Business

Green + Benz scoop coveted Chesterfield Retailer of the Year title

26th May 2016

Four retailers retain titles in 2016 awards

Only six months after opening its new flagship store, Green + Benz has scooped the coveted title of Retailer of the Year, Sponsored by East Midlands Chamber at the 2016 Chesterfield Retail Awards.

Green + Benz was among 14 Chesterfield retailers to scoop one of 18 prestigious awards, which are organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with The Chesterfield College Group.

The awards which returned for the third year running were the biggest yet and saw four retailers – Adorn Jewellers, R P Davidson Cheese Factor, Libby’s and Debenhams, retain their 2015 titles.

As well as Retailer of the Year, Green + Benz also took the title of Best New Store following the relocation of its Chesterfield store on Glumangate to 120sqm of premium retail space on South Street in December last year.

The increased space means Green + Benz can accommodate an open shop floor, a private viewing room and a workshop for bespoke commissions. Inside, the store boasts luxurious leather and velvet upholstery, glittering chandeliers and individual branded display bays which are framed by polished chrome edge details and numerous mirrors, which all adds to the overall sense of glamour of the store. Figures for Green + Benz showed a 68% overall growth in prior year sales results in December 2015 following the opening of the new store.

Manager of the Chesterfield store, Abi Noakes was presented with both awards at the sell-out award ceremony, which was held at the town’s Winding Wheel venue and hosted by Peak FM breakfast show presenters Cat and Stu.

Abi said: “We’re so overwhelmed and very proud and happy to receive the awards. It means so much that the awards have come from Chesterfield and everybody in Chesterfield. We really try and strive to make our clients ultra-happy and give them the best service that we can.”

Peter Swallow, Chairman of Destination Chesterfield said: “Once again the retail awards were a huge success and highlighted how strong Chesterfield’s retail scene is. The town has an excellent mix of independent and high street retailers as well as an historic market and a key reason why so many people, locally and nationally, visit each year. It’s a winning mix that consistently sees Chesterfield buck the trend for shop vacancy rates, contributing significantly to our growing economy.”

Discover all the winners of the 2016 Chesterfield Retail Awards

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield

Sheffield City Region secures funding for sustainable transport

25th May 2016

Sheffield City Region has been successful in its bid to the Department for Transport to continue with a programme of activity to make travelling to work better for businesses and employees.

The Local Sustainable Transport Fund is aligned to the Sheffield City Region Growth Plan, which aims to create 70,000 and jobs and create 6,000 new businesses over the next decade. The fund covers a range of projects which aim to realise the economic potential of sustainable travel, make cycling easier and safer, and support businesses to increase productivity and efficiency. Projects including loans for electric bikes, cycle training and a programme to make HGVs, buses, coaches and vans more fuel efficient.

Councillor Julie Dore, Transport lead for the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, said: “The news that Sheffield City Region has secured £2.5m of revenue funding from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund is very welcome. It will help us sustain a number of successful, locally developed schemes that encourage sustainable travel, and will provide a platform for more substantial bids later in the year.”

Martin McKervey, Sheffield City Region LEP Board member, said: “This investment by Government in sustainable transport in Sheffield City Region is excellent news. As a LEP we are committed to bringing together the public and private sectors to make it even easier to do business in the City Region. Connectivity is key to this and this additional funding will enable us to continue on our journey to build a better connected economy which supports businesses to grow and creates job opportunities for residents.”

The funding for Sheffield City Region Combined Authority is part of £20.6m that is being given out nationally for 23 sustainable travel initiatives across England that boost local economies by supporting people’s ambitions – offering cheap, clean and healthy travel options to access jobs and education opportunities.

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill said: “Green transport cuts congestion and improves air quality. It also offers the cheapest and healthiest way for people to access jobs and education.

“Sheffield’s green travel scheme will make a real difference for residents and help provide better air quality for everyone. Our £21m funding across England shows we are committed to improving lives through investment in sustainable transport.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Chesterfield entrepreneurs urged to kick start their business ideas

24th May 2016

Budding entrepreneurs from Chesterfield looking to be the next Sir Alan Sugar or Dragon’s Den multi-millionaire are being urged to take advantage of help to kick-start their business ideas.

A free support service, called Launchpad, has been established by Sheffield City Region’s Growth Hub as part of the package of support being offered to Chesterfield businesses through membership of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority.

