Development

Chesterfield businesses offered fully-funded support for technology growth

Businesses across Chesterfield and the wider East Midlands region are being urged to take advantage of the support available from the Digital Upscaler project before funding comes to an end.

The project, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by East Midlands Chamber, supports businesses looking to invest in new technologies to propel growth or to overcome barriers due to a lack of understanding of new technologies.

It offers businesses the knowledge, investment and capacity to scale-up by embracing new technologies, and includes:

  • Intensive one-to-one adviser support from a team of digital experts
  • Funded consultancy to support new technology integration
  • An extensive programme of in-person, two-day digital workshops
  • Peer networks and the East Midlands Manufacturing Network – a Chamber initiative launched last year as a peer-led network, regularly bringing together makers across the region.

Nearly 500 businesses have so far enrolled on and engaged with the programme, which runs until the end of June 2023.

Paul Humphreys, head of scale-up services at East Midlands Chamber, said: “Time and again, we’re told the Chamber’s ‘deep dive’ workshops offer hugely practical advice that can be implemented immediately when staff are back at their desks.

“Beyond our extensive programme of workshops – which are fully-subsidised for staff in businesses across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire – we’re offering one-to-one support from our digital advisers to businesses considered to be high growth. Those showing the best growth potential will be invited to apply for a consultancy award.

“By getting to know a business, we can help its senior management team improve their knowledge when choosing a solution, developer or system provider, and make informed and considered decisions about technology investments. Our ultimate aim is to ensure their digital solutions meet the desired performance and functionality needed for future growth.”

A business that has already benefitted from Digital Upscaler support in our area is Cruise Circle in Bolsover.

When husband and wife team, Jason Daniels and Danielle Nemeth, acquired independent specialist travel agent Cruise Circle from its previous owners in 2009, they had a clear vision to evolve it into an online travel provider that was ahead of the curve in the cruise travel sector.

A Digital Upscaler grant and expert digital adviser support have enabled them to completely overhaul their legacy systems, resulting in the integration of data collection and data processing modules and customer relationship management.

Integration of automation functionality across platforms has reduced time spent manually inputting simple bookings, accelerating booking procedures and delivering a more efficient service to customers.

Jason said: “Our Chamber digital adviser demonstrated significant system development experience, which proved invaluable to us. He impressed on us the need to completely rethink and rebuild our digital position, and helped us understand the digital architecture we needed to develop was, in principle, not entirely different to that deployed by other business in other sectors.

“This reassured us that, with the right technical support, our digital functionality goals were within perfect reach.”

Upcoming Digital Upscaler workshops

  • Using technology to scale your business: Tuesday 24 January and Tuesday 31 January – Village Hotel, Nottingham
  • Social media academy: Wednesday 25 January and Thursday 26 January – Leicester Marriott Hotel; Tuesday 7 and Tuesday 14 February – Village Hotel, Nottingham; Tuesday 28 February and Wednesday 1 March – Holiday Inn Leicester
  • Successful search engine optimisation: Wednesday 1 February and Wednesday 8 February – Leicester Marriott Hotel
  • Inbound marketing: Thursday 2 February and Thursday 9 February – Leicester Marriott Hotel
  • Get to grips with GA4 (Google Analytics) and convert more visitors into sales and leads: Thursday 16 February and Thursday 23 February – Leicester Marriott Hotel

More information on the Digital Upscaler project, including a full list of events, is available on East Midlands Chamber’s website at www.emc-dnl.co.uk/services/digital-upscaler.

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International motivational speaker set to inspire people to champion Chesterfield

Chesterfield needs to champion itself better if it is to thrive in 2023 and beyond. That will be the message at this year’s Celebrate Chesterfield business conference.

At the conference, Global Business Awards Motivational speaker of the year 2021, Steve Judge will deliver a mini motivational workshop to inspire and motivate the town’s business community.

Steve Judge will be encouraging people to get behind Destination Chesterfield’s new plan which will see it position Chesterfield as a desirable and contemporary destination for visitors, investors and residents.

