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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

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Chesterfield set to remember the fallen with annual service

Residents are being invited to attend Chesterfield’s annual service of Remembrance on Remembrance Sunday, Sunday 13 November, at 2.30pm at St Mary and All Saints’ Church, the ‘Crooked Spire’.

The service will remember all those who have sacrificed their lives in service for our country.

Councillor Tony Rogers, the Mayor of Chesterfield, said: “Our Remembrance Service is open for all to attend and pay their respects, every year we are heartened to see many of our residents support this event and remember together.”

Everyone is welcome to attend and residents are politely asked to be seated by 2pm as the Church can become very full.

The service will be followed by a parade from St Mary and All Saints’ Church, through Burlington Street, High Street, Glumangate onto Rose Hill.

Residents and visitors are welcome to watch the parade which will be led by Chesterfield’s Mayor and Mayoress and other local dignitaries. They will be joined by members of the Armed Forces, ex-services organisations and uniformed organisations from Chesterfield.

Members of the public are also welcome to attend the wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial from approximately 3.30pm with the Poppy cascade featuring 16,000 Poppies donated by people from across the world as a backdrop.

The Poppy cascade will be installed on the front of the Town Hall on Thursday 3 November by members of The Royal Engineers Association, who are the custodians of the Poppies.  Each year the Royal Engineers Association ensure the Poppy fall’s safekeeping, making sure it is dry and safely stored and any repairs are carried out prior to their next outing.

On Friday 11 November children from schools across Chesterfield will join the Mayor and Mayoress in holding a minute silence at 11am outside the Town Hall and laying a wreath of remembrance.

Staveley Town Council will hold their annual Remembrance parade and service in Staveley on Sunday 13 November. The parade will leave Staveley Market Place at 10.45am and head for the Garden of Remembrance, where the service will take place come rain or shine at 11.00am.

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Independent businesses dominate at the 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards

First-time finalists and brand new independent high street businesses have dominated the 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards.

Of the 15 award categories,10 of the winners were first-time finalists and five of the winning businesses have only opened in the past two years.

A total of 34 businesses, individuals and developments were shortlisted across the 15 categories in the annual awards, but it was Master Debonair, Sicily Restaurant and Great2Grow – part of Great2, that took the headline awards this year – Retailer of the Year, Restaurant of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year respectively.

All three businesses were established in Chesterfield less than 30 months ago.

Last year Sicily Restaurant scooped the title of Best New Hospitality Business with owner Giuseppe Barone stealing the show when he proposed on stage to his partner Monica Sardisco.

Founded in 2019, Sicily Restaurant, which is based on Sheffield Road, is rated as the number one restaurant in Chesterfield on TripAdvisor. Commenting on this year’s award win co-owner ­­Monica Sardisco said: “We’re a family business and we try to do the best we can, always working hard. Last year we won Best New Hospitality Business at the Love Chesterfield Awards, and this award proves that we have improved further. We are very happy to win the award.”

Winner of the Retailer of the Year Award, menswear store Master Debonair opened its Chatsworth Road branch in 2019. Although the third store for the company, it is the first outside the North East where it also has stores in Sunderland and East Boldon.

Delighted to win the award Simon Whittaker, CEO, Master Debonair, said: “We’re always looking for new locations that have other independents around and Chesterfield fitted the bill for us when we decided to invest here. There were some fantastic independent businesses shortlisted in our category so we’re very humbled to win.”

Brand new business Great2Grow – part of the Great2 Group, a provider of co-working space and business support services, secured this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year title. The award recognises the achievement, leadership, vision and success of new sole traders and limited companies in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

In addition to the prestigious title, Great2Grow also received 10 hours free mentoring with the award’s sponsor, Banner Jones Solicitors. Great2Grow will receive a year of marketing support through Chesterfield Champions with Destination Chesterfield covering the contribution cost for a financial year.

Andy Ball, founder of Great2Grow, said­­: “We’re excited, surprised and shocked to win such a great accolade; it rubber stamps what we’re doing. As a growth consultancy it shows we’re leading the charge with what we do. The next stage is to open an additional office in another great location in the East Midlands.”

EastEnders icon and household name Shaun Williamson hosted the sell-out black-tie event at the Winding Wheel Theatre on Wednesday 12 October.

