Celebrate Chesterfield

Fifth cohort of RISE graduate scheme now available to Chesterfield businesses

The latest cohort of graduates is now available to Chesterfield businesses, as part of a unique business support initiative focussed on enabling small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow through the employment of graduate talent.

RISE has been effective in helping SMEs overcome the barriers faced in graduate recruitment and equipping them with the tools and know-how to become successful graduate employers.

Since 2013 RISE has supported more than 400 SMEs based across the Sheffield City Region, including Chesterfield successfully recruit over 500 graduates.

Many of those businesses have gone on to report increases in turnover, productivity, innovation and growth as a result. The enhanced RISE project now provides even more comprehensive business support and business benefits.

  • RISE support is free for businesses to use
  • The scheme will help businesses access top quality graduate talent for your business through the following means:
    • Help to draft an advert, providing graduate-specific labour market advice and expertise
    • Advertise the role as part of a national targeted advertising campaign
    • Undertake candidate selection processes using application forms, technical tests, video interviews and assessment centres
    • Assist in the logistics of setting up final interviews
  • Sessions/training on best-practice recruitment, allowing us to transfer the know-how to recruit graduates in the future
  • A grant available for businesses who use the scheme for the first time

Oliver Tarrant, SME Engagement manager with RISE said: “During these uncertain times we recognise how important it is that small and medium sized businesses, who are wanting to grow their business and recruit talented graduates, receive high-quality, straightforward, and safe support.

“We will work closely with businesses to provide a tailored service and to help them save costs and time, offering a rigorous selection process.

“We are engaging with businesses from now until 10th February, but we are ideally looking for businesses to get in touch as soon as possible.”

Rikki Stout, Head of HR at Barlborough-based e-commerce business, Xbite, explains: “We connected with RISE because we wanted to meet, train and develop fresh graduate talent. We understand the value in finding ambitious young people who are hungry for experience and seeking a challenge. RISE has matched us with excellent people straight from university, meaning we can nurture and develop them early on. We are part of their journey and they are part of ours.

“There are many challenges faced by businesses looking to recruit graduates. Time to recruit well is a big one. As is the cost of sourcing, meeting and connecting with people. This is addressed by RISE. But fear of bringing in new people who might not have the exact experience of your systems or industry shouldn’t be a barrier to growth.”

Rikki Stout, Xbite

You can find out more by going to the RISE website or by emailing  oliver@risescr.co.uk

RISE is part-funded by the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in ChesterfieldTagged in , , , , , ,

Chesterfield businesses are stronger together

Despite the return to lockdown, Chesterfield businesses are now looking ahead to a spring recovery following the roll out of the Oxford vaccine.

Whether your focus is survival or growth, there is plenty you can be doing to prepare for the future.  Every decision you make now could impact your business’ ability to thrive post pandemic.

But you’re not alone in your preparations.  Chesterfield businesses are keen to collaborate and have shared their stories to inspire further success across the town.

 

Business Support

Are you working closely with local organisations?

Ossies’s Fresh Ginger was grateful of complimentary support from Chesterfield Borough Council’s business advisor, Adrian Williamson.  Owner, Ossie Bash Taqi said: “As a fledgling enterprise we needed advice and guidance in developing the business particularly in COVID times.  Adrian has been invaluable in advising on procedural measures and in setting both long and short term targets and guiding us in the development of a business plan – all extremely useful to a relaunching business.”

“Adrian provided us with contacts and links to a variety of appropriate organisations which we will be able to use for continued support and specialist guidance such as the Food and Drink Forum and Feast 2, as well as giving us options on potential funding streams as the business is unexpectedly expanding.”

SDE Group has saved money by trading locally with Mad Designs Ltd.  Charlotte Watson, 3D Designer at SDE Group said: “They have assisted in huge cost savings in producing good quality loading signs for our clients. We received advice in the most cost efficient and best quality way in producing our signs to provide 100% customer satisfaction to all our clients – therefore increasing our sales.”

“We are always looking for more local businesses to collaborate with, aid the local community and welcome any person / company  to talk through more opportunities.”