The free breakfast conference is being held on Thursday 2 March from 7.30am – 11.00am at The Winding Wheel Theatre.

Fully booked every year, businesses are being urged to book their tickets now to the free business conference.

In addition to Steve Judge, speakers at the conference will also include Andy Byrne, Property Development Director for the Devonshire Group, which is behind the future development and regeneration of 150 hectares of former industrial land in Staveley.

Now in its twelfth year, Celebrate Chesterfield, which is organised by Destination Chesterfield and in association with Addooco IT Ltd, has become a key date in the town’s events calendar and attracts more than 250 delegates each year.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield commented: “There is no denying that there are difficult times ahead for the UK economy. However, Chesterfield and its economy is resilient. We have weathered storms like this before and come out of them in a strong position with much to look forward to. The Celebrate Chesterfield event is a timely reminder to the business community of all the development that is taking place in the borough and continues to make it an excellent place to live, work and invest.”

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, added: “We have a fantastic town with a strong community but to ensure our borough continues to thrive, we must celebrate what makes us special and communicate this clearly to potential investors. I’d encourage members of the local business community to come along to this event to find out more about what we have planned and how we can work together to help ensure our borough achieves its potential.”

Richard Walters, Managing Director of Addooco IT Ltd, the event’s headline sponsor commented: “Addooco are delighted to be headline sponsors of Celebrate Chesterfield and look forward to welcoming all the delegates to this excellent event. We are proudly based in Chesterfield and have been supporting the business community with Managed IT, Cloud and Communications solutions since 2008.

“Not only does Celebrate Chesterfield showcase what is happening in our town, the event is a fantastic opportunity to promote the benefits of trading locally, connecting supply and demand to forge new relationships.”

apprentice IT technician

The event is also being supported by University of Derby, Choice Utility and Markham Vale.

Dan Molloy, Managing Director at Choice Utility commented: “As a company, we are delighted to be supporting Celebrate Chesterfield and helping to shout about what makes the town great. I’ve lived in Chesterfield since I was eight years old, and it has so many great things going for it. The connectivity is excellent from a logistical point of view and the town continues to move forward and evolve. The new developments at Markham Vale and the work being done at Chesterfield Waterside emphasise this. We really do love the town and are excited to play our part in shouting about it.”

A Markham Vale spokesperson said: “It’s great to see Celebrate Chesterfield taking place again for its ninth year – we’re very pleased to be able to support the event. It offers an excellent opportunity to find out more about Chesterfield and everything it has to offer.

“Chesterfield is a fantastic place to do business, as demonstrated by the phenomenal growth we’ve seen at Markham Vale and the creation of more than 2,700 new jobs.”

Markham Vale Business Park

This year, the event will also host the Derbyshire Festival of Business Exhibition, which is designed to showcase Derbyshire’s extensive business offer and capabilities.

Adam Doyle, Head of Business Engagement and Employability at the University of Derby which is supporting the Festival of Business Exhibition said: “We are once again proud to be the headline sponsor of the Celebrate Chesterfield showcase. The event is increasingly significant this year as we look to celebrate local business success in such challenging times, and we are pleased to be able to share this success wider as part of the Derbyshire Festival of Business. The festival plays a key role in continuing to support the business community to innovate and grow, aligned to our aim of raising skills and aspirations across our region. Working with businesses, we are helping to position our county internationally as a place to do business as well as a place to study, live and work.”

Celebrate Chesterfield exhibition

Exhibitor space is available at Celebrate Chesterfield 2023 and can be booked online at www.chesterfield.co.uk/celebrate/2023-exhibitor-booking-form/

To find out how you can help champion Chesterfield, book a delegate place at Celebrate Chesterfield 2023 by visiting www.chesterfield.co.uk/celebrate/

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

Exciting expansion for The Body Health Centre

A healthcare centre in Clay Cross, specialising in treating pain and injuries is expanding its premises, which will grow the range of services it is able to offer.

The Body Health Centre is opening new treatment rooms, along with an open space for delivery of exercise and rehabilitation classes.

