The University of Derby’s Nursing courses have been ranked 11^th in The Guardian University Guide 2019, a climb of 23 places.

This ranking reflects a variety of criteria related to students, such as student satisfaction with their course, teaching, feedback and student-to-staff ratio. Other metrics include gaining employment, spend per student and, new for this year, continuation.

Welcoming these results Dr Paula Holt, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean for the College of Health and Social Care said:-

“We’re delighted to see the hard work of our committed staff resulting in an outstanding student experience which we see reflected in this league table place of 11^th in the country. We have been educating nurses in Derby and Chesterfield for many years and are proud to see so many of our students working in local hospitals, our community and the private and voluntary institutions locally including Ashgate Hospice.

“This ranking reflects the commitment of our clinical practice partners, including Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Derbyshire Health Community Services, who provide 50% of the course through placements. We also recognise the quality of students we see coming from Chesterfield College and other partner Colleges who are inspired and well prepared for their nursing degree with us. Our aim is to continue to enhance the quality of our education and ensure our Nursing degree always has a personal touch.”

“As a University we have been able to increase our student numbers in Nursing at a time when some areas within the UK have seen a reduction. This increase is necessary as a shortage of nurses is evident across the health sector. We need to ensure wide access to our programmes, and clear progression routes for those already working in health and care support roles.

“Healthy and increasing student numbers at the Chesterfield site, St Helena, has a positive impact on the local economy but is also contributing to a more sustainable workforce. Many students live in Chesterfield before commencing their degree, and many are mature, with an average age of around 27, but we are also seeing students commuting in from places like Nottingham and Birmingham. Almost all of the students graduating from our Nursing programmes in Chesterfield are employed locally by Chesterfield Royal Hospital or in community services.

“Enabling wide participation into higher education is important to the University, therefore we engage and work collaboratively with local schools and with Chesterfield College to support and raise aspirations of local people. We will continue to work hard to ensure that The University of Derby in Chesterfield is firmly embedded in the town, working collaboratively and responding to local needs.”

Visitors to the Winding Wheel will benefit from a series of improvements taking place this summer at the Chesterfield Borough Council owned venue.

Work costing £745,000 will begin on Monday 2 July to transform the foyer entrance to the building and modernise some of the facilities.

One of the key improvements will see the foyer extended into the former opticians shop next door to create a new café bar area which will incorporate an information and ticket collection point. The café bar will be open before and after shows, during intervals and for conferences or other events taking place at the venue.

The rest of the project will see toilets in the building refurbished and the auditorium and ballroom redecorated, ahead of the venue reopening in September.

Councillor Steve Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member said:-

“We are very proud of the Winding Wheel and the fantastic variety of shows on offer there.

“These improvements will provide better facilities for customers before, during and after shows and for people attending conferences and other functions at the venue.”

These works complement an extensive refurbishment in 2014 which saw improvements to the power supply, a new, larger, stage to attract bigger productions, new lighting, new stage door and dressing room to improve access for performers with limited mobility and new seating in the auditorium.

Originally built as a cinema, the Winding Wheel was bought by the council and opened as a theatre, conference venue and exhibition space in 1987.

The venue has played host to prestigious shows including the West End productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Dreamboats and Petticoats and Blood Brothers, which returns this November.

To find details of shows taking place when the Winding Wheel reopens in September, or make bookings, visit www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk or call the box office on (01246) 345222.

The developers behind the popular £6.0m Chesterfield-based Ringwood Meadows have confirmed that all 11 houses on the second phase of the project have now been sold; with the first purchases expected to be this June, and building work on this Phase scheduled to be completed in the Autumn.

Rockliffe Homes, which is building a total of 37 new two, three and four bedroom modern and contemporary family homes, confirmed that it is also on track to announce the launch of the third and final phase of the development in July.

With interest in the remaining plots already attracting interest from buyers, according to local estate agent Wilkins Vardy which has been appointed to oversee sales, the success of the development to date is reflective of the ‘very pressing’ need for more housing in and around Chesterfield.

Alex Spencer-Mills, Development Director at Rockliffe Homes’, said:-

“Whilst Ringwood Meadows is ideally located next to beautiful open countryside, as well as local amenities including everything the Hollingwood Hub has to offer which makes it a very attractive option to buyers, we have been delighted by the level of interest that there has been from people looking to settle in the area.

“It is great that we have been able to provide families and young professionals with access to well appointed, quality homes – going some way to addressing the very pressing need for more properties for sale in the local area.

“We are also delighted to be able to offer the Help to Buy scheme to purchasers which is a fantastic initiative dedicated to helping people who are looking to make their way onto the first rung of the property ladder to fulfil their ambitions.”

The 37 homes that make up the Ringwood Meadows development, which got underway last year thanks to financial backing from the Homes & Communities Agency, now known as Homes England, as part of the £3 billion House Building Fund, is expected to be fully occupied by late Spring, 2019.

Today Rockliffe Homes also confirmed that it has secured additional funding from the Homes England which will allow it to acquire and develop new sites in the region with a focus on bringing high quality homes to areas experiencing a housing shortage.

Commenting on the development Craig Johns, Senior Transaction Manager at the Homes England, said:-

“Providing a loan to Rockliffe Homes, will not only create 37 new homes in Brimington, but will also support Rockliffe Homes in its continued expansion. It is fantastic that our investment will not only increase the number of homes available for local people but will also create skilled jobs on brownfield land.”

Dan Elliott, Managing Director of Chesterfield based estate agents Wilkins Vardy, said:-

“We have been met with superb levels of interest for this development. We already have names and numbers of people wanting to reserve on phase 3, which will be released in the summer.

“We know that there is real demand for quality, family housing in and around Chesterfield, and so it is not surprising that so many people are responding quickly to what promises to be a very practical yet picturesque development.”