Chesterfield Retail Awards

Helping local companies benefit from Northern Gateway development

Local companies are being invited to a Meet the Buyer event to find out how to tender for work connected to the ongoing regeneration of Chesterfield.

The construction of the new Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre on part of the Holywell Cross car park is due to start in April. Main contractors Robert Woodhead Limited are interested to speak to local companies to form part of their supply chain on this project and other local projects in their pipeline.

The event will take place on 27 March 2020 between 8am – 12pm at Chesterfield Town Hall, Rose Hill, Chesterfield S40 1LP in committee room one.

The Enterprise Centre will provide 32 high-quality Grade A offices in a range of sizes (26 to 120 square metres) over three floors.

As part of its commitment to supporting the local economy Chesterfield Borough Council, as the planning authority, includes local labour clauses within developments of this kind to ensure developers use local suppliers, have apprenticeships and allocate as many jobs as possible to local people.

To maximise the opportunities for local companies, main contractors Robert Woodhead Limited and Chesterfield Borough Council will hold the event to provide details of a range of sub-contractor packages available during the project.

Other main contractors including Fortem will join the event to maximise the opportunities available to local businesses on the schemes they are developing across the Borough. Light refreshments will be provided, and companies are requested to bring plenty of business cards for what promises to be a valuable morning of networking.

Opportunities include:

• Brickwork
• Plastering
• Screeds
• Joinery and kitchen fitting
• Floor finishes
• Fencing
• Landscaping
• Painting and decorating
• Wall tiling
• Mastic and sealants
• Cleaners
• Roof Tiling
• Local labour recruitment agencies
• Rendering
• uPVC windows and doors
• Fire stopping
• Fire door set installation
• Kitchen and bathroom installation
• Suspended ceilings
• Electrical
• Plumbing and heating systems/gas
• Scaffolding
• Pitched and flat roofing

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “There is more than £1 billion of investment currently underway in Chesterfield and one of the key priorities of the council is that Chesterfield residents directly benefit from this by getting new jobs, training, business and skills opportunities.

“Robert Woodhead Limited has worked closely with the council to ensure that our borough benefits as much as possible from the opportunities that building this new Enterprise Centre will bring.

“I would encourage all local businesses to attend the Meet the Buyer event and see what opportunities are available for them and their workforces.”

In addition to the Meet the Buyer event, CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) and Chesterfield College will be in attendance to guide local business on how to access training and assist in the recruitment of apprentices.

To find out more about the Meet the Buyer event please contact Emily Williams on 01246 345254 or email emily.williams@chesterfield.gov.uk.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

Chesterfield College launches Young Artists of the Year competition

Chesterfield College has launched the fourth annual competition to find Derbyshire’s talented Young Artists of the Year.

School children in Year 4 to Year 13 are encouraged to use their creative skills to produce an illustration, a painting or collage, photography or a 3D sculpture on the theme of “Modern day Britain”.

Finalists’ artwork, across a range of age and competition categories, will be exhibited as part of the college’s Art’s Festival taking place from 22 June – 3 July 2020. The young artists will be invited to a special ceremony where the winners will be announced and presented with prizes.

James Marples, Brand and Campaigns Manager at Chesterfield College said: “The Young Artist of the Year competition has gone from strength to strength and we are looking forward to seeing how local young artists interpret our theme this year. We were amazed by the number and the standard of the entries we received last summer. Our judges had a real challenge when it came to choosing winners. It is fantastic to be able to encourage and celebrate the talent and skills of young artists and we are really pleased to be able to incorporate their work into the college’s Arts Festival.”

Last year saw a huge range of different styles of stunning paintings, drawings, sculptures and photography submitted and exhibited in West Studios, Chesterfield College’s creative hub and exhibition space. Winners of the 2019 competition spoke about how it felt to be crowned as Young Artists of the Year.

Isobel Greene, winner of the Visual Arts Year 7-9 category in 2019 said; “I have chosen to do Art GCSE at school next year. If I could be an artist one day I would. It is really nice to win this competition.”