The clinic boasts a range of clinicians and therapies which include Chiropractors, Physiotherapists, Sports Massage Therapists, Foot Health Practitioners, Acupuncture, Craniosacral Therapy, Personal Trainers, Rehabilitation Specialists, Reiki, Reflexology, Cupping, and Deep Oscillation Therapy with more new and exciting additions to come.

Rebecca Stevenson, owner of The Body Health Centre commented: “I am extremely proud of the achievements I have made within the business within a short space of time. I originally worked at The Body Health Centre on a Self-Employed basis before the opportunity came to buy the business.

“My vision for the business was to expand the treatment rooms and be awarded as an Accredited Training Centre with an Awarding Body to be able to deliver Sports Massage Courses and other CPD achievements.

“Patient care is our number one priority along with patient well-being and mental health always being put first. All of our clinicians are person centered, sensitive to patients ailments and with their extensive and expert knowledge in their profession which is of extreme high quality are able to advise and treat accordingly..”

The centre is also excited to be providing fully accredited Active IQ qualifications. The courses will help people gain a new career, where their newly learnt skill set will open doors to new and exciting opportunities within the health sector.

The courses include:

  •  Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage Therapy
  • Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage Therapy
  • Active IQ Level 4 Award in Understanding the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice

Speaking of the new developments taking place at the centre, Rebecca added: “Our new treatment rooms will enable us to potentially extend our hours so we are able to see more patients at the times they around their busy lifestyles. Our new open space will enable us to deliver a range of small group and 1-1 exercise and rehabilitation classes where people will feel comfortable and in a relaxed environment . The room will be multi use and used as a venue for our training academy.

“We have more availability for appointments with a range of clinicians to suit individuals and always endeavour to see patients as soon as possible. We have the ability to arrange and organise private MRI, Ultrasound and X-Ray scans that can be done within a week of referral, with no long waiting times for results. GP and insurance referrals are welcomed.

“During Covid, we took some pressure off the NHS as some of our clinicians are part of Allied Health along with other special requirements, which enabled us to stay open and treat patients in pain for pain relief without the need to go to A & E.

Rebecca is now launching a recruitment drive to help continue the growth of the centre, and is looking for medical experts to get in touch: “Due to the expansion of my clinic, I will be looking at recruiting qualified professional medical clinicians which will enhance our medical pain and management provision.”

Anyone looking to find out more can contact the centre on 01246 860 317 or by emailing tbhc7@outlook.com.

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

body health centre

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£2.58m funding announced to enhance North East Derbyshire

North East Derbyshire District Council has been awarded £2.5 million UK Shared Prosperity funding to spend on initiatives to improve the District’s parks, play areas, shop fronts, tourism offer and business support amongst other improvements over the coming years.

The funding will be used to level up across North East Derbyshire (along with the wider UK initiative), addressing geographical inequalities and build pride in place across the whole district.

The Council will deliver initiatives across the District that meet the UKSPF programme investment priorities of Communities and Place, Local Business and People and Skills.

Over the next two years, the Council will invest in projects to make improvements to the public realm, shop fronts, parks, play areas, routeways, village halls and community hubs.

It will also promote the local tourism offer, provide support for businesses, social and financial inclusion activities, green skills training for local workers, and youth activities to address antisocial behaviour. Initiatives will include grant schemes, commissioned activities and focused financial support.

North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communications, Cllr Alan Powell, said “We are delighted to have received this money which we will use to make a visible difference to our district.

“We have already launched the first round of our Quality Parks and Play Areas grant scheme and we are now pleased to launch the second round as well as the Village Halls and Community Venues and Inclusive Communities schemes”.

North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Economy, Transformation and Climate, Cllr Jeremy Kenyon, said “Other initiatives, including the Shop Front Enhancement grant scheme, will be announced over the coming months that will have a positive impact on our local communities and will include enhancements to shops and facilities and support to businesses and residents through access to advice and training.

These activities support our vision of a district that is clean and attractive, where people are proud to live and work, where they will prosper and feel safe, happy and healthy and we look forward to reaping the benefits of our investment.”

Details of grant schemes and other initiatives will be publicised on the Council’s website www.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk/ukspf and through social media.

