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Eckington School’s aspiring engineers discover career opportunities

With 14,000 students in north Derbyshire set to leave school in the next five years, aspiring engineers from Eckington School recently got to see first-hand the apprentice and employment opportunities open to them in the STEM sector.

Five Year 11 GCSE students from the school recently visited the award-winning Penny Hydraulics. The company design, manufacturers and installs hydraulic lifting equipment and is keen to attract the next generation of workers to its Clowne-based facility.

The visit was organised as part of the Made in Chesterfield initiative which is designed to introduce young people to careers opportunities in the town’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) sector.

Launched in 2015, Made in Chesterfield has already been instrumental in raising awareness of careers in the sector, reaching 3,000 students since the campaign began.

Having apprenticeship vacancies available at a range of levels Daniel Casey, Marketing Manager at Penny Hydraulics explained why building links with schools is important for the company, saying: “Supporting local initiatives like Made in Chesterfield helps Penny Hydraulics to inspire the next generation of workers from the local community.

“By bringing students from local schools to our premises we can give young people a valuable insight into a career in engineering or manufacturing – hopefully enough to inspire them to pursue a career with us and other STEM companies in the area.”

Sally-Anne Warren-Armes, Employer Engagement Manager at Eckington School echoed Daniel, saying: “Our specially selected students were already interested in a career in engineering and the visit to Penny Hydraulics strengthened these interests, giving them new avenues to think about.”

James Peters, one of the students who took part in the visit, commented: “The visit has definitely shown that there are both physical and academic sides to engineering.”

All primary and secondary schools throughout North East Derbyshire are being encouraged to sign up to the Made in Chesterfield campaign and discover the employment opportunities in the sector available to current and future school leavers. Employers in the sector are offering school leavers a variety of opportunities, including apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships and graduate training schemes.

The campaign is co-ordinated by Destination Chesterfield with support from the University of Derby, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd, NatWest, Chesterfield Borough Council and Placing Futures.

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

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

Awards night celebrates those who are improving lives in Derbyshire

The efforts and achievements of individuals and groups who are using physical activity to help improve the lives of people across Derbyshire were recognised at the Towards an Active Derbyshire Awards last week.

The exciting awards were jointly presented by sports broadcaster Colin Hazelden and GEM Radio presenter Jo Russell, with 200 guests attending the celebration. Entertainment was provided by Sing for your Supper community choir, Team Unit 1 Martial Arts and Erewash Valley Gymnastics Club.

The night celebrated some of the amazing work happening in the Derbyshire communities and Active Derbyshire, who organised the event, want the opportunity to thank the volunteers, groups and staff who help to make physical activity the norm.

Active Derbyshire help support the inactive to become active, ensure people are supported and encouraged to engage in activity, they also address the inequalities that can sometimes occur for those in priority groups such as lower socio-economic groups and women and girls.

2020 Winners and finalists

Change4Life award

Winner – James Illsley

Finalists – Derry Cooper, Rita Wagstaff

This Girl Can award

Winner – Afsana Afsar

Finalists – Hannah Kendall, Caroline Hill

Active Place award

Winner – Hunloke Community Garden

Finalists – Adam Fretwell PT, Freedom Leisure ARC Leisure 

Community Coach of the year

Winner – Dave Cartawick

Finalists – Helen Thornhill, Jay Plimmer

Project/Initiative/Innovation award

Winner – Redwood Primary School

Finalists – #runwalktalk, Wiltsthorpe School

Inclusive Project, group or club of the year

Winner – Rhubarb Farm

Finalists – St Martins School Derby SHOUTaboutSEND, Ripley LC and William Gregg VC LC Dementia Friendly Swimming

Community Group/Association of the year

Winner – Ilkeston Cycling Club

Finalists – Alvaston Parkrun, Residents of Fairfield Association, Erewash Valley Gymnastics Club

Special Recognition award

Winner – Joe Mason

Finalists – Gillian Stallion, Libby Hawkins

Active Derbyshire also awarded a Community Contribution award to organisations who have made a unique contribution to local communities and who are worthy of special recognition. These were awarded to: Pingle Academy, Active Fostering work and Active4Life Petersham.

A special thanks also goes to the category sponsors of the event: Action Nation, Strategic Leisure, University of Derby, Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council.

A full list of winner and finalist stories from the night can be found here.

Click here to find out more about Active Derbyshire

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home, Leisure

Residents urged to clear out old electrical items for chance to win

Are you having a clear out this spring? If you unearth any old, broken or unwanted electricals, take them to one of Derbyshire County Council’s household waste recycling centres for a chance to win one of fifteen £100 cash prizes.

From hair-dryers to hedge-trimmers, fairy lights to fridges and toasters to TVs, there’s a wide range of household appliances you can take to Derbyshire County Council’s recycling centres. From Monday 2 March until Sunday 5 April, you can exchange them for a golden ticket.

Simply ask for your golden ticket from a member of staff at any of the county council’s nine recycling centres, type in your unique ticket number online at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/electric and find out instantly if you’re a winner. The more items you recycle, the more tickets you’ll get.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure Councillor Simon Spencer said: “It’s a shocking fact that across the UK we throw away more than a quarter of the electrical items we buy instead of recycling them.”

“Reducing waste and increasing recycling is one of our key pledges to help reduce carbon emissions. The carbon footprint is much lower when recycled materials are used than when things are manufactured from scratch.”

“Our recycling contractors salvage precious metals and other valuable materials from the items residents bring us so that they can be recycled. For example one household iron contains enough steel to produce 13 steel cans.”

“So please bring us those old electricals. We’ll put them to good use and as an added bonus, you could win £100.”

It costs Derbyshire council tax payers £43 million a year for the county council to deal with waste in Derbyshire which residents choose not to recycle. If every Derbyshire household took just one electrical item to a recycling centres in March, the county council could recycle an additional 318,000 appliances and help to cut these costs.

The competition prizes are part-funded by Recycling Lives – the contractor which works on behalf of the county council to collect and recycle electrical items taken to its recycling centres. The competition is only open to Derbyshire Residents.

All electrical appliances are accepted including:

  • coffee makers
  • electric toothbrushes
  • electric garden equipment
  • fairy lights
  • fridges, freezers and fridge-freezers
  • game consoles
  • irons
  • kettles
  • lamps
  • laptops, tablets and PCs
  • microwaves
  • music systems
  • phones
  • power tools
  • printers
  • radios
  • sat navs
  • shavers
  • slow cookers
  • straighteners and hairdryers
  • washers and dryers
  • vacuums

For a full list of the other items you can take to the recycling centres and their locations: www.derbyshire.gov.uk/recyclingcentres

Please make sure all personal data has been removed from items such as laptops, mobile phones or tablets before you take them to a recycling centre.

If you have a broken electrical or other household items that you’d like to get repaired if possible take them along to one of Derbyshire’s six repair cafes. Qualified volunteers aim to fix your items free of charge rather than them being thrown out. Find out more here – www.derbyshire.gov.uk/repaircafes

Story of Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Leisure

Pinewood Property Estates joins the FIA as exclusive members for Chesterfield and Mansfield

Graham Lock, Founder of the FIA, has revealed that Pinewood Property Estates has accepted his invitation to become the exclusive members for Chesterfield and Mansfield.

Graham Lock said: “I’m thrilled that Pinewood have joined our growing network of high calibre independent agents, they’re an award winning agency that puts the customer at the heart of everything they do, together with a fantastic internal culture. It’s not easy to gain FIA membership but this was a simple decision. Pinewood are clearly on top of their game and I can see a great future for them”.

Director Stacey Davies-Bowler said: “We’re delighted to have been asked to join the FIA, it’s a reflection of our continued progress as an award-winning, customer focused agency. The support, guidance, discounts, products suite and general feeling of being part of something special really appealed to me. The area exclusivity afforded to us will be a significant benefit to the team.”

Graham Lock continued “As soon as I spoke with Stacey I realised Pinewood were the right fit for the FIA. They will compliment our other members perfectly as we continue to build our eyecatching network of high calibre agents throughout the country. I’m really looking forward to seeing Pinewood continue to grow their business and we’re delighted to be a part of that story.”

In 2019, Pinewood Property Estates picked up 4 Golds and 1 Bronze at the prestigious ESTAS Customer Service Awards.

Click here to find out more about Pinewood Property Estates

Pinewood Property Estates wins awards at The ESTAS

Pinewood Property Estates wins at The ESTAS

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home

Chesterfield Apprentice showcases hospitality sector at House of Commons

During National Apprenticeship Week last week, Kobi Hawes, an apprentice at Global Brands Ltd met the local MP of Bolsover, Mark Fletcher, during the fourth annual Hospitality Apprenticeship Showcase held at the House of Commons.