Harry Bell, Winner of the Visual Arts Year 4-6 category last year said;  “Winning this competition gives me a lot of confidence to paint a lot more.”

The closing date for the competition is 10 June 2020. More details, including terms and conditions of the competition can be found here www.chesterfield.ac.uk/yaoty

Isobel Greene, winner of the 2019 Young Artists of the Year Visual Arts Year 7-9 category

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Featured, Home, Leisure

‘Greta Thunberg effect’ hailed as an opportunity for innovation and employment in Chesterfield

The ‘Greta Thunberg effect’ has been hailed as an opportunity for innovation and employment in Chesterfield by leaders from the town’s tourism and rail sectors.

Elizabeth Fagan CBE, Chair of D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, Jon Veitch, Managing Director of Talgo UK and Rupert Carr, Director of Birchall Properties, the company behind PEAK, spoke at the annual Celebrate Chesterfield Conference (11 March), which was organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with the University of Derby.

The creation of PEAK resort, an HS2 station and maintenance depot, as well as investment in the borough by Spanish train manufacturer Talgo, makes Chesterfield well-placed for the UK’s projected growth in rail travel and staycations brought about by the public’s growing concern for the environment.

Earlier this year Chesterfield Borough Council also announced its plans for the borough to be carbon neutral.

At the conference it was announced that Chesterfield is at the forefront of Talgo’s All Britain Strategy. The company, which has a 60% market share of the high speed rail industry in Spain, established its head office in Chesterfield early this year. It now has plans to open a research and development centre, co-located with Barrow Hill Roundhouse, with recruitment due to begin shortly. The company is currently bidding to supply trains to HS2.

Jon Veitch, Managing Director of Talgo UK, shared his ambitions for Chesterfield and the UK

Jon Veitch praised Chesterfield’s connectivity, saying: “Chesterfield provides us with an ideal location to access clients throughout the UK and take advantages of the growing opportunities within the rail sector being driven, in part, by the Greta Thunberg effect. Already this has had a detrimental effect on air travel in Spain, further opening up opportunities for Talgo. We anticipate a similar effect in the UK and we want to be at the forefront of the rail revolution in the UK.”

Speaking at the conference, Elizabeth Fagan CBE said: “The 2008 Climate Change Act allowed the opportunity for the UK Government to declare its ambition on carbon reduction and set legally binding targets, HS2 allows our region to be at the forefront of declaring itself carbon neutral as well as being a leading bastion in energy efficiency and development and use of clean energy technology.

“HS2 is a once in a generation opportunity for the town, enabling employment opportunities to be unlocked. We must ensure we take this moment in time to deliver our carbon neutral ambition to improve the skills of the people who work in this region and ensure that Chesterfield, D2N2 and Midlands region is at the forefront of leading this UK-wide ambition.”

Elizabeth Fagan CBE, Chair of D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, on stage at Celebrate Chesterfield

The decrease in air travel, coupled with Brexit, has led to a growth in the UK staycation market. According to research from UK hospitality job board Caterer.com, 70% of the British population are planning a break in the UK for 2020, an increase in the predicted number of staycations compared to those taken last year.

Riding on the staycation boom, it was announced at the Celebrate Chesterfield conference that construction on the David Lloyd Adrenaline World has begun at PEAK. It represents the beginning of the phase one delivery of the resort which, when completed will 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.

At the event, Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, praised the Destination Chesterfield campaign recognising the difference it has made to investment in the borough. There is more than £1 billion of development currently happening in Chesterfield, with key developments Chesterfield Waterside, PEAK and an innovation centre at Northern Gateway all set to come out of the ground in 2020.

She said: “Ten years ago, Chesterfield Borough Council made the very bold decision to invest in establishing Destination Chesterfield. It is has proved to be a great success helping us attract new companies, like Talgo, to Chesterfield, creating new jobs and transforming local peoples lives and benefitting local communities. The next 10 years are equally exciting, as we have developments like PEAK and Waterside coming out of the ground as well as proposals on the table for the next phase of making Chesterfield a thriving borough.”

