For one night only, Peter Swallow, managing director of Chesterfield-based property development company Bolsterstone Plc and chair of Destination Chesterfield, will be hoping to make people laugh and raise a massive £6,000 for charity.

With no previous stand-up experience, Peter is taking to the stage at Sheffield City Hall and will be performing a comedy routine in front of a 400-strong audience in aid of Sheffield’s Weston Park Cancer Charity on Thursday 20 October.

Already, Peter has raised a staggering £5,000 for the charity through his JustGiving page. All money raised will go towards funding the expansion of research studies, improving the way cancer treatments are delivered and supporting the ongoing care provision of patients and their families affected by cancer

Peter will join nine other wannabe stand-up comedians drawn from business leaders across Sheffield City Region for Funny Business, an annual event which sees contestants deliver a five-minute comedy routine in front of a live audience and a panel of judges.

He said: “Although daunting, I am happy to take a step out of my comfort zone for this wonderful charity and in memory of my mother and sister who, along with a number of close friends young and old, have succumbed to cancer. Being personally affected by cancer encourages me to do more to help charities like this, so I’m thrilled that I can help Weston Park Hospital with this event.”

Tickets are on sale now for Funny Business at Sheffield City Hall on Thursday 20 October at 7:30pm. The tickets, which cost £20, include the performance, a raffle ticket and entry to the After Show Party.

Businesses and their employees are being encouraged by Chesterfield Borough Council to take advantage of a scheme to invest in training for staff.

Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers on Saltergate has become the first business to sign up to Sheffield City Region’s Skills Bank and Chesterfield Borough Council is hoping they will be the first of many to do so.

The scheme offers businesses the opportunity to expand and get funding to pay for training required by their staff, while employees are able to get the skills needed to further their careers.

Under the scheme employers agree Skills Deals which set out how their business will grow by them providing employees with relevant skills and training. In return funding is provided to support training costs, paid for by the European Union Social Fund (ESF) and Sheffield City Region Growth Fund.

Andrew McDaid, partner at Mitchells, said: “The Skills Bank is a great opportunity to access funding to directly invest in staff development to both upskill and retain employees. It fits perfectly with Mitchells’ ethos to develop people within the company.

“The application process was very straightforward and we got through it with remarkable ease. Most importantly, the funders were keen to help. Moreover, going forward, we’ll be recommending it to our clients who want to grow and develop their business.”

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “It is because of schemes like this that we have applied to become a member of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority and the economic devolution deal that comes with it.

“As businesses grow and new jobs are created we need to ensure that local people have the skills needed to benefit from these better paid jobs so that the benefits of growth are felt in our local communities.”

Businesses can find out more about Skills Bank at the next Chesterfield Champions breakfast meeting on Wednesday 31 August organised by Destination Chesterfield or by visiting the Sheffield City Region Skills Bank website at www.sheffieldcityregionskillsbank.co.uk

Further information on how to sign up to be a Chesterfield Champion and find out about their programme of events is available by visiting www.chesterfield.co.uk/destination-chesterfield/champions

Shorts Chartered Accountants are this month delighted to announce the appointment of Adam Ames as the most recent member of their Corporate Finance team. Adam joins as Corporate Finance Director with many years’ experience working at a senior level in both industry and with a large independent accountancy firm.

Adam joins at a successful time for the department following the completion of four transactions in the last quarter. The most recent of these acting as lead advisors on the multi million pound disposal of Diamond Dispersions Limited to the $7 Billion turnover Lubrizol Corporation. The sale to a Berkshire Hathaway owned company, the investment vehicle of the world’s third richest man, Warren Buffet, representing another significant step in the continuing development of the Shorts Corporate Finance team.

Welcoming Adam, Partner Andy Ryder commented:-

“Adam brings experience through all market conditions which we feel will be invaluable in providing advice that you can trust in these less certain times. Adam has experience across all types of corporate finance projects and also in acting as a reliable sounding board for businesses on an ongoing basis as they monitor ongoing performance and consider significant strategic decisions.”

Adam added:-

“I am delighted to be joining Shorts and look forward to supporting the continuing growth of the firm and assisting clients across both the South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire regions.  Shorts is a highly regarded independent practice who are clearly focused on meeting all aspects of their clients’ needs. I am looking forward to being instrumental in the future development of the firm.”