Celebrate Chesterfield

Historic Chesterfield building to become luxury apartments

Leverton UK have been granted planning permission by Chesterfield Borough Council to convert the historic building at 87 New Square into nine luxury apartments.

The company has been in the process of acquiring the building since early July 2017 and were successful in their bid, completing on the building in June 2018.

Director Marcus Leverton said: “We always intended to buy the building and convert it in to luxury residential living accommodation and immediately after securing the building we set about applying for the necessary planning permission to allow this, which was granted on the 4th January 2019.”

“This building is a beautiful double bay fronted red brick structure that we believe dates back to the late 18th century, on land that was leased from the Duke of Devonshire. It will be subdivided in to 7 apartments and 2 penthouse units. Broken down into 3x one bedroom units, 5x two bedroom units and 1x three bedroom Penthouse unit with a stunning roof terrace overlooking the Peak District and the Town Hall.”

“We intend to provide high specification, technologically advanced living spaces, with an abundance of natural light, modern textures and high quality appliances throughout, with open plan communal areas paying testament to the original features of the buildings Georgian heritage.”

“What sets this building apart from any other town centre development is clear, it is a beautiful listed building of significant historical importance with many period features that we intend to lovingly restore.”

The building sits in the corner of New Square, with the convenience of easy access to the town centre shops, café’s, bars and restaurants. It has lift access to all floors making the development fully accessible, with secure car parking to the rear, additional storage areas with space for bicycles and miscellaneous items within the building for added security. In addition, Chesterfield is centrally located, with excellent public transportation links to the rest of the country.

Marcus added: “We are very much looking forward to expanding the business and investing in the future of our local town’s infrastructure.”

Work on the development will commence this year, with the units expected to be released in 2020.

For more information please contact Marcus Leverton m.leverton@levertonuk.com

New Square Leverton apartments

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development

D2N2 Growth Hub celebrates four years in business

The D2N2 Growth Hub marked its fourth ‘birthday’ in December with a celebration event including some of the more than 7,000 businesses it has engaged with.

Launched in December 2014, by the then Business and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock MP, the D2N2 Growth Hub uses its wide range of (mostly free or heavily subsidised) services to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Services offered through Growth Hub advisors include help with starting and growing a business, accessing growth finance, training and skills development, leadership training, and expanding into new and international markets.

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

The celebration event featured speakers from some of the D2N2 LEP area businesses which have benefited from the D2N2 Growth Hub’s help; including physiotherapy service Jolly Back, Lucy Rennie Communications and business consultancy Talk Staff.

In customer surveys, D2N2 Growth Hub clients have consistently given its services high ‘satisfaction’ ratings. Video testimonies from businesses helped by the D2N2 Growth Hub are on its YouTube channel.

In September 2017, the Growth Hub launched its ScaleUp Service; giving specialist help to SMEs experiencing high growth; characterised as having a turnover of between a million and £15m a year, and which had experienced consistent annual growth of at least 20% for the past three years.

For more information on the D2N2 Growth Hub and its services see its website at www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk

D2N2

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Manufacturing

Have your say on Local Plan for Chesterfield

A six-week public consultation is to be held to get the views of residents and businesses about Chesterfield Borough Council’s draft Local Plan.

The plan sets out the proposed future housing, industrial, commercial and leisure land use in Chesterfield until 2033. Residents and businesses can give their views on it between Monday 14 January and Friday 22 February.

Once the consultation is completed the plan will then be considered by an independent Government planning inspector at a public planning inquiry, which it is expected will take place later this year. The inspector will consider any comments made as part of the consultation as well as take representations at the hearing.

Two drop-in information sessions are being held so residents and businesses can find out more about what the plan could mean to them. They will be held on:

  • Tuesday 5 February  at Chesterfield Market Hall, Market Place, between 10am and 7pm
  • Wednesday 6 February at the Speedwell Rooms, Inkersall Road, Staveley, between 1pm and 6pm

The draft Local Plan can be seen by visiting www.chesterfield.gov.uk/localplan, which will also have details of how to respond and make any comments.