Cllr Tricia Gilby was to describe the opportunities for Chesterfield over the next 10 years in 3 words: “exciting, sustainable and inclusive”.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield added: “Destination Chesterfield as a project has put the town on the map. We have a higher regional and national profile which is certainly a tick in the box for current and prospective investors. HS2 moving into the town has further raised our profile and I am confident that international investors will now be looking towards the town.”

Mr Veitch added; “We are delighted to be investing in Chesterfield. The town is on the cusp of sustainable, generational change and we very much want to be a part of Team Chesterfield and its future.”

Celebrate Chesterfield, which was held in association with the University of Derby and sponsored by Bridge Help, Central Technology and Markham Vale, is now in its tenth year, and is one of the biggest and most hotly anticipated business events in the area. This year the free breakfast event attracted nearly 300 delegates.

To find out more about investment opportunities in Chesterfield, click here.

The free business event attracted nearly 300 delegates

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

Winners Revealed: Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards 2020

Shining stars of the local tourism industry were announced at the prestigious Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards last night (5 March).

Designed to recognise and reward excellence in the area’s valuable £2.3 billion visitor economy, the awards brought together 31 finalists in 11 categories for a glittering ceremony at Buxton’s Grade II* listed Devonshire Dome.

Some of the Peak District and Derbyshire’s finest hotels, B&Bs, holiday parks, pubs, visitor attractions and experiences were amongst those recognised at the awards evening, which was organised by Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire with support from the University of Derby and the European Regional Development Fund.

Demonstrating the quality and diversity of the area’s tourism offer, awards were hotly contested and nominees progressed through shortlisting, mystery shopping and a rigorous judging process by panels of experts to arrive at last night’s much anticipated awards ceremony.

The evening was enhanced by a sparkling drinks reception which included tastings from White Peak Distillery, the area’s first full-scale craft distillery, and a three-course meal prepared by students from the University of Derby’s Centre for Contemporary Hospitality and Tourism.

Host James Berresford, former CEO of VisitEngland, congratulated finalists as Gold, Silver and Bronze award winners were announced, shining a spotlight on the best of the area’s visitor economy.

Gold award winners were each presented with a hand-crafted plaque sponsored by Derbyshire-based C W Sellors Fine Jewellery.

In a further boost, Gold winners will now represent the Peak District and Derbyshire at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence on Tuesday 16 June in Hull.

Brendan Moffett, of sponsors the University of Derby, said: “We’re delighted to host this wonderful celebration of the area’s tourism industry at the prestigious Devonshire Dome in Buxton.”

“The University of Derby is keen to use our location at the heart of the Peak District to continue to support the growth of our excellent tourism businesses and develop the next generation of talent to meet future challenges, ensuring the industry can remain strong and competitive.”

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “It is our privilege to celebrate some of the talented businesses who offer that extra special service and experience for some of the Peak District and Derbyshire’s 42 million visitors each year.”

“All of our finalists are shining examples of quality, excellence and innovation. It is this emphasis on quality that keeps us firmly on the map as a world-class visitor destination. Congratulations to all our worthy winners and finalists!”

The Winners:

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award

  • GOLD: Hoe Grange Holidays, Brassington
  • Silver: Croft Bungalow Accessible Holiday Let, Birchover
  • Bronze: Hope Cross Cottage at Vicarage Farm, Wheston

B&B and Guest House of the Year

  • GOLD: Underleigh House, Hope
  • Silver: Grendon Bed & Breakfast, Buxton

Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year

  • GOLD: Landal Darwin Forest, Matlock
  • Silver: Hoe Grange Holidays, Brassington
  • Bronze: Hayfield Camping and Caravanning Club Site

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award

  • GOLD: Hoe Grange Holidays, Brassington
  • Silver: The Devonshire Arms, Pilsley

