Development

White Rose Beauty Colleges to showcase a range of skills and career opportunities in Chesterfield

Chesterfield’s White Rose Beauty Colleges is reminding people across the town of the range of career opportunities in the sector, by hosting a relaunch event this month.

The business opened in the town back in November 2019, just months before the lockdown. Head of Recruitment, Helen Bradshaw takes up the story on how the business had to quickly adapt to changes brought on by the pandemic:

“We successfully navigated our business through this difficult period by adapting our courses to facilitate online learning but like most businesses we were unable to execute all our plans due to the restrictions in place.

“With lockdown firmly behind us we feel now is a great time to host an open event to showcase who we are, what courses we offer and reach out to those in the community who may still not of heard of us.”

Helen and her colleagues are hopeful that the relaunch event will help to engage the local community and provide people with an insignt into the key learning opportunities they are able to offer.

She commented: “We have an evening of positivity and fun planned, with music and light refreshments, mini treatments such as hand and arm massage or shoulder massage to enjoy, make-up demonstrations and a tour of our college with staff on hand to answer any questions about the importance of our role in the learning and development of others and contribution to our town.  In addition, and our way of saying thank you all attendees will receive a voucher which can be redeemed against a treatment at another time.”

White Rose Beauty Colleges is confident that the business will continue to grow  in Chesterfield  and is dedicated to its commitment and contribution towards the Chesterfield community.

white-rose-beauty-colleges

Helen added: “Recently we became part of The Learning Curve Group and feel excited about the opportunities this will offer in the future.  We will continue to provide an excellent training environment in the heart of Chesterfield where White Rose Beauty Colleges is an accredited centre of excellence offering VTCT and ITEC registered qualifications.  These awarding bodies are recognised worldwide and make us a great choice for those wishing to use their qualification in the professional environment.

“Our college plays an active role in supporting Derbyshire schools by attending their careers events, also we host open days and taster sessions in our college throughout the year. Our excellent two-year Study Programme for school leavers helps prepare the learner for work in the industry by providing a realistic salon environment where members of the public can book treatments.

“We are passionate to introduce the concept of how diverse a career in beauty can be, with excellent links to organisations who we regularly invite as guest speakers to our college.  We have forged good links with local salons and are happy to advertise job opportunities around our college.  We provide the opportunity for NEETS learners who often come to us with challenges and obstacles which we help and support them to overcome.  We literally encourage every learner to believe in themselves and achieve their goals.”

“Our adult learners can choose from a varied and interesting course programme, we find our learners are either looking for a career change or have a job they enjoy but want to learn something creative.  We have strong links with the Job Centre and have attended career events, our Level 2 Diploma courses are fully funded including kit and uniform to anyone who is unemployed to ensure those in need are not denied the chance to join us.

“Most recently we have offered and facilitated courses for a local group of Ukrainian refugees who wished to upskill whilst they are in the UK or simply enjoy the sociability of meeting new friends. We will continue to reach out and support local charities and businesses alike, my belief is we can and do make a difference.”

Find out more about the upcoming open day at White Rose Beauty Colleges here. 

White Rose Beuty Colleges Supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

white-rose-beauty-colleges

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Development, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Made in Chesterfield, VisitingTagged in , , , , , ,

Progress continues at £30 million housing development near Chesterfield

Progress is continuing on a major North Derbyshire housing development, with potential buyers now invited to see what is on offer at Alma Place in Holmewood.

Chesterfield-based Avant Homes Central has opened a design-led, four-bedroom showhome at the £30m development, which is located off Williamthorpe Road.

The 143-home development comprises a mix of one, two, three, four and five-bedroom homes. Prices range from £185,995 for a two-bedroom semi-detached property to £259,995 for a four-bedroom detached house.

Interested buyers can now visit the popular three-storey Dalton house type showhome to experience Avant Homes’ latest specification at first hand.

As with all properties at Alma Place, the showhome features a flexible open-plan living space, designer kitchen with integrated appliances and boutique bathroom complete with tiling which is available in a selection of designs.

Avant Homes Central sales and marketing director, Dawn Bennett, said: “As a Chesterfield-based business, we’re excited to be making great progress at Alma Place to provide much-needed housing for buyers in the local area.

“Our collection of design-led homes is proving to be hugely popular. I encourage anyone interested in a new home in Holmewood to visit our Dalton showhome to see for themselves why they are in such demand.”

Avant Homes Central currently has nine live developments ranging from Chesterfield to Mansfield with many more due to start as the business continues to implement its growth plans.

