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Global Brands announces £2 million distribution centre expansion

Global Brands, the leading independent drinks company and distributor, are increasing their distribution capabilities with significant expansion to their warehouse facilities in Clay Cross, Derbyshire.

The current Global Brands Distribution Centre has 152,000 sqft of warehouse space, employing 80 members of staff. This expansion will increase the warehouse size to 180,800 sqft, and add 30 members of staff to the production and distribution line at the facilities. The expansion will increase total storage capabilities at the warehouse from 30 million to 40 million bottles, across 17,000 pallets.

Following extensive groundworks, the steel frame is being erected over the next two months, and a concrete slab base will then be poured and set. Works for the 28,800 sqft extension will conclude in January 2023.

The expansion follows a sustained increase in demand versus 2019 (the last year of undisrupted trading) for the company’s portfolio of drinks brands, including VK, Hooch, Franklin & Sons, All Shook Up, Shake Baby Shake, Beviamo, Kick Energy, Lustre, and Amigos Tequila Beer.

Steve Perez, Founder and Chairman at Global Brands: “I’m thrilled to announce the expansion of our distribution facilities in Clay Cross, following a sustained increase in demand nationally and huge demand internationally for our key growth brands like Franklin & Sons. The new extension will support our growing operations with additional storage and increased distribution capabilities.

“This is just the first phase in work to continue increasing capabilities at the site over the next two years. We plan to continue investing in our Global Brands Distribution Centre to the point where we can eventually hold one product for every person in the UK.”

Alongside the current construction, Global Brands has recently purchased an adjacent piece of land for further investment into the area and facilities. The acquisition was brokered by BRM Solicitors.

Adrian Sheehan Executive Director at BRM Solicitors: “It is always rewarding to advise on a deal which will bring further development opportunities and employment to the region.

“BRM are proud to stand to shoulder to shoulder with this long-standing client and Chesterfield success story.

“It is great to see Global Brands go from strength to strength and highlights a commitment to Chesterfield.

“The Real Estate team at BRM are delighted to advise Steve and the team at Global, who are always driven and enthusiastic to get deals done quickly and efficiently.”

Steve Perez adds: “BRM have advised Global Brands for the past 35 years, from when the business was just a one-man band, through to becoming one of the largest employers in the area. This is a credit to the expertise that BRM and Adrian Sheehan offer and cater to a variety of business needs.”

Find out more about why Chesterfield is an excellent place to invest and locate your business: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

Global Brands and BRM Solicitors support 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, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

Join us for a great Christmas in Chesterfield

Chesterfield Borough Council is joining forces with Destination Chesterfield again this year to bring you a great selection of events and activities to enjoy in our town.

The Christmas in Chesterfield Campaign, called Everything for the Perfect Christmas, will run from Monday 14 November to 4 January 2023 and has been designed to include something for everyone.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “There is lots to get involved in around Chesterfield throughout the festive season.

“The cost of living is affecting everyone, but we have lots of free things for you to do to get into the Christmas spirit, including completing the Elf Trail, visiting the Christmas Lights Switch On, taking a trip to Revolution House or wandering around one or all of our popular markets. We hope you enjoy everything we have planned.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council to promote the town and all that it offers this Christmas.

“Chesterfield has a rich mix of independent shops, stores and market traders as well as well-known high street names which offer something for everyone’s tastes and budgets – from food and drink to gifts and experiences. Shopping local this Christmas has never been easier and is an ideal way to support the local economy and its businesses.”

Shopping

Support Local Standard

If you are looking to do some festive shopping, Chesterfield has a great range of independent retailers, offering treats and advice if you are unsure what to buy for a friend or family member.

We also have a number of markets taking place in November and December where you could pick up a few special gifts, as noted below:

If you are looking for more gift ideas for Christmas, visit chesterfield.co.uk/Christmas for locally sourced Christmas gifts, locally sourced food and drink for festive celebrations, great places to eat out with friends and family and more ideas for festive events.

Meet Santa in the Market Hall

Meet Santa Standard

Booking is now open to meet Santa in the Market Hall this year. Santa will be welcoming visitors into his grotto on the Market Hall balcony from 20 November. The cost will be £6.50 per child, which includes a present. Places must be booked in advance online or at the Visitor Information Centre.

Turning on the Christmas Lights

The Christmas Lights Switch On – a firm favourite in the festive calendar – takes centre stage on 20 November. This will be a magical event in the heart of Chesterfield, and everyone is welcome.