Find out more about the range of developments taking place across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/

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

Chesterfield energy broker to support local businesses in cutting costs

A Chesterfield-based energy broker has launched a campaign advising other businesses in the area on how they can reduce their energy bills.

Choice Utility, based in the town’s Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre is hoping their advice and support will help local businesses to keep their costs down, and take away their fears caused by recent volatility in the market.

The firm wants to educate business owners on how the market works by going into their premises and showing them ways in which they can keep their bills down.

Examples of this could be working with companies to secure a better deal on their energy, or simply advising on ways to reduce their consumption by taking a look at the appliances used within their business.

Choice Utility believes the collaborative campaign will help other businesses realise the benefits of making small changes, which in-turn can have a huge impact on savings.

The company also plans to spread the message and provide expert advice on its social media channels, keeping businesses in the loop on everything they need to know on where the market sits.

You can keep up with the Choice Utility ‘A Fortnight In Energy’ on the company’s LinkedIn page:

Dan Molloy, Managing Director at Choice Utility commented: “The reason we’re wanting to focus on SMEs is because they’re busy. We get that business owners don’t want to spend their time talking to dozens of suppliers, it’s going to take you all day.

“The one thing in common that every business has is that they are using gas or electricity. We want to reassure businesses about their energy and have an open line of communication with them, and this awareness campaign will help us to display that.

“We understand there is a stigma with energy companies, with people thinking they’re all a ‘much of a muchness.’ My advice to businesses would be not to shy away from looking at their energy, as you could potentially be saving thousands of pounds by simply picking up the phone and speaking to a broker.

“As a company, we’re all really passionate about Chesterfield and want to see businesses in the town flourishing, so we want to play our part in helping them and supporting our local economy.”

Find out more about Choice Utility here. 

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

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Record-breaking total raised by BRM Solicitors for ‘Free Wills Month’

Clients of BRM Solicitors have raised thousands of pounds as part of a free wills month service supporting Ashgate Hospice.

The event broke BRM’s will month fundraising record by raising more than £23,000 in a single month, which will fund care for palliative and end-of-life patients.

During the free wills month local people were encouraged to make a will. Instead of paying a fee to BRM, they were asked to consider making a voluntary donation to the hospice.

During Make a Will Month, which took place in April, a total of 175 people made their will with BRM while making a suggested donation of £75 for a single will or £150 for a mirror will for a couple.

Jack Wood, Head of Fundraising at Ashgate Hospice said: “We are incredibly grateful to BRM Solicitors for choosing Ashgate Hospice to benefit from its Make a Will Month campaign.

“To have raised a record-breaking amount of donations is just incredible and it will go such a long way towards helping the families who need us most.

We must also thank the unbelievable generosity of the customers who decided to make their will in return for a donation towards the funding of our care.

Everyone at the hospice is overwhelmed by the support and thanks must also go to the wonderful staff at BRM for making this happen. We’re looking forward to working with BRM again next year!”

The total amount raised by BRM Solicitors was £23,495, which is the largest amount the firm has raised for any charity in a single month.

The donation could help pay for one of the hospice’s community workers to make almost 500 visits to a patient in their own home.

Rob Woodhead, Head of Wills and Probate at BRM Solicitors, said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Ashgate Hospice again this year to raise funds for a charity that plays such a key role in the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire community. We hope to build on this year’s success and raise even more money for the hospice in 2023.”

Ashgate Hospice must raise £8 million over and above NHS funding to fund its services for patients in their own homes and at its site in Old Brampton.

Meanwhile, one in five people is cared for thanks to money left in wills, but as the number of people with life-limiting illnesses increases, demand for the services continues to grow.

Find out more about how you can leave Ashgate Hospice a gift in your will here: https://ashgatehospice.org.uk/gifts-in-wills/

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

BRM Ashgate free wills month

 

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How Chesterfield can be a leader in sustainable housing

How can Chesterfield become a national leader in sustainable housing development for the future? That was the question posed to construction leaders in Chesterfield recently.

The town’s Property and Construction Group gathered to discuss the importance of green development across the town.

