Celebrate Chesterfield

Popular physical activity game Beat the Street is coming to Chesterfield

An innovative game that has already helped more than one million people get active is coming to Chesterfield from Wednesday 26th February to Wednesday 8th April.

Beat the Street is a free, interactive game that encourages people of all ages to leave the car at home and see how far they can walk, cycle, scoot or run during the six-week game.  The game is open to anyone of any age and there are prizes for the teams and individuals who travel the furthest.

Beeping and flashing sensors called Beat Boxes will be placed on lampposts around the town including the villages Duckmanton, Norbriggs, Poolsbrook and Woodthorpe.

Prior to the game, primary school pupils will be provided with fobs while parents and teachers will receive a card from the school so they can accompany children. The wider community can pick up a contactless card from a distribution point. Players then walk or cycle between the 120 Beat Boxes which are spaced half a mile apart – tapping the fobs or cards as they go. The further players travel, the more points they score.

Chesterfield residents are also encouraged to enter workplaces, community groups and sports groups into the game.

The game was devised by GP Dr William Bird MBE in 2010 to get communities active and to make physical activity accessible to everyone. So far, the game has been played all over the UK including East London, Leicester and Liverpool as well as Norway, New York and beyond. Beat the Street Chesterfield is funded as part of a £3.3 million National Lottery funding grant from Sport England; it is supported by Chesterfield Borough Council and delivered by Intelligent Health.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We are incredibly excited to be bringing Beat the Street to Chesterfield and can’t wait to see how far everyone is able to walk, run, cycle and scoot during the challenge.”

“The idea of the game is to encourage people to get more active and then to continue these new healthy lifestyle habits beyond the end of the game. The feedback from players in other towns who have experienced Beat the Street is often that people find it quite addictive and are not only doing great things for their health, getting out as a family and finding new places close by that they’ve not visited before.”

“It’s also a great way of saving money on fuel, helping reduce congestion and also air quality.”

“It’s open to everyone, so please keep an eye out for more information including where you can pick up a free card.”

More information is available at www.beatthestreet.me/chesterfield and on social media @ChesterfieldBTS

Story of Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

D2N2 launches call for funding

The D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is opening a call for new projects from D2N2’s Local Growth Fund allocation.

The Local Growth Fund is a Government Fund awarded to each LEP area to support economic growth in every region. D2N2 has an allocation of just over £250M which has been invested in projects since 2015 to unlock new jobs, housing and support skills development.

As the fund is coming to the end of the programme, D2N2 is looking to invite potential new projects that are ready to be delivered in the last year of the programme before March 2021 to utilise any remaining funds, that can support the objectives for a stronger, more productive and inclusive region.

The LEP is inviting organisations to put forward their proposals for capital projects that support the economic objectives for the region as set out in the Strategic Economic Plan and emerging Local Industrial Strategy. This can include projects such as facilities to support innovation, managed or incubation workspace for new and growing businesses, infrastructure to unlock new housing and employment sites including transport, and skills capital to support learners.

Sajeeda Rose, CEO of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership said: “We are looking for projects that are ready to go that will facilitate new jobs and opportunities for local people and businesses and contribute towards the growth of the regional economy.”

“These projects will help us to drive forward our shared growth agenda, delivering economic growth and regenerating and revitalising our communities.”

Projects that have previously received Local Growth funding through the LEP include city and town centre regeneration projects, road and rail improvements, flood defences, training facilities, and development sites.

For more information and further details on how to apply to the pipeline call, visit the D2N2 LEP website here.

The deadline for responses is Midday on the 2nd of March 2020.

Over 200 delegates attended the 2019 D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership Annual Conference in November.

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

Local students find out how apprenticeships can kick start their career

Chesterfield College students and pupils from schools across Derbyshire had the opportunity to meet local and national employers offering exciting apprenticeship opportunities last week.

The Apprenticeship Careers Fair, held at the college during National Apprenticeship Week, brought students and employers from a range of different sectors together.

Students found out more about the type of careers they could start or develop with an apprenticeship and employers promoted the range of apprenticeships they offered in everything from business to healthcare and engineering to the armed forces.

Engineering apprentices, Warren Feast and Aaron Leivers (right), enjoyed speaking to students about the benefits of their apprenticeship with precision engineering company, Nasmyth based in Pinxton. They also highlighted the practicalities of earning and learning.