Paper copies of the plan, along with consultation documents, will be available at Chesterfield, Brimington, Newbold, Old Whittington and Staveley libraries, as well as Chesterfield Town Hall in Rose Hill East and the Chesterfield Borough Council Customer Service Centre in New Square.

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “This stage of the Local Plan builds on the previous public consultations and is a more formal process which requires us to ask for the public’s views on the soundness of the plan and whether it meets the legal duties the Government sets out.

“The Local Plan is important to local residents and businesses because it is the starting point for assessing the merits of individual planning applications.”

“I would encourage everyone to give us their views and make sure they do it within the six weeks as we are not allowed to accept any late representations.”

Between now and 2033 the plan proposes:

  • Setting aside enough land for around 5,250 new homes, with a requirement to build at least 4,374 of those. This is a lower figure than in previous versions of the Local Plan. Most of the sites identified were included in the 2017 draft Local Plan but have been updated following comments made during that consultation process.
  • Continuing to use the existing Community Infrastructure Levy and ‘Section 106’ planning agreements to provide community facilities, such as schools and GP services, in places where development takes place
  • That major housing developments have up to 20 per cent affordable housing included within them
  • Up to 25 per cent of homes on major developments meet the higher ‘accessible and adaptable’ standard in the building regulations, which means they can be altered to suit people with mobility issues
  • All new homes and commercial developments are required to include electric vehicle charging points
  • Continued support for the restoration of Chesterfield Canal
  • Continued protection of the Green Belt, and a group of new ‘green wedges’ and ‘strategic gaps’
  • Developing 44 hectares (108 acres) of employment land
  • Providing 7,736 square metres of new retail space

Most of the proposals within the draft Local Plan build upon the existing document but have been updated to reflect new planning guidance and legislation, as well as the latest statistical information on a range of topics including population size, housing need and requirements for open spaces.

Recycle week

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

Free Employability and Skills Conference to be held to ensure school leavers are work ready

Business leaders and the education sector in North Derbyshire are being urged to come together to address employability and skills in the area at a free conference next month.

With more than 14,000 students in North Derbyshire set to gain their GCSE and A Level qualifications over the next five years, the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference aims to strengthen links between education providers and local businesses to ensure school leavers are work ready.

Returning for a third year, the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference, will be held at Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa from 8.00am – 10.30am on Wednesday 13 February 2019.

The conference is organised by Chesterfield Borough Council, Gail Widerman of Placing Futures, D2N2 Enterprise Advisor Network and Destination Chesterfield.

The conference is an opportunity for employers and education providers to develop solutions together that will ensure young people leaving education have both the skills employers in the area require and are also aware of the employment opportunities available to them.

One of the headline speakers at the event includes Brendan Kelly, Managing Director of Heathcotes Group, the industry-leading providers of residential care for adults which is headquartered in Chesterfield.

Brendan Kelly commented: “Bringing on talented and dedicated people through apprenticeships has been vital to Heathcotes’ success in what is currently a very challenging health and social care sector.  Working with our learning partners, Chesterfield College, we have developed a work-based learning programme which has been very successful in developing long-term careers in this region, so we welcomed the opportunity to speak at this conference to advocate the enormous value of apprenticeships for school leavers and businesses alike.”

Mr Kelly will also be joined by representatives from Capgemini, Brookfield School and St Marys Roman Catholic High School, who will be speaking at the event.

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, explained why the conference is so important to Chesterfield and North Derbyshire. He said: “One of the council’s priorities is to ensure that local people benefit from the economic growth that we are seeing in Chesterfield.

“We have to plan now for future opportunities like HS2 and some of the other large developments so that, when those jobs become available, local people are skilled and able to take advantage of them.

“People in well paid jobs get more life opportunities, which means their health and wellbeing tends to be better and they have more cash in their pocket. This means they can spend more in the local economy. In turn, this supports other jobs.”

Gail Widerman, Director of Placing Futures Ltd – an independent consultancy service based in Chesterfield which links vocational learning to schools and employers, said: “Research has shown if a young person has four or more encounters with people from the world of business from year 7 to 11, they are 86% less likely to leave school and fall into NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and on average earn 15% more in their working lifetime. The more engagement students have with businesses while in school helps inform their aspirations and choices post education.  It also gives businesses the opportunity to inspire young people to look at careers in our local industries.”