The free help is aimed at encouraging more budding entrepreneurs to set up and run successful new businesses. The aim is to create hundreds of new businesses across the Sheffield City Region, of which Chesterfield is a part, over the next three years.

Available help includes:

Guidance and advice from start-up business advisers
Workshops and seminars on issues facing new start-up businesses
One-to-one coaching and mentoring services from successful business leaders and entrepreneurs

Councillor John Burrows, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “One of the reasons why we are seeking full membership of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority is that it can deliver projects like this straight away to the benefit of Chesterfield’s new businesses and entrepreneurs.

“Chesterfield has a lower number of entrepreneurs setting up new businesses than the national average and we are keen to do everything possible to change that as successful businesses bring more jobs to the town, with the knock-on benefits that come from that for the families of the people employed.

“One of the hardest things as an entrepreneur is taking that initial gem of an idea and turning it in to something that makes a viable and successful business.

“Many great ideas have fallen by the wayside because the entrepreneurs behind them didn’t have the support and knowledge of how to sell their product or service.

“I would urge anyone thinking about setting up a business, or in the early days of doing so, to get in touch with the Launchpad programme and get the free support on offer.”

More information is available by ringing 03330 00 00 39, emailing growthhub@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk or visiting www.scrgrowthhub.co.uk/services/start-up/

The £4 million programme is being delivered through the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Growth Hub, launched by the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership last month, and involves a consortium of local authorities, and the Princes Trust.

The initiative is backed financially by the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority and has attracted £2,359,613 investment from the European Regional Development Fund.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Ringwood Hall Hotel named best wedding venue

24th May 2016

Ringwood Hall Hotel in Brimington was named Best Venue in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire at the I Do Magazine Wedding Awards this month.

Shortlisted alongside four local venues (Bentley Brook in Ashbourne, Hotel Van Dyk in Clowne, The Maynard in Grindleford and Best Western in Retford), Ringwood Hall Hotel scooped the accolade at a ceremony held at Sheffield City Hall on Tuesday 17th May.

Votes for the category were cast by bridal couples who had used the services of wedding suppliers and held their wedding receptions at participating venues.

A spokesperson for Ringwood Hall Hotel said “We are absolutely delighted and thrilled to have won this award. We have an exceptional wedding team, and our beautiful Georgian grade 11 listed Manor House with its six acres of award winning formal gardens and 23 acres of parklands, is the perfect location for bridal couples to enjoy their special day.

“What makes this award even more special is that the votes were cast by bridal couples who had held their wedding day at Ringwood Hall, and to have so many happy and satisfied brides is a testament to the service we provide in the planning towards the wedding day, and the operation of the wedding day itself.

Ringwood Hall Hotel is a unique and quirky venue that provides an exceptional wedding experience for our bridal couples, and I think the I Do Magazine Award is clear evidence of this.”

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

£10.1m innovation boost from D2N2 LEP

24th May 2016

Hundreds of small and medium-sized companies could receive help to innovate and grow with the aid of £10.1m of funding through the local enterprise partnership for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire (D2N2 LEP).

A major project, ‘Enabling Innovation’ will be part-financed by funds via D2N2 over three years and will cost £20.3m in total.

D2N2 LEP will provide £10.1m of the funding through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) portion of its allocation of €251m in European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). The University of Derby, University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University will deliver the project and also co-invest in it.

The D2N2 LEP area universities will look to help more than 2,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the two counties (over three years) to invest in research and innovation to make them more competitive, enabling them to grow and create high skill jobs.

They will do this by providing SMEs with:-

• access to specialist university technology centres including in advanced manufacturing, food science, materials analysis and advanced imaging;
• access to a range of expertise, for example in linguistics, sustainability and marketing;
• help on business projects from university students, guided by senior academics;
• business development workshops on themes such as leadership and management, finance, customer engagement and brand development;
• networking and knowledge exchange workshops and events.

Universities’ students, graduates and academics will also be encouraged to set-up their own knowledge-based SMEs.

D2N2’s Growth Hub team will be supporting those delivering the project, by helping them engage with SMEs. The Growth Hub supports new and established SMEs with help in business strategy and growth, marketing, networking and accessing funding for expansion; using its regional and national business networks to enable businesses to find the right help.

