Volunteers are wanted to help mark the 750th anniversary of the Battle of Chesterfield next year.
Plans are already underway to stage a large medieval-style event in the town centre on Sunday, 15th May 2016 with plenty of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.
Community group, Chesterfield 750 is looking for people with a range of skills to help from fundraisers and researchers to costume designers and musicians and asks anyone who is interested in getting involved to get in touch.
Publicity Officer, Colin Harrison, a member of the Chesterfield 750 group said:-
“In preparation of the anniversary there will be several separate events and projects – the first of which is the building of a cart to be used on the day. There are also proposals to make a series of videos about life as it would have been at the time, a miniature re-enactment of the battle and plans to involve schools – maybe with something like the design of their own banners. We also hope that as many local groups as possible will take part, in whatever capacity they will most enjoy.
“Actual historical details of events around the battle are slightly sketchy, which we will take advantage of to allow a wide interpretation of them. We want this to be a fun event, rather than a strictly educational one, although we hope to provide some interesting information as a by-product of our research.”
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 28th April from 7.00pm at The Rose and Crown Pub on Old Road in Chesterfield and everyone is welcome. For more information please email info@chesterfield750.co.uk or visit http://www.chesterfield750.co.uk/.
Businesses in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire outperformed their national counterparts in the first three months of the year, according to the results of a new survey.
East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) has released the results of its latest Q1 Quarterly Economic Review 2015, which found that business growth remained robust in the early part of the year, giving an increasing number of firms optimism for the year ahead.
The findings were in sharp contrast to the national survey released by the British Chambers of Commerce earlier this month, which saw firms reporting weaker results in most areas – including domestic sales, exports and business investment.
The Chamber tracks business performance across a range of key economic indicators – including sales and orders, staffing levels, price expectations, investment intentions and business confidence – to produce a quarterly ‘State of the Economy Index’.
After falling in two consecutive quarters at the end of 2014, the index increased from a year-ending 377 to 386 in Q1, bolstered by firms’ strengthening confidence in their profits and turnover in 2015, which is resulting in rising staffing levels and investment plans.
In terms of activity, 51% of firms reported an increase in UK sales in Q1, which mirrored the previous quarter, and there was a slight fall in the number of firms reporting a decrease in domestic sales. However, this was offset by a fall (from 33% to 29%) in the number of firms which reported an increase in their export sales in Q1.
Firms’ confidence in both future turnover and profitability increased over the quarter, as 67% (up from 64% in Q4) said they expected their profitability to increase over the next 12 months, while 76% (up from 71%) expected an increase in turnover.
This strengthening confidence has led to business investment plans being revised upwards. Almost four-in-ten businesses said they planned to increase their investment in training and plant/machinery this year, while almost eight-in-ten businesses indicated they will award a general staff pay rise, at or above inflation, in 2015.
Chamber Chief Executive George Cowcher said: “Despite the build up to the General Election, it was encouraging to see such a resilient performance from East Midlands businesses in the first three months of the year, with many indicators of business success seeing improvements.
“Over the past year, the Chamber’s message to politicians and decision-makers has been that the East Midlands has moved from being a ‘bellwether’ of the UK economy to a national leader, so it is equally encouraging to see this message borne out in these findings, with the figures in this report exceeding their national equivalents.
“There are a number of factors contributing to this success, including the broad spread of business sectors present across this region and the drive and commitment that exists within East Midlands businesses and their employees.
“These characteristics will continue to stand the region in good stead post-election.
“Regardless of the political make-up of the next Government, if business had one overarching message to give, it would be to focus on delivering long-term policy and avoid the kind of political short-termism that acts only to complicate the planning and running of a successful business.”
Wingerworth Fencing Club is celebrating its fifteenth birthday with two gold medals secured at the British Championships, which were held at EIS in Sheffield last weekend.
In the individual events on Saturday, Hannah Lawrence became British Women’s Champion, a title which she last held in 2008. Hannah won all of her fights on the day and none more convincingly than when beating fellow England and GB team mate Amy Radford, from Malvern Fencing Club 15-6 to take the championship.
The second day of was the team event and the Wingerworth Ladies beat every team in the competition and trounced Truro in the play off final by 45 – 29. The team had been strengthened this year with the addition of Mary Cohen who joined Hannah Lawrence, Jayne Crook and Caitlin Chang.
Wingerworth Fencing Club coach, Tony Klenczar, said:-
“This was a superb weekend for Wingerworth and the promotion of fencing in Derbyshire. All the people in the club who are competing at this level work extremely hard, along with their coaches, to achieve these results.
“We are always keen at the club to encourage new people to take up the sport. We want Derbyshire fencing to be bigger and better than any other club in the country!”