The team at Mitchells Chartered Accountants has been recommended by Nine Limes Digital for being so helpful despite the web design agency not being a client and offering advice free of charge.  Steve Bassett, Director of Nine Limes Design said: “Mitchells Chartered Accountants made us aware of the availability of discretionary grants to local businesses in the Chesterfield area which were not eligible to receive funding from other areas.  Andrew provided invaluable support and advice in our successful application and I am extremely grateful for this.”

Do check out more local businesses for your next tender.

 

 

industrial anc

How can you support your team?

With so much change over the past year, it’s likely you will have identified a need to invest in training to drive things forward.

Last year Peak Pipe Systems, ControlPoint Ltd and Weightron Bilancia all upskilled their management teams with thousands of pounds worth of training – for free, thanks to a Government scheme.

Laura Chapman HR Manager at Peak Pipe Systems commented: “Investing in our people is a priority but we have to keep an eye on our budgets.  A number of talented staff across our shop floor, offices and warehouse had been promoted to team leaders, but had not received managerial training. Skills Support for the Workforce enabled us to support them in their roles.”

Chesterfield businesses have been benefiting from free online workshops.  A new programme has been announced this month by D2N2 Growth Hub with courses ranging from email marketing to employee empowerment.  And 12 week digital skills courses opened in December for both employees and job seekers with local training provider GBS offering courses in Digital Marketing, Content Creation and IT.

There’s support on hand to help your senior team establish goals for the year ahead with a free webinar from Business Doctors Chesterfield.

And six businesses can access twelve months of complimentary coaching from ActionCOACH, with applications due by 29th January.

See more programmes that support with skills and training.

 

Resources and Information

Is it time to recruit?

Whilst some redundancies may be unavoidable, the Government’s furlough scheme has helped millions of people to stay in employment.  And you may be thinking about growing your team to hit the ground running ahead of recovery.

Local recruiters that are working with Destination Chesterfield to grow the town’s economy have been pleased to assist during the pandemic.

If you’re looking to recruit an apprentice like Chesterfield businesses Addooco, Inspire Design and Development and UKATA, the upcoming Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference will provide a helpful platform to find out more.  The Chesterfield Apprentice Town website is also very informative.

Community Chesterfield, which supports the voluntary sector, has benefitted from the free recruitment of two interns through the University of Derby including graduate, Hayley Beaumont.

Charlotte Repton, Project Manager of Community Chesterfield said: “Using Hayley’s design skills and expertise, Community Chesterfield was able to offer branding services free of charge to voluntary organisations, which included refreshing logos and designing web pages, delivering over £1000 worth of services during her short internship”.

And Chesterfield businesses have been supported to offer virtual work experience to young people.  For more details check out this information session on 27th January.

 

 

Can you afford not to update your IT?

It requires careful planning to maintain adequate cash flow.  But prioritising innovation will be key to unlocking post crisis growth.  And there is financial support available to help you achieve this.

The Government Grant and Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the speedy response of Chesterfield Borough Council were cited as key factors in the recent growth of Chesterfield recruiter, Edwards Employment Solutions.

Izabella Edwards, Managing Director explained: “Thanks to funding I was able to invest in a CRM system which allows the business to manage candidates and clients more easily, saving time and money.  Having this system in place meant I had the resources and infrastructure to pitch for and secure a number of large contracts. It meant a complete turn-around for us and led to the business making four new appointments and needing larger offices.

Similarly, a free IT review from Central Technology has given Ashgate Hospicecare a strong understanding of future requirements, enabling the team to start 2021 in a stronger position.

Matt Corbishley, Director of People and Performance, Ashgate Hospicecare said: “We enlisted the services of CT to help us ensure technology provided the foundations we need to support our charitable objectives and long term future goals. The team have worked closely with our IT Manager, leadership team and board of trustees to develop a technology roadmap that met these long term charitable and business objectives.”

 

 

How can you raise your profile?

Whether your business is busy or temporarily closed, it’s always a good idea to remind current and future customers that you are here and to maintain a positive image of yourself in your customer’s mind, ready for when they are looking to access you.

Some of the companies that have been learning how to gain free coverage within the local media include Liza Bakes, StraightCurves and A&A Photography.  Destination Chesterfield’s PR free workshops run twice a year and the first 2021 date will be announced shortly.