Warren said: “For me the best way to learn is to be hands on. An apprenticeship gives you the chance to learn in real situations day in day out. Spending time at college and learning on the job gives you the best of both worlds.”

“I never imagined that doing an apprenticeship would give me the knowledge and the confidence to talk to people about aerospace engineering. It’s really good to be able to speak to people about what their interests are and whether an apprenticeship would lead them on the right path.”

Chesterfield-based drinks manufacturer and owners of Casa Hotel and Peak Edge Hotel, Global Brands, currently have 8 apprentices and they are looking for 3 more apprentices in varying hospitality and business functions.

Andrea Houghton, Talent Acquisition and Development Manager, said: “We’re here today to highlight the opportunities there are to develop a career with us. We offer apprenticeships from level 2 all the way up to level 6. Our apprentices come into a real job doing vital business functions working alongside experienced professionals. They learn how the business works and our goal is to develop and keep that talent.”

Construction students Leon Humphries and Bradley Edge both secured a trial with Dalton Roofing at the Careers Fair.

Leon said: “The event was a great opportunity to find an apprenticeship. I have been trying to find the right one for a while so it was good to be able to speak to Dalton Roofing today. I am looking forward to starting a trial next week and hopefully getting started with my apprenticeship soon after that.”

Julie Richards, Principal and Chief Executive of the Chesterfield College Group said: “It is vital to encourage young people to consider apprenticeships as a route to building a successful career. Providing our students and school pupils with the opportunity to meet employers and other apprentices at the careers fair is a fantastic way to highlight the significant benefits an apprenticeship can offer. It was wonderful to see so many employers talking enthusiastically about how they need the talent and skills of our young people in their organisations.”

“I am delighted that we can play a part in helping young people establish a career and help employers develop the workforce they need through apprenticeships.”

To find out more about the huge range of apprenticeships on offer visit www.learningunlimiteduk.com or call the Apprenticeship Hub at Chesterfield College on 0345 8501055.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Visiting

New on-street bins to allow recycling on the go

Residents and visitors are being encouraged to recycle when they are on the go as the council has introduced new on-street bins in Chesterfield.

Chesterfield Borough Council has installed three new bins in the town centre as part of a trial with more expected across the borough in spring this year if it is a success.

Located outside the Town Hall, at the bottom of Shentall Gardens and outside the Customer Service Centre, the new bins replace single black on street bins, with one side of the bin allowing people to recycle plastic bottles, glass bottles and tin cans while the other side will still be used for general waste.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Chesterfield Borough Council, said: said: “In July last year, the council declared a Climate Emergency and following this, we’ve been asking local people to consider their waste, what can be reduced, reused or recycled.

“We’re always looking at ways that we can make it easier for our residents and visitors to make the right choices when it comes to waste, both at home and when out in the borough, and these new bins will make it easier for everyone to recycle when they are in the town centre.

“Recycling is a positive way that we can all make a difference in our communities so we’re urging people working, living or visiting Chesterfield to use the new bins and help us ensure that as much waste as possible is recycled.”

Create Change Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Banner Jones Solicitors raises £1,000 for John Eastwood Hospice

Award winning law firm Banner Jones has raised £1,000 for John Eastwood Hospice through their annual Free Wills Month.

Running for the 4th year in a row, as part of the John Eastwood Hospice Free Wills Month, the team offered members of the public the opportunity to have their will written or updated, free of charge, in return for a donation to the charity.

The funds raised will help John Eastwood Hospice – an independent registered charity – continue its work in providing vital palliative care services to patients for free to those with life-limiting illnesses. The charity relies on the generosity of the local community and its team of volunteers.

This donation comes amidst of the firm’s next upcoming charity Free Wills Month which is expected to run throughout February in support of Helens Trust, a Derbyshire-based charity which helps terminally ill people spend the rest of their life in their own home.

Katie Woodard, Wills Team Leader at Banner Jones Solicitors commented: “We work closely with John Eastwood Hospice throughout the year and I’m so pleased that the work we do on a daily basis has helped raise money for such a valuable cause.

“We would like to thank all those who have donated and taken the time to let our dedicated team guide them through the Will writing process.”

