Celebrate Chesterfield

‘Eat, Drink, Explore’ Campaign celebrates food and drink in the Peak District

3rd September 2019

Fantastic food and drink is placed right at the heart of the local tourism offer in Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s exciting new campaign, launched by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire at Chatsworth Country Fair.

Celebrating the area’s diverse food and drink scene and the passionate people behind the products, the video features 20 local businesses and includes well-known faces from the food and drink industry, together with ambassadors for the area.

Additionally, Marketing Peak District & District has launched a fabulous food and drink guide providing visitors with inspiration and information on eating and drinking in the area.

Championing everything from exceptional eateries to unique delicacies such as Bakewell Pudding, the guide seeks to inspire visitors to sample local produce, explore more and uncover fascinating stories about the Peak District and Derbyshire’s passionate producers.

Click here to access the digital version of the Eat, Drink, Explore guide. which includes Richard Alsop from Chesterfield Champion’s Edge Events talking about his favorite food places in Chesterfield.

The brochure will be available free of charge at food and drink businesses, boutique accommodation providers and cultural hotspots across the area and in surrounding cities.

The ‘Eat, Drink, Explore Peak District & Derbyshire’ campaign will target food-lovers both locally, nationally and internationally, showcasing the area’s year-round culinary offering in a bid to drive overnight stays and extend the tourist season.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District and Derbyshire, said: “We’re delighted to launch this exciting new campaign promoting the Peak District and Derbyshire as a one-of-a-kind culinary destination.

“From fine dining in a Michelin-starred restaurant to unique local delicacies, brilliant behind-the-scenes tours and fascinating foraging experiences, the Peak District and Derbyshire can cater for all tastes.

The Duke of Devonshire said: “As the most enthusiastic advocates of Derbyshire, we are delighted that Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire are championing the exceptional wealth of culinary talent that the region has on offer.

“We are incredibly lucky to have wonderful pubs, talented chefs, lots of loyal local farmers, suppliers and producers for our restaurants and award-winning Farm Shop on the Chatsworth Estate – we are thrilled to be able to share these with an even wider audience.”

In October, Destination Chesterfield will announce the latest winners of the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards showcasing more of the wonderful businesses in the Peak District.

Find out more about the best places to eat and drink and the amazing food producers in Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Christmas, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Chesterfield College students celebrate maths and English GCSE success

23rd August 2019

Chesterfield College students are celebrating after achieving the GCSE maths and English grades they need to help them secure college, university places or employment.

Studying maths and English at college helps students to improve the grades they left school with, or refresh qualifications which they might have achieved a while ago. Many universities and employers ask for a grade 4 as a minimum and the Government expect students to achieve this before they leave education aged 18.

Claire Brentnall (right) came back to study English to help her secure her place at university so that she could pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a social worker. There were tears of joy when she opened her results. She said: “I am absolutely amazed and shocked. It is still sinking in! I left school without any GCSEs and I had a dream of being a social worker but I had children quite young so I had to push that further back. I took the plunge and enrolled at college two years ago and had to start on a functional skills course before I could work my way up to GCSE. I am starting university next month which feels great.”

Fashion Student, Piper Barras was shocked to receive her high grade in English Language today. She said: “I wasn’t expecting a grade 7 so it feels pretty good. I had a really good English teacher which helped me a lot. I thought it would be hard to manage studying English and Fashion but it wasn’t that bad. I’ve had lots of support from my tutors on both courses because they wanted to support me to get my English grade.”

Computing students, Jaike Davis-Batr (below), was over the moon when he opened his results with his mum and brother there to celebrate with him: “I left school with 2s and 3s so I didn’t think I would do very well but I’ve smashed everything. I got a merit in my computer course and a 4 in English and maths. I didn’t focus at school or for the first part of my course here but halfway through the year I realised I needed to put the work in. The support I got from the tutors has helped me 100%. Getting these results has given me so many options for next year that I didn’t think I would have.”

David Malone, Chief Operations Officer said: “It is wonderful to see so many of our students celebrating maths and English success today. It is particularly important to celebrate the stories of those who have shown remarkable resilience to improve their results. These students have been studying maths and English alongside other qualifications and juggling work and family too. I am so proud that Chesterfield College has been part of helping them to achieve the grades they need to open up the next stage of study and develop their career. ”

“I hope that our successful students will help to show anyone who might not have achieved the grade they wanted the first time around just what is possible. We take a very different approach to teaching maths and English than people might have experienced at school. We recognise traditional teaching styles might not suit everyone so we use a variety of techniques to allow people to practice their skills. Our students tell us that this is what helps them to improve their grades.”

Chesterfield College has invested £120,000 to develop a new maths and English hub which is set to open in September. The new facility will provide a dedicated space to support students to improve their skills and help them achieve GCSE success.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield

Behind the scenes at the Winding Wheel Theatre

23rd August 2019

Residents and visitors to the town can book a free guided tour of the Winding Wheel Theatre this September, as part of the Heritage Open Days event taking place across the country.

Owned by Chesterfield Borough Council, the theatre is opening its doors to visitors who want to learn more about its history and who would like to find out more about how the venue operates hosting a range of performances and conferences throughout the year.

The Winding Wheel Theatre is a Grade II listed building and was originally built as a cinema in 1923. Attendees will have the chance to ask any questions they may have about its original use as well as seeing both the front of house and backstage areas.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centre and visitor economy, said: “This is the first time a tour of this kind for Heritage Open Days has been organised at the Winding Wheel Theatre, although a similar event was organised at the Pomegranate Theatre a few years ago.

“We hope that local people will enjoy the opportunity to look inside a venue that has been present in Chesterfield for more than 90 years.”

The event is taking place on Saturday 21 September at 10am. Everyone is welcome to attend, although booking is essential as places are limited. Click here for more information or to book.

Heritage Open Days take place every September and see organisations and volunteers across the country organise events to celebrate the country’s history and culture.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Planning application submitted for Activity Centre

21st August 2019

A planning application has been submitted to Chesterfield Borough Council to build an Activity Centre at Peak Resort.

The indoor activity centre will be built at PEAK in Chesterfield and represents the beginning of the phase one delivery of the resort.

The application which has been submitted for consideration by the council is for an indoor activity centre including zip lines, climbing walls, caving, ninja course, trampolining, rope courses, fun walls, adventure golf and e-karts, based at PEAK, Sheffield Road, Unstone, Chesterfield.

PEAK plans to be an integrated leisure, health, sport and education destination on the edge of the Peak District National Park; set on the 300-acre Birchall Estate in Chesterfield.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “The council has worked closely with the developer of PEAK for a number of years and is pleased to receive the planning application for the activity centre which if approved will enable the first element of the PEAK resort to be delivered on the site.

“If successful it is anticipated that the centre will create 100 jobs in Chesterfield with more employment expected as the remainder of the PEAK resort development comes forward.”

Developers of the PEAK site are planning a phased development, with phase one costing in the region of £100m and representing approximately one third of the total outline planning permission.

Attractions in phase one are hoped to include: – an indoor adventure activity centre; a lake and amphitheatre; gateway building and travel hub; hotels, covered events space, multi discipline cycling trails and car and coach parking.

Works previously completed on site, thanks to a £2.8 million Sheffield City Region Infrastructure Fund grant, saw a new roundabout created with access directly connecting the site with the A61 Dronfield bypass.

New multi-user greenways have been formed to link the resort with cycling, horse riding and walking routes in the Peak District National Park, Chesterfield, Sheffield and the countryside in between.

Peter Swallow, Chair of the town’s marketing campaign, Destination Chesterfield said: “It’s fantastic to see the PEAK development continue to move forward with plans for a new indoor venture. As well as creating new jobs for local people and supporting the town’s economy, the site will be an exciting addition to Chesterfield and will be popular with residents and visitors alike.

“Destination Chesterfield has promoted the progress of the PEAK development since its announcement and looks forward to welcoming the development to the town.”

The application is likely to be heard by the planning committee in forthcoming months.

Find out more here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Summer, Visiting

Last few places remain at 2019 Chesterfield Investment Summit

21st August 2019

The final speaker line up for the 2019 Chesterfield Investment Summit has now been confirmed.

With less than 20 places remaining at the popular annual business event, which is taking place on Wednesday 11 September, people are being urged not to miss out on booking their free place.

Future investment and development opportunities in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire will be unveiled at the annual event, which is being held at Casa Hotel in Chesterfield from 8.30am – 12 noon.

With one of the 100 most influential women in technology, Polly Barnfield OBE, already leading the speaker line up at the free to attend event, delegates will also hear from a number of other key business figures at the summit.

This year, the full speaker and panellist line up includes:

Mark Warrilow, Skills Stakeholder Manager – Phase 2 (Skills Employment and Education) at HS2 Ltd.
Peter Storey, Head of Markham Vale at Derbyshire Country Council.
Dr. Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council.
Mark Jones, Head of Technical at Kier Living.
Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council.
Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield and Derbyshire Economic Partnership Board member.
Cllr Tony King, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, Derbyshire County Council
Cllr Amanda Serjeant, Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice Chair of Destination Chesterfield.

The event is organised by Derbyshire Economic Partnership, Destination Chesterfield and Marketing Derby joint partners in the EU funded Invest in D2N2 project with a focus on promoting Derbyshire both nationally and globally as the place to invest for growth and quality of life. The event is also part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Commenting on the event, Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield and who will also be taking part in the question and answer panel at the event, said: “We are delighted to be able to have such great speakers at this year’s Chesterfield Investment Summit. It’s not only an opportunity to learn about the exciting investment plans for the area, but also and opportunity to ask questions and contribute to the direction of the growth and development of Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire.”

To secure one of the final places at the event, please visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/chesterfield-investment-summit/

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

Behind the scenes tour of the Mayor’s parlour

16th August 2019

Chesterfield residents will have the opportunity to visit the Mayor’s parlour this September as the council open the doors to celebrate Heritage Open Days in the borough.

Every September, organisations and volunteers across the country organise events to celebrate the country’s history and culture, and for the first-time residents can book to get a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the mayor’s parlour.

The mayor and mayoress, Councillor Gordon Simmons and Councillor Kate Caulfield, will also talk about their roles at the council and duties they carry out on a weekly basis.

Two tours will take place on Friday 20 September and will take around one hour to complete. Refreshments will also be provided. A maximum of 30 people can attend each tour so booking is essential if you would like to come along. To find out more and to book your place click here.

You can register to attend one of the below tour times:

• 1pm – 2pm
• 2.30pm – 3.30pm

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centre and visitor economy, has helped to organise the events. She said: “Heritage Open Days are events that take place around the country each year. The events are all about celebrating history and the communities in which we live, so we are delighted to be opening up the mayor’s parlour for tours in 2019.”

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

More support to help Derbyshire businesses prosper

14th August 2019

Support for local businesses was at the centre of discussions when Derbyshire County Council met with rural businesses in Ashford in the Water.

Councillor Tony King, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, visited Ashford Business Units to discuss how the county council could offer local firms more support and guidance to help them grow.

Local produce distributor SaucedHere.co.uk, Peak Ales microbrewery and Peak Venues, which specialises in holiday accommodation catering for large groups, praised the support currently offered by the county council and Derbyshire Economic Partnership but the group highlighted that work needs to be ongoing to raise the profile of Derbyshire and the need for larger properties for very small businesses to expand into.

Luke Osborne, Founder of SaucedHere.co.uk said: “It was a pleasure to have been visited by Tony. He took a genuine interest in our work and how it boosts the income of the 40 Derbyshire and Peak District farmers, food and drink producers and businesses we collaborate with. The support from the council has been very encouraging.”

“Our key need going forward is to spread the word about the products listed on our site and continue to grow our customer base.”

“Derbyshire and the Peak District is an unsung food capital of the UK and SaucedHere.co.uk makes it easier for customers to buy local rather than automatically reaching for a national supermarket chain. Anything the council can do to help promote local produce and how to obtain it is gratefully received.”

Councillor King said: “Driving economic growth is a vital part of our ambitious plans for the future because it’s good for business and benefits us all.”

“We know we need to think and do things differently to provide the 21st century services local people want and need – that’s what our ‘Enterprising Council’ approach is all about. So it was great to hear from businesses first-hand about what they think we can do to help them prosper.”

“Our proposals for a Festival of Derbyshire are geared towards raising the profile of our great county so it was good to hear that this is the kind of activity that local businesses such as those in the tourism and food and drink sector want us to drive forward.”

“It’s also worth reminding local people to ‘shop local’ too. Derbyshire has a lot to offer whether it’s in food and drink, tourism or manufacturing and for every £1 spent locally it generates £1.76 for the local economy.”

Marketing Peak District and Derbyshire, the area’s official tourist board which is supported by the county council, has developed a campaign to encourage more visits to the area by highlighting the county’s gastronomy offer.

Local brewers, producers, farmers, eateries and creators within the local food and drink industry are being showcased over the next 12 months as part of the ‘Eat, Drink, Explore’ campaign.

Work has also started to raise the profile of the county among the business community and encourage more companies to invest in the area with the launch of a new service called “Invest in Derbyshire”.

The service has been designed to support the county’s ambition to be a destination of choice for investors and businesses and it will:

Raise the profile of Derbyshire globally to secure investment and create new jobs, acting as a shop window for why Derbyshire should be a destination of choice for investors
Make it easy for investors to choose Derbyshire by providing a one-stop shop offering quality business support tailored to individual businesses’ needs ranging from help and support to choose the right site in Derbyshire to providing information on workforce skills and assisting with recruitment as well as offering guidance on financial incentives
Use market intelligence to target businesses in growth sectors to attract them to Derbyshire.

Derbyshire County Council are also enhancing the level of business support on offer across the county by recruiting our first dedicated business advisor. The new member of staff will support local businesses working alongside and in partnership with advisors at the D2N2 Growth Hub.

Find out more about investing in Derbyshire.

Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, Councillor Tony King (second in from the left) talks business support with Rob Evans from Peak Ales Microbrewery (left), Luke Osborne from SaucedHere.co.uk (centre) next to Justin Heslop from Peak Venues and Derbyshire County Council Business Development Manager, Amanda Brown.

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

Chatsworth Country Fair’s biggest ever hot air balloon lift and introducing Julia Bradbury as President

13th August 2019

The spectacular sight of the biggest ever meeting of hot air balloons gliding majestically across the parkland will greet visitors to this year’s Chatsworth Country Fair (30 August-1 September 2019).

Billed as one of the best meets in Britain, the organisers of the lift have more than 65 pilots registered to take part with dawn and dusk flights scheduled for all three days, weather permitting.

Eye-catching special animal shapes will be among the colourful balloons taking to the skies with pilots coming from all over the UK for the rare opportunity to fly over Chatsworth, a no go zone for the rest of the year.

The skills of the pilots are put to the test with trophies for those who can manage to throw bread buns into a picnic basket on the ground during their flight; plus the chance for a quick ‘splash and dash’ in the river Derwent.

Organiser Rachel Percival, one half of the father and daughter team from the East Midlands Balloon Group, said: “It’s such a beautiful setting that so many pilots are keen to come and experience flying at Chatsworth. We throw in the competitions for a bit of extra fun but it is a real test of skill. If they touch the ground, they’re disqualified and they need to take into account wind speed and direction.”

“For visitors, it really is a fantastic sight to see from miles around when they are arriving and again at dusk. Generally the pilots like to have pootle around for a couple of hours and then will come down and land all over the fair site, from the main arena to the car parks, so get here early to catch the action.”

Chatsworth Country Fair is also delighted to welcome Julia Bradbury as this year’s President. Outside her life on television and following her dedication to environmental causes and caring for the great outdoors, Julia Bradbury co-founded The Outdoor Guide (TOG) with her sister Gina. TOG is an online resource that brings all outdoor-related information into one, easy to use, digital space. From where to walk and visit in the nearby area, to the best pubs for a locally brewed pint, to the best places to stay in the countryside as a wheelchair user, TOG is aiming to make the outdoors accessible to all. Chatsworth is featured on TOG, along with several stunning walks to take nearby. Julia is also the ambassador for Keep Britain Tidy and The Camping and Caravanning Club to name but a few.

Julia said: “I’m honoured to be the guest of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire for this special weekend and to have been given the prestigious title of President of Chatsworth Country Fair, where the best of the British countryside will be showcased.”

“I’m really looking forward to heading back to this part of the UK – Derbyshire is so close to my heart; having spent my childhood here walking with my Dad in the beautiful Peak District, this is where my infatuation with our countryside all began. This part of the country is so full of surprises – from the quaint market towns brimming with history and culture, to underground limestone caves where you feel like you’re in another world. Although I could spend forever rambling the peaks, I could also spend days on end walking around the stunning garden at Chatsworth, which is most certainly a beating heart of the county.”

“I have been waiting all summer with great anticipation for some quintessentially British attractions including the scurry and trial driving which will see ponies and their drivers tackling a huge obstacle course, falconry demonstrations and vehicle parades. I’m hoping to catch a ride in a hot air balloon if I’m lucky and if not, you’re most likely to find me in the food village… probably at any stall selling chocolate!”

Other highlights announced for this year’s Country fair include The Ukrainian Cossacks, the UK’s leading motorcycle display team, the Bolddog Lings and the Poppy Parachute Team.

The Stoves Cookery Theatre has a fantastic line up of top chefs across all three days led by Queen of Baking and Fair favourite Mary Berry on Friday, James Martin on Saturday and wrapped up by The Hairy Bikers on Sunday.

There is plenty to appeal to children of all ages all day long, with pony rides and exotic animals, the climbing wall and zorb balls for the daring, as well as face painting and the vintage fairground for some old-fashioned fun.

On the gate prices for adults are £25 each day and includes parking, while children under 14 get in free. Book in advance to take advantage of 10 percent off all day tickets until midnight 26 August 2019.

Gates open at 9am each day, with a closing ceremony at 6.30pm. For more information on the event and to book tickets, please visit click here.

Image by Geraldine Curtis

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Entries now open for the Derbyshire Times Business Excellence Awards 2019

12th August 2019

Entries are now open for the 2019 Derbyshire Times Business Excellence Awards.

Currently in its 11th year, the winners of the 14 categories will be announced on Thursday 14th November during an awards ceremony taking place at Casa Hotel. The categories for 2019 are;

Charity of the Year
Professional Services Award
Leisure & Lifestyle Award
Community Contribution
Small Business of the Year (sponsored by the University of Derby)
New Business of the Year
Business Person of the Year (sponsored by Banner Jones Solicitors)
Customer Service Award
People Development Award
Apprentice of the Year
Independent Retailer of the Year
Excellence in Manufacturing Award (sponsored by Shorts)
Innovation Award
Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by Future Life Wealth Management)
2019 Business of the Year (sponsored by BHP)

Businesses can apply for more than one award and more information relating to each category can be found on their website here. The awards portal allows applicants to save an entry, and complete it at a later date.

Last year, Future Life Wealth Management’s Managing Director Jillian Thomas won the Lifetime Achievement award and this year the company is sponsoring the category.

Jillian said: “We are proud to be sponsoring this award and I want to be there to congratulate the new recipient.”

“Winning the award last year was a fantastic pat on the back. But it wasn’t about me, it was about the great team we have at Future Life Wealth Management.”

As well as sponsoring the category and being an associate partner, Jillian will be a judge. “I am looking forward to seeing the entries. I am sure the standard will be really high.”

“There are some amazing companies and individuals in our county and we want to be able to help celebrate them all,” said Jillian.

Last year, local hospice and charity Ashgate Hospicecare was recognised with two awards, Charity of the Year and Business of the Year (right). Other winners included Chesterfield Champions Shorts and Stephensons Tea and Coffee House.

The deadline to enter is 6pm on Thursday 19th September 2019. Finalists will be announced 3 weeks prior to the awards, and tickets for the awards ceremony will be on sale from Monday 7th October.

To enter and find out more visit www.derbyshiretimesbusiness.co.uk.

Winners and runners-up of Derbyshire Times Business Awards 2018 join together for a group photograph.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Made in Chesterfield

Supporting Chesterfield’s growth

8th August 2019

Read the latest blog of Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield.

August is upon us and we’re well into the summer holidays. If you’re looking to explore what our town has to offer you and your family, then this is the time to do it!

We have more festivals and events in and around the town centre than ever before. The shortlist for the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards has also been released, offering a great starting point for the very best places to eat and drink.

It’s a great way to kickstart the summer holidays with the kids. What better way to entice them off their screens than with the promise of a tasty treat followed by a day of learning, disguised as fun and intrigue?

There’s a multitude of events going on in the area – from canal cruises, treasure hunts and miniature train rides to hands on history at Bolsover Castle, science roadshows and the Chesterfield Food and Drink Festival. There is something to suit every taste (pun intended!).

As the events calendar has grown year on year, so has Chesterfield’s fortunes. I am delighted that we can, once again, turn the spotlight on the town in the annual Chesterfield Investment Summit. This year the theme is supporting communities through regeneration.

The increased footfall in the town centre and attendance at the many events is evidence that Chesterfield’s regeneration is successful.

More than £1bn of developments are on site and more are on the way. 2019 is the year that we are seeing spades in the ground on a number of much anticipated sites, like Northern Gateway, Elder Way and Chesterfield Waterside. All these sites are, in turn, creating employment opportunities.

There are now more jobs at Markham Vale that when it was a colliery. A record number of 2,236 people are currently employed at Markham Vale; that’s 200 more people than were employed at the former colliery site in its 1980s heyday. Proof that Chesterfield’s regeneration strategy is working.

And we have more success stories to look forward to. Avant Homes is to begin building 173 homes at Waterside later this year after receiving detailed planning permission. Pronto Industrial Paints Ltd have also acquired a new site that will treble their existing space.

Whether you’re a resident or business, it’s important that we come together as a community to support the town’s growth in order to safeguard our future success. Together we really do make a difference.

If you’re interested in the ongoing regeneration of Chesterfield and finding out about how you can support it and get involved, then register here to attend the Chesterfield Investment Summit which takes place on 11 September at Casa Hotel.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Blog, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Summer, Visiting

D2N2 businesses to benefit from £16.74m skills training fund

8th August 2019

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP area are urged to take advantage of a £16.74m skills training fund to upskill their workforce.

The training is delivered as part of a programme called Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW), which Serco’s Employment, Skills & Enterprise business is managing across the D2N2 region. Under the 28-month programme which launched in April, Serco will work in partnership with the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to provide skills development that focuses on upskilling employees in key priority sectors as identified in the LEP’s strategic economic plan;

Transport Equipment Manufacturing
Life Sciences
Food & Drink Manufacturing
Visitor Economy
Low Carbon
Transport & Logistics
Creative & Digital Industries
Construction

Through SSW, eligible businesses can benefit from funded training, tailored to their specific needs. Training is flexible and businesses can select full qualifications or mix and match individual units that are directly relevant to their work. Previous SSW programme participants have benefited from increased employee confidence, motivation and productivity and improved employee loyalty and retention.

Business participants will each benefit from a bespoke Training Needs Analysis that identifies requirements for upskilling or skills gaps in their workforce. Training for participant businesses could cover subjects such as IT and digital skills, leadership and management or more vocationally relevant courses.

The SSW programme in D2N2 also offers support and training for individuals at risk of redundancy or those who have been made redundant within the last three months.

To deliver the programme, which is co-financed by the European Social Fund and the Education and Skills Funding Agency, Serco has partnered with expert training organisations to offer local businesses recognised accredited qualifications and bespoke training courses, aiming to enhance employees’ skills and increase the competitiveness of the businesses.

Rob Matts, Head of Skills Support for the Workforce at Serco, said: “I am delighted that Serco has been selected by the Education and Skills Funding Agency to manage the SSW programme in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire in partnership with the LEP. We have already supported more than 20,000 learners through our SSW delivery across England with more than 7000 businesses benefitting from this important service.”

“I would urge businesses or, individuals that may be facing redundancy, to get in touch with our team and take advantage of the funded training on offer. We look forward to enabling many more businesses to take advantage of SSW training to upskill their staff and grow their businesses.”

Chris Pook, D2N2 Growth Hub Project Manager said: “Nurturing skills within the workforce is essential to help businesses thrive. Companies that we speak to often require advice and support for them to access the right skills for their business and this programme will provide meaningful training which will help support business growth and productivity improvements in the local economy. We look forward to working closely with Serco on this opportunity.”

Businesses can contact Serco on skillssupport@serco.com or click here for more details and to find out if they are eligible for funded training through Skills Support for the Workforce.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Made in Chesterfield