And there are currently 190 local organisations – known as Chesterfield Champions – working with Destination Chesterfield to raise the profile of the town and its successful businesses.

It has been a popular time to invest in improvements to the online customer experience.  Love Brewing has made its website more user friendly and added more product lines.  Cheese Factor has traded online for the first time by adding Shopify to its existing website.  Rosewood Wealth is taking appointments through Shop Appy.

And businesses have been thinking creatively when it comes to live experiences.  Bridal boutique, Precious Memories brought her brand to life outdoors in St James Square at Vicar Lane Shopping Centre, also utilising the new big screen where a number of independent retailers have been promoted.

Dotique was one of a number of Chesterfield businesses to benefit from free inclusion in the Fiver Fest scheme promoted by S40 Local to encourage shopping locally.

Claire from Stephenson’s Tea & Coffee House was grateful of free promotion in Twist magazine, which responded to the pandemic by setting up a loyalty card scheme for readers.  Claire said: “We’ve been shown cards by people coming in, entitling them to receive a free hot drink with their breakfasts. I regularly received comments from people who say they have seen our offer mentioned in Twist.”

 

A safe space to work?

During lockdown many small and start-up businesses have found themselves sharing their home office workspace with partners, who have suddenly found themselves working from home, as well as with children who are self-isolating.

Working at local cafes such as Stephensons Tea and Coffee House has provided quiet and productive space to work, and will be appreciated again once venues can reopen.  And Chesterfield’s meeting spaces have strengthened hygiene policies to provide a safe space to meet ready for reopening (although please do check with each individual venue as the end of lockdown approaches).

If you’re looking for new premises in the near future, the team at Chesterfield Borough Council can carry out a free property search for your business.  One option is the Chesterfield Enterprise Centre, which is due to be completed in spring 2021.

Local charity, Junction Arts, which works with people to improve well-being and inspire change through the arts, recently moved into West Studios to take advantage of the benefits the space offers. Jemma Burton from the team at Junction Arts said:

“It is really nice to be in the office at West Studios. The studio space works really well for us on a practical level and moving gave us a better deal because of everything that was included as part of the tenancy: utilities, internet, security, cleaning, and parking are all part of the package. The money we have saved on our running costs will go directly into projects which will benefit communities. Not only that, it has a nice feel to it from a social and networking point of view. There is a welcoming atmosphere. We are meeting different tenants and making connections with artists and different businesses. It is a great place to raise your profile.”

West Studios has also launched a virtual office space to support small and start-up businesses in Chesterfield to develop and be part of a bigger network of creative industries.

 

Time to become more sustainable?

Tackling the effects of climate change is a key priority for Chesterfield Borough Council, having declared a climate emergency.  And East Midlands Chamber has launched its Sustainable East Midlands campaign to help businesses engage with the sustainability agenda.

Although some businesses may be reluctant to the required changes coming from new regulations, becoming greener also brings opportunities to reduce costs, for securing new business and for innovation.

At the end of 2020, Chesterfield based Custom Solar created energy savings for local company, Xbite, equivalent to supplying eight average UK homes with electricity for one year.  Xbite was awarded a maximum value £20,000 low-carbon energy grant to help install over 270 solar panels at its HQ offices at Barlborough and warehouse at Markham Vale.

Nick Whitehead, managing director at Xbite, said: “The DE-Carbonise Team took all the hassle away from applying for the grant and were great to work with. Solar panels will help us reduce our CO2 emissions by 20,731kg per year, and generate 74,760 kWh per year of electricity, some of which we will be able to sell back to the National Grid.”

The DE-Carbonise project launched in November 2019 and is a 3-year extension to the previously successful and award-winning D2EE project, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Grants of up to £20,000 are available for businesses looking to improve their environmental practices. Over 500 businesses in Derby and Derbyshire have been supported to date.

 

Let’s work together

It’s likely your business has already engaged with other local organisations – either before or during the pandemic.  The town is well-known for collaborative working and Destination Chesterfield is pleased to link together with partners to support growth and development.

We’d love to say hello.

If you would like to access marketing and other local opportunities, training, peer networks or a free business adviser with bespoke advice for your needs, please contact Tara Underhill for more information: 07392868746 or tara.underhill@chesterfield.co.uk.