Speaking at the awards Cllr Amanda Serjeant, Vice Chair of Destination Chesterfield said:

“The finalists and winners of this year’s Love Chesterfield Awards are testament that our hard work is paying off. The awards were a true celebration of independent businesses.

“Since 2013, Destination Chesterfield has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of businesses in our town. Between April 2021 and May 2022, more than 35 independent businesses invested in the town centre. Their confidence in Chesterfield, together with ongoing investment, is helping to ensure that we have a town centre that meets the needs of a new generation of shopper and visitor. It is wonderful to see so many small businesses thriving in Chesterfield.”

More than 250 people attended the celebration which was organised by Destination Chesterfield and sponsored by EntireFM – Complete Facilities Management.

Winners of the 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards categories include:

Best New High Street Business – Sponsored by SMH Group

MD Hair

Michelle Dalman, owner, MD Hair: “It feels absolutely amazing to win the award. I am so proud of my team and myself. The team have been key to winning the award. They make sure everyone has an amazing experience when they come into the salon.”

Excellence in Customer Service – Sponsored by Peak Pharmacy

Il Mondo Travel

Jo Bunting, owner of Il Mondo Travel, said: “It’s been a tough few years for us and the travel industry, so this is a great award for us to win.”

Independent High Street Business

Blanc and Blanc Occasions

Anne-Marie White, owner, Blanc and Blanc Occasions, said: “It feels absolutely amazing to be voted for by our customers for the Independent High Street Business award. Being an independent means we can source the best brands from around the world and offer a very personal service.”

Retailer of the Year – Sponsored by East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire)

Master Debonair

Simon Whittaker, CEO, Master Debonair, said: “We’re always looking for new locations that have other independents around and Chesterfield fitted the bill for us when we decided to invest here. There were some fantastic independent businesses shortlisted in our category so we’re very humbled to win.”

Market Trader of the Year – Sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council

Ibbotson’s Fresh Quality Produce

Cllr Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Town Centres and Visitor Economy, who presented the award said: “The market is the beating heart of our town. Ibbotson’s is a second-generation market trader, so it is wonderful they have won this award for the second year running. There are so many good traders on the market so to win this award is testament to Nick Ibbotson and his team for their customer service.”

Best New Hospitality Business

Host Coffee

Christian O’Connell, owner, Host Coffee said: “We had a vision for the business in Clay Cross when we established it, so to pull it off and win this award is a great feeling. The team, our customer service and consistency of product brings people back to us. We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing.”

Restaurant of the Year – Sponsored by Entire FM – Complete Facilities Management

Sicily Restaurant

Monica Sardisco, owner, Sicily Restaurant, said: “We’re a family business and we try to do the best we can, always working hard. Last year we won Best New Hospitality Business at the Love Chesterfield Awards and this award proves that we have improved further. We are very happy to win the award.”

Café of the Year

Koo

Gemma Taylor-Murdoch, owner, Koo, said: “I feel on top of the world to win Café of the Year. The team put blood, sweat and tears into delivering the best service to our customers and making sure they all have a lovely experience with us.”

Pub/Bar of the Year – Sponsored by Shorts Accountants

Junction Bar

Michael Walker, owner, Junction Bar, said: “We’re absolutely buzzing to win the award. We’ve been in Chesterfield for six years and we’ve absolutely smashed it – this award proves it. We have an amazing team and they keep customers coming back.”

Accessibility Award – Sponsored by Spirecross Ltd

The Café at Northern Tea Merchants

Kim Lamin, Owner, The Café at Northern Tea Merchants, said: “I’m really proud to win the award. We are very keen to make the café as accessible as possible to all our customers to ensure they have the best experience and a warm welcome when they visit us.”

Food Producer of the Year – Sponsored by MSE Hiller

Resting Devil Brewery

Josh Clarke, owner and brewer, Resting Devil Brewery, said: “To win the award feels fantastic as we’ve only been going seven months. Quality and consistency are at the heart of everything we do. We now want to slowly expand and get our beer into shops and stores.”

Regeneration Award – Sponsored by BHP Accountants

Badger Croft (Led by Henry Boot Construction)

Graham Johnson, Site Manager, Badger Croft, said: “Henry Boot does a lot of projects around the borough, but Badger Croft has been something special. We have given people new sustainable and energy efficient homes to live in for many years to come.”

Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by DBC Training

Will Brooks (Superior Wellness)

Will Brooks, Apprentice at Superior Wellness, said: “I’m very proud to win the award. One of the things that made me choose an apprenticeship was the experience and freedom you get compared to university. It’s the best choice I made.”

Sarah Elphick, Head of Marketing, Superior Wellness, added: “Will really impressed us when he covered the role of two marketing executives who left the company. Senior managers and colleagues all noticed how he stepped up to the role and took it in his stride. Because of Will’s success in the business, we’ve recruited two further apprentices. It’s a great way for young people to start their career.”

Entrepreneur of the Year – Sponsored by Banner Jones Solicitors

Great2Grow – part of Great 2 Group

Andy Ball, founder of Great2Grow said: “We’re excited, surprised and shocked to win such a great accolade; it rubber stamps what we’re doing. As a growth consultancy it shows we’re leading the charge with what we do. The next stage is to open an additional office in another great location in the East Midlands.”

Sustainability Award – Sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council

Northern Tea Merchants

James Pogson, Director, Northern Tea Merchants, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to win the award. We have put so much effort into our journey to becoming sustainable, so to be recognised for it is wonderful. Since committing to becoming more sustainable we have already offset over 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide created just from the cultivation of the tea, coffee and cocoa that we sell. This award is the first step of our ongoing sustainability journey.”

The 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards were supported and made possible by a number of sponsors and partners, including: Entire FM – Complete Facilities Management, Banner Jones Solicitors, BHP Accountants, Business Wise Accountancy and Tax, Chesterfield Borough Council, DBCP, DBC Training, Derbyshire Times, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), Elder Way, Great2, Hoods Florist, JP Fire Safety Solutions, Minuteman Press Chesterfield, MSE Hiller, Peak Pharmacy, Shorts Chartered Accountants, Spirecross Ltd and SMH Group.

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New investment sites set to open up across Chesterfield

Chesterfield is ready to do business and willing to make sound investments to ensure the local economy achieves its growth ambitions. That was the message at the 2022 Chesterfield Investment Summit (28 September).

Speaking at the annual summit organised by Destination Chesterfield and Derbyshire Economic Partnership, Dr Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Our record of investment and delivery, with a whole range of partners, shows that the council is willing to invest and provide support to bring projects forward that will help the borough grow and deliver jobs and opportunities to the people that live here.”

A number of new development sites are now set to be opened up for future commercial, industrial, office and residential investment, adding to the current £2billion growth programme already underway across Chesterfield town centre and the borough.

Hartington Industrial Park, a new 75,000 sqm industrial and warehouse development located on the site of the former Coalite Plant in Staveley, aims to build on the success of Markham Vale. Job numbers created by businesses who are based at Markham Vale are now beyond that of when the site operated as a colliery.

Huw added: “Markham Vale has been a tremendous success with demand for commercial space outstripping supply. Chesterfield’s industrial past has opened up a number of investment sites which have the potential to be as successful as Markham Vale in terms of job opportunities and growth in key areas of the borough.”

Alongside industrial sites, Chesterfield Borough Council has also made significant investment in town centre office accommodation, meeting the post pandemic demand for high quality, flexible workspace.

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, which opened in July earlier this year, already boasts more than 50% occupancy with 17 of the 32 offices now tenanted. Later this year, Chesterfield will gain Grade A, large footplate offices following the completion of One Waterside Place as part of the £320 million Chesterfield Waterside regeneration scheme. Already tenants have been secured for a number of the floors in the six-storey office block located next to the train station.

Office interiors expert Amy Revell, Co-Founder and Director of We are FM, who spoke at the summit said: “Chesterfield is an exciting place to be right now. Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre and One Waterside Place have 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.”

In addition to One Waterside Place, residential and leisure development sites are also being brought forward in the Chesterfield Waterside with the scheme developers, Bolsterstone Group, in talks with hotel and carpark operators as well as investors in a number of Build to Rent apartments.