Chesterfield Employability Conference

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

£220,000 of support to create a North Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone

Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP has announced the creation of a North Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone.

The £220,000 funding will support the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership to develop the Northern Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone which aims accelerate development on 6 sites across 3 local authorities in northern Derbyshire (Bolsover, North East Derbyshire and Chesterfield). They all have a recognised manufacturing heritage and presence to enable the area to benefit from potential investment associated with the development and maintenance of HS2.

The North Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone aims to provide greater certainty on planning issues to unlock investment for growth by manufacturing businesses in the zone, ensuring more productive land-use and boosting investment and productivity in the area.

This is one of four projects, announced today, involved in the space industry, food sector, and the development of HS2, which will form the new and innovative East Midlands Manufacturing Zones,

Melton Mowbray, Space Park Leicester, and the areas across North Derbyshire and Greater Lincolnshire will together benefit from a total of £500,000 funding to develop their plans.

The investment builds on existing strengths in space, food and advanced manufacturing across the region, helping these important sectors to flourish and boost economic growth and jobs in the Midlands Engine.

The East Midlands Manufacturing Zones aim to reduce planning restrictions to allow land to be used more productively and provide certainty for business investment.

The announcement comes as the Secretary of State, who is also the government’s Midlands Engine Champion, visits organisations across the East Midlands today to hear how they are contributing to a thriving region at the heart of the UK’s economic success.

Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire said: “Manufacturing, innovation and trade are at the heart of the East Midlands economy, so it is the perfect place for the UK’s first Manufacturing Zones.”

“This is another example of how the government’s is delivering for the Midlands with our modern Industrial Strategy backing local businesses and building on local strengths.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “ This announcement is further proof that Chesterfield’s manufacturing sector has the ‘ingredients’ ready and waiting to attract further investment and respond to HS2 opportunities. Thanks to the town’s strong manufactured heritage, we have the skilled workforce with support in place to deliver future skilled workers through both the Apprentice Town and Made in Chesterfield initiatives.

“For the last four years Destination Chesterfield has worked hard to promote jobs and careers in the engineering and manufacturing industry to schools and students in North Derbyshire. The funding for the North Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone not only signals further investment in the town, but also future job prospects for the 14,000 young people who will leave school in the next six years.”

The government’s Midlands Engine strategy is supporting the East Midlands to realise its huge potential.

Initiatives including over £1.9 billion of funding from the Local Growth Fund and an investment of £20 million in the Midlands Skills Challenge to boost people’s employment prospects are enabling businesses to create more jobs, export more goods and services and grow their productivity. Since 2010 unemployment has fallen 38% and there are 64,500 more small businesses.

The East Midlands has also received sustained investment in recent years, including more than £400 million for the strategic road network, more than £60 million to tackle congestion and improve local transport.

Made in Chesterfield launch

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

150 new jobs to be created by national auctioneer in Chesterfield

A hundred and fifty new jobs will be created in Chesterfield when national auctioneer John Pye opens its first auction site in the town.

The 233,000 sq ft site was acquired by John Pye Property – a division of the wider John Pye Auctions group – to support the business’ continued growth and expansion.

The new site will be the second largest in the John Pye portfolio and comes as a result of an increase in stock volumes from the company’s high street retail clients including DFS, John Lewis, Made.com and many more.

Richard Reed, head of property at John Pye, said: “We are delighted to be able to support the wider John Pye group with the acquisition of our new Chesterfield site. To be able to complete such a complex transaction in just four weeks speaks volumes about the great team we have here, and everyone at the company is very excited for the opening of the new facility.

“The property is prominently located on the A61, adjacent to Tesco Extra and Chesterfield Football Club. It has superb access to close by Sheffield and surrounding towns, and is very close to Junction 29 of the M1 Motorway. We expect it will be a very busy auction facility.”