Chesterfield Borough Council has set a target of ensuring Chesterfield is a ‘net-zero’ borough by 2050. The organisation is working closely with the sector to find solutions across a range of developments. That includes in both housing and commercial property builds.

Using technology to support sustainable housing

The group first discussed how technological advancements are playing a role in bringing emissions down. Liam Rodda, Business Development Manager at Samsung spoke of the increase in the use of heat pumps in new houses. It is hoped the technology will become just as cost-effective as gas boilers in the coming years.

Liam said: “If you’re putting a heat pump into a new build, there’s not actually a great deal of cost difference compared to a boiler.

“The reality is that heat pumps are easier to fit than most gas boilers. Most competent engineers will be able to upskill in order to fit them pretty quickly. I’m hoping we will see prices come down as we get more labour into it.”

Chesterfield is set to lead the way when it comes to training more heat pump installers. This is thanks to the opening of a newly refurbished training centre by NIBE. Read more about the development, which opened in late 2022 here.

Improving green skills in Chesterfield to power our future

Sustainable skills will also be at the forefront of the new Construction Skills Hub, which is set to be developed in Mastin Moor.

Lynda Sharp, Economic Development Manager at Chesterfield Borough Council spoke about the benefits of the new facility.

Lynda said: “The hub will be an on-site facility linked to a housing scheme at Mastin Moor. That is a fantastic opportunity for young people to gain experience of a live construction site, which will make a big difference locally.”

Another issue raised during the discussion was the viability of retrofitting and insulating existing housing stock, to increase the amount of sustainable housing in Chesterfield.

Jillian Mitchell, of Lomas & Mitchell Architects and Vice-Chair of the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group said: “The big challenge to me in retrofit is how you insulate an existing property without creating more risk of condensation and mould growth.

“The market is so familiar with talking about insulation, and they haven’t really talked about ventilation. Derbyshire is a county where there is a lot of brick and stone, so insulating existing properties is a challenge.”

Cost and viability

Concerns around the cost of sustainable housing was one of the concerns which the forum felt needed to be addressed.

Jillian added: “A lot of what has been done in this country has been incentivised financially. But this has not encouraged people to change their behaviour. A lot of that financial reward seems to be how our industry is driven.

“In Cyprus, they have a scheme where people are able to install a limited amount of PV (solar panels). They are only rewarded if they change their behaviour and reduce the amount of electricity they use. I think that’s what we should be thinking about doing.”

Jim Lomas, Director at DLP Planning Ltd. believes recent climate events have made the sector more focused on cutting emissions, and increasing the number of sustainable housing in Chesterfield: “I certainly think the previous summer has started to focus people’s attention. People have seen some tangible changes in the environment, and it is bringing the issues we face to people’s attention.

“From a construction perspective, we are all probably very informed and alert to it. But the wider public are probably not, and now the penny is beginning to drop. There has to be a cultural change.”

Samsung’s Liam Rodda does believe that new builds are starting to improve from a sustainability point of view: “Terraced houses were built to house a lot of people, very quickly. New builds today are going in the right direction. We’re ticking those boxes more often where the homes are generating their own electricity as much as possible.”

John Short, of JAB Short Ltd. was in agreement, but felt that more focus should be placed on existing buildings in order to make significant change: “It is the existing housing stock that we need to be concentrating on, because that is what will make the huge steps required.”

Working collaboratively to drive change

Jim Lomas stressed the importance of ensuring the younger generation have their say in future developments: “We have got to look at the future generations. Young people will be wanting something more sustainable and will be demanding energy efficient buildings from businesses. We need to give younger people more of a voice and direction in developments because it is their future. However, the viability of schemes is pivotal.”

The session was further evidence of the strong partnership between the private and public sectors in Chesterfield continuing to have an impact.

Lynda Sharp added: “From my point of view, the level of detail and quality of the conversation today shows that we are gaining a greater collective understanding and getting deeper into the issues at hand. From a commercial property perspective, the recently-developed Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre and One Waterside place offices are really good examples of where we should be going.”

Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Group brings together business leaders of the region’s property sector and Chesterfield Borough Council to shape and drive forward collaboration, investment, sustainability and skills within Chesterfield.

Regular forums and networking events are held by the group throughout the year.

If you would like to get involved, find out more about the group at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/propertygroup/ or find out more on Linkedin.

property masterclass sustainability

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Inspire Design & Development’s Lee Barnes appointed to Clay Cross Town Deal board

A board overseeing multi-million pound developments in Clay Cross has appointed Lee Barnes, Managing Director of Inspire Design & Development Ltd. to its board.

Last year, the Government announced that Clay Cross would receive £24.1m of funding to deliver a number of projects contained in the Clay Cross Town Investment Plan. In Clay Cross this means;

  • increasing the skills and productivity of the local workforce
  • improving access to a range of high quality jobs and training opportunities
  • improving the environmental quality of the town and town centre

The Clay Cross Town Investment Plan is focussed around three main areas:

  1. Urban Regeneration – ensuring Clay Cross and town centre is a thriving place for people to live and work;
  2. Skills and Infrastructure – supporting investment and the development of small business, creating opportunities for skills and training;
  3. Connectivity – improving local transport links and improved digital connectivity.

Following a period of extensive consultation with residents and businesses of Clay Cross, ten exciting projects were drawn up to use these vital funds.

The Clay Cross Town Board will serve as an advisory function and will be the vehicle through which the vision and strategy for the Town will be defined. The board will produce a Town Investment Plan, which will inform the Town Deal proposals and include the amount of investment to be secured through the Towns Fund. The role of the Town Board is to:

  • Develop and agree an evidence-based Town Investment Plan
  • Develop a clear programme of interventions
  • Co-ordinate resources and influence stakeholders

The board is made up of local councillors, businesspeople and a range of leaders from local public and private sector organisations.

Speaking on his involvement in the Clay Cross Town Deal, Lee commented: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the Clay Cross Town Deal Board, as a local business owner I consider it a privilege to be able to use my knowledge and experience in regeneration to help shape an exciting new direction for the town.

“It’s my ambition that the benefits derived from the Town Deal funding create a sustainable enduring legacy for the benefit of future generations.”

Staveley is also one of the towns to benefit from Town Deal funding, which means a number of regeneration projects are taking place to benefit local people and increase living standards and job opportunities in the area. Find out more about the Staveley Town Deal here. 

Inspire Design & Development Ltd. supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Lee Barnes Inspire Design and Development

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Trees planted in Staveley in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Almost 50 trees have been planted at a site in Staveley, in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Local school children and tree wardens were joined by representatives from Chesterfield Borough Council to plant 48 oak trees on Darley Close at Staveley, as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy Initiative.

The Queen’s Green Canopy is a unique tree planting initiative which was launched to help mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Following the wishes of His Majesty The King, the initiative has now been extended to the end of March 2023 to give people the opportunity to plant trees throughout the planting season, in memoriam to honour Her Majesty.

The newly planted trees will help to create a new woodland in the area – called the Queen’s Copse – that will serve as a local memorial to Queen Elizabeth II.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of the Council; Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Deputy Leader of the Council; and the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield were all on hand to help plant some of the first trees on the site.

People across the country – from individuals, groups, schools and communities to larger organisations and businesses – can also play their own part by coming together to plant trees – to serve as a lasting tribute to Her Majesty. More information on how to get involved can be found at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/explore-chesterfield/parks-and-green-spaces/queens-green-canopy

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Trees help enhance our green spaces, create habitats for wildlife and can tackle climate change by absorbing carbon emissions so I’m hoping that as many people from our local communities will join in with The Queen’s Green Canopy and plant trees across the borough.

“This initiative is not only a great way to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her extraordinary service, but it will also help increase biodiversity across our borough.”

Over time the site will be managed in a way that is sensitive to nature and biodiversity and compliments the surrounding housing and open space.

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East Midlands Chamber launches Generation Next Awards 2023 to recognise region’s young talent

The best of young business talent across the East Midlands will once again be celebrated at the Generation Next Awards – as a refreshed look is revealed for 2023.