Chesterfield’s game at home to Bristol City on Saturday will be ‘True Blue Day’, with Spireites fans urged to wear blue to show their support for the club.
The aim is to be as many fans as possible wearing blue at the Proact Stadium on Saturday 25th April, whether it be a replica home shirt, t-shirt or scarf.
The dress code in the corporate areas of the stadium will also be relaxed on the day, allowing those in the lounges to wear replica shirts.
Spireites Chief Executive Chris Turner said:-
“We want to generate a party atmosphere to celebrate what has been a fantastic season and it would be fantastic to witness a sea of blue in the stands when the teams run out.
“There is a limited stock of home replica shirts on sale in the Club Superstore and we also have some blue t-shirts and scarves available. The players and management have done superbly well to put us within touching distance of the play-offs so let’s make True Blue Day an unforgettable occasion.”
Three exciting new acts have been announced for this year’s Chatsworth Country Fair – including the energetic Ukrainian Cossack Stunt Team which is set to wow visitors with mind-blowing stunts – from balancing on a saddle whilst galloping at full speed to hanging from a stirrup with just one leg.
The world-famous group will be joined at the event by The Band of the Corps of the Royal Engineers, who will perform a medley of traditional army marches, as well as a selection of well-known hits and current chart toppers. Appearing at numerous state occasions, the band continually achieves wide public recognition through its many broadcasts, recordings and concert performances, most notably playing at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and, to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The Essex Dog Display Team will top off the action-packed schedule of new talent, with 10 various breeds of dogs and their handlers carrying out an exciting display of ambitious exercises and agility obstacles, which may even see them jumping through flaming hoops! A big hit with royals and celebrities alike, the team has performed in venues ranging from the grounds of Blenheim Palace and Windsor Castle to the studios of Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
Held in the beautiful Chatsworth parkland surrounding the house in the heart of the Peak District, the popular three-day event will feature all three acts in the prestigious Grand Ring, along with many more performers yet to be announced.
The number of unemployed people in the East Midlands has fallen by almost 2,500, according to new job figures released by the Office for National Statistics. The rate is now at 5.1% which is below the national average of 5.6%.
People (aged 16-64) in employment in the region has increased by 10,400 to 2,152,769 in the three months to February, meaning there were 66,549 more people in work than in the same period last year.
The number of people in Chesterfield claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance (JSA) stood at 1404, which is 562 lower than the figure announced in March 2014.
East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) has welcomed the figures.
Chief Executive, George Cowcher, said: “This was another extremely positive set of employment figures, with the number of JSA claimants across the region falling significantly over the year, the number of people in work increasing and the unemployment rate in the East Midlands now well below the national average.
“Over the past five years, the unemployment rate in the East Midlands has fallen by 2.3% and largely this has been driven by the efforts of local businesses in creating the jobs and generating the growth needed to secure and sustain the economic recovery.
“Wage increases are also now higher than inflation and are boosting living standards – a focus on improving productivity from businesses will ensure this is sustainable.”
Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre has been announced as a finalist in the prestigious VisitEngland Awards For Excellence 2015.
The centre, based in Rykneld Square and owned and operated by Chesterfield Borough Council, is in the running for Visitor Information Provider of the Year and faces competition from the City of London Information Centre, Durham Visitor Information Network, Simply Staffordshire and The Welcome People in London.
“We provide a welcoming atmosphere for all our visitors both prior to and during their stay in Chesterfield, delivered by enthusiastic, knowledgeable staff.
“The staff are ambassadors for Chesterfield, promoting the town and the Peak District to allow visitors to get the most from their stay, increasing visitor spend and supporting the local economy.”
The winners will be announced at a ceremony held on Monday 11 May 2015 at the Sage, Gateshead and all finalists are guaranteed to receive either gold, silver, bronze or highly commended.
James Berresford, Chief Executive of VisitEngland said:-
“It’s been another successful year for our excellence awards as we’ve received hundreds of applications of an extremely high standard. That’s why all the finalists should be incredibly proud that they’ve been short-listed against such tough competition.
“I’d like to congratulate all the finalists who now represent the top five in their category in England and wish them all the very best of luck on awards night.”
Chatsworth has been chosen as a finalist in the ‘Large Visitor Attraction’ category of Visit England’s Excellence Awards – a celebration of the cream of English Tourism.
The winner will be announced at a glittering Awards Ceremony at the Sage Centre in Gateshead on 9 May 2015.
Chatsworth has seen significant investment in recent years. More than £14 million was invested in upgrading the visitor experience as part of the Masterplan programme of improvements while major events like the ‘Beyond Limits’ monumental sculpture exhibition in the garden, the ‘Chatsworth Country Fair’ and the ‘Chatsworth Festival – Art Out Loud’ draw in thousands of visitors.