The company is part of the Avant Homes Group, one of the leading private developers of residential property in the UK.

Whether it’s a town or village experience, contemporary or traditional housing, buying or renting, living in Chesterfield and the surrounding area is affordable and offers something for everyone.

With friendly and welcoming communities it’s a safe place to live and bring up a family. Surrounded by stunning countryside but with lots to offer in the town there’s plenty to see and do.

Find out more about living, leisure and working in Chesterfield here.

alma place

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , , ,

Ashgate Hospice invites nurses for on-the-spot interviews in unique recruitment day

Nurses are being encouraged to attend a recruitment open day where they can have an on-the-spot interview for their next role without applying in advance. 

Chesterfield’s Ashgate Hospice is inviting nurses to learn more about working in end-of-life and palliative care at the recruitment day on 17th January.  

The charity is running the free-to-attend session at its site in Old Brampton from 1pm to 4pm.  

As well as interviewing for a permanent nursing position, there is also the opportunity to join the hospice as part of our flexible bank workforce. 

Registered Nurse, Kelly Bartram, who joined Ashgate Hospice as an Inpatient Unit nurse in 2021, says working for the hospice “fills her with an overwhelming sense of achievement”.   

She said: “I had come to a bit of a standstill with my career and was ready for a change and a new challenge, when the job at Ashgate came up I just knew I needed to apply. I really felt as though this could be my niche.   

“From bed baths and toileting to painting nails, applying makeup, and even getting patients a glass of their favourite tipple, we endeavour to ensure families know that nothing is too much trouble.  

“Knowing we so often manage to achieve comfort and peace at the end of life for our patients, their families and people close to them fills me with an overwhelming sense of achievement. 

“I feel like everyone at Ashgate really cares. I am well supported emotionally, and I am believed in and encouraged to keep being the best version of myself.”  

On the day, attendees will get the opportunity to speak to current nurses, the HR team and clinical leads to find out about what a career at Ashgate is like. They will also receive a tour of the hospice. 

It comes as healthcare providers across the UK continue to struggle with a nationwide shortage of nurses. 

Matt Corbishley, Director of People and Performance at Ashgate Hospice, added: “We are looking for nurses to join our award-winning Inpatient Unit team to help deliver our outstanding palliative and end of life care.  

“As part of a multi-disciplinary team, our nurses support patients and their families with complex symptom management and specialist treatments.  

“No two days are the same, but every day is rewarding at Ashgate; we hope you’ll come along to our open day to find out more!” 

Anyone interested in attending must register their interest by ordering an e-ticket for the event in advance. Go to Ashgate Hospice’s website to find out more.

Ashgate Hospice supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Ashgate Hospice nurses

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

Bridge Help’s Chesterfield Foodbank appeal raises £6,000

A six-week fundraising appeal, which has resulted in a whopping donation of £6,000 of food, toiletries and cash, will help hundreds of people in need across Chesterfield in 2023.

Launched in November 2022, Bridge Help’s annual Chesterfield Foodbank raised £3,000 thanks to donations from the firm’s brokers, suppliers, friends and family. The short-term commercial finance provider matched all donations, bringing the final total to £6,000.

A £4,400 haul of food and toiletries – which filled three vans – was delivered to the food bank just before Christmas. A £1,600 cash donation was also given to the charity to enable it to help people throughout the year when donations fall.

The food donated weighed in at more than 1.2 tonnes, enabling up to 1,300 meals to be made.

Roisin O’Gorman from Chesterfield Foodbank thanked Bridge Help for the donation, saying: “This donation will make such a positive difference at this incredibly difficult time. Demand for the Foodbank has increased by 35% since last year and 50% from the year before. The food donated will help keep us stocked up throughout the year when our donations start to dry up. You have really helped local people in crisis who are facing poverty!”

As well as a £500 donation of food to the collection, Stoneacre Motor Group and Maxus supplied two vans and members of their team to help Bridge Help and staff from Chesterfield Foodbank load and transport everything to the foodbank’s distribution centre on Carrwood Road in Sheepbridge.

As well as essentials – tins, pasta, long life fruit juice and milk, Bridge Help also donated toiletries, chocolate and biscuit treats for Christmas. Donations were collected and stored at the firm’s offices on Old Brick Works Lane.