Confident that investment in the borough will continue at pace, Councillor Tricia Gilby Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “While the current financial climate is a concern, Chesterfield is very resilient and has consistently come out of national crises stronger than it went into them. In the last recession we established Destination Chesterfield, and this has reaped rewards. We also resolved as a council and with all our partners, to come out of the pandemic fighting and as a result a number of developments came out of the ground, including One Waterside Place and the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre.

“Chesterfield Brough Council and our partners will now work together with inward investors to ensure the next five years are as good as, if not better, than the last five years.”

Work has already begun on the town’s ambitious HS2 Station Masterplan which saw the recent demolition of the Chesterfield Hotel, opening up a further development site for investment.

Councillor Gilby added: “Chesterfield’s geographical location and connectivity are key to attracting investment and new residents. Chesterfield is perfectly positioned making major cities very accessible for post Covid working trends, which combine home and office working and we now have a market-leading portfolio of office space to capitalise on this.”

The 2022 Chesterfield Investment Summit was supported by the European Regional Development Fund. The annual free-to-attend event was held at Casa Hotel. It showcased investment activity in the town and was attended by more than 200 people.

To learn more about the investment opportunities in Chesterfield visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

The Chesterfield Investment Summit 2022 also saw the launch of the brand-new Invest in Chesterfield Map, which can be viewed online. The map showcases the wide range of investment opportunities available across our town.

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Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield works begin on Packers Row

Ambitious plans to revitalise Chesterfield town centre are being brought to life, with the first phase of the multi-million pound scheme now underway at Packers Row.

New paving, seating and street furniture – plus overhead festoon lighting to add character – are among the improvements which are being carried out as part of Chesterfield Borough Council’s Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project.

Packers Row is one of several areas across the town centre to be revamped as part of the scheme. The changes will mirror the look and feel of nearby Elder Way which underwent a transformation last year – creating an attractive and welcoming route from the Northern Gateway into the town centre.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “It is fantastic to see work begin in our town centre and I hope it will demonstrate our ambitions for the wider Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project. We are working with our contractor to minimise disruption for businesses with the priority being customer access throughout the project.”

The council’s contractor will be working overnight during the first phase of the project, to minimise disruption to businesses and ensure access can be maintained throughout the day.

Funding for the works on Packers Row has been provided by Chesterfield Borough Council and its partners to kickstart revitalisation of the town centre and match funding provided by the Government’s Levelling Up fund.

The revitalisation of Packers Row will set the standard for future work around the town centre.

The council is currently working on detailed designs for the rest of the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project, which includes 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 (which houses the Pomegranate Theatre and Chesterfield Museum) the project is being brought forward thanks to almost £20m which the council secured from the Government’s levelling up fund.

Find out more about the proposals for the town centre, and sign up to receive the latest news by email, by visiting www.chesterfield.gov.uk/revitalise

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Eastenders icon set to host the sell-out 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards

Former Eastenders actor and household name Shaun Williamson will host the 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards.

Held on Wednesday 12 October at the Winding Wheel Theatre, the popular awards return to the town for the second year.

Organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with Entire FM – Complete Facilities Management, Shaun will announce the winners of 15 categories at the black-tie awards ceremony.

Best known and loved for his Eastenders character Barry Evans, Shaun was in the show for 10 years from 1994 to 2004. Since leaving the soap, he has appeared regularly on stage and TV in a number of hit shows and productions, including Extras and Plebs. He is also a self-proclaimed quizzer, having competed on The Celebrity Chase and written a quizzing memoir A Matter Of Facts.

Looking forward to hosting the 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards, Shaun Williamson commented: “I’m really excited to be a part of the 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards. Never having been to the town before, I am looking forward to learning a lot about it and the people who live and work here. You never know when it may come up in a quiz!”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield commented: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Shaun to Chesterfield to host the second sell-out Love Chesterfield Awards. He’s a much-loved and well-known personality with so many people. He will certainly help us make it a night to remember.”

Peter Currey, Managing Director at Entire FM – Complete Facilities Management added: “The awards are going to be fantastic, and I’m delighted Entire FM is part of the celebration for another year.”