The Large Visitor Attraction category covers visitor attractions of all kinds, with over 50,000 visitors per annum, including attractions that offer pre-booked tickets, museums, interpretation centres, theme parks, historic houses and castles. Chatsworth is facing competition for the top prize from Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust in Shropshire, Liverpool Cathedral, The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall and the Roman Baths and Pump Room in Bath, Somerset.
James Berresford, chief executive of VisitEngland said: “It’s been another successful year for our Excellence Awards as we’ve received hundreds of applications of an extremely high standard.
“That’s why all the finalists should be incredibly proud that they’ve been short-listed against such tough competition. I’d like to congratulate all the finalists who now represent the top five in their category in England and wish them all the very best of luck on Awards night at the Sage Centre in Gateshead – a spectacular venue to celebrate the industry’s best.”
Students at Tupton Hall School have been declared as the overall winners of the local Young Enterprise Company of the Year competition.
The team, which set up nappy cake business – Tantrum Baby Products – received the top award from category sponsor Franke Sissons at a ceremony held at the Winding Wheel in Chesterfield last week.
A total of eight finalists from schools and colleges competed on the night; all of which had set up and run their own businesses for an academic year – along with the support of local business advisers and teachers.
As well as delivering four minute presentations to a panel of judges including representatives from three local businesses – Central Technology, NLT Training Services, and MSE Hiller, teams were also required to showcase their products and services on the night.
Winners from Tupton Hall School will now represent North Derbyshire at the Young Enterprise Company Final at Matlock County Hall on April 27th – along with runners up from Hope Valley College and St Mary’s Catholic High School.
Other schools and colleges recognised during the evening include:-
• Best Trade Stand (supported by Chesterfield Borough Council) – St Mary’s Catholic High School (Landmarks)
• Best Company Report (supported by BHP Chartered Accountants) – Parkside Community School (Fedora)
• Best Product (supported by the Manor at Brampton) – St Mary’s Catholic School (Nostalgia)
• Most Innovative Company (supported by Expo Industries UK) – Hope Valley College (HV Connect)
• Best Presentation (supported by Banner Jones Solicitors) – Tupton Hall School (Tantrum Baby Products)
• Runners up (supported by Franke Sissons Ltd) – Hope Valley College (HV Connect) & St Mary’s Catholic High School (Nostalgia)
• Overall Winner (supported by Franke Sissons Ltd) – Tupton Hall School (Tantrum Baby Products)
Congratulating all participants, Chair of Young Enterprise, Jamie Toyne said:-
“All 8 of our finalists were exceptionally good this year, which made it a very difficult task indeed for our judges. The Young Enterprise Company Programme highlights just how many talented young people we have in the area and I’m sure they will all go far in the future.
“On behalf of the North Derbyshire Area Board, I would like to wish Tupton Hall School, Hope Valley College and St Mary’s Catholic High School the very best of luck in the next stage of the competition. I’m sure they will all do the county proud.”
“I’d also like to express my thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield and to local businesses and Chesterfield Champions for joining us on the evening. Also special thanks to our three judges – Ian Snow from Central Technology, Andy Sheppard from NLT Training Services and Ivan Formin from MSE Hiller – who all offered invaluable support at the event.
To find out more about Young Enterprise, or to register your interest in attending the County Final in Matlock on Monday 27th April, please email jamietoyne@gmail.com or tweet @YE_NDAB.
Time is ticking to nominate your favourite shop or store in Chesterfield. Nominations for the town’s popular retail awards, which are organised by Destination Chesterfield and sponsored by Learning Unlimited – part of Chesterfield College Group, close on Monday 6 April at midnight. Shoppers can nominate at www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards
However, if you miss the nomination deadline, shoppers still have one more chance to vote in the Vicar Lane Shopping Centre’s Retailer of the Year Award. Vicar Lane Shopping Centre and Destination Chesterfield want to help find the town’s favourite retailer based on Vicar Lane and Steeplegate in the town centre.
The Vicar Lane Award will be presented by the Centre at the 2015 Chesterfield Retail Awards being held on on 24 June 2015 at the Winding Wheel.
Voting for the Vicar Lane Award opens on the 2 April until 30 April and can be done in any of the 40 shops and stores in Vicar Lane Shopping Centre or online at www.vicarlaneshoppingcentre.co.uk
Vicar Lane Shopping Centre Manager Sonia Kolomijez said: “Last year’s Chesterfield Retail Awards were a huge success and really got the town talking – shoppers and retailers alike. It made sense to work in partnership with Destination Chesterfield in order to celebrate the best Vicar Lane retailer. It’s easy to vote and I would encourage as many shoppers as possible to take the opportunity to do so and help us find and celebrate their favourite retailer.”
