The Plastic Free Chesterfield community group are encouraging Chesterfield people to join the Refill Revolution and bring their reusable water bottle, coffee cup or container to fill up on the go, rather than buying a single-use alternative.
With the school holidays, staycations and summer day trips in full swing as lockdown has eased, a new Summer of Refills campaign to help cut down on litter has been unveiled.
In the town, you can refill at more than 20 venues including Bottle & Thyme, Fred’s Haberdashery, The Cheese Factor, Stephensons Tea and Coffee House and Chesterfield High Street Award nominee Steph’s Sustainable Stuff. Plastic Free Chesterfield is highlighting a different business a day on their social media channels.
Simon Davidson, Owner of The Cheese Factor, said: “The Cheese Factor is joining the Summer of Refills campaign so people can start to help the planet by refilling containers not throwing them away!”
Steph Mannion of Steph’s Sustainable Stuff said: “I’m taking part in the Summer of Refills campaign to help the people of Chesterfield reduce their dependence on single-use plastics. Bringing their own containers for food, toiletries and cleaning products can save money and cut down on waste.”
Greg Hewitt, Community Lead of Plastic Free Chesterfield, said: “As the public get back out and about, enjoying their summer holidays, I hope they will choose to reuse and bring a reusable water bottle, coffee cup or container with them. We can all join together to make a difference and reduce single use in our community.”
The list of all Chesterfield businesses taking part can be found here.
Chesterfield-based short-term commercial finance company, Bridge Help, has expanded further with the appointment of David Fielding.
David joins the business as an underwriter bringing nearly 30 years’ experience in the banking sector to his new role. He began his career in banking as a clerk before moving to a customer adviser role and then onto mortgage administration and credit reports, before progressing to a relationship manager position with RBS in 2001.
A self-confessed ‘number cruncher’, David commented: “I like working with maths and numbers and particularly enjoy the analytical side of credit.”
Within the newly created role at Bridge, David will be responsible for preparing the credit reports for the initial assessment of loan applicants with the Bridge Help loans committee.
He added: “I am delighted to join the company. Bridge Help very much has a can-do attitude making it particularly agile within the market. It’s tremendously exciting to part of the company’s growth and decision-making process.”
David, who lives in Rotherham, joins at a time of growth for the business which was established just 18 months ago by former solicitor Chris Sellars who welcomed David to the Bridge Help team. He said: “I am delighted to welcome David onboard. He represents a significant step forward for the business and our plans to grow our market share.
“Despite the challenges presented by Covid-19, loan applications remain strong as people look to invest in the UK commercial property market. Our loan book remains unaffected by the crisis and we are moving ahead with further recruitment in 2020.”
David is one of three new appointments made recently by Bridge Help to push forward the company’s growth ambitions within the bridging finance market. Further recruitment, and also a move to new premises, is planned for later this year.
Bridge Help supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
Ten years ago the country was in the depths of a financial crisis and Chesterfield Borough Council responded with forward-thinking, throwing its weight behind the establishment of the town’s marketing campaign, Destination Chesterfield.
As the then vice chair of Destination Chesterfield and councillor, John Burrows, said: “We could have chosen to bunker down and ride out the recession, but we didn’t. We chose to be proactive and forge ahead with our marketing plans.”
And history, as they say, is repeating itself will the launch of the council’s ambitious Economic Recovery Plan which aims to support and rebuild the town’s economy in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This cannot be the job of the council alone. It has to be a team effort and it is encouraging to see that the council is not alone in its efforts to support the high street’s recovery. As well the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme to support the hospitality sector, locally grown initiatives like the Twist & Save Card scheme, are also encouraging local people to use local shops and services and drive that all important footfall.
There are encouraging signs for the town’s recovery already. Chesterfield’s retail scene is fully re-open and we have even seen a number of new independent shops open since lockdown.
The structural steelwork frame for Chesterfield’s Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre
More encouragingly, during lockdown we saw developments move forward. Construction began on the Innovation Centre at Saltergate and Peak Resort took a step forward with the announcement that the UK’s first fully serviced national park gateway will be opened there.
This lays a very firm foundation for the growth of Chesterfield’s tourism and hospitality sector which will enable us to make the most of the increased popularity of staycations.
This summer, the country as a whole has truly seen the value of a staycation, and Chesterfield’s proximity to the Peak District is delivering immediate benefits to our economy. The opening of the gateway facility at Peak Resort will turbo charge the benefits of having the Peak District on our doorstep.
Out of crisis often comes opportunity and entrepreneurialism. Chesterfield has the raw ingredients to support this – from office and retail space and development land to funding and expert advice. Teamwork is key.