The Growth Hub can be contacted about the Enabling Innovation project on 0333 006 9178 or by email to info@d2n2growthhub.co.uk

Peter Richardson, Chairman of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The £10.1million announced today via the D2N2 LEP will help hundreds of SMEs access expert help, to innovate and grow their business; creating jobs in our key economic sectors including food and drink manufacturing, life sciences and transport equipment manufacturing.

“This is a significant boost towards the LEP achieving its over-arching target of helping create 55,000 additional private sector jobs over ten years and growing the number of businesses. Our area holds academic and industry know-how operating at an international level, and through these schemes SMEs will have access to that.”

Dr George Baxter, Director of Research, Enterprise and Graduate Services at the University of Nottingham, added: “Small businesses right across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire will be able to benefit from ‘Enabling Innovation’ and tap into the expertise offered by three universities.

“This wide-reaching programme really has the potential to enable local businesses to make a step change in the way they work, giving them a competitive advantage in their marketplace, and helping them to grow and create new jobs.”

Posted in Business

Celebrity host of 2016 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards confirmed

24th May 2016

Professional cake designer to the stars, Mich Turner MBE, has been confirmed as the celebrity host of this year’s Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards.

Founder and director of London-based Little Venice Cake Company, Mich has created cakes for Her Majesty the Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Gordon Ramsay, David Beckham and Pierce Brosnan. Her bespoke cakes start from £2500.

As well as her high profile cakes that have been featured in films, Mich has also presented and judged Britain’s Best Bakery, one of the top five performing daytime TV shows on ITV, as well as her own Mich Turner’s Couture Cakes for Sky. In addition to her TV credits, Mich also has five international best-selling books to her name.

Delighted to be hosting the 2016 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards Mich Turner said: “I am a firm believer in using quality ingredients whether you’re creating indulgent cakes or a memorable meal. A cake, like any food or drink, should be a feast for the eyes and a memory for the palate.

“Chesterfield has a thriving food and drink sector we all have our own personal favourites. It will be wonderful to see so many businesses and individuals within the sector recognised at the awards.”

Mich will be announcing the winners of 13 awards at a glittering award ceremony which will, once again, be held in Chesterfield College’s Heart Space building. The popular awards return for the fourth year running and are organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with Chesterfield College.

The winners of the Chesterfield Food and Drink awards are decided following a public nomination. People can nominate cafes, bars, restaurants, pubs and food producers online across 10 categories in the awards until midnight on Monday 13 June at www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards

The 10 categories in which you can nominate in the 2016 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards include:

Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council
Café/Tea Room of the Year – sponsored by Kier
Gastro Pub of the Year – sponsored by arvato
Pub / Bar of the Year – sponsored by Custom Solar
Best Newcomer – sponsored by BHP Accountants
Best Customer Service – sponsored by East Midlands Chamber
Best Out of Town (within 10 miles of Chesterfield) – presented by Chesterfield College
Chesterfield Food Producer – sponsored by Casa Hotel
International Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by MSE Hiller
Family Friendly Award – sponsored by Jumble Design

Other supporters of the awards include the Derbyshire Times, Peak FM, Holdsworth Foods, Banner Jones, the Crooked Spire Church, Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, Central Technology Ltd, ra Information Systems, Black Eyed Susan and Reflections.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Visiting

Spireites appoint new catering and events manager

23rd May 2016

Peter Clarke has been appointed as the new catering and events manager at Chesterfield FC’s Proact Stadium.

Clarke, 49, joins the Spireites from A&S Leisure to strengthen the award-winning catering & banqueting department.

He started his career at Owlerton Stadium in 1984 after completing a business studies course at college before leaving in 1997 to take up the role of assistant general manager at one of Sheffield’s premier nightclubs, Josephine’s (also owned by A&S Leisure at the time).

After a couple of years he moved on to the Pinegrove Country Club as general manager. In 2003, Clarke joined Out of Town Leisure Group as general manager and managed a varied range of businesses including sports bars and restaurants, some of them in Meadowhall.

Clarke, who returned to Owlerton Stadium in 2009 as assistant general manager, is thrilled to have been presented with the challenge that awaits him. He said: “I am obviously aware of the high standards that the chairman expects and I want to ensure that the Proact Stadium remains the number one venue in North Derbyshire. I understand that I am going to be working with an excellent team of staff, some of whom I have met in the past.”