Arranged by the firm’s Business Development Manager Phoebe Sellars, who is also a trustee of Chesterfield Citizens Advice, she said: “Each year the Bridge Help Foodbank appeal raises more than the last, which truly amazed me this year as everyone is feeling the effect with the cost-of-living crisis. Once again, people have been so generous and enabled us to give our biggest donation ever.

“Being a trustee of Chesterfield Citizens Advice I know how much this donation is needed this year. More and more people are having to make the impossible decision between choosing whether to eat or heat. I am pleased that we have been able to make a small difference locally.”

This was the third consecutive year Bridge Help has organised a collection and donation to Chesterfield Foodbank.

Since launching the Chesterfield Foodbank appeal in 2019, Bridge Help has donated more than £11,000 to the Sheepbridge-based foodbank warehouse, which is operated by The Trussell Trust.

The Chesterfield Foodbank distribution centre supplies six food banks – central Chesterfield, New Whittington, Loundsley Green, Brimington, Hope Valley and Hasland, which is the most recent foodbank. The Hasland foodbank was opened in April 2022 to cope with the increase in working people struggling to eat amid the cost-of-living hike.

Chesterfield Foodbank provides three days of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to people who are referred to them and has been operating since 2013. The foodbank works through local agencies issuing vouchers to people in crisis who cannot afford to buy food.

Bridge Help supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

City Taxis welcomes Chesterfield Royal Hospital Charity as its Chesterfield charity of the year

Having pledged to support a small charity in each of their operating areas, local taxi company City Taxis has announced its latest charity partner for 2023 – the Chesterfield Royal Hospital Charity.

Chesterfield Royal Charity supports both the patients and staff at the hospital, by improving the environment and facilities on offer, all designed to enhance care and wellbeing. Through donations, the charity goes above and beyond to provide more than what is offered through ‘normal NHS funding’, from relaxation gardens and MRI scanners to water stations and mental health support for staff.

The Charity is currently working on its ‘Care for the Carers Appeal’ which is funding a £2m Health and Wellbeing Hub, which is being built on the hospital site. The Hub will offer all staff a safe place to actively look after their mental and physical health and wellbeing. Amongst the hub’s facilities will be a gym, counselling rooms and complimentary therapies.

Sacha Skinner, Marketing Manager at City Taxis, said: “Since finalising our City Charity strategy, we have worked with our Site Managers to select several local charities that we believe could really benefit from our support.

“In summer (2022) we teamed up with Sheffield Hospitals Charity to throw a ‘Thank You NHS Gala Ball’, where all funds were donated to the charity’s ‘We’ve Got You’ Campaign – dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of NHS staff across Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

“When we learned that Chesterfield Royal Charity were also working on a large project to support the health and wellbeing of their staff, we knew this was something we wanted to get involved with.

“We are very proud to be supporting such a wonderful charity and very much looking forward to getting involved in lots of fundraising activities and volunteering to support this project.”

Ken Godber, Director at Chesterfield Royal Charity, said: “We are extremely proud to welcome City Taxis on board to support for our ‘Care for the Carers’ appeal.

“We know the Health and Wellbeing Hub will make a huge difference to the 4,500 colleagues working at the hospital.

“It’s been a very difficult time for the NHS and with support from City Taxis for the whole of 2023 we think we’ll be able to make even more investments in the Hub.

“Thank you to them and all their drivers for this commitment.”

In 2022, six members of the City Taxis team took on the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k to help raise funds for the Health and Wellbeing Hub build, which is set to open in spring 2023. Visit the link for more information: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/CarefortheCarersCRH

City Taxis and Chesterfield Royal Hospital support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

 

City Taxis at the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

Vicar Lane announces upgrade to car parking facilities

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre will be undergoing an upgrade to the car park and general parking facilities in the coming weeks.

YourParkingSpace has been chosen as a partner to bring the parking facilities into the digital-era and streamline shoppers’ parking experience from 11th January.

Shoppers will see improvements to the car park access as entry/exit will be controlled by a new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. In addition, there will be a number of ways to pay either on site at a Payment Kiosk where cash and card is accepted, or digitally with ‘Pay by Mobile’ or ‘Express Checkout’ using the relevant QR codes that can be found on site.

Frequent visitors to Vicar Lane will also have the option to Pre-Book a space or set up AutoPay.

YourParkingSpace offers 24/7 customer service support and a free app to download for Android and IOS users.

Vicar Lane’s multistorey car park provides 400 spaces including 18 disabled spaces and 12 parent and child parking spaces.