The event will run from 12pm to 6pm, with the official lights switch on at 4.45pm.

This year’s special guest, in Chesterfield to meet families ahead of the lights switch on, is Shrek.

Shrek will be making personal appearances at intervals between 12pm and 3pm outside the Visitor Information Centre in Rykneld Square.

Elf Trail

Have fun exploring Chesterfield and find the festive elves who will be hiding in the windows of our local shops and venues waiting for you to locate them from 21 November 2022 to Wednesday 4 January 2023. Spot them all and you could win a free Annual Family Pass for Matlock Farm Park.  Find out more.

Attend our pantomime

Sleeping Beauty Standard

Tickets are now on sale to see Sleeping Beauty at Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel Theatre. You can find out more and book tickets at www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/shows/sleeping-beauty-pantomime.

Carol concert at Revolution House

carol concert at revolution house

Revolution House will host a carol concert on Thursday 8 December at 6.30pm with members of Holymoorside Band. Carol sheets will be provided, and we suggest everyone attending wears appropriate clothing and brings a torch (although there will be some lighting on site).

Revolution House will be open from Thursday 8 December to Saturday 24 December, 11am to 3pm.  It will be decorated for Christmas with traditional greenery, including a kissing bough, and a flower festival with arrangements throughout the house, created by volunteers. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.

There is lots going on in Chesterfield throughout the festive season for everyone to enjoy, for more information visit: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/christmas/

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

Festive fun returns to Chesterfield with annual Christmas Lights switch-on

The Christmas Lights Switch On in Chesterfield will take place on 20 November, and everyone is invited to join us.

Families are invited to watch the stage show in the Market Place from 3pm, but there is a range of entertainment to enjoy in the town centre ahead of this as listed below. The lights switch on itself is at 4.45pm.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The Christmas lights switch on is one of my favourite events of the year. Residents and visitors will have lots to enjoy this year from meeting Shrek in Rykneld Square to seeing the live stage show, there is something to entertain everyone.”

The entertainment will be as follows – these acts will be performing at internals from lunchtime onwards:

  • The Rose Choir will be performing outside the library
  • You will be able to see the Phoenix Concert Band
  • The Pantonic All Stars Steel Band will be performing on Burlington Street
  • There will be walkabout entertainment around the market area including Band Beja, Glowbots, Carol Singing Christmas Crackers, The Greatest Showman Show, the Fairy Godmother and National ELF Service.
  • In the Pavements Shopping Centre, you will be able to see the Victorian Carol Singers performing between Boots and W H Smith
  • Outside Marks and Spencer visitors can meet Percy Pig

Chesterfield Museum

Chesterfield Museum will be offering a pop-up exhibit in the old Wards Shoe Shop (opposite Boots) where visitors can take part in Christmas crafts, Victorian games and handling objects from 10am – 4pm.

Crooked Spire Church

Visit St Mary and All Saints Church, otherwise known as the Crooked Spire, to see A Festival of Christmas Trees from 12pm – 5.30pm.

Stage entertainment

The stage show will start at 3pm and will include The Rose Choir (from Chesterfield Studios), the Carol Singing Christmas Crackers, Band Beja, and interviews with a Councillor and an independent trader.

There will be appearances from Santa, the Mayor and Mayoress and some of the Sleeping Beauty pantomime cast including a song by Olivia Bailey who plays Princess Aurora. The lights will be switched on at 4.45pm and then the crowd will be entertained by The Greatest Showman Show.

The entertainment programme is subject to change.

As one of our most popular events of the year, we expect a high footfall in the town centre so please allow plenty of time to both arrive and depart the event.

Tickets are now on sale to see Sleeping Beauty, this year’s pantomime, at Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel Theatre. You can find out more and book tickets online.

Meet Shrek in Chesterfield

This year’s special guest, in Chesterfield to meet families ahead of the lights switch on, is Shrek.

Shrek will be making personal appearances at intervals between 12pm and 3pm outside the Visitor Information Centre in Rykneld Square.

There is lots going on in Chesterfield throughout the festive season for everyone to enjoy, for more information visit https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/christmas/

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

Consultation begins on £1.14 billion devolution plans for our region

A public consultation about devolution for Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham has begun.

The consultation is taking place from Monday 14 November until Monday 9 January 2023 and is an opportunity for everyone in the area to have their say about devolution proposals. It is open to residents, businesses, community and voluntary groups, and other organisations in the region.

Derbyshire County Council leaders, and those of Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council, and Nottingham City Council all signed up to work on a devolution deal on 30 August this year at Rolls Royce in Derby, following an announcement from the Government that a package of new powers and funding, worth £1.14 billion, were available for the area.

Since August the councils have been working on agreeing a more detailed proposal for consultation, which includes more information about how devolution would work in our area.

The 4 councils agreed to go ahead with a public consultation as the next step in the process, so everyone has the chance to give their views on the proposal.

Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “Devolution is about getting a better deal for Derbyshire and the East Midlands and achieving a fair share for our region. It will bring us more money and mean we can make more meaningful decisions here, rather than in London.

“This deal will bring more and better jobs and opportunities for training, improve the local economy, result in better transport and housing, and accelerate our route to Net Zero. I encourage everyone to take part in the consultation and give us their views on devolution.

“A devolution deal, should it be agreed, would be the beginning, not the end. We’re determined to build on this deal over time, as other areas have done.”

Devolution would provide the region with a guaranteed income stream of £38 million per year over a 30-year period, and would cover around 2.2 million people, making it one of the biggest in the country.

If the plans go ahead, it would mean a new regional mayor and it would create the first of a new type of combined authority for the 2 counties and cities, which requires new legislation from central government.

The new elected regional mayor, like those who are already in place in other areas, would represent the whole area. The role of the mayor would be to look at major issues affecting the whole region, give the area a bigger voice, and take advantage of local knowledge and expertise.

As well as the £1.14 billion, devolution plans include an extra £16 million for new homes on brownfield land, and control over a range of budgets like the Adult Education Budget, which could be better tailored to the needs of people in our communities.

Devolution would mean that a future mayor and combined authority could:

  • work towards Net Zero and cleaner air with new low carbon homes, retrofit existing houses with external wall insulation, promote the use of renewable energy, and protect and enhance green spaces, like areas for wildlife and green verges.
  • build on the region’s existing knowledge and expertise in green technology and promote the growth of a future low carbon economy by investing in related skills training at colleges and other training facilities.
  • set up and coordinate smart integrated ticketing and enhanced concessionary fares schemes.
  • work with Homes England to build more affordable homes, by using new powers to buy land and housing (With district and borough council consent).
  • enhance the region’s economy by developing new commercial space to maximise opportunities.
  • work with national government on initiatives to address homelessness, domestic abuse, community safety, social mobility, and support for young people.
  • take advantage of economies of scale by using combined and devolved budgets to deliver more value for taxpayers and more cost-efficient services

The 4 councils sent initial proposals to negotiate a combined devolution deal back in March 2022, after being named as pathfinder areas by the Government in February and then being invited to apply for a devolution deal.

The councils have been working with the government to develop details of the deal, alongside discussions with district and borough councils, businesses, and other stakeholders.

If the devolution deal is formally approved, the government will pass legislation bringing a new combined authority for the East Midlands into existence. The first election for a regional mayor for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire, would be in May 2024.

The regional mayor would lead the new combined authority, which would also include representatives from local councils, with decision making powers and resources moving from London to the East Midlands. Local businesses would also have a voice, as well as other organisations.

The devolution deal would not mean scrapping or merging local councils, which would all continue to exist as they do now and would still be responsible for most public services in the area. The mayor and combined authority would instead focus on wider issues like transport, regeneration, and employment across both cities and counties.

Find out more about the consultation at: http://www.eastmidlandsdevolution.co.uk/have-your-say/

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Chesterfield’s Regeneration Award winner praises ‘collaborative effort’ on landmark housing project

The winner of the 2022 Love Chesterfield Award for Regeneration, which celebrates the built environment in Chesterfield, has heaped praise on the team who made it possible.

A collaborative project between Chesterfield Borough Council and Henry Boot Construction, Badger Croft is described as the ‘largest council housing development in a generation’ in Chesterfield. The £4.1m development has seen 21 brand-new properties constructed on the former Brockwell Court site in Loundsley Green.

The development is providing families with modern homes that have been designed for a more eco-conscious lifestyle. Increased levels of insulation throughout and electric vehicle charging points have been installed on properties with driveways to support lower carbon transport options.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “We are delighted that the Badger Croft development has been recognised and won the regeneration award at this year’s Love Chesterfield Awards. The win really is a testament to all the hard work and dedication that has been put in by the council, alongside our partners, Henry Boot Construction.

“Badger Croft is the biggest council housing development of this generation in Chesterfield and marks a huge milestone in our efforts to increase the housing supply across the borough.

“Creating attractive places for residents is at the very heart of what we do and these new properties allow us to provide affordable, modern and accessible homes for families in our borough.”

We recently caught up with Tony Shaw, Managing Director at Henry Boot Construction, to get the company’s reaction to winning the award…

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Tell us how pleased you are to have won the Regeneration Award at the Love Chesterfield Awards 2022!

We are delighted that Badger Croft won the Regeneration Award, the project was a collaborative effort between everyone involved which led to a brilliant end product, so it’s great to see the project recognised for its regenerative impact in Chesterfield. The Regeneration award is testament to the hard work of the team in transforming the area into quality housing for local families.

How exciting has the Badger Croft project been to work on as a company, and how much of a benefit has the project had on our local community?

As a company based in Dronfield, working on the project with Chesterfield Borough Council had a really local feeling and this was emphasised by our trusted supply chain, with the brickwork, joinery, plastering, plumbing, roofing and window installation all completed by subcontractors who were based within 20 miles of the site.

In conjunction with the Council, we worked closely with Holmebrook Conservation and Improvement Group to implement key landscaping works in the surrounding area. These works were designed to enhance the attractiveness of the area and boost biodiversity. It included the creation of wildflower meadow paths, new wooden planters and fruit trees, all for the benefit of the local community.

Sustainable development is of upmost importance currently – Tell us about the measures you’ve put in place at Badger Croft to ensure the new homes are efficient.

As champions of sustainability, we completely understood the Council’s need for Badger Croft to take account of environmental issues and contribute to a greener future. The new homes were fitted with increased levels of insulation. These naturally warm and energy-efficient homes are not only better for the environment, but they also reduce the running costs for tenants – something that is extremely important in a period of rising living costs and fuel poverty. The homes also boast electric vehicle charging points in the driveways, helping to future-proof the development and encourage the use of more sustainable modes of transport.

With Chesterfield becoming an increasingly attractive place for young families, how vital is it that we create affordable housing to ensure continued growth in the town?

Projects like Badger Croft are of paramount importance to delivering Chesterfield Borough Council’s commitment to increase the supply of affordable properties across the borough. The project is a prime example of how under-utilised brownfield land can be transformed into bright modern homes, not only providing a place for people to live and thrive, but improving the look and feel of the surrounding area. With a mix of 21 new accessible, efficient 3-4 bedroom homes, this is the largest council housing development in the borough since the 1980s. All the homes were added to the Council’s housing register and let to local families.

Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Group works collaboratively with Chesterfield Borough Council to highlight the town’s ongoing regeneration. Why is creating strong relationships between public and private sector so important?

Chesterfield is a hive of regeneration activity and it is brilliant to see a number of other exciting completed and on-going projects constantly improving Chesterfield’s offer. We believe in nurturing a collaborative approach across all our operations – by building strong relationships with all our public and private sector partners, all parties benefit from increased expertise and open communication, ensuring the Badger Croft project proceeded smoothly. The final result was only possible through an open culture of strong engagement between Henry Boot, its specialist consultants and supply chain and the team at Chesterfield Borough Council.

Find out more about the Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Property and Construction Group, which 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

https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/propertygroup/ 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Love Chesterfield Awards, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , , , ,

Leading local estate agent Redbrik celebrates multiple award wins

As Redbrik approaches its 10-year anniversary in January, the agent is celebrating a string of successes.

Redbrik picked up three significant accolades in the Best Companies Q4 2022 awards, in the sector, regional and national lists.

The awards ceremony listed Redbrik as the 50th Best Small Company to Work For in the UK, 5th Best Property Company to Work for in the UK and ranked 28th in the Top 100 Companies to Work for in Yorkshire & Humber.

Alongside the new awards, Redbrik retained their 2-star ‘Outstanding to Work For’ accreditation by Best Companies for the second year.

Best Companies quarterly league tables celebrate the very best in workplace engagement, recognising companies nationally, regionally and within their sectors through employee surveys and interviews.

Redbrik have also retained their position in the Best Estate Agent Guide for Sales and Lettings for the sixth year running, placing them in the top 2% of estate agents in the country.

Mark Ross, Managing Director at Redbrik, said: “A lot has changed in the last 10 years, and as we approach such a landmark anniversary, now is a great time to reflect.

“One thing that has never wavered is our commitment to our colleagues and our clients; at Redbrik, we are nothing without our people and we aim to champion every individual within the business, helping them to reach their full potential.

“I would like to thank every person at Redbrik for making it such a great place to work, and for providing exceptional service to our clients, which is reflected by our recurring ranking in the Best Estate Agent Guide year on year.”

The company’s charity foundation recently hosted the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k once again, raising thousands of pounds for local charities. Find out more about the success of the event here.

Redbrik Estate Agents 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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Made in Chesterfield returns to connect manufacturing and engineering businesses with next generation of employees

The annual Made in Chesterfield festival, which aims to get more local young people interested in careers in businesses operating in the town’s engineering, manufacturing, property and construction businesses has returned for the eighth consecutive year.

Co-ordinated by Destination Chesterfield and Direct Education Business Partnership and sponsored by the Chesterfield College Group, the 2022 Made in Chesterfield festival was officially launched at Chesterfield College.

Speaking at the event, Reece Berry (20), Software Engineer Apprentice at Weightron Bilanciai and a former pupil of St Mary’s Catholic High School, said: “Young people need to be aware of apprenticeship opportunities in the engineering and manufacturing sector. They offer brilliant careers for young people.

“I chose to go down the apprenticeship route as I was passionate about IT and software development. I had the option to go to university, but I wanted to work in a real, live environment to gain a mixture of skills that would benefit me in multiple ways.

“Weightron Bilanciai is providing me with the training, support and skills I require to undertake the challenge of becoming a highly skilled software engineer and developer, this has given me the chance to explore and learn areas of IT I never knew about.”

During the four-week festival, which runs until Friday 2 December, young people from Chesterfield’s secondary schools will be introduced to the varied science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers available in local businesses through a number of workplace visits and events.

Performance vehicle specialist Scooby Clinic, engineering business MSE Hiller and manufacturer United Cast Bar are amongst a number of businesses who are inviting young people to their workplaces during the campaign.

The annual festival is playing a key role in helping address the technical skills shortage amongst businesses locally. According to the UK Commission for Employment & Skills, 43 per cent of STEM vacancies nationally are hard to fill, mainly because of a shortage of applicants with the required skills and experience.

Since launching in 2014, Made in Chesterfield has introduced more than 3,500 young people to the jobs and careers available within local businesses operating in the STEM sector.

Ivan Fomin, Managing Director at MSE Hiller and Destination Chesterfield board member responsible for manufacturing and engineering in the borough, commented on being part of the annual initiative: “It’s fantastic for us to be able to showcase our industry and business to young people and encourage them to consider a career path that may not have been on their mind beforehand. We have been involved with Made in Chesterfield since the campaign began and it has helped us attract young people into the business in both apprenticeship roles and work experience placements.

“Each year, Made in Chesterfield makes a real difference to local businesses, education providers and young people. I am delighted to see it return once again.”

Julie Richards, Principal and CEO of Chesterfield College Group explains, “It’s vitally important we continue our support for the Made in Chesterfield initiative. We are proud to play our part in the growth of engineering, science, technology and manufacturing locally. The increasing development of STEM in Chesterfield is something we have mirrored in our curriculum with investment in the latest technologies, such as 3D printing and augmented reality, all with a focus on sustainability.

“Partnering with initiatives such as Made in Chesterfield and working with local employers and schools, our core focus is to provide a clear, aspirational pathway for the next generation of local workforce be that through full time study, apprenticeships, T-Levels or higher education. Our mission of inspiring futures and changing lives is brought into clear focus through working with Made in Chesterfield and we are delighted to once again host this year’s launch event.”

Made in Chesterfield is delivered in association with the Chesterfield College Group and with support from Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire North Careers Hub, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd, and NatWest.

To find out more about Made in Chesterfield and how you can get involved, please visit: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/made/.

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

“Having a ready and skilled workforce will help us attract new investment to the area”

Destination Chesterfield Chair Peter Swallow has penned his views on the success of the recent Love Chesterfield Awards and looks ahead to the innovative MADE in Chesterfield campaign, which helps engage young people with manufacturing, engineering, property and construction businesses. 

As chair of Destination Chesterfield, I was honoured to attend of the Love Chesterfield Awards recently. As I looked around the packed room at the Winding Wheel, I felt very proud to be part of the town.

I saw passion, enthusiasm and dedication from the owners, employees, family and friends of the 34 businesses represented there on the night. All the businesses were independently owned and many of them operate on the high street. Through these businesses and the investment being made in the town, I am confident we are creating a town centre that will meet the needs of not only shoppers and visitors but the businesses that are based there.

The town centre of the future is one that delivers an experience, a product or service that you can’t get online or from an out-of-town retail park or shopping centre. Independents are critical to this vision. It is not only their products and services that people visit them for, but also their warm welcome, knowledge and customer service.

The town has a long and proud tradition of independent businesses that starts with our market – described by Cllr Kate Sarvent at the awards as ‘the beating heart of Chesterfield’. It may have its origins in the 13th century, but the market is as important to our future as it is to our past, proven by Chesterfield Borough Council’s ambitious plans to develop the spaces within the market.

Internet shopping has been a large factor in this as have our increasingly busy lives. However, Chesterfield has all the raw ingredients to create a thriving town centre of the future – a multi-functional social centre. They are about enjoyment, creativity, learning, socialising, culture, health and wellbeing and democratic engagement – a ‘21st century agora’ where people engage in the life of their locality. Independent businesses are key to this, as are event spaces and town centre living.

Through annual campaigns like Love Chesterfield and the town’s manufacturing and engineering sector celebration – Made in Chesterfield, which takes place this month, we aim not only to celebrate the sectors but also raise awareness of the plethora of careers and opportunity available in them to young people. They are the future skilled workers of these sectors and key to the businesses already here thriving but, having a ready and skilled workforce will help us attract new investment to the area. Likewise, we must also ensure we create the environment that young people want to live and grow their career. Investment is happening throughout the borough to ensure this.

£26million alone is being spent enhancing the town centre. Work has begun on improvements to the Market Place, New Square, Corporation Street, Rykneld Square and Burlington Street.

Together with the major refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall on Corporation Street and the reimaging of the market and market squares we will have a town centre that delivers on every level and, importantly, for everybody. Young people in particular I hope, will see a future for themselves on the high street as both shoppers, visitors and entrepreneurs.

The £26million project is aptly named Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield’. Looking around the room at the Love Chesterfield Awards – seeing both the winners and finalists, I can say with confidence that Chesterfield’s town centre has a very strong heartbeat already.

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

Affordable occasion wear shop in Chesterfield opens in time for Christmas

A luxurious but reasonably priced ladies occasion wear shop will open its doors in Chesterfield this week.

Dressed 4u will be based at 6-8 Station Road in Whittington Moor and will be open to the public for the first time on Wednesday 9th November 2022 at 11am.

Stocking prom and ball gowns, mother of the bride outfits, hats, shoes, bags, jewellery and more, customers will be amazed by the variety and choice on display at the new shop.

Dressed 4u was opened in 2019 by Julie Bell and was previously located on a nearby industrial estate.  Julie loves an excuse to dress to impress and has an eye for a glamorous bargain.  She aims to give her customers the best experience to find exactly what they want at a price they can afford, which is ideal in the current financial climate.

Julie commented: “Due to the ongoing success of Dressed 4u, we felt it was the right time to move to the high street where we can be seen and easily reached.  We give a friendly personal service, offering free styling advice to find your perfect outfit – you don’t get that with online shopping!”

The new shop has ground floor access in a newly decorated bright and modern space, large fitting rooms, and free parking outside.  Off the peg dresses, unique outfits and accessories are of abundance and all at prices that ‘won’t be beaten.’

Opening times will be 11am-3pm Tuesday to Friday.  Appointments can be made outside of these times, where the store will endeavour to open exclusively for you at a time to suit, this includes weekends and evenings.

To find out more, contact Julie at info@dressed4u.com or phone 07455 252727.  You can also find the shop on Facebook.

The great thing about shopping in Chesterfield is the range of independent shops and suppliers. You can always pick up something special and different, whether you’re looking for a special gift for a loved one or something special for your home.

There’s a wide range of independent shops, restaurants and coffee shops to explore across the town. Find out more at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/shopping/

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Chesterfield to be lit up once again this Christmas

Chesterfield Borough Council is once again hosting its spectacular Christmas Lights Switch On in the historic marketplace, marking the start of the festive season in the town.

Taking place on Sunday 20th November, the Christmas Lights Switch On is a firm favourite in the festive calendar, and it will include stage show entertainment from 3pm, festive market stalls and the lights switch on itself at 4.45pm.

Some of the Sleeping Beauty pantomime cast will be coming along to the stage show too, tickets are now on sale to see Sleeping Beauty at Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel Theatre. You can find out more and book tickets online.

Shrek will be making personal appearances at intervals between 12pm and 3pm outside the Visitor Information Centre in Rykneld Square ahead of the lights being turned on.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “This will be a magical event in the heart of Chesterfield, and everyone is welcome to come along. The Christmas lights switch on is one of our most popular events of the year, so please ensure you allow plenty of time to park or arrive by public transport, wrap up warm and enjoy the event.”

Elsewhere across Chesterfield, there is lots going on throughout the festive season for everyone to enjoy.

Meet Santa in the Market Hall

Bookings for Santa’s Grotto in the Market Hall are now open.

Santa will be welcoming visitors into his grotto from 20 November and tickets must be booked in advance either online or by contacting the Visitor Information Centre.

The price is £6.50p per person, which includes a present.

Markets

A number of markets will be taking place where you can pick up a unique gift or two from one of Chesterfield’s great selection of independent retailers. The traditional and speciality markets will take place on:

  • Vegan Market – 6 November and 4 December
  • Record Fair – 13 November and 11 December
  • Artisan Market – 27 November and 18 December

Visit Revolution House

If you are looking for a traditional family Christmas activity, why not take a trip to Revolution House.  The house will be open and decorated for Christmas with traditional greenery, including a kissing bough, and a flower festival with arrangements throughout the house, created by volunteers.

The house will be open from Thursday 8 December to Saturday 24 December, 11am to 3pm. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.

The house will also host a carol concert on Thursday 8 December at 6.30pm with members of Holymoorside Band. Carol sheets will be provided, and we suggest everyone attending wears appropriate clothing and brings a torch (although there will be some lighting on site).

Elf Trail

The Elf Trail is back for another year to provide fun for the whole family this Christmas.

They will be hiding in the windows of our local shops and venues waiting for you to find them from 21 November 2022 to 4 January 2023. Spot them all and you could win a fabulous family prize.

You can keep up to date with everything happening in Chesterfield this Christmas by visiting our festive web page. The page includes fabulous local gift guides, tips on getting the best food and drink from independent Chesterfield businesses, fun competitions, fesitive activities and much more!

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , ,

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre praised by tenants for accessibility, facilities, sustainability and style

Seventeen businesses have made Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre their home since it opened in July this year. The flagship office development has let more than 50% of rooms in just four months after opening.

Targeted at new and growing businesses in Chesterfield, the 32 high quality office suites spread over three floors have attracted tenants from a range of sectors and industries into the town centre, including recruitment, IT, design, marketing, education and training, and fashion.

The building is part of the £19.9m scheme to breathe new life into the northern entrance to Chesterfield town centre and is Chesterfield Borough Council’s newest enterprise centre. It was part funded through a grant from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Investment Fund, with additional funding provided by Chesterfield Borough Council.

Providing 26,000 sq.ft. of modern workplace accommodation, Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre was designed to ‘provide a new contemporary landmark which will enrich the urban fabric of the town’.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “It is fantastic to see so many new businesses moving into the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre. We’ve built on our experiences at Tapton and Dunston Innovation Centres to develop this building and it is already evident that we have been successful in creating a modern environment where Chesterfield’s budding entrepreneurs can collaborate and flourish.”

Tenants have praised the centre’s location, citing it as a primary factor in their decision to make the centre their new home. “Good transport links,” were the primary factor for Logical Personnel Solutions for choosing Northern Gateway as its new home.

Izabella Edwards, Managing Director at Edwards Employment Solutions Ltd. commented: “Our move to the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre has been an absolute game changer for us.  From a business point of view, we are benefitting from the excellent location. People looking for a new job are able to pop in and see us when they are in town, and we even have our clients from local businesses coming in to see us.

“We now have such modern and functional facilities to host people – it’s really working well for us.  In addition to this, my team and I are really enjoying being back in Chesterfield Town Centre and making the most out of shopping and eating out at lunchtime.  I would encourage any business thinking about making the move to go for it, we’ve certainly not looked back.”

The central location and transport links were also key for Potentia Teaching School Hub which acts as a ‘local’ centre of excellence’ for schools in Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, High Peak and North East Derbyshire.

Alan Kealy, Director of Potentia Teaching School Hub, explained: “As a DfE designated hub for six areas within Derbyshire, the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre enables us to provide a professional service from a central location so that we are able to support nurseries and schools effectively.”

The high quality interior of the building has been a major pull for a number of tenants, including James Taylor, founder and managing director of Roaring Mouse Public Relations, one of the first businesses to relocate to Northern Gateway in July. He explained: “This is a space that impresses customers and inspires our people. We are delighted to have a stylish, contemporary office that supports collaboration and enables us to do the best work possible for customers around the world.”

Lucinda White, director of Pure Awards, who moved into the centre in September, commented: “Not only is it an ultra-modern space, with floor to ceiling windows and instant hot water on tap but it is the ideal environment for the ‘agency’ feel business of Pure Awards.”

Accessibility and sustainability are central to the building which has been designed by Chesterfield architects Whittam Cox. The building has also been designed to minimise its impact on the environment and achieve considerable efficiencies in energy use.

The sustainability and accessibility credentials of the building were key for Kakou Technologies when selecting the centre for its new home. Ann Fomukong-Boden, co-founder and MD explained: “As a Disability Confident employer designing inclusive and accessible technologies, we required office space with good access to local transport links, not only for our staff, but for our visitors. The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre is fully accessible, matches our sustainability principles through the excellent BREEAM rating and centre environmental policies, and provides us with the flexibility we require to grow our business.”

Accessibility was also important for Gillian Scotford, a leading disability campaigner and founder of AccessibleUK.  Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre proved the perfect location for the organisation when she decided to make the move from being home to office-based.

She explained: “The time was right for AccessibleUK to have an office base where we could bring our clients from across the country to our beloved Accessible Derbyshire to deliver training and provide consultancy. The Northern Gateway Enterprise centre is somewhere we feel extremely proud to welcome businesses to such a wonderful, expanding market town with great transport links and accommodation provisions.”

The town centre location was a pull for East Midlands Chamber which is soon to lease space in the building in addition to its headquarters outside the town centre. The additional space will be used as a convenient drop-in meeting point for Chamber members.

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive at East Midlands Chamber, explained: “We want to create a members’ lounge for them to drop in and use as they see fit, while it adds more meeting space in addition to our headquarters in Dunston Road.

“We are excited to see the range of benefits the centre will have on the growth of businesses and the creation of jobs in Chesterfield, both of which will provide a boost to the town’s economy.”

Inside, the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre boasts 24/7 access, IT fibre connection which offers maximum speed multi bandwidth capability, Wi-Fi and air conditioning throughout. Each office benefits from access-controlled doors and CCTV coverage is available in internal communal areas and external areas.

Within the centre itself, there is a shared reception and lobby area, two meeting rooms, a break-out area and kitchenettes, bicycle storage, shower and changing facilities, lift access and individually metered power supplies.

The interior of the Enterprise Centre has been designed by Amy Revell, Co-Founder and Director of We Are Spaces Limited, who is now also a tenant at Northern Gateway. She said: “Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre has given us Grade ‘A’ office space for people to work in. These workspaces are comparable to those in bigger cities like Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester which deliver the connectivity for hybrid working for a better work/life balance.”

The building fronts Chesterfield’s new office campaign which was launched earlier this year. The campaign, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, has been developed by Destination Chesterfield in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire Economic Partnership.

The campaign also showcases One Waterside Place a new Grade A office development. Together with the Enterprise Centre, the buildings add to the town’s already impressive portfolio of properties. Together they add more than 100,000sq. ft of additional high quality office space to the town’s offering, enabling the town to capitalise on the ‘flight to prime’ trend for office space.

In addition to One Waterside Place and the Enterprise Centre, the campaign promotes the range of excellent office and flexible workspace available in the borough, including the Innovation Centres at Dunston and Tapton, The HQ, Great2Work, West Studios and The Glass Yard.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “Chesterfield meets the needs of new, growing and established businesses, offering a central location and connectivity, to a local skilled workforce and now, high quality, sustainable office space.

“The new office developments send an important message both locally and nationally that Chesterfield can meet every stage of a business’ life cycle from start-up to maturity.

“The investment in high quality workspaces across the borough will continue to help us to attract further businesses to invest in Chesterfield benefitting the locally economy now and for future generations.”

More than 70 people are now based at the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, with numbers set to grow further as businesses secure office space in the building. This will bring additional footfall and custom to surrounding businesses in the town.

Councilor Gilby added: “The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre will support our economy but will also help ensure our entrepreneurs can receive the support they need to see their business thrive. I want to welcome all our tenants and wish them the best of luck; the development of this building is a celebration of their entrepreneurial spirit and the benefits it will bring to our borough.”

To learn more about available office space in Chesterfield, visit: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/office/

Or to find out more about office suites in the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, visit https://www.chesterfield.gov.uk/enterprise

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

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