Experience of the Year

  • GOLD: Pure Outdoor Ltd
  • Silver: Acclimbatize Ltd
  • Bronze: Live for the Hills Ltd

Hotel of the Year

  • GOLD: The Peacock at Rowsley
  • Silver: CASA Hotel, Chesterfield
  • Bronze: Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa, Chesterfield

New Tourism Business Award

  • GOLD: White Peak Distillery, Ambergate
  • Silver: myGuidedWalks Ltd
  • Bronze: Tagg Lane Dairy Ltd, Monyash

Pub of the Year

  • GOLD: The Prince of Wales Village Pub & Restaurant, Baslow
  • Silver: The Devonshire Arms, Beeley
  • Bronze: The Royal Oak, Hurdlow

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year

  • GOLD: Ashford Mill, Ashford-in-the-Water
  • Silver: Peak District Holidays Ltd, Matlock Bath
  • Bronze: Peak Venues – Redhurst Barn, Wetton

Taste of the Peak District & Derbyshire

  • GOLD: Fischer’s Baslow Hall
  • Silver: The Cavendish Hotel, Baslow
  • Bronze: The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop

Visitor Attraction of the Year

  • GOLD: Chatsworth
  • Silver: Matlock Farm Park
  • Bronze: Haddon Hall

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

Clarissa’s Interiors opens at Vicar Lane

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is pleased to announce the opening of a brand-new independent pop-up shop at the centre.

Clarissa’s Interiors is run by mother and daughter team Jayne and Clare. They started out in 2016, making hand crafted glass jars and lanterns with floral designs and animals as well as creating bespoke designs for customers. They sold these on a stall at Chesterfield’s Thursday market, which was followed by a gazebo at Vicar Lane on a Saturday. This worked in tandem with them working the local country show and event circuit, so the pop-up shop is the next step in their exciting venture.

The store is located opposite CEX and sells a range of home interiors / home décor collections. These include Clare’s hand-crafted items along with beautiful items for the home – from mirrors, and clocks, to wall art, cushions, lamps, occasional chairs and tables, small accessories, candles, ornaments and more.

The store is open from 9am – 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday.

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager, Vicar Lane said, “We’re very pleased to be able to support yet another young, local business spread their wings and grow, in the heart of Chesterfield and are very excited to see the range of products on offer at Clarissa’s Interiors.’’

Click here to find out more about Vicar Lane Shopping Centre

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

Vicar Lane partners with Derbyshire Adult Community Education in employer challenge for young people

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is working with Derbyshire Adult Community Education (DACES), part of Derbyshire County Council, to run education programmes for young adults in Chesterfield.

The learners attend Full Time Study Programmes in Shirebrook and Clay Cross; the programmes are based around employment and enterprise and are aimed at young people aged 16-19 to help them gain the skills they need for the world of work.

Vicar Lane is working with organisers on an ‘Employer Challenge’ within the programme, whereby the learners are set a task within a real-life employment environment. Participants are required to visit the centre to familiarise themselves with the task at hand, meet the team and gather as much information as possible, before going away to work on their ideas. They then have to present their proposed solution back to the employer at the end of the programme.

On Wednesday 18th March and 29th April respectively, learners from Shirebrook and Clay Cross will visit Vicar Lane between 10:30am and 12:30pm. They’ll learn about the shopping centre and how it works from day to day, before being given an overview of the project, which will be a creative task.

Proposals will be presented by the learners, back to the centre management team on Wednesday 1st April and Wednesday 13th May. Their plans will be compared to the centre’s own thoughts to see how they align.

The work that young people complete during this task, forms part of their City and Guilds Level 1 and Level 2 Extended Certificate in Employability qualification which will prove beneficial to these young people in their quest for employment.

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager at Vicar Lane said, “It’s a pleasure and a privilege to once again be working with a team of young people from the Chesterfield community to help improve their career prospects. The initiative last year generated some really exciting results so we are looking forward to seeing what the latest group of learners come up with.”