The Vicar Lane Retailer of the Year winner will join winners from across 14 categories in the Chesterfield Retail Awards, which include:
• Hair and Beauty Business of the Year
• Fashion and Footwear Retailer of the Year
• Jewellery and Accessories Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by the Pavements Shopping Centre
• Home and Gifts Retailer of the Year
• Children’s Clothes, Toys & Accessories Retailer of the Year
• Food and Drink Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by BHP Accountants
• Phones and Technology Retailer of the Year
• Leisure Retailer of the Year (Sports, Hobbies, Crafts or Outdoor)
• Market Trader of the Year – Sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council
• Independent Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Jumble Design
• National/ Multiple Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by Vicar Lane
• Excellence in Customer Service – Sponsored by Learning Unlimited
• Market Hall Business of the Year – Sponsored by Kier
• Best New Store (Opened 2014/2015) – Sponsored by Banner Jones Solicitors
There is also an additional Retailer of the Year award, sponsored by East Midlands Chamber, which will be announced at the awards ceremony. Other supporters of the 2015 Chesterfield Retail Awards include eBusiness works and the Derbyshire Times.
This year, retailers can support their call for nominations by submitting a short 20 second video explaining why shoppers should nominate their business. Videos should be emailed to info@chesterfield.co.uk and will appear on Destination Chesterfield’s website, Facebook page and Twitter.
There are limited sponsorship opportunities still available if you are interested in becoming involved please contact Dom Stevens on 01246 207207 or email dom.stevens@chesterfield.co.uk.
Photo shows winners of the 2014 Chesterfield Retail Awards.
Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, has described the £1 billion of developments currently happening in the town as a ‘real game changer’.
His comments came at the recent annual Celebrate Chesterfield event, organised by the town’s inward investment campaign Destination Chesterfield. Held at the Winding Wheel (25 March) the packed event saw more than 220 business leaders gather to learn about plans for the town.
Peak Resorts was announced by Prime Minister David Cameron during his visit to the US in January. Mr Bowen added: “We have a lot to look forward to with over £1 billion of investment coming into the town thanks to big projects like Chesterfield Waterside and Peak Resorts.
“Peak Resorts will be one of the UK’s flagship tourist attractions that will put Chesterfield on the map. Not only will it provide more than 1,000 jobs, but its hub and spoke model will encourage thousands of guests to disperse into the town centre economy every week and bring real value to our restaurant, retail and leisure businesses.”
Markham Vale – part of which sits within Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership’s Enterprise Zone – has also secured a further £7.6 million of funding, enabling additional areas to be opened up for development.
The funding follows £14 million of Government money last year which enabled Markham Vale to expand its business park plans by 81 acres, widen Erin Road, put in place utility infrastructure and construct 100,000 square feet of new industrial buildings. When complete the site will have capacity to bring an estimated 2,100 jobs to the town by 2022.
Further investment will also be seen within the town in 2015 as £8.6 million of funding has been secured from the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership for Northern Gateway.
There are also plans to demolish and develop the former Royal Mail multi-storey car park on West Bars roundabout and work will also begin on the University of Derby’s Chesterfield campus later in July with the site set to open in summer 2016.
At the event Mr Bowen also highlighted the concept of town centre living as being central to Chesterfield’s Masterplan to drive footfall and create a thriving day and night time economy.
Cllr John Burrows, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice Chair of Destination Chesterfield, said: “Chesterfield used to be a heavy industry town but we are now having our modern awakening. We punch well above our weight here in Chesterfield and the news that over the next few years the town will benefit from £1 billion of investment is very exciting. We are now a modern town thanks to a lot of hard work from our partnerships with Destination Chesterfield, and local businesses and also through our ability to access funding from the Sheffield City Region and D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnerships.
“As council leader I am very proud of the work we have done in regenerating the area. Over the coming years we want to work towards getting life back into the town after 6pm by investing in town centre residential and leisure facilities so that we can compete with the offerings of neighbouring cities.”
At the event, guests also welcomed news that the town’s marketing campaign Destination Chesterfield, which has been running since 2011, will continue until 2017.
Four areas of activity in the 2015 Destination Chesterfield plan include the launch of a new chesterfield.co.uk website, the Retail Awards, Food and Drink Awards and a month-long repeat of last year’s week-long festival of manufacturing, Made in Chesterfield, in November.
Dominic Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager commented: “The project is very much business-led. The plans and campaigns we develop are driven by the business community. A recent audit recognised the many strengths of the Destination Chesterfield projects, but specifically noted the success of the Chesterfield Champions network in disseminating information, lobbying and working together to trade locally. The Chesterfield Champions Scheme has gone from strength-to-strength and now has more than 160 local organisations contributing to the promotion of the town.”
The Celebrate Chesterfield event was held in association with headline sponsors Henry Boots Developments at Markham Vale and Corrugated Case Company.
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