The awards are the showpiece programme of the Generation Next network for young professionals and entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 35, which is run by East Midlands Chamber in conjunction with headline partner the University of Derby.

It features 11 categories, ranging from a Start-up Award and Customer Service Award through to Innovation and Technology Award and the Generation Next Future Leader.

The programme includes a new addition that recognises “rising stars” who show ongoing growth and development, as well as refreshed guidelines for prizes recognising outstanding contributions in diversity and inclusion, creativity, corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

The application process of each category award has also been streamlined for a “one form fits all” method involving a reduced number of questions.

Lucy Robinson, East Midlands Chamber’s director of resources and Generation Next lead, said: “The Generation Next Awards are a celebration of the amazing young talent within the East Midlands, and our diverse programme recognises the next generation of business who make outstanding contributions to their communities.

“We want to encourage young professionals from across the region to tell their story and celebrate their successes. There is an award to suit everyone at each stage of their career.”

Last July, Generation Next held its first in-person awards celebration at Bustler Market in Derby, and recognised young talent such as apprentice Ruby Birks, who works for South Normanton-based marketing agency Purpose Media, and the three entrepreneurs behind Derby-based digital marketing and web development agency Alphageek.

It was an awards ceremony with a twist, featuring street food, a live DJ and arcade games. More than 220 people attended, marking it as a new milestone in the Chamber’s events calendar. This year’s ceremony will be held on 13 July, and the venue will be confirmed in the coming months.

Entries are open for the 2023 awards from now until Monday 6 March. They can be submitted either by individuals within the 18 to 35 age bracket or on their behalf by a colleague or line manager.

Applications can be downloaded at generationnextemc.co.uk/awards and should be emailed to the Generation Next team at gennext@emc-dnl.co.uk.

Generation Next Awards 2022 categories

  • Generation Next Future Leader Award (sponsored by University of Derby)
  • Apprentice of the Year Award (sponsored by Loughborough College)
  • Start-up Award (sponsored by Nottingham University Business School)
  • Entrepreneur of the Year Award (sponsored by Fraser Stretton Property Group)
  • Innovation and Technology Award (sponsored by Hardy Signs)
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Award (sponsored by RSM UK)
  • Creators and Makers Award (sponsored by PPL PRS)
  • Volunteering and Charitable Impact Award
  • Environmental Warrior Award
  • Customer Service Award
  • Rising Star Award (new for 2023)

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Workshops launched to help Chesterfield residents with mental wellbeing and work/life balance

Community Chesterfield is launching a series of workshops for people in the town, with ‘Calm In A Box’ aimed at tackling mental well-being and the work/life balance.

Starting on the 18th of January and running through until the 1st of March, Community Chesterfield has teamed up with Calm In A Box to offer a series of free online training sessions to staff and volunteers of community groups and charities, as well as staff and students at the University of Derby.

Led by Calm In A Box founder Sarah Markham, the framework aims to help those taking part to find a better balance in their life, and see the rewards making these changes can bring. Training & Tea is Community Chesterfield’s signature bitesize online training that presents successful and accessible workshops covering a variety of topics.

Sarah, who is Founder and CEO at Calm in a Box commented: “Calm in a Box brings together my personal interest in well-being with my professional experience and aims to promote a calmer lifestyle at home and at work at a time when we are often overwhelmed with busyness, stress, and anxiety which can lead to both mental and physical health issues.”

Each session includes key themes, research, insight, and storytelling. The workshops will enable participants to learn ways to shift their mindset and encourage positive behaviour to make the changes they need.

Daniel Jones, Marketing and Communications Officer at Community Chesterfield said: “It’s been a tough few years for a lot of people, and we wanted to encourage a positive start to this one, a fresh outlook, and to help support our communities in making 2023 one to look forward to, and we hope this series of Training & Tea will help achieve that.”

Free places are available as part of the National Lottery Community Fund, and Community Chesterfield’s partnership with the University of Derby to those qualifying (see their website for details). Tickets are open to businesses and individuals at a cost of £20 per session.

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

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