Adam Pye, managing director of John Pye said: “This expansion is a perfect example of our continued growth and ambition. Over the last five years, we have gone from strength to strength, and this new site takes our UK salesroom space to nearly one million sq ft nationwide.

“We are always on the lookout for opportunities to expand our auction house network, and we are continuing to look for further sites in high-demand areas such as the north west. The launch of our new premises in Chesterfield is the perfect way to kick off 2019, which we hope will be another recording breaking year for John Pye.”

Chesterfield News

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development

Brand new Apprenticeship Hub opens in Chesterfield

Learning Unlimited’s brand new Apprenticeship Hub in the heart of Chesterfield College is now open.

The information hub – in the heart of the college on Infirmary Road in Chesterfield – will be open daily from 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30am to 4:30pm on Fridays, to give individuals the chance to get one to one advice and find out more about apprenticeships.

“We’re here to offer advice and guidance to anyone considering an apprenticeship,” said Learning Unlimited’s Operations Manager, Leah Shortt. “There are so many apprentice opportunities available at the moment and we’re here to make it easier for people to find the right job role for them and help them find the right route to their dream career.”

“Apprenticeships are a great way to get quality training and valuable work experience. Apprentices are employed, earn a wage and get the opportunity to study at the same time. All apprentices – no matter what their age, their role or level – gain real industry experience, benefit from on-the-job and off-the-job training and receive support throughout their apprenticeship.”

The hub is equipped with all the information needed about a wide variety of apprenticeship opportunities from engineering and construction, hairdressing and beauty to catering, business administration, IT and marketing. There’s the opportunity to pick up information about new opportunities and the different training available. The team will be on hand to offer support and guidance through the entire application process.

Leah added: “There’s no need to make an appointment. People are very welcome to just stop by and say hello. We’re a friendly bunch and we look forward to welcoming people to our new space and offering the advice and help that they may need.”

Apprenticeship Hub chesterfield College

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

Craft beer shop opens in Chesterfield

With its official opening day on Wednesday 19th December, Chesterfield Craft aims to become the biggest source of craft beer and ales in Chesterfield town centre.

Stocking beers from local brewers such as Thornbridge, Buxton and Abbeydale, national craft brewers such as Magic Rock, Cloudwater and Loka Polly and from overseas brewers such as To-Ol, Lervig and Basqueland Brewing Project, Chesterfield Craft looks to provide a real alternative for the people of Chesterfield.

Open until 6pm Monday to Saturday, customers can call in after work to pick up a craft beer or two to enjoy in the evening. Located at 12a Saltergate, in between Lime Living and the Spire Frier, it is within a few steps of the Holywell Cross (Donut) car park, and the Cavendish Street bus stops.

The new shop will offer take-out sales only, allowing customers to buy beers and ales to be enjoyed at home. There will also be a home delivery service for customers who cannot make it to the shop, with same day delivery available for orders completed before 4pm.

Richard Young, Owner and Director of Chesterfield Craft, said: “If there’s a brewery whose beers you’d like to see us stock, just let us know and we’ll see what we can do. If you are a local brewery, please get in touch if you’d like to see your products in our shop – we’d love to have you!”

Chesterfield Craft is open now! To find out more visit www.chesterfieldcraft.co.uk.

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

Deadline looms for Enterprising Women nominations

The annual quest to find the region’s most successful and inspirational businesswomen will end soon after Christmas.

The final deadline for nominations for the 2019 East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) Enterprising Women Awards is Friday 4 January.

Winners will be announced at a glittering, ‘little black dress’ dinner on 8 March –International Women’s Day.

Eileen Richards, Founder of ER Recruitment, a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and one of the Co-Chairs of Enterprising Women, said: “If any enterprising women have time over the Christmas break – between balancing work and family through the holidays – then it would be an ideal time to nominate themselves or someone else for an award.”

“Enterprising Women is all about finding and recognising women who make a serious contribution to the regional economy, often successfully balancing work, keeping home and motherhood but not always being acknowledged for what they achieve.”

There are seven awards to be won this year: Business Woman of the Year, Social Commitment, Apprentice of the Year, Female Employee of the Year, Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Team of the Year and Small Business of the Year.