Martyn Knox, Chair of Trustees at John Eastwood Hospice said: “At John Eastwood Hospice we support people with advanced or progressive diseases such as cancer, motor-neurone disease or other long-term conditions to help improve and maximise the quality of the lives of our patients and their families.

“We are always so grateful for Banner Jones’ support and our ongoing relationship with the team.”

Banner Jones Solicitors is an award-winning law firm with offices in Chesterfield, Sheffield, Mansfield, Dronfield and Nottingham.

Click here to find out more about Banner Jones Solicitors

Vicky Strong (Paralegal at Banner Jones), Katie Woodward (Wills Team Leader at Banner Jones), Mark Bilton (Executive Director at Banner Jones) and Martyn Knox (Chair of Trustees at John Eastwood Hospice)

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Home

Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa announce new General Manager

The Ringwood Hall Hotel and Spa are pleased to announce they have appointed a new General Manager.

Tim Cadman has been named as the General Manager following the retirement of Rona Davies after 21 years of service. Tim brings with him a wealth of knowledge, including 19 years of General Manager experience, three years of which were at the Copthorne Hotel in Sheffield.

Tim said “I am delighted to be joining the property which has undergone huge refurbishments in the past two years. I am very excited to be joining Ringwood as they embark on a bright future and overseeing further developments. On behalf of the whole team and I, we would like to wish Rona a very happy retirement”.

Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa is a splendid Georgian grade 2 listed Manor House, set in 29 acres of grounds. In 2018, the hotel opened its new Garden Secret Spa featuring a Vitality Pool, Herbal Sauna, Foot Spas, Himalayan Salt Sauna, Blossom Steam Room, Ice Fountain, Experience Showers, Relaxation Lounges, 7 treatment rooms and its own Brassiere.

Click here to find out more about Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa

Ringwood Hall suite Chesterfield refurbished

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Development, Home, Leisure, Visiting

B&M donates £20,000 to Ashgate Hospicecare

A cash injection from B&M will help transform Chesterfield’s Ashgate Hospicecare, saving them vital funds.

The discount retailer has donated £20,000 to Ashgate Hospicecare which will help them continue to transform their ‘cramped and dated’ bay areas into nine beautiful bedrooms for their patients and families.

The hospice unveiled the brand new bedrooms to colleagues from B&M’s Chesterfield branch – and so far, the transformation is amazing.

Work on the three-bedded bay areas began in April this year and thanks to B&M’s donation they will be able to continue their transformation of the bays into nine private bedrooms.

With the donation the charity will be able to buy the essential items and fittings for one of the new bedrooms, enabling the hospice to provide the highest quality specialist care and emotional support for local people with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Ali Ward-Foster, Partnerships Manager at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “Thank you so much to B&M for their amazing gift.”

“The new bedrooms will be a safe haven for so many patients and their families and will provide our patients and their loved ones with a spacious, private and homely environment when they need it the most. On behalf of everyone at Ashgate Hospicecare, thank you so much!”

The funds to help the charity were donated from B&M’s Community Fund which supports charities and projects within the communities their stores serve. The discount retailer looks for local causes which will make a real difference to their customers, our environment and to the communities in which our stores are based.

Area Manager, Joe Teague, said: “My team chose Ashgate Hospicecare because we wanted to help them with their journey to transforming the hospice.”

“The care the hospice provides can be a lifeline to local families so it is great that we can help and support local people in need.”

Click here to find out more about Ashgate Hospicecare

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

BHP bolsters tax team with private client specialist

Award-winning accountancy firm, BHP, has expanded its tax department with the appointment of Suzy Harris-Milnes as Tax Partner.

Suzy has specialised in private client work for more than 20 years and will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the firm, where she will help business owners, wealthy individuals and trusts with their personal tax affairs. She joins BHP after spending 24 years at Grant Thornton.

Offering bespoke advice, Suzy has extensive experience in creating aligned personal and business strategies for private clients.

Chris Humphreys, Head of Tax at BHP, said: “Suzy has spent the majority of her career developing long-lasting relationships with private clients to help shape and structure their personal finances.

“As we continue to grow, we are thrilled that Suzy has chosen to join the business – her experience in private client work will further strengthen the services that we offer.”