Posted in Apprentice Town, Blog, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield

Whittam Cox Architects appointed on Brent Cross Town project

Argent Related has appointed Whittam Cox Architects on the first phase of their 180-acre regeneration Masterplan in London.

Brent Cross Town will be a new park town for London and is set to be net carbon zero by 2030. Surrounded by 50-acres of parks and playing fields, the area will feature 6,700 new homes, workspace for over 25,000 people pedestrian-friendly streets, local shops, restaurants, schools and student accommodation.

Whittam Cox Architects will lead the technical implementation as Executive Architects for two plots initially, working in collaboration with several other high-profile architecture practices and interior designers.

In this initial phase of construction, a mix of tenures for ownership and rent will be incorporated, along with complimentary commercial, amenity and leisure spaces.

Nick Riley, Board Director at Whittam Cox Architects commented, “Our appointment on Brent Cross Town reflects our experience in high-quality urban residential projects. This appointment with Argent Related is a significant instruction for us. The vision is bold and ambitious, and Argent Related’s commitment to the environmental agenda is commendable”.

Tom Goodall, Head of Residential for Argent Related said, “We have developed a relationship with Whittam Cox Architects on the back of their track-record and experience. We believe their technical and commercial strength, as well their understanding of modern methods of construction, will help ensure we deliver exceptional quality buildings and homes”.

Brent Cross Town is the neighbourhood at the heart of the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme. It is a joint venture between Argent Related and Barnet Council to develop a large-scale mixed-use development including new homes, retail and office space, as well as improved schools and greenspaces in the area.

Early work started on site in early 2020 and construction is also underway on the new Brent Cross West station which will be completed by the end of 2022. Building on the strengths of this diverse part of the city, Brent Cross Town will draw inspiration from the best of London’s long-established neighbourhoods with all their complexity and character.

At its heart, will be a focus on sport, play, health and well-being. The new neighbourhood will provide 6,700 homes, state-of-the-art workspace for over 25,000 people, and pedestrian friendly streets and squares with local shops and restaurants that will complement the offer at Brent Cross Shopping Centre. The community will be supported by first-class public transport infrastructure, a new and improved network of walking and cycle routes and a series of new parks and other amenities.

Whittam Cox Architects supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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“We go into 2021 with hope” – Peter Swallow – January 2021

Destination Chesterfield chair, Peter Swallow has outlined his hopes and aspirations for Chesterfield and North Derbyshire as we enter the new year…

Following what has been a very difficult year for everyone, we go into 2021 with hope, in the knowledge that a vaccine will soon hopefully eradicate Coronavirus, there is an undercurrent of excitement and energy going into the New Year.

With light at the end of the tunnel, we can now not only look forwards but also back at what has been achieved, despite the pandemic.

While we may have felt that 2020 was a year in limbo, now that we have time to reflect, we can see that the town made significant progress in the face of adversity enabling us to go into 2021 with a firm foundation for growth.

Pre Covid our strong and proud Shop Local message came to the fore during lockdown. As our high street closed, we opened our laptops and phones and shopped locally virtually with help from Destination Chesterfield and the local media. They sprang into action and brought attention to the myriad of independent retailers and market traders to ensure we gave them our business.

The very real experience of the high street closing I believe, has made us value it even more. We have missed the opportunity of being able to ‘pop’ into town and meet up with friends or simply bump into them while out on errands.

It is the strong community spirit that exists in Chesterfield that makes us resilient as a town and able to face the catastrophic effects of a pandemic head on. I am proud that we didn’t bunker down and ride out the storm- we chose to fight it head on instead. This resilience has enabled us to identify opportunities which have emerged during the pandemic; one of these being the growth in demand for quality office space, a fact which is acknowledged by virtually all commercial property advisors and consultants.

Experts agree that working from home is not a long-term option for a number of reasons. I know that I am fed up with it! Instead, they predict that we will combine home and office working.

Rather than having a single large office, large companies will want to spread risk and look to regional markets like Chesterfield in which to establish satellite offices.

Chesterfield could not be better positioned to capitalise on this opportunity in 2021. Three new office developments will open – the Enterprise Centre at Northern Gateway, No.1 Waterside Place at Chesterfield Waterside and Glass Yard on Sheffield Road.

