Destination Chesterfield

Pupils get creative to design a new logo for ambitious town project

Pupils at Springwell Community College were challenged to create a new logo to capture the spirit of a major project which aims to regenerate their town.

Almost 70 young people submitted their designs to the Staveley Town Deal logo competition, which was launched in September for year seven pupils at the school.

Alex Atkinson was declared the overall winner for his design which incorporated some of Staveley’s most well-known landmarks.

The winning entry was picked by a judging panel which included the Chair of the Staveley Town Board, Ivan Fomin, and Staveley-based design company, Q2 Creative.

Ivan Fomin said: “The winning logo portrayed hope for Staveley with a bright sun, and blended the canal and waterways whilst retaining the history with the winding wheel.”

Alex then had the opportunity to work with Q2 Creative to turn his hand drawn design into a format that would be suitable for use on the official website and on banners and hoardings in and around Staveley.

Lynne Dawson from Q2 Creative said: “We were delighted to be able to help out with the selection and development of the Staveley Town Deal logo. The students’ work was of a really high standard, with some very thoughtful and well-conceived ideas – it was very hard to choose a winner! It was great to work with Alex in developing his idea and explaining the design process and elements that go to make a successful logo. We wish the Staveley Town Deal project every success.”

The Staveley Town Deal Board has been established to oversee the development and implementation of a long-term Town Investment Plan for the Staveley area.

It is made up of elected members and senior officers from Chesterfield Borough Council, Staveley Town Council and Derbyshire County Council, both local members of parliament, representatives from local charitable organisations, Derbyshire Police, education leaders and representatives of the local business community.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, added: “The Staveley Town Deal will create real improvements that will benefit local people for many years to come. It’s vital that the Town Deal engages young people because it is about ensuring that Staveley is a thriving town with great opportunities where young people can build their future.

“Well done to Alex for his excellent design, and thanks to all the young people who took part.”

As well the opportunity to work with a professional design company and learn how the process works, Alex won a £50 Shopping voucher awarded by Chesterfield Borough Council.

The five runners up were also given prizes of two tickets for a weeks’ membership to the Healthy Living Centre in Staveley or Queen’s Park Sports Centre, to be used in line with government restrictions.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Home, VisitingTagged in , , , ,

Chesterfield Royal Hospital Joins Region’s Medical Image Sharing Network

Chesterfield Royal Hospital has become the latest Trust in the East Midlands to go live with a system that allows regional hospitals to share diagnostic images.

The Royal has been part of the East Midlands Radiology Network (EMRAD)for some time and will now be able to share x-ray and other scanned images in real-time through a new Picture Archive Communication System (PACS)with neighbouring Trusts. This will give patients across the region, a faster diagnosis and improved care.

This means that health experts at the Royal, Kettering General, Northampton General, Sherwood Forest, United Lincolnshire and Nottingham University can share their knowledge and experience for the benefit of patients.

Anoop Unnikrishnan is the Royal’s Divisional Director for the Integrated Care Division and oversaw the Trust’s involvement, he said: “This is a wonderful achievement for the Trust and will ensure that our radiologists and those involved in supporting diagnostic care will be able to complement each other and draw on each other’s expertise as part of a collaborative approach.

“It means that we will be able to reach clinical decisions in a more informed and timely manner, share information about patients who have perhaps visited different local hospitals for the purpose of a diagnosis more effectively which will lead to a faster diagnosis, swifter treatment plan and better outcome for the patient.

“Meanwhile for our clinicians it represents a tremendous opportunity to share learning and knowledge, benefit from adopting new skills and training that are available through EMRAD masterclasses and become part of a wider network of colleagues in terms of providing and receiving support.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the project, both clinical and technical, for making this happen. A lot of hard work has been done across the board to make sure that we now have a system in place that will of benefit to patients and colleagues across the region.”

Amy Quick is the Application Support Lead who has been responsible for the technical side of implementing the new system. She said: “The East Midlands Imaging Network is very well established and we’ve benefitted from joining the image sharing system at a very good time. The Picture Archive and Communication System and reporting tool are incredibly robust and will complement the expertise of our clinicians.

“Our teams will also have access to additional training, not just in the new systems and imaging network but also new specialties in the form of masterclasses and course run by EMRAD. As we move towards a time when digital transformation means that collaborative working across regions becomes seamless, this can only be a positive move for patients and clinicians alike.”