Suzy Harris-Milnes, Tax Partner at BHP, commented: “BHP has a long-standing reputation as a strong, independent business with an exciting future ahead. I was attracted to the growing accountancy firm because of its great clients, numerous award wins and recruitment growth over the last few years.

“I am now looking forward to expanding my speciality, building new relationships, training the team internally and highlighting the importance of private client work.”

Last year, BHP was recognised by the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list – in its 19th year, the hard-fought and nationally celebrated list recognises the very best in employee engagement around the country.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Home

Spire Radio and S40 & S41 Local magazines announce partnership

Chesterfield Champions Spire Radio and S40 & S41 Local magazines are partnering to offer discounted advertising packages across radio and print.

The new partnership will help businesses get their name and services out to a wider and more diverse local audience. Companies or organisations can benefit from a healthy discount (between 20 and 25%) when advertising packages on radio and in the magazines are arranged together, helping Chesterfield’s businesses reach even more potential clients. Along with the advertising packages, Spire Radio, are also offering all S40 & S41 Local advertisers, new or existing, 10% off any quoted event price.

S40 Local is one of two popular printed publications, that together form the online hub, Chesterfield Local. S40 Local magazine has been helping support local business, encouraging a sense of community and championing local events for over 11 years. Sister publication, S41 Local, was launched in 2018 and follows the same ethos as the original magazine with tailored content for the community based to the North West of Chesterfield, together delivering to 14,500 addresses.

S40 Local delivers to areas including Acorn Ridge, Ashgate, Brampton, Brookside, Holymoorside, Somersall and Walton, S41 Local to Ashgate Heights, Brockwell, Brushfield, Cutthorpe, Dunston (Skylarks & businesses) Highfield, Linacre, Newbold, Piccadilly, Sheffield Road (businesses) and Spital. Plus, both are delivered to a small selection of independent town centre businesses. (Please note: S40 & S41 Local do not cover the entire postcodes for S40 and S41 as distribution has grown organically).

Paul Chapman, Editor and Owner of S40 Local, said: “I’m excited to be pairing our services alongside Spire Radio. Like Spire Radio, I’m keen to support our town and the great independent businesses within it. This partnership will enable businesses to make the readers of S40 and S41 Local, together with the online listeners of Spire Radio aware of the great services they have to offer.”

Simon Paterson, Editor of S41 Local, said: “Having seen the great work that Spire Radio do at many of our local events, championing our town and providing quality entertainment, I am proud to be a part of this forward-thinking partnership. It’s great when two local, independent businesses work together, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this great venture.”

Spire Radio is a lifestyle branded online community radio station, broadcasting 24 hours a day from their Chesterfield Town Centre studio. They have the biggest range of live shows broadcast from Chesterfield (they do not syndicate shows with other stations), with over 80 hours a week of local, live content. They are coming up to their 5th anniversary, which will bring a range of changes to the station, including a significant investment to be announced in Spring 2020.

Jordan Hartshorne, Director of Social Media and PR at Spire Radio (right), thinks working together reflects the community spirit of Chesterfield: “Spire Radio is really excited to be working with S40 and S41 Local magazines on these new packages which will help Chesterfield businesses reach more people in the community”.

Businesses who are interested in the new packages can get in touch via email on sales@spire-radio.com, paul@s40local.co.uk or Simon@s41local.com. The combined radio and print offers are available to new advertisers only.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield

UKATA urges employers to ensure apprentices are asbestos aware

As part of National Apprenticeship Week 2020 (3 – 9 February) the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) is urging employers to deliver asbestos awareness training to all apprentices.

The message comes amid efforts by UKATA, which is one of the UK’s leading authorities on asbestos training, to halt the growing numbers of tradespeople contracting fatal asbestos related diseases.

Research has shown that younger people, if routinely exposed to asbestos fibres over time, are at greater risk of developing deadly asbestos related diseases than older workers.

Providing apprentices with key information about asbestos at an early stage will enable them to challenge poor work practices and protect themselves.

Craig Evans, Chief Operating Officer of UKATA urged: “With the death toll from occupational exposure reaching crisis levels in the UK, UKATA is calling on all employers of apprentices working in trades, to receive asbestos awareness training as soon as possible, whether that’s through a college or with their employer.”

Apprentice electricians, plumbers, carpenters. joiners, heating and ventilation engineers, painters and decorators are just some of the 1.3 million tradespeople that are at risk from exposure to the killer building material. And the facts are startling:

  • Asbestos kills around 20 tradespeople in the UK every week, making it the single biggest cause of work-related deaths (Health & Safety Executive)
  • Electricians are almost 16 times more likely than the general population to develop the killer lung disease mesothelioma in their lifetime. (Occupational, domestic and environmental mesothelioma risks in the British population: a case-control study.)
  • Asbestos exposure kills 4 plumbers every week (Health & Safety Executive)
  • 598 carpenters and joiners died between 1991-2000 as a result of an asbestos disease
  • 1 in 17 British carpenters born in the 1940s will die of mesothelioma (Cancer Research UK and Health & Safety Executive)
  • The UK has the highest death rate from mesothelioma in the world. The risk is highest in people who were exposed to asbestos before age 30. (Institute of Cancer Research)

Despite the well-publicised health risks posed by asbestos, a 2017 survey conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of 500 tradespeople showed that less than a third were aware of the correct ways to deal with and handle asbestos in the workplace.

Craig explained: “It’s never too early to deliver asbestos awareness training to your workforce. The statistics show that the earlier in a person’s career they receive the appropriate training, then the better protected they are against developing asbestos related cancers in later life.

“A simple half day awareness course could prevent them from contracting a deadly disease and also ensure they don’t expose others to the dangers of asbestos.”

To ensure young people have access to asbestos awareness training before entering the workplace, UKATA is supporting the Learning Occupational Health by Experiencing Risks (LOcHER) project.

The LOcHER project idea originated within the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and aims to support colleges to help students develop valuable employment and life skills, so they feel equipped to lead change in their careers and the industries into which they progress.

For employers whose apprentices are yet to receive asbestos awareness training, UKATA advises that they access UKATA approved asbestos awareness training, either with a local provider or online.

“Asbestos awareness training is low cost and readily available. I urge all employers to book their apprentices on these half-day courses and provide them with a safe foundation for a long and safe career within the construction industry,” added Craig.

UKATA approved asbestos awareness courses are available both online and in training centres throughout the UK. Alternatively, the training provider may deliver on site.

To find out more about UKATA, click here.

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

Former RBS Commercial Director joins Bridge Help

Bridge Help has announced the appointment of respected former RBS Commercial Director Darren Marshall as Head of Risk and Underwriting at the firm.

Darren (right) has been enticed out of early retirement to join the rapidly growing Chesterfield-based bridging finance company which provides short term loans for commercial property.

He joins Bridge Help as a non executive director and brings a wealth of high level experience in the banking sector to the company.

His 38-year career with the RBS Group has given him a proven track record in business development which he now brings to the team at Bridge Help. His appointment will assist in driving forward the firm’s ambitions to lend £100 million per year both direct to individuals and through a broker network.

Prior to his early retirement in 2018, Darren covered South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire in his RBS role, building an extensive knowledge base of the local marketplace. After choosing to leave the finance sector through early retirement he and his partner moved from near Rotherham to the North Yorkshire coast from where he will continue to be based.

Darren explained: “Since choosing to retire I have received a number of job offers but the one with Bridge Help genuinely excited me for a number of reasons, but primarily because of the firm’s agility.  Working with Bridge Help also enables me to work remotely which suits my new lifestyle.”

Central to Bridge Help’s agility is video conferencing technology which is enabling it to deal face-to-face with clients, brokers and solicitors in order to speed up the application process.

Bridge Help’s Chief Executive Chris Sellars (below) welcomed Darren onboard, saying: “In my previous role as a solicitor in North Derbyshire, I had the privilege of working alongside Darren on a number of my clients’ deals and have long respected his professionalism and approach. It is a considerable coup for Bridge Help that we have been able to entice Darren out of retirement to join the team. His appointment represents an exciting stage in Bridge Help’s development in the marketplace.”

His appointment follows the decision of Chris Sellars earlier this year to fully commit himself to the business and leave a successful 30-year legal career to focus on the bridging finance firm.

Darren added: “I have known Chris a long time and the chance to work with him was too good to miss.”

For further information about Bridge Help visit www.bridgehelp.co.uk.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Made in Chesterfield