Shaun Brown from Vicar Lane said: “We are delighted to be working with YourParkingSpace to upgrade and modernise our car park for visitors of Vicar Lane. We know this investment will enhance our shoppers experience giving choice and flexibility to everyone’s busy day to day activities.’’

Based in the heart of Chesterfield, Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is  home to a range of popular high-street retailers and a mix of unique independent stores. Shoppers of all ages will find they can shop for products from clothing, mobile phones and cosmetics to greetings cards and household items with lots of friendly, attentive staff ready to help.

For more information on stores to visit and to keep up to date on what’s going on at Vicar Lane visit https://www.vicarlaneshoppingcentre.co.uk/  

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Vicar Lane Fun Day

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , ,

Global Brands Limited announces the purchase of the Hooch, Hooper’s and Reef brands

Global Brands Limited has announced its purchase of the Hooch, Hooper’s, and Reef trademarks from Molson Coors Beverage Company.

The brands have been produced and distributed by Global Brands since 2012 and will now form parts of its owned portfolio.

This sale to Global Brands will mean Global Brands own the brands and can now focus on them as part of their own portfolio with all the freedoms that brings.

Nino Beneta, Managing Director of Molson Coors Export and License EMEA & APAC said: “We are excited to see Global Brands progress in growing these brands over the last decade and look forward to seeing the continued success and growth of the Reef, Hoopers and Hooch brands going forward.

“Moving forward as an EMEA & APAC Export and License team our focus will continue to be on a select portfolio of key international brands such as Coors, Staropramen, Carling, Madri Excepcional and Blue Moon.”

Steve Perez, Chairman and Founder of Global Brands said: “We are delighted to welcome the Hooch, Hooper’s and Reef brands as fully-fledged members of the Global Brands family. This will give us the opportunity to invest further into the brands with the added security of owning the equity.

“We re-launched Hooch in 2012 at the Publican Awards with Keith Lemon and reinvigorated the brand, with new flavours and focus. Hooch is a staple of the RTD category sold by major retailers, and is a popular, well-loved brand. This deal will reinforce Global Brands’ position as the leading independent producer of RTD brands in the UK.

“We have lots of ideas for innovation and look forward to sharing these with the trade and consumers shortly. We have enjoyed a fantastic supportive relationship with Molson Coors over the years and look forward to continue working closely together through their route-to-market team. It’s an exciting start for GBL in 2023!”

Hooch, Hooper’s, and Reef join the expanding and popular Global Brands portfolio – which includes VK, the biggest RTD brand in the On Trade, Franklin & Sons, the 2nd biggest premium tonic brand in the On Trade, and All Shook Up, Shake Baby Shake, Beviamo, Kick Energy, Lustre, and Amigos Tequila Beer. Global Brands are the biggest branded supplier of packaged cocktails to the UK Off Trade (by volume).

Hooch has enjoyed huge growth with Global Brands since 2012. Recent NPD for Hooch under Global Brands includes the launch of Pink Hooch in 2020 – the most successful ready-to-drink NPD launch of the year4 – and the launch of Orange Hooch in the summer of 2022. Alongside the original, no nonsense alcoholic lemon brew Hooch, is the passion fruit and mango sidekick Hoola Hooch, and a range of Hooch spirits.

Global Brands supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Hooch Global Brands

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Home, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

Support for more Derbyshire businesses and organisations to reduce energy use and cut carbon

More Derbyshire businesses and organisations will be eligible for help to reduce their energy costs and cut carbon emissions as part of the Green Entrepreneurs Fund programme

More than £715,000 has already been awarded to businesses and organisations through the grants programme which Derbyshire County Council is running in collaboration with the University of Derby, as part of the drive to help the county reach net zero by 2050 or sooner.

But now changes made to the eligibility criteria for the programme’s Small Grants Fund mean even more businesses and organisations will be able to access funding to help implement green energy plans to reduce their energy costs.

Small grants from £6,000 up to a maximum of £20,000 can be applied for towards projects such as, but not limited to:

  • installing solar panels
  • replacing old heating systems with air/ground source heat pumps
  • retrofitting old boilers to make them more energy efficient
  • fitting electric vehicle charging points at their premises
  • installing energy efficient LED lighting
  • improving the insulation in their premises to help prevent heat escaping
  • funding to replace equipment and machinery with energy-saving alternatives
  • battery storage for solar generated energy.

Applicants will be required to show how their proposals would cut carbon emissions and how they are planning to reduce their emissions to net zero – which means reducing carbon emissions right down to the lowest possible level and off-setting those that cannot be cut through measures such as planting more trees and other forms of habitat creation to absorb excess carbon from the atmosphere, making the overall net emissions zero.