Dr James Thomas, Medical Director of EMRAD said: “We’re delighted to welcome Chesterfield Royal Hospital onto our region-wide image sharing system. It’s fantastic news for patients, especially in the north Midlands, as their medical images and scans will now be instantly available to clinicians across the region. From next week, if a patient from the Chesterfield area needs to be brought to the QMC, their scans and images can arrive in Nottingham before they do, allowing clinicians to get a head start on assessing their condition and planning their care.

“We know that the image sharing portal is already speeding up and improving clinical decision-making, which will improve patient care. It is also helping to avoid delays to patient treatment caused by unnecessary transfers between hospitals, and preventing patients having repeat scans to examine the same issue if transferred to a different hospital trust”

Chesterfield Royal Hospital

Posted in About Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , ,

East Midlands Chamber and Chesterfield Borough Council join forces to help businesses create jobs for young people via Kickstart scheme

East Midlands Chamber has teamed up with Chesterfield Borough Council to encourage businesses to get more young people into work by taking advantage of the new Kickstart scheme.

The Government programme covers the cost of a six-month work placement for 16 to 24-year-olds who are on Universal Credit or at risk of long-term unemployment.

Employers that want to create at least 30 placements can apply directly to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for a grant to cover the costs, but companies with fewer than 30 roles must apply via recognised gateway organisations, such as the Chamber.

To date, the Chamber has signed up almost 340 businesses and facilitated more than 1,000 potential placements across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. About a third of these are digital and technology roles, with other popular jobs include business and finance, as well as transport and storage.

To engage more businesses to create job opportunities for young people in their communities, and benefit from the additional resources offered by work placement students, the Chamber has collaborated with local authorities and other organisations.

As part of its latest partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council, it will hold a free virtual information session on Monday 7 December for businesses to find out what the scheme involves and giving them the opportunity to join 20 other organisations in the borough of Chesterfield – which together want to create 59 placements – in making applications.

Diane Beresford, deputy chief executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “We know young people have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and the huge amount of unemployment it has created, so the Kickstart scheme is an important mechanism for helping them to get the skills they need to prepare for the world of work.

“Businesses that take part will be playing a vital role in their communities by supporting and preparing our future workforce, but there are also many benefits for employers.

“As this is a fully-funded scheme, it allows organisations to trial new roles, and provides relevant training and mentoring to ensure the young person has the most up-to-date skills and knowledge. There is also a relatively risk-free opportunity to identify good-quality apprentices, opening a pathway for both the employer and employee to grow together.

“It’s important that the public and private sector work together, and our partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council is a great example as we want to make sure as many companies as possible take advantage of these opportunities.”

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, deputy leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, added: “We understand that Covid-19 has affected our communities in a variety of ways, but it has especially impacted on our younger workforce, with the number of 18 to 24-year-olds claiming out of work benefits nearly doubling since March 2020. We’re delighted to be working with East Midlands Chamber to help support the economy and assist both businesses and workers in mitigating the negative impacts of Covid-19.

“One of the council’s key aims is to ensure that Chesterfield is a thriving borough and the Kickstart scheme will open up much-needed opportunities for young people to develop their skills and careers for the future. There are also many benefits for our local businesses who participate in this scheme during this challenging time. Therefore, we’re encouraging businesses to engage with this fully-funded programme to offer our younger generation vital work roles that will build fundamental skills.

“The information session we are running on Monday 7 December will be a beneficial tool for businesses, helping them to gain further insight into the scheme and the support on offer to them in making applications. We encourage all businesses that are interested to attend and utilise this free resource available to them.”

The £2bn Kickstart scheme was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak as part of his Plan for Jobs to help young people into work and spur Britain’s post-Covid economic revival.

A quarter of a million people aged under 25 have claimed unemployment benefits since March, while the unemployment rate among young people is far higher than the overall rate of 4.8%, reaching 14.6%.

The Chamber has already held four online information sessions that attracted 250 attendees, many of which are among the 320 businesses that have since registered with the Chamber to recruit for placements. Some of these organisations have multiple vacancies.

Acting on their behalf, the Chamber applies to the DWP for funding, which pays 100% of the age-relevant National Minimum Wage, national insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week.

Employers can choose to top up this wage and are also eligible for a £1,500 Government grant for training people on a Kickstart placement.