The offices will of course benefit the town centre as office workers will create critical footfall in local shops, stores and market stalls.

It is this forward thinking, resilience and community spirit that will ensure Chesterfield thrives in the face of a global recession, just as it did 10 years ago when the council established Destination Chesterfield. If history repeats itself then we have much to look forward to in 2021 and beyond.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

Work to begin on Elder Way improvements

A multimillion-pound project to revitalise the heart of Chesterfield and improve the public space is set to begin.

The works, which will cost £3.25 million, will begin this week (w/c 4 January 2021) and will include a series of improvements to the footpaths and the public space around Elder Way – creating a more inviting pedestrian route from the Northern Gateway development to the retail centre of the town.

During the week commencing 4 January a works yard will be established in the lower Devonshire Road car park which will reduce disruption in the town centre. All works should be complete by Summer 2021.

It is a key part of Chesterfield Borough Council’s Northern Gateway project which over the past 18 months has seen the opening of the new town centre Premier Inn and the new Saltergate multi-storey car park, as well as the start of building works on the new Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre located on part of the Holywell Cross (Donut) car park.

The project aims to create a more attractive environment for users and businesses looking for opportunities to invest in the town centre.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “This ambitious project will breathe new life into the town centre and improve the quality of the area by making it a more attractive place to visit. These changes will also lead to increased space for businesses to have outdoor seating which should further guarantee this area’s role in the town’s visitor economy.

“This work will cause some inevitable disruption in the short term, but we’re working with the contractors to limit this as far as possible. We have attempted to contact those businesses affected and will continue to provide updates as the works progress on the council’s website.

“Improving the town centre in this way should help set a vision for the future of Chesterfield and further demonstrates how important our high street is to the future economic success of the borough.”

Danaher & Walsh Civil Engineering has been appointed by Chesterfield Borough Council to undertake the public space improvement works.

A spokesperson from Danaher & Walsh, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract and look forward to working with Chesterfield Borough Council to deliver this exciting programme of improvements to Chesterfield’s town centre.

“Our site team is committed to working with stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of the works whilst mitigating any potential disruption. We are confident that the delivered scheme will be a source of pride for the people and businesses of Chesterfield.”

Improvements in this phase of the project will focus around Elder Way and should be complete by Summer 2021. The works planned include:

• The reconstruction of existing footways and paved areas with a mix of high-quality paving
• Pavement widening
• Taxi rank improvements on Knifesmithgate
• A range of formal and informal pedestrian crossing improvements.
• The de-cluttering of the street scene by removing obstacles to pedestrian movement
• The introduction of trees into the street
• Introduction / improved design of loading bays
• New bus shelters and re-positioned bus stops on Elder Way
• New street furniture
• Carriageway resurfacing

Funding for the project has been provided by the Sheffield City Region Investment Fund and D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

Due to the nature of these works and the location there is the possibility of some inconvenience for businesses and visitors. Regular updates will be provided directly to affected businesses, and further updates on progress and impacts on the area will be published on the Council’s website (https://www.chesterfield.gov.uk/elder_way_public_realm_improvements).

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , ,

Central Technology and BRM Solicitors gift Netflix to Hospice Patients this Christmas

Chesterfield’s Central Technology has generously gifted Ashgate Hospicecare two smart TV’s to help the charity to help upgrade it’s patient rooms and enable patients to view films and TV shows on Netflix.

The company has provided licenses to use the streaming platform on up to 16 TV’s at the Hospice, while leading private and commercial law firm BRM Solicitors has also joined in the charitable effort with a donation of a Smart TV, meaning three have been donated to the hospice in total.

Marketing Manager for Central Technology, Jo Snow said: “During the pandemic, so many charities have been affected and struggled to continue to offer patients the best possible experience due to lack of funding.

“Ashgate Hospicecare’s utmost priority is to always ensure their patients receive the most compassionate and comfortable end of life care.  Whilst their compassion remains as strong as ever, the blow to the funding this year has meant rooms and equipment still need upgrading.

“We wanted to make sure that patients who are sadly not getting as many visitors as normal have the access to what has kept many of us going during the lockdowns – Netflix!  The hospice’s In-Patient Unit has 21 beds, all patient bedrooms have TVs, however 13 of these TVs are not smart so cannot access Netflix and other streaming sites.