Co-Chair Jean Mountain, a Past President at East Midlands Chamber, said: “By highlighting their contribution and telling their stories, hopefully we can inspire other women to pursue their business dream, which is why I would urge as many people as possible to send in nominations for the 2019 awards.”

Chamber membership is a requirement for nominees, however anyone can nominate. For more information click here. For an application pack email ew@emc-dnl.co.uk or call the Chamber’s events team on 0333 320 0333 and select ‘option 2’ when prompted.

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

New Chief Executive Officer appointed by D2N2 LEP

A new Chief Executive Officer has been appointed by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

Sajeeda Rose, who has been Interim CEO at the D2N2 LEP since September (2018), becomes CEO with immediate effect, following a robust recruitment process.

As the LEP’s CEO, Sajeeda leads a small team supporting the D2N2 Board – a private sector-led Partnership of business, local authorities, higher and further education providers, and community and voluntary organisations – in promoting an economic growth plan for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire; using resources of more than £500million in funding, derived from the UK Government and European Union.

Sajeeda joined the D2N2 LEP in November 2017, as Senior Manager for Growth Deals and Capital Programmes, and acted as Interim Deputy CEO before taking on the Interim CEO role in September 2018.

Prior to joining D2N2, Sajeeda was Chief Operating Officer for the Northamptonshire LEP, where she was responsible for strategy development and delivery of all investment programmes by that LEP. She also worked for the former East Midlands Development Agency, supporting the delivery of sub-regional investment programmes.

Sajeeda has a BA (Hons) degree in Politics & Economic History from the University of Leicester. She is married with two children.

Elizabeth Fagan, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “I am confident that in Sajeeda we have found a CEO who will continue to lead D2N2 in delivering economic growth for all our communities, using the LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan (SEP); currently in the final stages of being updated to meet the area’s changing needs up to 2030.

“Sajeeda is taking on the role at a time when the D2N2 LEP has much to do; including the launch of its new SEP, developing a Local Industrial Strategy, delivering current and planned programmes, as well as consultation on and establishing new governance rules for the LEP’s Board Members and staff to make our operations even more publicly accountable. I’m confident that Sajeeda’s leadership will help deliver results for all our stakeholders.”

Sajeeda Rose, CEO for the D2N2 LEP, added: “I am delighted to be appointed as the D2N2 LEP’s new CEO, and to have the opportunity to build on the great work of its Board and staff to date.”

“The LEP has a lot to do in future. We have a new strategic plan to launch to take our economy into the next decade, a Local Industrial Strategy to develop to complement the work being done nationally, increasing access to skills and training, and ensuring we continue to attract private investment to Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. I look forward to the challenge.”

Further information about the work of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership can be found on its website at www.d2n2lep.org/Home

D2N2

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

Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa wins 5 wedding accolades including England’s Top Wedding Venue

Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa swept the board at the WeddingDates Awards picking up 5 accolades, winning the coveted title of England’s Top Wedding Venue.

The venue has also been announced as winner of East Midlands Top Rated Wedding Venue, winner of Derbyshire’s Top Rated Wedding Venue and winner of Country House Wedding Venue of the Year.

The final award was given to Nicola Williams, Wedding Coordinator at Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa, for East Midlands Wedding Coordinator of the year.

In a year of notable achievements, Ringwood Hall Hotel has been awarded 4 Star Status by the AA,  Conference Venue of the Year at the Chesterfield Food and Drink awards, a Gold Award in the East Midlands in Bloom awards,  a 5 Bubble award for the Garden Secret Spa by the Good Spa Guide and a Bronze Green Tourism award.

Ringwood Hall has seen a transformation over the past two years since new owners purchased the property in 2016 and further plans are already in place to continue the investment into the Grade II listed building.

Rona Davies, General Manager at Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa, said “I could not be more thrilled to have received these wedding awards. The whole team work so hard to ensure that every wedding is perfect for our couples.”

“These awards are based on customer feedback and therefore really do hold a special place for us. Winning the Country House Wedding Venue of the Year award, among the others, is just fabulous as the UK is home to so many beautiful properties. We truly feel honoured to be given such recognition.”

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