The Chamber started making applications on 1 November. Once they are accepted, young people are referred into the roles via a Jobcentre Plus work coach. Application can be made until December 2021 initially.

Diane added: “The number of businesses that have already booked on to our information sessions shows there’s great appetite out there among businesses to take advantage of these opportunities.

“Businesses receive the full salary cost for six months, but we’re also educating them about the finer details, such as how they must provide employability skills to individuals so they will be well-equipped to land permanent jobs in the future.”

The Kickstart Your Business: Accessing the Kickstart Programme session being run by the Chamber in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council will be held via Zoom on Monday 7 December from 12pm to 1pm.

It is free for both members and non-members of the Chamber, and open to anyone regardless of whether they are based in the Chesterfield area.

It will feature a welcome by Cllr Amanda Serjeant, presentation by the Chamber’s deputy chief executive Diane Beresford and education and business partnership manager Pieter Eksteen, and a Q&A.

Businesses can sign up to the event here.

Other upcoming online information sessions include:

chamber video export

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

Regeneration plans move forward as Chesterfield Borough Council secures key site

A key town centre site has been secured by Chesterfield Borough Council – a major step forward for ambitious regeneration plans to create a new gateway for the town.

The council has taken a part freehold, part lease hold interest in the former Chesterfield Hotel site today (Monday, 16 November) and will now work with contractors to clear out and demolish the derelict building, which has stood empty since it shut its doors in 2015.

The site is highlighted as a key development opportunity in the emerging HS2 Station Masterplan which aims to harness the opportunities presented by HS2 and revitalise the area around Chesterfield Train Station.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Chesterfield Hotel was a significant building and a venue which has served the town well over the years.

“Sadly, the costs to remodel and refurbish the building to bring it back into productive use are too high, and it is deemed an unviable option as compared with redevelopment of the site.

“The building has fallen into disrepair and is unfortunately now regarded as a safety risk and an eyesore on this key route from the train station. We must act to bring this area back to life, as part of our wider plans to revitalise this important gateway to our town.”

Making sure the site is safe and secure is the council’s immediate priority – including work to remove the remaining boundary wall at the side of the hotel on Malkin Street amidst safety concerns about the structure.

Work will start immediately to clear and strip out the inside of the building before full demolition, which is expected to start in spring next year.

It is proposed that a temporary surface car park will be created in its place while plans for the future use of the site are developed as part of the emerging HS2 Station Masterplan.

Cllr Gilby added: “This is a major step forward for our long-term plan to harness the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented to us by HS2. To make the most of it we must invest in the delivery of new housing as well as business and commercial development around Chesterfield station.

“Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, Chesterfield continues to move forward. Town centre regeneration is a key element of the council’s Economic Recovery Plan, which will put Chesterfield in the strongest position to bounce back from the far-reaching impacts of Covid-19.”

The council is currently finalising the HS2 Station Masterplan which will be subject to public consultation in the first part of next year.

The land purchase has been funded through the HS2 Strategic Sites project which was awarded £2.4m of funding from the Local Enterprise Partnership for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (D2N2 LEP) earlier in the year – the acquisition of the former Chesterfield Hotel site is just one of a range of initiatives that the council is taking forward with the benefit of the funding to develop the area and to maximise the economic benefits that will be brought to the town by HS2.

HS2 Chesterfield Station

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , ,

Digitalisation Grants of up to £10,000 available for Derbyshire visitor economy businesses

Visitor economy businesses based in Derbyshire are being encouraged to apply for digitalisation grants of up to £10,000 to enable them to adapt, recover and rebuild in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire is offering business grants to support the development of valuable digital assets such as online booking systems, updated websites and cashless payment facilities to help businesses respond to changes in consumer behaviour.

The grants programme is part of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s European Regional Development Fund project, which has been updated to reflect new business needs that have emerged as a result of Covid-19.

Alongside digitalisation, grants of £1,000 to £10,000 are also available in the following areas:

  • Accessibility – e.g. accessible equipment and facilities for people with disabilities.
  • Cycling – e.g. secure cycle storage and maintenance equipment for use by visitors.
  • Internationalisation – e.g. website translation or the implementation of online booking/cashless payment systems to encourage international visitors.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, the area’s official tourist board, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer these valuable business grants through our European Regional Development Fund project. Derbyshire’s tourism industry is facing some of its biggest-ever challenges and this funding will play a key role in helping businesses to adapt and diversify in response to new consumer trends.

