities to prosper.

“The insights we will gather from this survey will be crucial in helping the Chamber and employers across our region to address the needs and values of our young workforce, so we can together create opportunities to help them build their futures in the East Midlands.”

The network, which is backed by a governance board of “champions” within its age group, aims to achieve this by creating better business and learning opportunities tailored to the needs of young workers through its skills-based and social events, mentoring scheme and document library.

The survey will also assist by amplifying their voice across the East Midlands Chamber network of more than 4,000 members, giving regional employers an insight into the driving forces behind young people’s early career choices so they can create a better environment for them to live and work.

Findings will be outlined at Generation Next’s inaugural conference in October, which is funded by its newest partner, ITS Technology Group.

Daniel Nikolla, chair of the Generation Next board and marketing manager at Hardy Signs, added: “Launching the survey is one of my key objectives for my term as chair. We want to be the voice of the next generation of business and amplify their messages to the wider business community, and the results from the survey will help us do just that.”

To fill in the Generation Next young professionals’ survey, visit bit.ly/GenNextsurvey

Commerce House

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