Chesterfield director Ashley Carson said: “I was delighted when Peter applied for the job. He is very highly regarded by A&S Leisure and I know that they will really miss him. It was vital for us to appoint someone who has the experience of dealing with both large numbers and small numbers of customers.”

Clarke will take up his new role at the beginning of June.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Leisure

Proact hosts world’s largest first aid lesson

23rd May 2016

A new world record for the largest first aid lesson was set at the Proact Stadium on Friday 20th May when 1,795 people learned essential lifesaving skills.

The event was organised by the Community Save a Life Scheme and Bolsover District Council, with support from Chesterfield FC, the British Heart Foundation, Rotary International and Inner Wheel.

Children from a number of local schools were joined on the pitch by residents of the town to beat the previous record figure of 1,700, set in Abu Dhabi three years ago.

The participants watched videos demonstrating key lifesaving skills before carrying out their newly-learned first aid methods on the pitch to hone them.

Dr Cheryle Berry, one of the organisers, expressed her delight at the achievement. She said: ”This is a dream come true for all of us and I’m particularly proud of all the children. It was like waiting for your exam results all over again and my knees were trembling as we waited for the numbers to be announced!

“As soon as the numbers were said there was huge euphoria and pride, because this will mean a lot. We wanted to give the football club a lovely birthday present for their 150th year.

“We also wanted to give Chesterfield a boost because it’s a town that deserves to be put on the map and we feel that in our little way we’ve done that.”

The attempt was overseen and verified by Glenn Pollard – an official Guinness World Records adjudicator – who gave his observations after confirming that a new record had been set.

He said: “I had been working with the organisation team leading up to the event and explaining what I would be looking for. Right from the very start, I got a real sense of the organisation that had gone into it.

“I was overwhelmed by the organisation and the hard work and I have to say that it is one of the best organised events I have been to.

“This is about a Guinness World Records title, but it’s also about training people in first aid. If one person is able to save a life on the street as a result of what they have learned, then it’s been worth it. The certificate is the icing on the cake for what they’ve achieved.”

Images courtesy of Tina Jenner.

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

NLT Training Services achieves UK first

20th May 2016

Chesterfield Champion NLT Training Services has become the first training provider in the country to achieve the new matrix+ accreditation.

NLT, which provides apprenticeship training to young people throughout the region, was selected to be involved in the pilot of the brand new Government matrix+ standard earlier this year.

The new advanced standard is an extension of matrix, a unique quality standard for organisations to assess and measure their advice and support services, which ultimately supports individuals in their choice of career, learning, work and life goals.

The higher level matrix+ quality standard has been introduced to meet demand from existing holders of the matrix standard who want to challenge themselves in the business critical areas of strategic positioning, leadership principles and people engagement.

NLT’s Chesterfield office, based on Station Road in Brimington, underwent the rigorous inspection at the end of last year and was successfully awarded the prestigious standard in April.

The government accreditation recognises excellence in leadership and management in training organisations that are funded by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA).

Following the successful attainment of Matrix+, the standard is now being rolled out to training organisations across the UK.

Delighted to be the first in the country to receive the advanced accreditation, Andy Sheppard, Chief Executive of NLT Training Services said: “We train, advise and support hundreds of young people every year so for our services to be recognised as exemplar is a wonderful achievement. I am very proud that NLT is the first in the country to achieve the matrix+ accolade. It is testament to our great team that we are leading in our field.”

Paul Bridle, Chairman of Assessment Services Ltd which is the sole provider for the matrix Standard, said: “We are delighted that NTL undertook the Matrix+ and congratulate them on their success. Organisations like NLT understand that ongoing success and improvement requires constantly challenging yourself. By embracing the matrix+ approach they have demonstrated their desire and commitment to discover the best of who they can be.”

NLT Training Services, which was established more than 40 years ago, has offices in both Chesterfield and Scunthorpe. It is renowned in the industry for delivering specialist engineering and manufacturing training as well as apprenticeships in business skills.

Posted in Business, Celebrate Chesterfield

Nominations open early for Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards

19th May 2016

With the lighter nights and warmer weather now upon us, people are being urged to nominate their favourite restaurants, food producers, bars, cafes, pubs and tearooms in the 2016 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards.