“Digital assets such as cashless payment systems and online booking facilities are going to be vital in driving the sector’s recovery and helping businesses to get back on their feet. We’ve already received a huge amount of interest and we’re urging eligible businesses to get their applications in as soon as possible.”

Businesses applying for the funding must meet the following criteria:

  • Be part of the visitor economy, including sole traders, partnerships and limited companies.
  • Be located in Derbyshire.
  • Have less than 250 employees.
  • Have been trading for more than 12 months.
  • Have a business bank account.

Successful applicants will receive a 50% grant towards the cost of the overall project, with a minimum 50% grant contribution being £1,000 and the maximum £10,000.
To find out more and to register interest for a grant visit: https://mpddbusinessgrantscheme.eventbrite.co.uk.

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

High street expert to speak at 2020 Chesterfield Investment summit

Town centre expert Ojay McDonald will headline the speaker line-up at the fourth Chesterfield Investment Summit.

The free-to-attend event is being held virtually on Wednesday 25 November from 8.30am – 10am.

As Chief Executive of the Association of Town & City Management, Mr McDonald is considered one of the country’s foremost experts on the high street, working with Government Ministers, parliamentarians, economic development professionals, business leaders and place-makers across the UK and Ireland to support town and city centres.

At the event he will address the challenges the high street faces following its second lockdown, and how it can be helped to survive and thrive in the face of adversity.

Mr McDonald will also be joined by a number of other speakers at the virtual event including Elaine Clark, Chief Executive of the Rail Forum Midlands, who will talk about the post pandemic opportunities for Chesterfield within the rail sector.

Darren Mansfield, Partner at Global Real Estate Consultants Knight Frank, will also speak at the event to address Chesterfield’s office proposition. Knight Frank has recently been appointed to find tenants for the office space which is under construction at Chesterfield Waterside.

Additional speakers include Dr. Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, Cllr Tony King, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, Derbyshire County Council and Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield which is one of the event’s organisers, commented: “The annual Investment Summit is always a popular event in the business community’s calendar, and I am delighted that we have been able to make it happen again despite the challenging circumstances.

“It’s very easy to feel doom and gloom but the Investment Summit will show that despite the pandemic, Chesterfield has continued to move forward with developments and plans, opening up investment opportunities which will make a significant difference to the recovery of the area.”

The event is organised by Derbyshire Economic Partnership, Destination Chesterfield and Marketing Derby and is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund

Always a sell-out, the organisers anticipate high demand for this year’s virtual event. To find out more about the event and book your free place, please visit: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/chesterfield-investment-summit/

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

Chesterfield puts the magic back into Christmas

Destination Chesterfield has launched the Christmas in Chesterfield campaign with some brand-new Christmas experiences, in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council.

It includes the magical story of the Chesterfield Elves and how they saved Christmas. The story is told through a series of Christmas experiences around Chesterfield Town Centre.

The Chesterfield Elves wanted to put the fun back into Christmas after a difficult year. The elves travelled to the North Pole over the summer and brought back some magic technology, which will bring Santa to Chesterfield in a unique and Covid-safe way, as well as a few other Christmas treats for everyone to enjoy.

The main experience is The Amazing Magical Chesterfield Santa House

The Santa House is where the elves have set up the magic technology known as the ‘Santa Zoomer’ – a video link to chat with Santa.

The Amazing Magical Chesterfield Santa House in Chesterfield Town Centre will open its doors on Saturday 5 December. As well as the chat with Santa via the video link to the North Pole, visitors will pose for a special Augmented Reality experience in which Santa will magically appear. A video of the Augmented Reality experience will be sent direct to the mobile phone of visitors at the end of the experience.

Also launching this December is The Spot the Chesterfield Elf Game (Elf Trail). This is a fun trail around Chesterfield Town Centre.

The Chesterfield Elves are letting everyone know where they live by giving a few clues to their locations. When an Elf is found, residents can scan the ‘QR Elf Code’ and gain access to a short story about the elf, as well as gift guides to Chesterfield’s fantastic range of independent shops, plus some special offers.
The full story of The Chesterfield Elves save Christmas, can be downloaded and is the perfect bedtime story for families.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Cabinet Member for Town Centres and Visitor Economy at Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “While this year, there won’t be the usual large-scale events in Chesterfield Town Centre, we have created these very special and unique experiences to make Christmas in Chesterfield fun and magical as it always is.