“Whilst Ashgate still need 10 more Smart TV’s, we hope this small gesture will provide a wider range of entertainment for the patients and make their stay more comfortable.”

“We would love other businesses in the area to consider gifting a Smart TV to Ashgate to help them upgrade the other 10 rooms.

“If you would like to help them, feel free to get in touch with Ian Snow ian.snow@ct.co.uk or Charlotte Gratton charlotte.gratton@ashgatehospicecare.org.uk. It could make a huge difference to a patients’ Christmas this year.”

Karen Walker, Ward Manager at Ashgate Hospicecare added: “Our patients will love this, especially at this time of year where they can watch Christmas movies with their loved ones.”

Central Technology, BRM Solicitors and Ashgate Hospicecare support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Find out more about how our Chesterfield Champions have been getting into the festive spirit this Christmas by clicking here

Posted in Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Christmas, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , ,

Funding given to restore stretch of Chesterfield Canal at Renishaw

£50,000 has been awarded to a project aimed at restoring and extending a derelict canal channel in Renishaw. The ‘Rewatering Renishaw’ scheme will transform the stretch into a permanent water space that local people can enjoy.

Approximately 500m of the Chesterfield Canal channel was restored through Renishaw, Derbyshire in 2010, as part of a housing development. However, due to various issues, the stretch proved to be unuseable. It delivered little benefit to the newly created community on the housing estate and the wider Renishaw community.

This project is part of Phase 1 of the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s ambition to restore the canal to full navigation by 2027. This will be the 250th anniversary of the canal’s original opening. The complete Phase 1 works will extend the current limit of navigation from the town of Staveley to the village of Renishaw. They will also include the construction of three new accommodation bridges, four new bridleway bridges, a lock, a railway overbridge, an aqueduct and approximately 5km of new or restored channel.

The entire Phase 1 of the project will take several years to complete. It will require over £4m to be raised. The works at Renishaw (Phase 1a) can be completed much earlier and provide lasting benefits to the community. These will be felt long before either the Phase 1 works are completed, or it forms part of a fully restored waterway. This lasting and standalone benefit from an interim restoration stage is a prime example of the Waterways in Progress philosophy.

The grant, with additional funding from Chesterfield Canal Trust and Derbyshire County Council, will allow the trust to undertake the following Phase 1a work:

  • 550m of canal channel re-profiled to navigable standards.
  • 1,050m of canal channel relined using a geosynthetic clay liner.
  • 250m of stone gabions installed in the canal banks and waterproofed by casting a concrete face up to the water level.
  • Clinker Wood side weir restored and a temporary pumping system provided to supply water from the River Rother to the canal.
  • 550m of towpath resurfaced, making it suitable for pedestrians and cyclists. The current path is virtually impassable despite being the official public right of way.
  • A further 915m of towpath resurfaced to provide a circular 2.5km surfaced route incorporating the Trans-Pennine Trail.
  • Eight picnic benches, made from recycled plastic. These will be installed across two locations along with three standard benches in other areas of the scheme. Two of the picnic benches will be suitable for wheelchair users.
  • Installation of signage to encourage users of the Trans-Pennine Trail to explore the canal and the village. Plus the provision of 12 cycle stands to allow cyclists to secure their bikes.
    Additional Works
  • Alongside the above works, the project partners plan to deliver the following additional works to futureproof the canal for navigation:
  • 210m of concrete and masonry wash walling constructed around Black’s Pit corner, in order to protect the banks around this tight turn.
  • 285m of steel piling installed to the south of Barlborough Road Bridge, to provide future visitor moorings.

Trust Secretary Rod Auton said: “This is great news for the Trust and even better news for the residents of Renishaw. The canal looked great when first restored in 2009, but has since become an eyesore. We will now be able to restore and extend it on both sides of Barlborough Road and keep it looking wonderful with a regular water supply. It is even possible that it could be connected to Chesterfield within a couple of years, if the necessary funding can be secured.”