See the full list of 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards finalists here: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/lovechesterfieldawards/finalists/

The 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards are supported and made possible by a number of sponsors and partners, including: Entire FM – Complete Facilities Management, Banner Jones Solicitors, BHP Accountants, Business Wise Accountancy and Tax, Chesterfield Borough Council, DBCP, DBC Training, Derbyshire Times, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire),  Elder Way, Great2, Hoods Florist, JP Fire Safety Solutions, Minuteman Press Chesterfield, MSE Hiller, Peak Pharmacy, Shorts Chartered Accountants, Spirecross Ltd and SMH Group.

For all the information on the 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards, please visit: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/lovechesterfieldawards/

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New bar specialising in craft beer and cocktails opens in Chesterfield town centre

A new bar has added to the bustling food and drink scene in Chesterfield Town Centre, owing its name to an historic bike shop which previously traded there.

Armisteads will provide customers with a ‘chilled and relaxed’ atmosphere, serving a range of cocktails and craft beers.

The bar has been opened by local residents Andy and Luke Waller, who are now fulfilling a long-held ambition to open a new bar in the town centre.

Bar Manager Luke explained: “The name Armisteads was inspired by the history of the venue. The building used to host a renowned bike shop in the early 1960’s called Armisteads and was where the majority of people in the town would get their first bikes, so it holds a lot of memories in the local area.”

The duo also have confidence in their local links with other businesses, which they believe will enable the business to thrive. Luke added: “We have strong personal and professional relationships with the brewers and distillers of the products that we stock on our beer lines and spirit shelves.

“Our colleagues have an outstanding knowledge of our product range including years of experience in shaking up some of the best cocktails in Chesterfield. Our colleagues are a friendly team who are always up for meeting new people whilst welcoming our new regulars.”

Together, Luke and Andy have built many strong friendships and relationships in Chesterfield and have strong links with Chesterfield Football Club. The pair say they are keen to show the people of Chesterfield what they have to offer. They are strong supporters of local businesses and wanted to extend that by introducing a venue of their own.

Luke said: “It’s really important for people who live in Chesterfield to support local businesses, as a town we need to stick together and build a positive reputation so that when people visit us, they see our heritage and the many great family businesses that are based here.

“Working together can only have a positive on the current plan to drive development in Chesterfield.”

Find out more about Armisteads on their Instagram and Facebook pages.

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Chesterfield named best blooming small city in the East Midlands

Chesterfield’s beautiful green spaces, colourful floral displays and innovative community projects have earned the borough a top accolade in a prestigious competition – the first time the borough has scooped the sought-after award.

Judges in the regional East Midlands In Bloom awards were impressed by the breadth and quality of Chesterfield’s entry in this year’s competition – officially crowing the town as winner in the ‘Small City’ category.

Representatives from the Chesterfield In Bloom committee and Chesterfield Borough Council were presented with the award at a ceremony on Wednesday 21 September.

Edinburgh Road Pocket Park won the Award for the Best New Permanent Landscape, the Britannia Inn in Brampton won a Gold Award and the new Dementia Awareness Garden on Rose Hill won a Judges’ Award.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Winning this award is a real triumph for our community and is testament to years of hard work by both local volunteers and our officers. The award recognises that our borough is a bright and beautiful place to live, with lots of fantastic green spaces for our community to enjoy. Thank you to everyone that has contributed to our success in this competition over the years.”

Chris Turner, chair of the Chesterfield In Bloom committee, said: “It takes a lot of effort from many different community groups and the council to ensure the borough is looking its best in time for judging. I’m delighted that we’ve won this year, it’s been a long time coming but it’s fantastic to be recognised for our efforts.”

Judging for East Midlands In Bloom took place in July and the judges were taken on a tour of the borough, starting in Queen’s Park, they visited the town centre, the new Dementia Awareness Garden, Holmebrook Valley Country Park, the Britannia Inn, Hunloke Allotments, Brimington community garden and the pocket park on Edinburgh Road Park.

The new Dementia Awareness Garden on Rose Hill was completed earlier this year and officially opened by the East Midlands In Bloom judges. The project was a collaboration between Chesterfield Borough Council and David Shaw. Not only is it a calm spot to relax in the town centre, but interpretation boards also aim to help visitors understand more about Dementia and the impact it has.

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Regeneration Award shortlist announced for Love Chesterfield Awards 2022

Construction projects across Chesterfield are paving the way for the regeneration of the borough, but only one will be named the winner of the Regeneration Award at the 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards in association with Entire FM – Complete Facilities Management.

Badger Croft, Belvedere House and One Waterside Place have all been selected as finalists for the Regeneration Award – sponsored by BHP Accountants – for their innovative developments.

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.

Gary Holmes, Contracts Manager at Henry Boot Construction commented: “We are delighted that Badger Croft has been shortlisted for the Regeneration Award. We have a long-standing affinity with Chesterfield; we’re based just up the road in Dronfield, and a lot of our people were born or live in Chesterfield.

“With Badger Croft, we have increased the supply of affordable homes available and transformed a former brownfield site, enabling 21 local families to move into their new homes. We have also worked hard to give back to the wider community by working closely with Holmebrook Conservation and Improvement Group to enhance landscaping works and boost biodiversity.”

Belvedere House Care Home, built by Crown Care Group and located on St Augustine’s Rd, provides care services to its residents and luxurious living accommodation. With 64 bedrooms and a range of facilities for residents to enjoy, including a cinema, tearoom, bar and brasserie, garden room, hair salon and extensive landscaped gardens.

The care home opened its doors earlier this year and has generated up to 50 jobs within the local area.

Shiva Sheikholeslami, Care Home Manager at Belvedere House commented on being part of the final three for the Regeneration Award: “This selection reaffirms that our brand-new care home has positively impacted the Chesterfield community. This means a lot to us; it’s humbling and reassuring.

“We feel positive and assured to witness businesses flourish, areas develop, and new life spread throughout the region. Through regeneration, Belvedere House looks forward to sustainable development and prosperity – we are excited and lucky to be able to experience this growth.”

One Waterside Place will be a landmark building as part of the £340 million Chesterfield Waterside development, creating jobs and modern, high-spec office space for businesses to occupy.

The office accommodation within Basin Square has been designed to a Grade A specification which incorporates BREEAM Very Good Rating, LED lighting and two passenger lifts. They will also provide cycle parking facilities on site, encouraging a greener commute to work.

Tom Swallow, Development Manager, Bolsterstone Group PLC, which is the company developing the Chesterfield Waterside scheme, commented: “It’s a really exciting time to be part of the regeneration projects within Chesterfield.

“I’m delighted that One Waterside Place is shortlisted for the Regeneration Award; this is a great news ahead of the building welcoming tenants later this year.”

The requirements for the award include either a single business or a collective of businesses that have supported or delivered high quality spaces through regeneration, refurbishment, redevelopment, or improvements to the built environment within a 6-mile radius of Chesterfield town centre.

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.

The collaboration of the Property and Construction Group has allowed Chesterfield to thrive in its plans to develop the town, with new housing and residential developments to Grade A office spaces becoming available to help make Chesterfield the place to invest, work, live and play.

The 2022 Love Chesterfield Regeneration Award winner will be announced alongside the winners of 15 other categories at the black-tie event being held at the Winding Wheel Theatre on 12 October.

See the full list of 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards finalists here: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/lovechesterfieldawards/finalists/

The 2022 Love Chesterfield Awards are supported and made possible by a number of sponsors and partners, including: Entire FM – Complete Facilities Management, Banner Jones Solicitors, BHP Accountants, Business Wise Accountancy and Tax, Chesterfield Borough Council, DBCP, DBC Training, Derbyshire Times, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), , Elder Way, Great2, Hoods Florist, JP Fire Safety Solutions, Minuteman Press Chesterfield, MSE Hiller, Peak Pharmacy, Shorts Chartered Accountants, Spirecross Ltd and SMH Group.

 

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Approval granted on widespread improvements for Staveley Town Centre

Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet has given its approval to a new long-term vision for Staveley town centre and an initial £5m package of improvements, to be delivered over the next four years.

A public consultation which took place late last year showed strong support for the draft Staveley Town Centre Vision Master Plan, with 70% of respondents stating that they would be more likely to visit Staveley town centre if the Master Plan’s proposals were implemented.

The immediate improvements planned for Staveley town centre also received a high level of support from the public. These improvements include the regeneration of the Market Square, a shop front improvement scheme, a new and improved link to the canal, a new landmark pavilion building, an enhanced public realm and better signposting of facilities and attractions.

The initial package of improvements will be funded and delivered through the Staveley Town Deal and have been selected on the basis of their ability to improve the current town centre offer, uplift footfall, and prepare the ground for future investment. They are also deliverable within the set timeframe for the Town Deal.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy said: “We want Staveley to be a thriving town centre, that attracts both residents and visitors, encourages new business start-ups and supports existing retailers and businesses to flourish.

“We received lots of support for the ideas and proposals that we set out within the draft Vision Master Plan but we cannot deliver everything at once. Our aim is to make best use of the Staveley Town Deal funding to deliver an initial package of improvements that will help ensure Staveley has a bright future as a place to start, to stay and to grow.

“We will continue to work closely with Staveley’s retailers, businesses and residents to ensure we deliver the planned improvements to time and budget.”

The planned improvements, many of which are conditional on receiving planning consent, include the regeneration of the Market Square, which was supported by 77% of respondents to the public consultation. Elsewhere in the Market Square, the disused toilet block will be demolished and a landmark pavilion building with new commercial space created.

The Market Square will also benefit from new paving, lighting, planting, and benches, as well as improvements to Barnfield Close to encourage members of the public to shop and socialise. Ninety percent of respondents to the public consultation indicated that they would be more likely to visit the town centre if there was more space for festivals and events, which the planned improvements are designed to achieve.

The High Street will benefit from a rejuvenation of the public ream, and a shop front improvement grant scheme will encourage retailers to make changes to their store frontages.

There will also be a focus on increased connectivity both to the canal and wider Staveley area with improved signage, paths and cycling hubs. These improvements were supported by 74% of respondents to the public consultation. There will also be enhanced digital connectivity through the creation of a town centre wi-fi network.

As part of the process of developing the draft Vision Master Plan an independent review was undertaken by IntoPlaces Ltd., a team of three High Street Task Force experts. IntoPlaces Ltd. commented that the Vision Master Plan has the capacity to transform Staveley town centre into a vibrant hub by creating new and diverse spaces and enhancing the current offer. The planned improvements have also been supported by Derbyshire County Council.

The next step is for the Council to appoint a dedicated design team to finalise the planned improvements and seek planning consent, where applicable. More details about the future designs and how the community can get involved will be shared as soon as possible.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, added: “It will take time for us to finalise our plans and gain planning consent but we are committed to working with the community throughout the delivery process in order to ensure that we achieve the best possible outcome for Staveley town centre, its residents and businesses.”

Find out more about the Town Deal and the projects that have received funding on the council’s Staveley Town Deal page.

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Local Proclamation of King Charles III held at Chesterfield Town Hall

Crowds gathered outside Chesterfield Town Hall to witness a local ceremony to proclaim the accession of King Charles III last weekend, Sunday, 11 September.

Councillor Tony Rogers, Mayor of Chesterfield, read the Local Proclamation from the balcony of the Town Hall, as part of a series of official events held across the country this weekend to mark the historic occasion.

It follows a meeting of the Accession Council on Saturday, 10 September at St James’s Palace in London, to formally proclaim Charles as the new sovereign.

Councillor Rogers said: “We remain united in collective sorrow following the passing of HM The Queen and we will continue to reflect together as a community during this period of national mourning.

“Today’s ceremony was an important moment in the history of our country, and our borough, as we came together to mark the local Proclamation of King Charles III reign as our new sovereign.

“It was touching to see so many across our community unite for this historic occasion and, on behalf of the people of Chesterfield in my role as Mayor, I was honoured to play my part in this unforgettable moment in history.”

The Union Flag was temporarily raised to full-mast in line with the national Proclamation protocol. It has now been lowered to half-mast to mark the ongoing national mourning period.

The Union Flag, which is currently flying at half-mast above the Town Hall, will be temporarily raised to full-mast at 11am on Saturday morning until 1pm on Sunday, in line with the national Proclamation protocol.

Businesses and local leaders across the town also paid their respects last week. Find out more at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/2022/09/chesterfield-leaders-and-businesses-pay-tribute-to-queen-elizabeth-ii/

People are also reminded that they can lay tributes including flowers at the official memorial site at Queen’s Park bandstand, and Books of Condolence are available at locations across the borough.

Meanwhile Chesterfield’s Crooked Spire church has announced a memorial service will be taking place there at the weekend:

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