They will also be asked to highlight how the grant funding will support them to improve their management of resources and staff to increase sustainability and show how the project would or could include wider community benefits such as protecting jobs or encouraging greener behaviour among staff.

Councillor Tony King, Cabinet member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, said: “We know that small businesses are feeling the pinch with rising energy bills and costs of materials and goods generally.

“This change to the Small Grants Fund criteria means that we can help more small businesses to invest in energy efficiency measures to help cut their costs as well as their carbon footprint.”

As well as the Small Grants Fund, the programme is also accepting applications to the Green Entrepreneurs Scholarship Fund to support individuals to retrain with skills to enable them to enter the field of low carbon, green energy.

And the Green Entrepreneurs Demonstrator Fund is also open for applications from high quality, larger scale carbon-cutting projects in Derbyshire. This fund is open to projects that are designed to encourage solutions beyond the mainstream of current thinking and the minimum grant available through this fund is £200,000.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “The University has an ambition to make Derbyshire synonymous with sustainable business. This extra funding capacity to support businesses on the journey to zero carbon is invaluable, particularly at a time when energy costs are rising. We look forward to seeing the innovative projects that can be supported as a result.”

Find more information on the Green Entrepreneurs Fund programme here.

Wind Turbine in Chesterfield

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

Charities, community groups, and students strengthen links at University of Derby event

A vibrant Voluntary Sector Marketplace has introduced university students and lecturers to groups across the county, to further champion working together in classrooms and communities.

More than 300 students and lecturers from the University of Derby met with charities and community organisations from across the county at a packed event on November 24th 2022, as part of the partnership between the University and local charity Community Chesterfield.

Over 40 representatives from the charity and voluntary sector in Derbyshire helped to make this event a huge success, presenting a series of lectures to nursing students at the university talking about the impact of groups in our community and on health and social care, and encouraging staff and students to become champions for the invaluable work being done.

Introducing hundreds of students and lecturers to connect with groups such as Ashgate hospice, the Volunteer Centre, Derbyshire Carers Association, Chesterfield Football Club Community Trust, and many more, the event encouraged the participants to make plans together to strengthen their links and plan future collaborations in the classroom, and in communities across the region.

The university this week was awarded the Bronze Engage Watermark for its community engagement and partnerships, working with education is critical to ensuring the continued success and reach of charities and community groups across Derbyshire.

Daniel Jones, Marketing and Communications officer at Community Chesterfield said: “Our partnership with the University of Derby is integral to our success in delivering such outstanding support to both students and community groups across the county, helping to shape the future of charities and volunteer groups and increase the understanding of how vital support within our communities is”.

Community Chesterfield is a collaboration between Derbyshire Voluntary Action and the University of Derby, connecting students, university lecturers, and community groups across the county to work with and support each other in a true partnership and has been recognised this year with awards at the Voluntary Sector Awards and the Nursing Times Awards for their successes.

One University of Derby student commented: “It has opened my eyes to the possibilities both for employment and to signpost people to. It has highlighted that there may be opportunities and options out there for me once I graduate… I think what the volunteer sector do is absolutely amazing and I would imagine that it could be very rewarding.”

Community Chesterfield, Derbyshire Voluntary Action and University of Derby support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Volunteer Marketplace Community Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , ,

Workpays’ Big Assembly 2023 event set to inspire the next generation

A major skills event hosted by Chesterfield training provider, Workpays, is returning to Derbyshire on National Apprenticeship Week 2023.

The Big Assembly is an award-winning, annual broadcast that provides apprenticeship advice to schools, parents, students, and employers. Last year’s broadcast was watched live and on demand by 100,000 people.

Today, Workpays is proud to announce The Big Assembly will be broadcast live at the National Stone Centre, a 40 acre Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Tens of thousands of people have signed up already and, if you haven’t yet, you can too at www.bigassembly.org.

Alex Glasner, MD, Workpays, said: “The aim of the Big Assembly is simple: inspire the next generation of apprentices. For many school leavers, the broadcast is a starting point to discover what their next steps are after graduation – whether it be employment or further education. The Big Assembly is the jewel in the crown of National Apprenticeship Week.

“With more and more people tuning in each year, we are excited to partner with the stunning National Stone Centre in Derbyshire, which supports many different types of apprenticeships.

“This year’s Big Assembly will be the BIGGEST one ever.”