There is no denying that we all have a long road ahead of us in our recovery, but I am confident that Chesterfield will once again respond to the challenge, and the borough will continue to thrive.
The erection of the structural steelwork frame for Chesterfield’s Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre marks a major milestone in the development’s progress.
Work on the site has been progressing safely through the Coronavirus pandemic with work on the foundations beginning in April and now the steelwork is being erected, which means that the new Enterprise Centre is on track to be completed and will be a key contributor to the town’s economic recovery.
Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, who visited the site said: “This is both an exciting and an important development for Chesterfield, and I’m pleased that work is continuing to progress despite the current challenges.”
“This Enterprise Centre is key to ensuring that Chesterfield remains a thriving borough and will create lots of new opportunities for local businesses and people, supporting the sustainability of the town centre.”
The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre is an important development in Chesterfield’s post-Coronavirus economic recovery plans. It is also a key part of the plan to regenerate this key area of the town and to ensure the town continues to thrive.
Robert Woodhead Limited’s Project Manager, Daniel Cove, said: “Our current works on site centre around the installation of the steel frame and are expected to be completed within the next two weeks. This will then allow us to bring back the ground workers, install the lift pit, the underground tanking and the perimeter blockwork to allow for the installation of the ground floor slab. We are also expecting to receive delivery of the pre-cast concrete stair and the composite metal decking at the end of August to allow for the installation of the roof and expect to be watertight by mid-October.
“We are working with local companies on this project, the ground worker we have contracted for the works is DJ Newbury who employ a number of Chesterfield residents. Going forward we hope to engage with local supply chains for a number of trades including dry lining, flooring and painting and decorating.”
Andrew Dabbs, Board Director at Whittam Cox Architects, said: “As a local practice we are delighted to see progress being made on site.”
“The Enterprise Centre is an important part of the Northern Gateway regeneration in Chesterfield, providing a new and unique commercial offer which is designed to be a catalyst for further investment and development.”
As well as providing high quality facilities for businesses wanting to locate in the town centre, the architecture will provide a new contemporary landmark which will enrich the urban fabric of the town. This building is further evidence that Chesterfield can deliver its ambition and realise a building fit for a long and sustainable future.
Scheduled for completion in Spring 2021, the new building will provide 32 high-quality offices in a range of sizes (26 to 120 square metres) over three floors. It offers a shared reception and lobby area, meeting rooms, first floor break out area, bicycle store, shower and changing facilities, air conditioning throughout, lift access, internal bin store, kitchenettes on each floor for use by occupants, individually metered power supplies, access control to all office doors, CCTV coverage to internal communal areas and external area. IT fibre connection into building with maximum speed multi bandwidth and WIFI is provided throughout.
Office space is offered on easy in and out letting terms and tenants at the Enterprise Centre will also benefit from access to a range of other council services and venues, including business support and corporate rates for leisure passes, parking permits and conferencing facilities.
With its town centre location, the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre is easily accessible by car, train, bus and cycle users. It’s situated opposite the new Saltergate multi-story car park and close to all major bus routes and Chesterfield Train station.
The building has been designed to have sustainability principles at its heart, minimising its impact on the environment and achieving considerable efficiencies in energy use.
The new centre is an important addition to Chesterfield Borough Council’s commercial property portfolio and will hopefully be a key component in Chesterfield’s post COVID 19 recovery.
The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre project has benefited from grant funding support from the Sheffield City Region Investment Fund.
The Government has announced a support package of £20 million specifically aimed at SMEs to help them recover from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.
It comes on top of an unprecedented package of Government support to help businesses to recover. The support will be fully funded by the government from the England European Regional Development Fund and distributed through local Growth Hubs.
The funding will come in the form of a grant from between £1,000 – £5,000 which can be used to support one or a combination of the following activities:
Access to technology or new equipment in order to get back on track or diversify
Access to professional advice such as HR, legal or financial to aid business decision making and risk management
Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, Simon Clarke MP, said: “Businesses will be able to use these new grants to pay for the expertise, equipment and technology they need to adapt, recover and rebuild.”
“Small and medium sized businesses are the beating heart of communities; they provide employment and contribute significantly to local economies and we are determined to give them the support they need to continue to thrive.”
The D2N2 Growth Hub is currently working hard to finalise the application process for these grants and will provide further information on the eligibility criteria as soon as it’s available. EU procurement regulations will apply to this funding.
Chris Pook, D2N2 Growth Hub Manager, said: “These additional grants are welcome news to support some of our local businesses to recover from the impacts of the Covid pandemic. Whilst there is a finite amount of funding to give out, the scheme will help businesses to become more resilient for the future by allowing them to source external advice or implement new technology to diversify their operation in response to COVID 19.”