Click here to find out more about Vicar Lane Shopping Centre

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

Celebrating our apprentices in Chesterfield

Sometimes national celebrations are specifically relevant to a local area, and that is the case with this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, taking place from 3 to 7 February.

One could argue that Chesterfield celebrates apprenticeships 52 weeks a year as we were the first, and I believe still remain the only place, to declare itself an Apprentice Town nearly three years ago.

Apprentices and apprenticeships are fundamental to Chesterfield’s ongoing success.

There is more than £1billion worth of investment, development and redevelopment taking place in and around the town which, it is estimated, will create will bring the opportunity to access up to 10,000 new jobs. I for one want local people and school leavers to benefit from these jobs, but they can only do this if they have the right skills and are aware of the opportunities available.

what is Apprentice Town

Chesterfield was the first town in the UK to declare itself an ‘Apprentice Town’

The Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference on 26 February will, I hope, further this conversation. The conference brings together business and education leaders to discuss how as a town we can develop our young people in order to improve the employability and skills offering for the future.

Let’s not wait for the conference however. If you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend – make sure young people around you are aware of apprenticeships and the value they bring to their personal and professional development and the town’s prosperity.

The theme for this year’s National Apprenticeship Week is ‘Look Beyond’. It celebrates the diversity and value that apprenticeships bring to employers, apprentices and communities across England today. From highlighting the breadth of industries and roles available to the talent and energy apprentices bring into the workplace. Let’s all ‘look beyond’ when we’re giving young people post 16 careers advice.

Baasit Siddiqui, star of Gogglebox and expert on Education and Social Mobility, will be the key note speaker at the event.

More than 14,000 students in North Derbyshire are set to gain their GCSE and A Level qualifications in the next five years. As these young people weigh up their futures and decide how best to forge their career path, I believe it’s vital that apprenticeships are presented as viable options alongside University and A Levels, to pupils in schools.

We all have a role to play in ensuring that Chesterfield is future-proofed. Having a skilled workforce is key to ensure our town continues to thrive for generations to come.

“Apprentices and apprenticeships are fundamental to Chesterfield’s ongoing success”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Blog, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

Try something new this January

Have you decided on your New Year’s resolution?

Choosing one, which you will be able to keep for longer than a few weeks, can be really challenging.   But committing to try a few new experiences is something everyone can achieve, as well as having a lot of fun.

We’ve selected five ideas from Chesterfield businesses.  Why not give them a go with your family, friends or colleagues?

Ceramics at Chesterfield College

1.  Learn a new skill 

If you enjoy getting creative, you may be inspired by Chesterfield College’s £15 taster courses in silversmithing or ceramics?  These are a great way to try out a new hobby and if you enjoy the taster you can sign up for a six week course to perfect your skills.

Find out more about the Ceramics taster.
Find out more about the Silversmithing taster.

Or why not try your hand at gin making?  Love Brewing on Chatsworth Road runs gin experiences every Friday and Saturday evening to get you started with your own bespoke flavours, including a 200ml bottle of your creation to take home (per pair).

Find out more about the Make Your Own Gin Experience.

 

2. Experience new local events

You may be feeling blue now the festivities are over, but now is a great time to plan your diary for 2020.  There are plenty of exciting new events to look forward to as well as the return of many popular favourites.

Extreme Bike Battle
Chesterfield Autojumble Market
Make Your Own Gin Experience
Brampton Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting
Sporting Dinner: An Evening with Paul Merson and Phil Thompson at Casa Hotel

Click here to find more local events updated throughout the year.

 

Chesterfield derbyshire World Mental Health Day 2019

3. Support local businesses 

How often do you shop locally?  Are there small changes you could make to help boost the local economy?

S40 Local Magazine is supporting #FiverFest from 15th to 29th February and is spreading the message that if every adult in Chesterfield spends £5 per week in local independent shops rather than online or in supermarkets, we will boost our local economy by £20.4M per year.