Sarah Fry, Head of Membership and Marketing, Institute of Quarrying said: “The National Stone Centre is the home of the Institute of Quarrying, a membership organisation which serves the on-going training and development needs of the skilled workforces of the mineral products industry. We are delighted to be hosting the Big Assembly.”

Emily Noble, Future Careers Manager, Minerals Matter said: “Minerals Matter is working across the mineral products sector and with educators to demonstrate the sustainable and diverse, exciting career opportunities that exist for young people. Having the Big Assembly at the National Stone Centre, in partnership with the D2N2 Careers Hub, enables us to further showcase this great sector and how young people can shape their world within it.”

The 2023 Big Assembly is being broadcast live from the National Stone Centre near Matlock, Derbyshire, on the 7th February at 11:10 am.

This year’s live event will include careers advice from companies big and small and from people who work in lots of different sectors, including media, construction, cars, finance, and our panel has some well-known names.

The 2023 Big Assembly is free and can be watched online. Simply sign up in advance: www.BigAssembly.org

Workpays supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

The Big Assembly

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Development, Home, Made in Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Devolution top of the agenda at East Midlands Chamber’s Annual State of the Economy Review

Businesses believe devolution could hold the cards to a more prosperous East Midlands economy – but many have said they want to see Leicestershire at the table with Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

The proposed East Midlands Mayoral County Combined Authority was one of the key discussion points at East Midlands Chamber’s inaugural State of the Economy Review, held in partnership with the University of Leicester and Geldards LLP.

More than 50 business and academic leaders attended the event, held at emh group’s headquarters in Coalville today (16 December), which featured panels of business leaders speaking about how they have been affected by economic issues over the past year and future policy needs.

Amber Valley MP Nigel Mills and Nottingham North MP Alex Norris also gave speeches, in which they explained the latest situation with the East Midlands devolution deal – currently undergoing a public consultation with a view to being established in May 2024 – and how it could drive investment to the region.

The deal under review includes the local authorities across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, with a pledge to bring £1.14bn into those two counties over 30 years.

Chris Hobson, director of policy and external affairs at the Chamber, said: “There is a growing appetite among our business community to devolve decision-making powers over key issues like economic affairs and transport to local areas that have a greater understanding of their needs.

“While there was once a time when companies may not have wanted to wade into the debate over political structures, they have witnessed first-hand the benefits felt by their counterparts in other areas of the country with elected mayors and seen the scale of additional inward investment that devolution has facilitated.

“There was genuine excitement from businesses in the room on the opportunities devolution will bring, but also a concern that Leicestershire may end up missing out as a result of not being part of the current Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire deal.

“For businesses, the three counties are felt to be a natural economic area of co-operation – as devolution progresses, political leaders must present a clear vision for how they ensure Leicester and Leicestershire won’t be disadvantaged.

“When discussing our region’s USP, it was clear it all comes down to us being a Centre of Trading Excellence – a place for making things, moving them and innovating in how we do this – and this is something we have called on the Government to back further in our Business Manifesto for Growth via a package of measures to improve investment, innovation, infrastructure and international trade.”

The Annual State of the Economy Review took place against a backdrop of the Chamber’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey, which paints picture of declining activity throughout the past year but a slight renewal of confidence ahead of 2023 should the political environment stabilise.

A day earlier, the Bank of England raised interest rates from 3% to 3.5% in its latest fiscal intervention to arrest inflation, which was 10.7% in the year to November.

Chris added: “Our Quarterly Economic Survey has illustrated the myriad cost pressures and capacity constraints that firms have faced throughout the year, largely due to global headwinds but also because of our own doing in some cases.

“Looking ahead, businesses are acutely aware 2023 could be another tricky year to navigate as we enter a widely-predicted global recession, although a much shallower and shorter one than in 2008.

“As interest rates hit 3.5% and further forecasted raises are likely to impact further on already-dwindling investment intentions, there are things the Government can do to ‘get the basics right’, as we have stated in our manifesto.

“With four in five businesses with vacancies struggling to recruit throughout the year, we should be helping them to invest in skills – whether that be through expanding the remit of the Annual Investment Allowance so they can claim against training or making the Apprenticeship Levy more flexible to encompass a range of entry-level roles.

“Exporters are also growing frustrated with barriers to international trade and our relationship with the EU may once more become a big issue for 2023, while businesses will be eager to see new markets open up via trade deals to connect our region with the rest of the world.”

Chris Hobson, East Midlands Chamber

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