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Chesterfield College helps employers access £2 billion of government funding to recruit young people

Chesterfield College is helping employers make the most of government funding to grow their workforce and help young people into employment. The college is now a provider and intermediary of the government’s Kickstart Scheme, helping businesses of all sizes, in all sectors, to get access to their share of £2 billion of funding to provide meaningful 6-month job placements for 16-24-year olds.

The scheme was launched earlier this year as part of a recovery package of measures outlined by the chancellor, Rishi Sunak. It offers employers a means of growing their workforce with a talent pool of people looking for a route into employment.

The WorkSkills team at Chesterfield College is working with employers to apply for funding, liaise with JobCentrePlus, choose the right candidates, and provide any additional training needs alongside the job placements.

Funding available for each job will cover the relevant National Minimum Wage, plus NI contributions and any auto enrolment pension costs for up to 25 hours a week. Employers will be able to benefit from a fully funded new member of staff, but they can also choose to top up and pay above the minimum wage or cover the costs beyond 25 hours per week.

There is also funding available to support young people to develop new skills and to help them move into sustained employment after they have completed their Kickstart funded job. Free upfront and on-going training, designed to support the new roles created, will be provided by the college to ensure new employees can make the most of their opportunity.

Lee Kirton, WorkSkills Delivery Manager from Chesterfield College said: “This a fantastic opportunity for employers of all sizes to grow their workforce and access a large pool of candidates with potential and ambition, ready for an opportunity to kick start their career. Our expertise of working with employers, young people and JobCentrePlus will give employers the best chance of accessing this pot of funding and benefiting from the Kickstart scheme. We are passionate about working together to create meaningful job placements for young people to develop in.”

For more information about the rules of Kickstart scheme and how to access funding working with Chesterfield College, visit https://www.chesterfield.ac.uk/kickstart-scheme-launches-2-billion-of-funded-roles-now-available-for-employers/

Find out more about apprenticeships in Chesterfield here

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Chesterfield’s Twist Magazine sets up loyalty card scheme for local shoppers and businesses

Twist magazine responded to the coronavirus crisis by setting up the largest loyalty card scheme in Chesterfield, enabling any local business to offer money-saving offers to its readers – entirely for free.

The publication distributed 15,500 Twist & Save Cards to its readers and each month it publishes a list of local businesses and services where Chesterfield folk can claim discounts or other benefits.

Dozens of businesses have been quick to join the scheme, offering all manner of incentives to attract new customers.

Said Heron Publications director Mike Firth: “We had been considering a scheme such as this for a long while and, with many businesses going through the toughest of times in 2020, this was the perfect time to launch it.

“It’s one way we have been able to put something back into the community which supports our publication so well.

“Businesses can promote their own individual deals and card-holders can take advantage of all manner of special offers. Everyone benefits – and no-one has to pay a penny to be involved.”

Additional Twist & Save Cards are available from the magazine for people wanting to pass them on to relations or friends.

Added Mike: “Everyone knows the importance of dealing with local shops and services. When people can also show their Twist & Save Card to make a saving or pick up a ‘freebie’ locally, it’s a no-brainer for them.”

Heron Publications have launched similar schemes through its other three magazines – Wings, Dronfield Eye and Active8 – with a total of almost 52,000 cards distributed to readers.

The Twist & Save Card scheme is supported by Chesterfield Borough Council. To discover how your business or service can benefit, email twistcard@heronpublications.co.uk or call Mandy Goulding on 01246 416027.

You can find out more about local shopping in Chesterfield here.

Twist Magazine supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Mike Firth, Heron Publications

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Christmas, Development, Featured, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , ,

GBS work with D2N2 to launch transformative ‘Skills Bootcamps’

The government has announced plans to transform the training and skills system across our region in a bid to make it fit for the 21st century economy and help the country build back better from coronavirus.

In a written Ministerial statement, the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been confirmed as one of three regions that will deliver an extension of the government’s Skills Bootcamps programme.

The programme will be funded by the Department for Education and developed locally by the D2N2 LEP working with local employers, providers and local authorities.

Skills Bootcamps are short flexible courses of around 12 weeks that have been designed to give people the opportunity to build up their digital skills and fast-track them to an interview with a local employer.

The courses are not for digital experts – participants need a good grasp of the English language and a willingness to learn new skills. The training programme has been developed with local employers and participants who complete the programme will have the opportunity of an employer interview and support to apply for relevant jobs.