“It has been a tough year for many of us and the Santa House and Spot the Chesterfield Elf Game, will bring plenty of fun and show that Chesterfield can still celebrate Christmas.

“Public safety remains our priority and the Santa House experience has been designed to be Covid-safe. But can I ask everyone to play their part by wearing a face covering, to keep social distancing and follow the latest guidance, as by doing these few things, we will all have an enjoyable and healthy Christmas.”

Residents and visitors to Chesterfield will also be welcomed and wowed by our improved Christmas lighting, across the town centre, including redressed tree lights and some new light features that have a ‘snow fall’ effect.

Councillor Sarvent added: “The experiences won’t be found anywhere else; the improved Christmas lights will delight young and old; and the great shopping and hospitality, really will make Chesterfield a fantastic place to be this Christmas.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said “In these challenging times it has never been more important to support each other. I am delighted that Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council have continued this year to work collaboratively on the Christmas in Chesterfield Campaign. Combining our efforts will reinforce the Support Local message. Making the decision to choose an independent retailer for your gifts and food both now and beyond the pandemic will make a huge difference to our high street.”

Visits to the Amazing Magical Chesterfield Santa House must be pre-booked with bookings opening on 16 November 2020 from www.chesterfield.gov.uk/christmas or www.chesterfield.co.uk/christmas

The Santa House will open on Saturday 5 December and run each Saturday and Sunday until 20 December. There is no charge to visit but spaces are limited. Extra dates may be announced.

The Christmas lights will sparkle from mid-November and The Spot the Chesterfield Elf Game launches on 7 December.

Full details on everything happening this Christmas, including gift guides and shopping offers for our many unique and independent shops can be found at chesterfield.co.uk/Christmas with further details on council services at Christmas at chesterfield.gov.uk/Christmas

 

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

Website helps shops and food and drink businesses continue to do business during Lockdown 2

Destination Chesterfield has sprung into action to support local retailers and food and drink business which have been forced to close their doors in the face of the second lockdown.

Within hours of the second lockdown being announced, Destination Chesterfield created a dedicated page on its website packed with details of nearly 100 local non-food retailers, and food and drink businesses that are continuing to operate by adapting their services to meet the needs of the community.

The initiative was originally launched during the first lockdown and proved a huge success. So much so that Destination Chesterfield wants to add even more businesses to the free directory!

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager commented: “The webpage is very simple but highly effective and had a large volume of visitors during the first lockdown. As soon as we heard about the second lockdown, we pulled out all the stops to get it back up and running.

“The mission for Destination Chesterfield has always been to encourage as many people as possible to support the town. Our website, during the pandemic and the uncertainty that comes with it, is playing a key role in helping us continue to remind people to support the town and its businesses.

“Every trader plays an important part in the local economy and we all need to work together to can ensure their survival beyond these extremely challenging times.”

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy at Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “In this second national lockdown, it is important that we all support local businesses in any way we can. It has never been easier to shop local from the comfort of your own home because so many local businesses are being innovative in their approach whether it be offering delivery services, click and collect or simply shopping online.

“As always, we are working closely with Destination Chesterfield to support local businesses and I hope lots of people will use this website to find out how they can also help support our local businesses too.”

Details of retailers and food and drink businesses trading during Lockdown 2 can be found at www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/shopping/shopping-during-lockdown

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , ,

5 ideas to celebrate World Kindness Day

World Kindness Day is celebrated on 13th November and this year we can probably all agree that compassion for others is needed more than ever.

But acts of kindness don’t need to involve grand gestures.  Showing someone that you care could be as simple as a smile or remembering to say thank you.

From donating your time to others, to making time to look after yourself, Destination Chesterfield shares stories from local businesses to inspire kindness today and every day.

 

1. Donate your time and knowledge

If money is tight, but you still want to give back to your community, why not share your time and skills with others.

NLT Training is running a free programme to support job hunters, offering practical help and support including work experience.

ActionCOACH Chesterfield is providing free coaching webinars on marketing, mindset and finance to help businesses and charities navigate through challenging times.  And Managing Director and Certified Business Coach, Fiaz Sadiq has set aside 5 complimentary hours per week to coach 5 businesses or charities throughout lockdown.

SEO CoPilot has volunteered to build a website for Chesterfield homeless charity, Pathways, as well as helping to expand the charity’s online presence.  In the future, the team would like to support an animal shelter or similar organisation, and everyone is keen to do their bit to help the local community.

 

 

2. Support local charities

You feel good when you help others and it was fantastic to see so many people using City Taxi’s new food delivery app over the summer, raising more than £7,000 for Ashgate Hospicecare and Chesterfield Royal Hospital.  For World Kindness Day, City Taxis is planning to surprise the staff at Ashgate Hospicecare with a complimentary afternoon tea delivery, working with a local cafe.  And the company will also be inviting people to nominate a loved one to win a home delivery through its competition, running across its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels.

Over the festive period there are several initiatives you can get involved with to make Christmas magical for underprivileged local children.  Greatest Hits Radio North Derbyshire and Chesterfield FC Community Trust are just two organisations that have made it their mission to ensure every child in the area has a present to open on Christmas day.

Find more local charities to support here.  And if you’d like to track all of your fundraising and volunteering, you can do that for free with the Chesterfield-based Investors in Community platform.

 

 

3. Be there for others

Isolation and lockdown can be very lonely times and so it’s important to make time to check in with your friends, family and colleagues and find ways to come together wherever possible – whether that is in person or virtually.

Dronfield Heritage Trust has provided online activities to support wellbeing, as well as pulling out all the stops to squeeze in a wedding for a very grateful couple prior to the current lockdown period.

The University of Derby has been inviting businesses to sign up to its employee mental health support scheme and nearly 2000 employers took part in the first phase of the project, helping people to stay in or return to work.

 

 

 

4. Be creative

You could combine your kind spirit with your creativity like the team at Geeks Headquarters, which has volunteered its 3D printer to produce over 450 mask straps for local medical facilities during the Coronavirus pandemic.

And a variety of commemorative window and wall displays were created ahead of Remembrance Day by service users and support teams of Chesterfield-based specialist care provider, Heathcotes.  A great way to mark the day in place of traditional services that were not possible due to the lockdown period.

 

 

5. Be kind to yourself

Possibly the most important variety of kindness is self-care.

You could book in something to look forward to post lockdown – from a make up tutorial at ProMUA or reflexology and reiki at 360 Wellbeing to a coaching sessions at Stanedge Golf Club.

There are plenty of restaurants offering dining at home.  And it’s definitely okay to take a peek at our gift ideas from local businesses; you deserve an early Christmas treat.

 

 

Thank you to the businesses that have supported this blog post.  If you are interested in getting involved and helping to raise the profile of Chesterfield and Derbyshire, please email tara.underhill@chesterfield.co.uk.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Destination Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Chesterfield’s Custom Solar produces UK’s largest rooftop solar array at the Port of Hull

Associated British Ports (ABP) has unveiled the UK’s largest commercial rooftop solar array based at the Port of Hull, after contracting Chesterfield company Custom Solar to undertake its construction.

The array will produce 6.5MW of energy, more than doubling ABP Humber Ports’ renewable energy generation.
ABP’s 6.8 million investment will save 2,600 tonnes of CO2e per annum, which equates to the energy needs of 1,450 average UK homes.

Simon Bird, Director at ABP Humber, said: “This has been a huge project for ABP and our appointed contractor, Custom Solar, to undertake. I’m delighted that the Port of Hull now holds the accolade of the UK’s largest, commercial rooftop array.

“Our ambition is to keep reducing the emissions that port operations generate, by implementing a mix of clean energy production, and investing further in hybridised port equipment.

“Every bit of effort and investment to lower our carbon footprint, contributes to the region’s environmental targets. This scheme and others like it, also help to secure ABP’s energy supply, making great commercial and environmental sense.”

The project team decided on using solar technology, as it could be installed on the vast space created by the port’s many warehouse rooftops. Custom Solar began installing the solar panels in October 2019, but the project had already been many months in the planning.

Teamwork was at the heart of ABP’s solar project, with the support of many external partners such as Northern Power Grid. Custom Solar began designing the scheme to make the most of the available space, in liaison with the port’s management team. Once the design reached its final stages, a detailed assessment was made of the electrical network to plan its necessary upgrade and strengthen it – a key part of the project.

The installation of the 21,000 solar panels, powered by 49 of global solar specialists FIMER’s PVS-100-TL 100kw inverters and 3 PVS-50-TL 50kw inverters, was completed in August 2020. The team were able to quickly adapt to COVID-19 working requirements, as their established working practices were already socially distanced in their nature, and COVID secure welfare facilities were introduced.

Matthew Brailsford, Managing Director of Custom Solar, said, “It’s another proud moment for the Custom Solar team and our client, Associated British Ports, as we deliver yet another iconic rooftop solar system. Obviously this one is in a very special bracket all on its own being the UK’s largest.

“The project was in planning for nearly two years before beginning construction due to the sheer complexity of the system we delivered, this is yet another reason why the system is incredibly unique and bespoke to the client’s needs and environment.

“With carbon reduction, CSR and keen financial savings on the agenda of all large corporations during such a challenging time, we see solar as the perfect fit. The future is solar powered, and we are glad to be leading the way.”

FIMER’s chairman Filippo Carzaniga, comments: “FIMER is delighted to be supporting this new era for the UK’s solar energy market. This was a ground-breaking project, which marks our first major solar development in the country, and the largest installation of its kind.

“It demonstrates how powerful solar power can be and, we are proud to have worked closely with ABP and Custom Solar to make this vision a reality.”

17 of ABP’s 21 ports now have renewable energy projects attached. The addition of the solar scheme in Hull means that ABP’s Humber Ports can produce 29% of their energy requirements, and ABP isn’t stopping there.

Simon added: “Having now completed the solar arrays on the Ports of Immingham, Goole and Hull, ABP has already started work to understand the next phase of our ambition. Grimsby will be our focus, as the port is home to the growing offshore wind sector, we would once again like to reduce our carbon footprint using a mix of clean energy generation.”

ABP launched its core strategy in January 2020, which outlines the company’s commitment to accelerating green energy generation and storage for its port operations, as well as for new manufacturing sites in their ports. Over the last two years ABP Humber has also been investing in hybridised cranes and electric forklifts, to make the most of its onsite energy generation.

Find out more about our recent Chesterfield Round Table event, where the topic of business sustainability was discussed in detail.

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

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

Funding for pilot ‘mental health friendly space’ project in Chesterfield

Derbyshire County Council is providing up to £45,000 of funding for the delivery of a 2-year project aiming to make Chesterfield a more mental health friendly place.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, Councillor Carol Hart said: “For many people who suffer with anxiety, stress or depression a trip outside the home can be a difficult experience.

“COVID-19 has exacerbated existing symptoms for many people and has also increased the number of people feeling anxious about trips out.

“In providing some security and assurance, safe places and friendly faces may help people to overcome some of their anxieties.”

The pilot project, delivered by Fuzzy Ducklings, will link with the existing Safe Places scheme run by the council’s public health department.

This will enable it to extend the number of safe spaces into private businesses and retailers, which will increase the number of people it reaches.

It is proposed that a pilot scheme starts in Chesterfield where work has already taken place.

Lee Waterhouse, founder of Fuzzy Ducklings has his own experiences of mental health issues and this spurred him onto to help others.

He said: “I began to form the idea of making Chesterfield a mental health friendly place. I decided to create a mobile app where we bring together all the mental health services into one easy to find application.

“I also wanted to offer mental health awareness training to every business in the town centre.

“My passion for mental health awareness, and personal experience with mental health issues, puts Fuzzy Ducklings in the perfect position of providing a service that is of value to people throughout Chesterfield and Derbyshire.”

In order for Chesterfield to become a “mental health friendly” place a model has been developed that covers the following areas:

  • Raising mental health awareness, addressing stigma, and promoting inclusivity
  • Developing a digital resource that will support people by highlighting the location of safe spaces they can access if they feel unwell
  • Engaging local business to play a role in improving the community’s mental health and wellbeing, for example, training staff on mental health awareness

Chesterfield Mental Health Network will oversee the initial scheme in Chesterfield. This is a multi-agency partnership with representatives from the community and voluntary sector, health and social care and the business sector. The pilot scheme will be evaluated and if successful, will be rolled out across Derbyshire.

First Aid for Mental Health course chesterfield

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , ,

Stay informed

Keep up to date

Dont miss out on all the latest news, updates & special offers.

Signup to our newsletter