The expectation is for the scheme to be available at the end of August. If you would like this information when it is published please click here and complete the form.
The University of Derby Business School is working with the Small Business Charter to deliver a specialised government funded programme for leaders of small businesses to survive and thrive in the coming months.
This new scheme comes as part of a £20million package the government is providing to help small businesses in the long term.
To aid business resilience and future growth in the current climate, the Small Business Leadership Programme will create peer groups to develop stronger leadership, innovation, operational efficiency, marketing and finance.
Derby Business School was accredited by the Small Business Charter (SBC) in January 2020, a national accreditation awarded by small businesses to business schools who excel in supporting SMEs and the local economy.
Coronavirus has put untold pressure on directors and CEOs of small companies trying to navigate unchartered waters.
The government has made up to £30 billion available to support economic recovery ahead of the Autumn and businesses can continue to draw upon a range of financial support during this challenging time, including loans, tax deferrals and cash grants. The SBLP will help businesses to bounce back from the impact of coronavirus and prepare for any future disruption.
Speaking about the Small Business Leadership Programme, Professor Kamil Omoteso, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean of the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences at the University of Derby, said: “I am delighted that the University of Derby is working with the Small Business Leadership Programme to aid economic recovery and support small businesses affected by Covid-19.
“Across the region we have a high number of sectors affected by the pandemic and we are working closely with the city and the county to tackle its impact. Our aim is to support the re-skilling of people post-Covid, help businesses access our large talent pool of students and graduates, and share our expertise and funding to take the knowledge created within the University and embed it in businesses, partnerships and other organisations to help them innovate and grow.”
The practical syllabus provides business leaders with access to small business and management experts from Derby Business School. The Small Business Leadership Programme is free and fully funded by the Government to enhance small business resilience and recovery from the impact of COVID-19 and develop potential for future growth and productivity.
The short and focused programme will be delivered online through a structured course of eight 90-minute webinars over the course of 10 weeks and will provide the knowledge needed for businesses to tackle crisis situations. It will also give businesses the opportunity to strengthen their business network. Participants will develop strategic leadership skills and the confidence to make informed decisions to boost business performance.
Anne Kiem OBE, CEO of the Chartered Association of Business Schools and Executive Director of the Small Business Charter, said: “As we continue to grapple with the Coronavirus crisis it is also essential we look long term to ensure small businesses are supported to build resilience, survival and growth. Business schools can provide the expertise and knowledge all business owners and directors need to continue to thrive in uncertain times.”
Small Business Minister, Paul Scully, said: “The strength of small businesses up and down the country will be vital as we begin to bounce back from coronavirus and re-build our economy. The Small Business Leadership Programme will help to equip small business leaders with the leadership and problem-solving skills they need to grow their firms in the wake of this pandemic.”
The University of Derby supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
Award-winning sustainability expert Lubna Edwards has joined Chesterfield-based Robinson Plc, custom manufacturer of plastic and paperboard packaging, as their Group Sustainability and Marketing Director.
Lubna will be building on the company’s heritage and strong commitment to sustainability and launching a range of new initiatives as the 180-year-old business rebrands in the autumn.
With over twenty years’ experience in sustainability leadership, Lubna is excited to become a part of the successful company, which announced their latest significant operational investments and 5% year-on-year sales growth, despite challenging market conditions.
Lubna’s appointment follows that of Dr Helene Roberts as the new Chief Executive of Robinson plc, both previously having worked at leading global packaging manufacturers Klöckner Pentaplast and Sealed Air.
Dr Helene says: “We are absolutely delighted to have Lubna on our leadership team. Lubna is a force for change in the plastics industry – a champion of sustainability and the voice of reason at a time when misconceptions about plastics and the packaging industry are prevailing. Tirelessly working to make people more aware of the benefits of plastic in a sustainable world, Lubna is also now in demand globally as a leader for change and engagement in an environmentally and socially compassionate way, while meeting market needs”.
Lubna has appeared on both national and regional television aiming to debunk the many misconceptions around the industry, explaining the benefits of plastics, a unique valuable material that should be managed and disposed of responsibly, collected, sorted and recycled. She is determined to support the development of a circular economy and prevent leakage of plastics into our marine and land environment.
Lubna, who will be developing a new dynamic sustainability strategy on her arrival, is thrilled about her new role. She says: “I am elated to be working with an organisation that has such a remarkable history and heritage, helping to embed sustainability at the heart of everything we do. I am passionate about packaging, in particular closed loop plastic packaging which can, if we all take a joined-up approach, drive transformational change and create a better, circular future for plastic, while remaining high performing and fully functional”.
Aside from media appearances, Lubna lobbied for change, working with industry and governmental organisations on single-use plastics with the European Commission and HM Treasury.
Lubna is trustee member of RECOUP, and has been Board member of RECOUP, INCPEN, BPF, EUPC, UK Plastics Pact, and chaired the EUPC PET Sheet association. She also extended her efforts into the community for example as a Starpack awards sponsor for educational institutes focussed on packaging design, and collaborating with schools as part of WRAP’s Fresher for Longer engagement campaign.
Robinson PLC supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
Tens of thousands of new homes and other vital infrastructure projects were given the green light with nearly £1.3 billion of investment confirmed today (4 August 2020) by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick. These plans include a centre of excellence for modern construction techniques and digital technology in Chesterfield.
The new Digital learning centre in the existing Chesterfield College facilities will look to target provision of modern construction techniques like Augmented/Virtual reality as well as Building Information Modelling.
The centre will provide new space for a centre of excellence and will deliver new learners to Chesterfield and the surrounding areas with higher level skills to aid regional construction and manufacturing businesses.
The move is part of the government’s comprehensive plan to deliver upgrades to local infrastructure and boost skills to help fuel a green economic recovery.
Over 300 successful projects in England are being told they will receive a share of the £900 million Getting Building Fund, which was announced by the Prime Minister in June, to invest in shovel-ready housing and infrastructure projects, creating jobs and supporting economic recovery across the country.
As part of that announcement, £44.4million was awarded for projects within the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire.
The investment is expected to deliver up to 45,000 homes, create up to 85,000 jobs and reduce around 65 million kgs of CO2 emissions across England.
In D2N2, the funded projects are expected to deliver wide-ranging support and diversification of the local economy and will assist nationally important industries including manufacturing and aerospace.
Amongst the portfolio of funded projects, there is also a strong focus on research and development in modern construction techniques, food manufacturing, electrification of flight and low-carbon technologies.
There is a key focus on job opportunities, including in the health sector where there is strong demand.
Sustainability runs through the programme along with encouraging diversification of the town and city offer; unlocking housing and associated infrastructure to support them as thriving centres.
Projects receiving funding within D2N2 include:
A centre of excellence for modern construction techniques and digital technology in Chesterfield
A spine road to unlock further phases of development at Berry Hill in Mansfield and includes community facilities
The new Bridge Court Health Education campus in Worksop which will provide further education opportunities in the health and digital sectors
The UK Electrification of Aerospace Propulsion Facility at the University of Nottingham
A Digital Turbine Centre in Worksop which will establish 5G Hub and act as a catalyst for skills and innovation development
The Manufacturing Research Centre based on Infinity Park in Derby
Key infrastructure developments designed to unlock the development of the former Drakelow power station in South Derbyshire
Smartparc, a food innovation park built on a 140-acre brownfield site near Derby
The renovation and repurposing of municipal buildings in Glossop, turning them into incubation units for business start-ups
Further investment into the Southside project in Nottingham to remove blight through the demolition of a derelict shopping centre.
All project funding is subject to the delivery of a full business case which will be considered by the D2N2 Investment and main Boards.
Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “As we get Britain building we are also laying the foundations for a green economic recovery by investing in vital infrastructure for local communities, creating jobs and building environmentally-friendly homes with a huge £1.3 billion investment announced today.”
“This government is determined to level up all parts of the country and this funding will not only give a much-needed boost to our economic recovery, it will help build the good quality, affordable homes the country needs.”
David Williams, Interim chair of D2N2 said: “We very much welcome the announcement by the government. This will provide a major stimulus for our communities across the region.
“We believe the size of the allocation demonstrates a belief in what the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership can deliver and a testament to the collaborative working between the LEP and its partners.
“As we reshape our Local Industrial Strategy to reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic it’s essential we remain flexible to support our communities, that we adapt to new opportunities, and build an economy that it is more resilient in the long term.”
“We will continue to work with the government on future funding for investments to support our ambitions for the region.”
Chesterfield Borough Council is investing £7.1m to undertake significant modernisation programmes to homes in Staveley as part of its continued commitment to deliver excellent quality homes that meet the needs of the local people.
As part of the modernisation programmes, homes at Pullman Close, Mallard Court, Leander Court and Aston Court in Staveley will benefit from extensive internal and external improvements.
Homes at Pullman Close will benefit from having new doors and windows installed that will help create a fresh and modernised look, as well as providing tenants with more secure homes and additional environmental benefits.
The refurbishment plans for Mallard Court and Leander Court will allow the council to provide affordable, modern and attractive housing for older people in Staveley. Each home will benefit from a newly renovated kitchen and lounge area. Each bathroom will be converted into a wet room with a level access shower. The communal areas and outdoor spaces will also be restored, creating brighter open spaces for residents to get together, socialise and combat loneliness.
Proposed refurbishment at Aston Court will see high quality homes delivered for people in the areas and also includes plans to build an additional four new town houses, increasing the supply of council homes in Staveley.
The council’s main contractor, Fortem Solutions Ltd. started on site at Pullman Close in mid-June 2020 and are making good progress.
The designs for Mallard Court and Leander Court are almost complete and Fortem Solutions Ltd. are expected to start the modernisation programme in early Autumn 2020. The council is also currently in consultation with residents to ensure the individual needs of each resident can be met and permanent or temporary moves can be provided while the works are completed.
Councillor Chris Ludlow, cabinet member for housing, said: “The council is committed to improving the quality of life for local people and we can help achieve this by investing in our housing stock to ensure that we maintain a supply of affordable, modern and attractive homes for every stage of life.
“A key part of our housing strategy is to make sure that our homes are of excellent quality and create a modern and desirable environment. This project will help us ensure that homes in Staveley meet the expectations of our residents with regard to accessibility, affordable warmth and security.
“We are really looking forward to seeing the modernisation works progress at Staveley as we aim to improve the local housing offer in the area and create an attractive place for people to choose to live, regardless of their age or housing needs.”
Derbyshire Distillery’s gins have picked up a hat trick of awards at the London Spirits Competition.
Three of the Chesterfield based distillery’s gins were awarded silver and bronze medals, an impressive result for a company that has been distilling for just over two years.
Chesterfield Dry, the company’s first gin, and their premium gin, Derbyshire Master Blend, were awarded silver medals, with Chesterfield Mojito taking bronze.
The judging panel comprised spirits industry experts, with commercial buying responsibility, which ensured that all spirits selected as winners in the competition were exactly the types of spirits that are favoured by both the spirits trade and the end consumer. The London Spirits Competition awards panel considered three main elements of each spirit, quality, value and packaging to come to their final decision.
Commenting on the company’s success at the competition, head distiller David Hemstock said: “We are delighted that our gins have again been recognised by an independent judging panel, which this time were evaluating a wide range of spirits from around the world.”
“From day one we have enjoyed positive feedback from our customers, but to win these latest awards endorses our hard work and reinforces our commitment to producing consistently smooth, drinkable gins.”
Derbyshire Distillery was established in 2018 with a simple aim: to produce fantastic gins, vodkas and liqueurs using the best local and international ingredients and fresh, cool Derbyshire water.
At its meeting on 15 July 2020, Chesterfield Borough Council formally adopted the Chesterfield Borough Local Plan for the period through 2035.
The Local Plan addresses identified development needs and maps out future housing, industrial, commercial and leisure land allocations within Chesterfield borough.
Councillor Terry Gilby, cabinet member for economic growth who has overseen the development of the Local Plan, said: “The Local Plan is a very important document that sets the framework for how the council and its stakeholders would wish to see development take place in Chesterfield borough over the next 15 years.
“It is critical guide for our conversations with potential developers and investors and informs the decision-making process in respect of all planning applications.
“My only disappointment is that the Planning Inspector has asked us to ease our requirements with regard the pioneering percentage for art scheme that I championed in 1992, however we will continue to encourage developers to commit to the scheme.”
The Local Plan identifies a need for at least 240 new homes to be built each year through 2035. New developments of more than 10 properties will be required to ensure a percentage of the housing on offer is affordable. There is also a requirement for more accessible housing in order to help meet the diverse needs of our community including older people and people with disabilities.
The Local Plan will be used by the council’s Planning Committee when determining planning applications for new developments and will require councilors to consider the importance of green spaces, traffic impact, sustainability measures and other local infrastructure requirements.
The retail focus will remain Chesterfield Town Centre but the Local Plan also seeks to concentrate new development within walking or cycling distance of district shopping centres such as Staveley, Hasland and Whittington Moor. Fifty hectares of land has also been allocated for new commercial and industrial developments to grow job numbers and help strengthen the local economy.
A public examination into the Local Plan was held between October and November last year to provide an opportunity for supporters and objectors to make their case before independent Government inspectors
Following this, the council undertook further consultation on a number of proposed modifications to the Local Plan to address issues raised at the public examination, many by the inspectors themselves.
The inspector’s final report was received in May 2020. This recommended that all the proposed modifications be adopted and incorporated within the final version of the Local Plan.
It is a requirement that the Local Plan is re-evaluated every five years and the council will next update the plan in 2025.
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