The scheme is open to anyone aged 19+ in these local areas, whether they’re looking for work, already in work, or are returning to work after some time out. Courses are particularly being designed to encourage more women into digital roles and training will fit flexibly around existing commitments.

Recruitment for the Skills Bootcamps will start on 7th December, and the courses must be completed by the end of March 2021.

Skills Bootcamps are just one of the already announced programmes being paid for over five years by the £2.5 billion National Skills Fund, which will also cover an entitlement to a first, full level 3 qualification for every adult, and now the National Retraining Scheme.

Speaking about the announcement, Elizabeth Fagan CBE, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership said: “Delivering and increasing skills at all levels is critical to our region’s economic recovery from COVID-19 and our long-term growth. Training in the skills of the future and the skills we know our employers want and need is an important way to help our communities and our people bounce back into employment quickly.

“Today’s announcement will complement the many local schemes that are already up and running across our region. I would urge anyone who is out of work or who is concerned about their future employment, to please see what training and course options are available through the D2N2 website.”

Delivery of this work will be undertaken by a partnership of 10 providers, each with differing specialisms, industry links or geographical focus.

GBS will be offering courses in Digital Marketing, Content Creation and IT. These courses have been developed by our in-house specialists to provide high-quality training to successful delegates.

John Cusworth, Director of GBS Ltd, said: “The suite of programmes developed to support employers in the D2N2 region present a great opportunity for workforces to enhance and grow their digital infrastructure. In a society that’s becoming more and more digitalised, now is the perfect time to embrace the digital era to ensure businesses are maximising their digital and IT capabilities and are adequately resourced.”

Recruitment for the courses will begin on 7th December, but you can register your interest today.

Workshops will also be provided by Dronfield-based Ascento.

These will be focused around:

  • Adwords, PPC & SEO
  • Analytics & Metrics
  • Planning Digital Campaigns
  • Maximising Digital Channels
  • Social Selling

GBS supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

John Cusworth, GBS Ltd.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

December blog- Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield

Destination Chesterfield chair Peter Swallow has provided an update to businesses and residents in Chesterfield, as we take a look back on the positive developments which have progressed in the town this year and look ahead to Christmas and 2021.

Peter Swallow Chair of Destination Chesterfield

Despite the challenges that 2020 has thrown at us all, we end the year on a positive note and a message of hope.

It would be very easy to write-off 2020 as an unmitigated disaster. We have all been bombarded with Covid-related bad news throughout the year. However, amongst the doom and gloom there has been some good news, and a common thread of hope throughout the year.

Development and investment, which will lay the foundation for future jobs in the town, has continued throughout 2020. Significant headway has been made on the new Enterprise Centre being constructed on the donut car park, and construction of the new ‘grade a’ offices at Chesterfield Waterside got underway.

Despite the imposed social distancing, I believe that Chesterfield’s communities have become closer and more supportive of each other during the pandemic. Although there are high hopes for the vaccine which has recently been announced, it is important that we maintain the Shop Local momentum over Christmas.

Chesterfield is a resilient and adaptable town and nowhere is this more evident that on our high street.

We have seen businesses adapt overnight – from doorstep deliveries of beer, tea and coffee, drive and buy fruit and veg on the market, to website launches and takeaway gourmet meals to cook at home. These small things have kept us all connected and smiling!

Non-food retailers, restaurants, bars and cafes have had it particularly tough. However, we have embraced the Shop Local message and gone out and supported local businesses enabling the survival of many.

In these challenging times it has never been more important to support each other. I am delighted that Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council have continued to work collaboratively this year on the Christmas in Chesterfield Campaign. Combining our efforts will reinforce the Support Local message.

We may not be able to physically get into the high street businesses, but many independent retailers, restaurants and cafes offer us access to their products and services from the comfort of our homes using our laptops, tablets, telephones and perhaps even carrier pigeons (OK, maybe not carrier pigeons——!)

Making the decision to choose an independent retailer for your gifts and food both now and beyond the pandemic will make a huge difference to our high street.

As we look to 2021, there can be no simpler message for the town other than ‘support each other.’

I wish you all a happy and HEALTHY Christmas and New Year.

 

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