Click here for details of many local businesses from solicitors to shops.

 

Avant Homes - Day to Make a Difference at Fairplay

4. Become a volunteer

Have you thought about becoming a volunteer?  It’s a great way to meet new people, learn new skills and give something back to the local community.  These are just a few of the many valuable opportunities locally:-

If you’re a local employer, could you donate your time to support young people in Chesterfield with mock interviews or work experience?  Click here for more information online.

If you’d like to support the Chesterfield Royal Hospital Charity, you could become a volunteer fundraiser.  Some of the past fundraising activities have helped cancer and dementia patients with art therapy and activities, refurbished medical rooms and enabled the hospital to purchase new rehabilitation equipment.  For more information click here.

At Citizens Advice Chesterfield there are a variety of roles to choose from: including adviser, telephone adviser, receptionist, trustee, campaigner, ambassador and fundraiser. Full training is given and you’d be part of a friendly group of volunteers.  Click here for more information online or contact Linda Moore, Chair of the trustee board and a key fundraiser.

Perfect for people who love where they live, Chesterfield Visitor Centre and Museum are always looking for new volunteers.  Click here to find out more.

Find more local charities here.

(Photo shows local builder, Avant Homes supporting local charity, Fairplay).

 

Sister's Soda Franklin & Sons

5. Taste local produce

You can add some colour to the dark January days with this new sparkling water from Chesterfield’s Franklin & Sons.  Bursting with real, zesty fruit, the new range of Sister’s Soda is available in three unique combinations.  The Sister’s Soda range has three unique flavours including Guava & Lime, Pomegranate & Hibiscus and Pineapple & Cardamom and is available in pubs and bars across Chesterfield as well as supermarkets.  Click here for more information online.

Or have you tried the delicious gluten free Coffee and Walnut cake from Liza Bakes?  A finalist at the national British Baker Awards in the gluten free category, the popular treat has a rich coffee flavour and nutty texture and you would never guess it’s gluten free!  Available in a selection of cafes across Chesterfield or or click here to see more online.

For more information about local producers click here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield

Details for Chesterfield Street Food & Grooves Festival 2020 announced

The Street Food and Grooves Festival is back for its third year and 2020 is set to be the biggest and best year yet, with a brand new festival layout and something for everyone to enjoy.

The festival will kick off with its opening night on Friday 5th June where there will be bars, a choice of hot food and a fantastic line up of some the area’s best live music. The whole weekend will be free entry and everyone is welcome to come down to and join in!

Set in the heart of Chesterfield Town Centre, the weekend is set to have a real celebratory feel with lots of things going on including live music, market stalls, seating areas, and for the food fans there will be a huge choice of delicious street food and drink form around the world.

On Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June, trading will start at 9am with a plethora of different hot and cold street food to sample, including vegan and vegetarian as well as artisan alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. As part of the event, the New Market Place will be open with traders selling crepes, olives, preserves and other cold food.

In the New Market Square, hot food traders will be selling food from around the world and bars, all selling from their own unique trailers and gazebos. All of this will be accompanied by a line up of talented local singers, duos, trios and bands performing a range of genres on the ‘Soundbites stage’.

The festival is organised by Chesterfield-based company Edge Events Management. Co-Organiser Laura Ashby states: “We are so excited to be announcing 2020’s Street Food and Grooves Festival and hope people will travel from near and far to support this growing event.”

She added: “Being from Chesterfield ourselves we are passionate in delivering high quality events which will be enjoyed by the whole family. We just love the fact that people are embracing the bubbling food and drink scene in Chesterfield and we are excited to organise a festival which can bring people together to celebrate the talents of regional food producers and musicians.”

Click here to find out more about Street Food and Grooves Festival.

Click here to find out more about Edge Events Management.

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

Nominations now open for relaunched Chesterfield High Street Awards 2020

Recognising the changing face of the high street, the annual Chesterfield Retail Awards have a brand-new name and look for 2020 – the Chesterfield High Street Awards – as well as two new categories.