Organised by Destination Chesterfield, the nominations have been opened earlier than usual to capitalise on the town’s recent warm weather, which is helping draw people into bars, restaurants and cafés in and around the town.

People can nominate eateries, hostelries and food producers based in Chesterfield as well as 10 miles out of town. Nominations are open now and can be made online across 10 categories in the popular awards, which return for the fourth year running. Nominations close at midnight on Monday 13 June 2016.

Everyone who nominates in the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards will be entered into a free prize draw for two tickets to the glittering awards ceremony later this year, which will be hosted by founder of Little Venice Cake Company, Mich Turner MBE.

Dominic Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager is now urging people to get nominating. He said: “This year we have brought the nominations forward to make the most of summer socialising – whether it’s a tasty meal or buzzing beer garden, or something special produced locally for your barbecue or picnic, we want to know.

“The success of the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards is all down to the general public and they haven’t let us down yet. Each year we get more and more nominations proving that we’re a town that appreciates good food and customer service. I hope people will get behind us once again and vote and help make the 2016 awards the best yet.”

Headline sponsor Chesterfield College, is once again hosting the glittering awards ceremony at its Heart Space Building. Its catering students will not only serve and prepare the two-course a la carte menu to more than 250 guests, but will also compete for the coveted Young Chef of the Year title in the awards. The winner of the title as well as those of all the awards will be crowned at the star-studded ceremony in October later this year.

Voting in the 10 categories is easy and can be done online at www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards

The 10 categories in which you can nominate in the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards include:

• Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council
• Café/Tea Room of the Year – sponsored by Kier
• Gastro Pub of the Year – sponsored by arvato
• Pub / Bar of the Year – sponsored by Custom Solar
• Best Newcomer – sponsored by BHP Accountants
• Best Customer Service – sponsored by East Midlands Chamber
• Best Out of Town (within 10 miles of Chesterfield) – presented by Chesterfield College
• Chesterfield Food Producer – sponsored by Casa Hotel
• International Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by MSE Hiller
• Family Friendly Award – sponsored by Jumble Design

Other supporters of the awards include the Derbyshire Times, Peak FM, Holdsworth Foods, Banner Jones Solicitors, the Crooked Spire Church, Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors, Central Technology Ltd, ra Information Systems, Black Eyed Susan and Reflections.

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

Employment trend remains positive

18th May 2016

The number of people in work in the East Midlands has increased by 66,000 over the past two years, while the number of people out of work has fallen by 44,000 in the same period, according to figures released this morning.

The latest regional employment bulletin from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that between January and March, there were 2.25 million people in jobs and 109,000 people unemployed across the region.

It means the unemployment rate in the region remains at 4.6%, well below the national average of 5.1%.

In terms of Jobseekers’ Allowance (JSA) claimants, there was a monthly decrease of 810, to 31,350 across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire in April, and there were 5,665 fewer claimants across the three counties than there were in April 2015.

In Chesterfield there were 1,115 out of work claimants in April 2016, which is 25 fewer than the figure reported in March (1,140) and 210 lower than the same month last year (1,325). The current percentage of the population claiming the benefit in the the town now stands at 1.7% and is below the national average of 1.8%.

Chris Hobson, Director of Policy at East Midlands Chamber, said: “The latest employment figures for the region are once again positive and reflect what our members are telling us through our survey work about continued growth in the East Midlands.

“It’s particularly encouraging to note that the figures show there are now more people employed in manufacturing roles in the region than at any time since September 2008, which was shortly before the national economy crashed. This also bucks the national trend, where manufacturing has been subdued in many other parts of the country.

“The East Midlands’ key strength lies in the diversity of its business community and it’s good to see that growth is spread across businesses of different sizes and different sectors.

“While the labour market remains flexible and dynamic, this positive snapshot of employment must not lead to complacency. The economy faces significant challenges over the coming months, not least the uncertainties the EU Referendum brings, a softening in other key markets and the ongoing skills shortages our members encounter on a daily basis.

“Now is not the time for political paralysis while we wait to see what happens in the aftermath of the vote on 23 June. Policy focus must still be placed on the fundamental building blocks of doing business, including finance for investment, skills provision and the delivery of first class digital and transport infrastructure.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield