Business

Markham Vale Investor wins at the 2015 Motor Trade Awards

11th August 2015

Leading autoparts and workshop equipment distributor, Andrew Page has been named as Motor Factor of the Year at the 2015 Motor Trader awards, following a year of transformation and growth.

“It is great to be recognised by one of the most prestigious titles in the automotive aftermarket, and is testament to the hard work the entire team has put in,” said Jim Sumner, Chairman of Andrew Page. “We have been busier than ever over the last 12 to 18 months, and are seeing the rewards of the strategic investments we have made in the business.”

Facing tough competition from a shortlist including Autoparts UK, Fast Parts Wales, GSF Car Parts and Ridgeway, Andrew Page came out on top last night at the prestigious ceremony at Grosvenor House, London. Earlier this year, Andrew Page announced a record quarter, reporting that March 2015 was the company’s best ever trading month in its 98 year history.

At the start of 2015, Mark Saunders was appointed to the position of chief executive. Since then the company has seen the expansion of its Markham Vale distribution facility, increasing floor space by nearly 40% with a new mezzanine floor, as well as further investments in new vans and stock. As a result of this continuous investment, Andrew Page’s ability to deliver parts to its sites throughout the day and overnight is driving the best ever levels of availability to customers.

The company also confirmed last month that it was expanding through the introduction of a new online store, including a detailed catalogue and dedicated customer support service along with a branch click & collect option. With accurate mapping of OE parts suppliers’ data against the UK vehicle parc, customers can be confident of receiving the right parts for any job.

Mark Saunders, Andrew Page chief executive added: “The specific investment in expanding our central distribution facility was to significantly develop our B2C capability and support the roll-out of our new retail store format. Being acknowledged as the leading motor factor in the UK is fantastic for Andrew Page, and we hope to gain further industry recognition as we continue to develop the business.”

Posted in Business

The Chesterfield Marathon has got some bottle!

10th August 2015

A family owned business in Chesterfield is backing the town’s marathon by providing vital water for runners.

Family-owned Dunston Lodge, a top local dog boarding and grooming salon, is sponsoring and has secured the delivery of 10,000 bottles of water for the Chesterfield Marathon, which takes place on Sunday 20 September.

The event will see approximately 1500 runners from across the UK take to the streets of Chesterfield, running in the full marathon, team relay marathon and half marathon events – all in aid of many local and national charities, including Kids ‘n’ Cancer. An all-day party in Queens Park, where all the races will start at finish, will also take place.

Ten drinks stations will be located along the full and half marathon route with ample supplies of water to keep runners hydrated, along with pots of jelly babies to give runners the extra boost they may need.

The runners’ safety will be ensured by more than 400 volunteer ‘Marathon Makers’, who will stationed along the route and manning drinks stations, who will also be provided with refreshments, including water.

Richard Harrington, managing director of Chesterfield Champion, Dunston Lodge said: “The Chesterfield Marathon is a massive event for Chesterfield, bringing in runners and visitors from all over the country to our town.

“We wanted to offer our support to the marathon by taking care of this vital element and ensure the water was delivered and in place well ahead of the event.”

Andrea Hooley of the Chesterfield Marathon said “Although Kids ‘n’ Cancer is a national charity, we rely on a small team who work on both the charity and the marathon to make this event happen. The support of local businesses like Dunston Lodge, who have given both financial support as well as resource in purchasing and organising delivery of the water make a huge difference to us”

“The more businesses like Dunston Lodge that come and support the marathon through sponsorship and/or joining one of our business clubs, the bigger and better we can make this event, which benefits the whole of our town and all the charities involved.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Leisure

Markham Vale welcomes £36m industrial forward funding deal

10th August 2015

M&G Real Estate is to fund the construction of a 480,000 sq ft distribution warehouse at Markham Vale in, Chesterfield. The total commitment is £36 million. The site extends to around 27.5 acres adjacent to Markham Lane and is the largest plot created by the County Council at Markham Vale to date. The development is pre-let to Great Bear Distribution Ltd, a leading third party logistics company. On practical completion of the development Great Bear Distribution will take a 15 year lease creating around 400 new jobs in the process.

Andrew Windle, Associate Director, Logistics and Industrial at M&G Real Estate, comments: “There is very strong investor demand for new, prime distribution assets in the Midlands due to the very tight supply and continued demand for new space. This will be a prime development in a core and very prominent location off the M1.”

Ben Ward from Henry Boot Developments Ltd, adds: “We look forward to welcoming Great Bear Distribution Ltd to Markham Vale. This is one of several major deals at the site over recent months and represents significant investment into the area.

Posted in Business, Development

Peak FM extend partnership with Chesterfield FC

10th August 2015

Chesterfield Champion’s Peak FM will continue to provide full commentary on every Chesterfield home and away game this season as part of an ongoing partnership between the two organisations.

Commenting on the news, Peak FM station director Sam Fielding said: “Coverage of the Spireites features prominently in our Total Sport show and we are delighted to have reached an agreement to broadcast live commentary of every home and away match.

“Tom Hilton and Pete Farries make a great team and bring with them a huge amount of passion and enthusiasm. We are looking forward to an exciting season.”

Nick Johnson, Chesterfield’s head of media & communications, added: “We enjoy an excellent relationship with Peak FM and long may that continue. Fans who are out of the area can also hear the commentary provided by Peak FM online on our Spireites Player platform. This is the only way that commentary can be accessed via a PC, laptop or mobile device.”

Peak FM is the number one commercial radio station covering north Derbyshire. The Total Sport show is live every Saturday from 2pm.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Liza Bakes Ltd is a Great Taste winner again!

10th August 2015

The world’s most coveted blind-tasted food awards, Great Taste, has just released the Great Taste stars of 2015 and Chesterfield Food Producer of the Year 2014, Liza Bakes Ltd is amongst the producers celebratingas its Victoria Sponge Cake, Belgian Chocolate Pecan Brownie, Mince Pies and for the second year in a row its Fruit and Ale Cake are now able to proudly carry the little gold and black Great Taste logo.
Judged by over 400 of the most demanding palates belonging to food critics, chefs, cooks, restaurateurs, producers and a host of food writers and journalists, Great Taste is widely acknowledged as the most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers. When a product wears a Great Taste label it carries a badge of honour but more importantly, the Great Taste logo is a signpost to a wonderful tasting product – hundreds of judges have worked tirelessly to discover the very best, through hours and hours of blind-tasting a total of 10,000 different foods and drinks.
“Getting this prestigious award again and for another three of our products and one for the second year in a row is simply fantastic. It endorses what our customers tell us every day – that all our products taste superb” said Louise Milroy, Managing Director and Head Baker. “This is our third year as a limited company and the third year in a row that we have won awards for our products. It is a tribute to our award winning and hard-working bakery team and our passion – simply to produce every day the very best authentic artisan cakes, traybakes and desserts for all our customers”.

Liza Bakes Ltd is a family business. Louise started baking in her kitchen in 2005 and by 2008 was supplying premium handmade artisan bakery produce to local shops, cafes and delis from her bakery. Liza Bakes now has 8 Great Taste Award winners, supplies distinguished and award winning businesses across Derbyshire and as far afield as London; and is now able to supply individual retail customers placing orders online.
Louise said “We focus on supplying all our customers with consistently the very best tasting cakes and desserts. We want to help every local business we supply to stand out and we think they all do. Once again these Great Taste Awards enhance our reputation and contribute to the reputation of our brilliant customers. Over the past year our business has expanded strongly and we are proud to supply a wide range of fantastic local businesses across Derbyshire and surrounding counties. Our Great Taste Awards have contributed to this and undoubtedly helped the company to win Food Producer of the Year in the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards 2014.”

Louise said that after taking care of the substantial orders for this week for established customers she and her team would be able to celebrate properly. “Then we have to prepare our award winning contribution for the Ashover Show coming up on Wednesday 12th August, as well as getting ready for the tasting event as a nominee again for Chesterfield Food Producer in the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards 2015.
For Louise and her team the key to the success of the business is a passion for authentic great tasting food and long-term relationships. “Our business and reputation for outstanding products and service has been achieved over the past nine years by investing in our brilliant team and producing authentic, distinguished handmade produce, sourcing our ingredients wherever possible from Derbyshire and local partners.” Liza Bakes always use butter, free range eggs and quality nuts, fresh and dried fruits. “Our partnership with local businesses has been so important to us” said Louise Milroy. Suppliers to Liza Bakes include Ayres, Chesterfield Market for fresh fruit, fresh ginger and carrots for the carrot cake; Betty’s Farm at Willington near Derby supplies the free range eggs from their flock of 24,000 laying hens; and dried fruits, nuts, spices and some specialist sugars are supplied by Lembas, Sheffield, the specialty vegetarian and wholefood wholesalers.
Liza Bakes also works closely with award winning micro-breweries, providing the ales that go into the award winning Fruit and Ale Cake and Chocolate Beer Cake (both Great Taste 2014 Gold Star winners): Brampton Brewery a leading Chesterfield micro-brewery recreating the heritage of its predecessor – their Brampton Stout is a key ingredient for the “Brampton Fruit and Ale Cake” and the Impy Dark for the Chocolate Beer Cake; the Welbeck Abbey Brewery a traditional real ale brewery producing 15,000 pints of hand crafted ales a week, situated on one of England’s finest country estates, Welbeck Abbey. Their award winning Portland Black beer is a key ingredient for the “Welbeck Fruit and Ale Cake”; and the Derby Brewing Co with their Penny’s Porter a key ingredient for yet another variety of the award winning Fruit and Ale Cake and Chocolate Beer Cake from this award winning bakery.
Recognised as a stamp of excellence among consumers and retailers alike, Great Taste values taste above all else, with branding and packaging ignored. Whether it is cheese, ale, steak or chutney being
judged, all products are removed from their wrapper, jar or bottle before being tasted. The judges then savour, confer and re-taste to decide which products are worthy of a 1-, 2- or 3-star award.

There were 10,000 Great Taste entries this year and of those products, 130 have been awarded a 3-star, 597 received a 2-star and 2,382 were awarded a 1-star accolade. The panel of judges included Masterchef judge and restaurant critic Charles Campion, TV presenter and cook, Aggie Mackenzie, Great British Bake Off winner, Frances Quinn, Masterchef the Professionals finalist, Adam Handling, food buyers from Harrods, Selfridges, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer, and chefs including James Golding, Chef Director of The Pig hotel group, who have together tasted and re-judged the 3-star winners to finally agree on the 2015 Top 50 Foods, the Golden Fork Trophy winners and the new 2015 Supreme Champion.
Finally on Monday 7 September, at a nail-biting Awards’ Dinner at the Royal Garden Hotel, London, the great and the good from the world of fine food will gather to hear who has won the Golden Fork Awards and the final applause will be reserved for the Great Taste Supreme Champion 2015.

Posted in Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards

DCJ group sponsor Spires Restaurant

8th August 2015

The main lounge at the Proact will be known as the DCJ Group Spires Restaurant following the agreement of a sponsorship deal with the Chesterfield-based insurance & risk management company.

Commenting on the deal, Chesterfield Champions, DCJ Group chief executive David Jones said: “The DCJ Group Spires Restaurant has been refurbished over the summer and it is a fantastic hospitality area. We are delighted to have our name associated with it.”

Kevin Fitzgerald, Chesterfield’s head of commercial & marketing, said: “I would like to thank the DCJ Group for their valued sponsorship. I am sure the DCJ Group Spires Restaurant will be very popular with those who wish to enjoy hospitality on a matchday.

“For the first time since the club moved to the Proact Stadium, we will be offering all our season ticket holders the opportunity to upgrade their match ticket to a hospitality package on a match-to-match basis. That means if you are celebrating a special occasion or just want to experience a particular game from the comfort of one of our lounges, you will be able to do so.”

Posted in Business

Chesterfield Accountant scoops top honours in national exam

3rd August 2015

Chesterfield-based Accountant Liz Fisher has scooped top honours in a prestigious national taxation exam, following her outstanding performance which saw her beat more than 1000 candidates to gain the highest marks.

Liz, who works at Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers as Tax & Employer Solutions Manager, was awarded the Ronald Ison Medal for the candidate with the highest mark in the Advisory Paper on Taxation of Individuals. The exam was set by the Chartered Institute of Taxation, the principal body in the United Kingdom concerned solely with taxation.

Nationally, 395 people sat the Taxation of Individuals exam with only two thirds (67%) passing. Liz was also only one of only three candidates to be awarded a distinction in her Advisory Paper, gaining her the CCH Prize for the highest distinction mark awarded in the UK.

As well as Liz, Mitchells celebrated a hat trick of results in the exams with colleagues Partner Tim Leeman and Tax Specialist Lisa Eyre also securing passes. A total of 1,189 candidates entered the exams, with Liz, Tim and Lisa being three of 907 candidates to pass one or more papers in the May 2015 examination.

Tim Leeman was one of only 235 candidates in the May exam that completed all their CTA examinations which means he is now a qualified Chartered Tax Adviser, further strengthening Mitchells’ taxation team.

Successful completion of the exams has put Liz and Lisa one step closer to becoming a member of The Chartered Institute of Taxation and being able to call themselves Chartered Tax Advisers. The Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification is seen as the gold standard for tax professionals.

Liz said: “”I was really happy to pass the exam but totally shocked to win the award. It means I’m one step closer to completing the qualification overall and becoming a Chartered Tax Adviser which will further enhance the proactive tax advice Mitchells is able to provide to clients.”

President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Chris Jones, commenting on the results said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to all 907 of the candidates who have made progress towards becoming a Chartered Tax Adviser as a result of passing one or more papers at the May 2015 examination. 235 candidates have now successfully completed all of the CTA examinations and we very much look forward to them becoming members of the Institute in the very near future.”

Posted in Business

Redbrik are on the move in Chesterfield!

3rd August 2015

One of the region’s leading estate agencies is sold on its new Chesterfield office.

Redbrik estate agency has purchased the historic former Shentalls building on Glumangate – which is straight across the road from its current sales office at number 22.

Redbrik’s new office will be home to the company’s existing sales team and their former office is set to become the company’s new lettings office.

Mark Ross, Director at Redbrik, said: “Our Chesterfield branch was our first Redbrik office when we launched the business just over two years ago and we love being located in the heart of the Town.

“The people of Chesterfield really have taken us to their hearts and we are delighted to have purchased yet another office on Glumangate.

“As a business we have experienced fantastic growth with offices in Millhouses and Crystal Peaks as well as two Chesterfield branches.

“Our new sales office is set to open in October and we will be offering the same level of outstanding customer service that people have now come to expect from Redbrik and with the same team of friendly staff who work so hard to deliver great results for every customer.”

To celebrate their move Redbrik have launched a social media campaign asking people to send photos of things that make them happy about where they live in Chesterfield.

Each week they will feature their favourite image in the frame on their new office windows.

To get involved people can tweet their image to @REDBRIKproperty using #happyinchesterfield

Posted in Business

New sustainability training course launched in Chesterfield

3rd August 2015

A new course which could be instrumental in helping companies in Chesterfield win business, reduce energy costs and avoid prosecution, is now being delivered by leading Chesterfield-based training provider NLT Training Services.

Following accreditation by the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA), leading training provider NLT has been announced as the sole training provider in the East Midlands and Humberside for the Level 2 Working with Environmental Sustainability course.

NLT’s accreditation is being hailed as a significant step forward in helping businesses in the area understand one of the most talked about and urgent issues affecting the whole planet right now: sustainability. Sustainability is at the forefront of new policies and government agenda. The course may prove vital in winning bids for tenders and can reduce the risk of fines and prosecutions.

The new one-day course, is being held on 24 August at NLT’s Chesterfield offices in Brimington.

It covers everything from sustainable buildings to design and operations across all industry sectors, providing a practical introduction to Environmental Sustainability, equipping delegates with the knowledge, understanding, and motivation to make a positive difference within their organisation.

Andy Sheppard, Chief Executive of NLT said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer this course and anticipate high demand for it. It represents a big step forward for sustainability issues amongst businesses in the region. Companies cannot afford to ignore sustainability any longer; it is top of the Government’s agenda, having been announced in the recent Budget that it is pushing for a global climate deal that keeps the goal of limiting global warming to two degrees.

“I would urge businesses now to begin embedding environmental sustainability not only into the fabric of the company but also job roles within it; the Level 2 Working with Environmental Sustainability course will enable them to do that.”

Places on the courses are limited and companies are being urged to sign up now for the course which costs £300 per delegate, or is available for a limited period with a special introductory offer of £250 per delegate.

NLT Training Services is one of the region’s leading training providers, operating from sites in Chesterfield and Scunthorpe. It is a specialist trainer and provider of apprentices in welding, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering as well as industry-leading commercial training courses.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

D2N2 Growth Hub passes 500 mark for business people helped

31st July 2015

More than 500 requests for business advice, assistance and funding help have now been handled by the Growth Hub team at the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

The D2N2 Growth Hub was launched in Nottingham in December (2014) by the then Business and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock. It provides a ‘one stop shop’ for ambitious new and developing businesses looking for advice on training, growth, and how to access funding help to expand into fresh markets.

Growth Hub advisors work within the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). The LEP is a private sector-led partnership between business, local authorities, skills and training providers, and community and voluntary organisations, which promotes economic growth and jobs creation in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Since the Growth Hub team began work in January this year (2015) it has:

Developed the website – at d2n2growthhub.co.uk – giving accessible advice on areas such as starting and growing a business, accessing finance, training and skills development, and expanding into new and international markets.

Attended or arranged dozens of business facing events – including the first Venturefest East Midlands 2015 showcase in Nottingham, in April – all around the D2N2 area, where Growth Hub team members delivered talks and provided information on services offered.

Held workshops on how business support providers can work together more closely; for example, the D2N2 Growth Hub ‘Working Together’ event, held at the University of Derby’s Enterprise Centre in April.

Run D2N2’s first ever ‘Rural Means Business Conference’, at the RCAN (Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire) Newstead Centre, in Newstead Village, in March. Around 100 people attended to hear about the support and funding available to start up rural businesses around food manufacture, tourism, green energy and other enterprises.

Introduced a new Partnership-wide Customer Relationship Management system.

The D2N2 Growth Hub also helps to ‘power up business’ by working with other partners including the national Business Growth Service (encompassing Growth Accelerator), the Manufacturing Advisory Service and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI); to enable businesses to grow, export and create jobs.

Satisfied customers who’ve approached the D2N2 Growth Hub for help include:

Jay Lloyd of Ashover, Derbyshire, who is looking into starting up a rural business, possibly wedding venue hire, said: “I approached the D2N2 Growth Hub for help and advice, and was provided with some really useful contacts and very good pointers on which direction to go in. I hope that, as someone starting up a new business, other people I have dealings with will be just as kind and helpful.”

Lindsay Allen, D2N2 Growth Hub Senior Programme Manager for Sector Development, added: “We have now dealt with around 520 enquiries on a wide range of topics, from business people working in lots of different sectors within the economy.

“The Growth Hub aims to simplify the business support offer. We offer a universal service, with events, and our web and phone service; and for those businesses ambitious to grow and create jobs, we can offer intensive support.

“Among the top enquiries are people looking for further training for themselves or their employees, or wanting to know how to access funding to expand an existing business. There is a lot of information and support for businesses, and people who use the D2N2 Growth Hub services are finding we can be of great help in finding exactly what they need.”

Posted in Business

Tower poppies could head to Chesterfield in 2016

30th July 2015

Part of the poppy sculpture by Chesterfield artist Paul Cummins could be heading to the town as Chesterfield Borough Council makes a bid to display the commemorative artwork next year.

The council, together with Chesterfield College, Destination Chesterfield and ex-servicemen’s organisations, has completed an expression of interest to host the Weeping Window sculpture, which was part of the installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red on display at HM Tower of London in autumn 2014 to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War.

The display features 2,800 ceramic poppies, which will cascade from a building of some height. Options for displaying the sculpture include the Town Hall, Rose Hill.

Paul came up with the original idea for the sculpture after looking at some First World War archives while visiting the local studies and family history section of Chesterfield Library.

He was inspired by a line in the will of an unknown soldier, who died at Flanders, which said: “The blood-swept lands and seas of red, where angels fear to tread.”

This gave him the idea of making an installation with ceramic poppies representing each of the dead.

The decision on whether the borough will host the sculpture will be made by a panel including Paul Cummins; 14-18 NOW, the official First World War Centenary cultural programme and the Imperial War Museum.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centre and visitor economy and vice chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “The First World War was a watershed in our history. Hosting the Weeping Window sculpture would be fitting for us to remember the many Chesterfield men and women who gave their lives during the conflict.

“As the artist, Paul Cummins, is from Chesterfield, this would also be an opportunity to show our pride in him and his work in his home town.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “Cestrefeldians all felt immense pride when Paul Cummins’ poppy installation received such international acclaim. The chance to have the poppies on display here in Paul’s home town, the place where he got the inspiration for this magnificent artwork, is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.

They represent so much about Chesterfield, not least the many men who lost their lives in the war; it seems only fitting that the artwork returns to its spiritual home. I hope the entire Chesterfield community – businesses and residents – join the campaign to make this happen. If successful, this will be momentous for Chesterfield and put our town further on the map for investors helping create jobs.”

The decision on whether Chesterfield could host the sculpture will be made in September.

If successful, the artwork could be on display in the town in 2016.

The council will seek sponsorship to cover the cost of displaying the sculpture. Anyone with any suggestions for funding should contact: Bernadette Wainwright, cultural and visitor services manager by email: bernadette.wainwright@chesterfield.gov.uk or calling 01246 345779.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Leisure