The popular awards are now open to almost every business on Chesterfield’s high street from shops, market traders, events and regeneration projects to estate agents, banks, solicitors and accountants.

The new High Street Business category has been added to this year’s awards’ line up to reflect the diversity of Chesterfield’s high street and is open to all non-retailers except food and drink businesses. While the new Future High Street Award recognises the physical improvements and regeneration of high streets across Chesterfield.

Nominations are now open in the quest to find the best customer-facing high street-based businesses across the borough of Chesterfield.

Organiser of the annual awards, Destination Chesterfield, wants you to say which businesses on the town’s high street are your favourites and why. Nominations are open until midnight on Friday 14 February.

All nominated businesses will be evaluated and a mystery panel of judges will visit businesses shortlisted in 11 of the 15 categories before the winners are announced at a glittering black-tie awards ceremony at Casa Hotel on Wednesday 24 June.

The awards’ relaunch recognises the town’s exceptional businesses, people, events and regeneration projects that are working together to overcome the challenges of a rapidly changing retail environment.

Now in its seventh year, the awards have gone from strength-to-strength; mirroring the town’s economy.

Commenting on the relaunch of the awards for 2020, Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “The new 2020 Chesterfield High Street Awards recognise the contribution that every business based on high streets in the borough is making in creating jobs, attracting visitors to the town, delivering great customer service and collectively helping drive the success of Chesterfield’s economy.

“I urge everyone to get involved and put forward their favourite businesses. We want to celebrate as many as possible in the awards.”

People can now nominate across 12 categories in the 2020 Chesterfield High Street Awards:

• High Street Business of the Year
• Future High Street Award
• Excellence in Customer Service
• Hair and Beauty Business of the Year
• Fashion and Footwear Retailer of the Year
• Best New Store 2019/2020
• Food and Drink Retailer of the Year
• Home, Gifts & Leisure Retailer of the Year
• Market Trader of the Year
• Independent Retailer of the Year
• National/ Multiple Retailer of the Year
• Best Town Centre Event 2019/2020

The 2020 Chesterfield High Street Awards are supported and made possible by a number of sponsors, including Apprentice Town (led by Chesterfield Borough Council), Chesterfield Borough Council, Chesterfield College Group, Derbyshire Times, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), eBusiness Works, JP Fire Safety Solutions, Peak FM and Q2 Creative.

You can nominate online at www.chesterfield.co.uk/highstreetawards until midnight on Friday 14 February 2020.

Information about the various sponsorship packages are available at www.chesterfield.co.uk/highstreetawards or contact Tara Underhill, Senior Destination Chesterfield Coordinator, by emailing Tara.underhill@chesterfield.co.uk or calling 01246 207207.

Nominate Now

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

Magnolia Barbering to serve alcoholic drinks following recent expansion

Magnolia Barbering, based at Chesterfield Market Hall, are the first barbershop in Chesterfield to serve alcohol on the premises.

The barbershop is now able to offer their customers a selection of draught beers, bottles and cans as well as soft drinks and tea or coffee. The shop has also been extended, taking over the empty retail unit next door to expand their premises.

In 2014, owner Ollie Ward had a vision of bringing a different style of barbershop into Chesterfield town centre. Alongside Andy Lakin, Magnolia Barbering was created and the shop has since gone from strength to strength. Three years ago, PJ Farrand and trainee Dan “Massive” Newman joined the team. Dan is now a fully qualified barber and works full time. Earlier this year Alex Bennett joined the Magnolia Barbering team.

The expansion has also allowed the business to employ three more staff members, KJ Nash, Rossco McKay and Sam Hague, each bringing their unique talents to the team. Now the barbershop boasts an experienced team of 8, all with vast amounts of industry knowledge and a range of skills.

Andy Lakin said: “We would like to welcome clients old and new to Magnolia and are really looking forward to what the future holds.”

Magnolia Barbering can be found on the corner of Chesterfield’s Market Hall, next to the Market Square.

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