Kobi who is an Apprentice in Accounts the Global Brands head office on Lockoford Lane in Chesterfield, took home a certificate, given to him by Mr Fletcher, to commend his contribution to hospitality and his part in changing the perception of the industry.

The event came at an important time, with attending businesses highlighting to MPs their current staff shortages, urging the government to do more to bridge the disconnect between job losses on flailing High Streets and the burgeoning hospitality industry.

The hospitality sector collectively invested £10bn in new business over the last year, which saw a further 4.3% growth in 2019, creating 19,000 new jobs. The sector is now responsible for creating 1 in 6 of all new employment positions in the UK.

The reception saw more than 200 representatives from the hospitality industry and MPs from across the UK come together to celebrate the burgeoning sector, lifted up by the dedication of the young apprentices thriving within the companies that they work.

The showcase welcomed Minister Helen Whately MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism), who addressed the apprentices and MPs on the importance of the hospitality sector on the UK’s tourism industry.

Minister Whatley said: “We want to give visitors to the UK a world class welcome and that depends on having a skilled hospitality workforce.”

“The Tourism Sector Deal is a bold commitment between Government and industry, and as part of this, our aim is for 30,000 apprenticeships to start each year to help strengthen the domestic workforce and support the future of the industry.”

Also speaking at the event was Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality, who said: “Last year’s launch of the tourism sector deal demonstrated the government’s recognition of the vital contribution made by the leisure, hospitality and tourism industries. Post-Brexit however, the industry faces a very challenging period, as ending the free movement of people will invariably lead to skills shortages in certain areas.”

“To fill the gaps, one obvious solution is to recruit more young British workers. Apprenticeships offer the perfect opportunity across all entry levels.”

“The government’s commitment to introduce 10,000 new apprenticeships in the sector each year is welcome, as is the work that is being done collectively by our industry to support investment in skills and career progression in hospitality roles.”

All the apprentices work directly with the companies, as they launch their careers within hospitality, a sector that offers a varied range of roles and opportunities across the UK. The industry supports 3.2m jobs, represents 10% of the economy’s employment, 6% of businesses and 5% of GDP, making hospitality the third largest private sector employer, double the size of the financial services industry and bigger than the automotive, pharmaceuticals and aerospace sectors combined.

The Hospitality Apprenticeship Showcase displays the vibrant pub, bar, brewing, hotel and casual dining sectors during National Apprenticeship Week. The event aims to shine a light on an exciting industry giving young people unique opportunities, as well as challenging the negative perception of careers in the Hospitality Industry and encouraging them to look at the sector as somewhere where they can pursue a rewarding career.

The hospitality industry collectively invested £10bn in new business over the last year, this saw the sector grow by a further 4.3% in 2019, creating 19,000 new jobs. The sector is now responsible for creating 1 in 6 of all new employment positions in the UK.

Click here to find out more about Global Brands

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Home

Derbyshire producers offered exciting opportunity to exhibit at Chatsworth Country Fair

Derbyshire producers will get a chance to showcase and sell their products to thousands of visitors at Chatsworth Country Fair this summer thanks to an exciting opportunity offered by the area’s official tourist board.

For the third year running, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire (MPDD) is inviting local artisans to apply for a place in the Inspired by the Peak District and Derbyshire Marketplace at the major annual event, which attracts over 70,000 people from across the UK.

Held in the magnificent Chatsworth parkland, Chatsworth Country Fair (4 – 6 September 2020) showcases the best in traditional, British country pursuits with spectacular showground entertainment, quality trade stands and fun for all the family.

The opportunity is open to small-to-medium-sized businesses ranging from food and drink producers to artists and craftspeople, and is part financially supported by the MPDD-led European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project ‘Growing & Developing the Visitor Economy Within Derbyshire (Phase II)’.

Derbyshire-based businesses can apply for a place using the following link: www.chatsworth-country-fair-marquee-2020.eventbrite.co.uk

Applications are open until Friday 1st May 2020. Successful applicants will be notified in early June 2020. Stalls provided to successful applicants will be subject to a charge of £100 plus VAT per business.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “We’re excited to once again offer local businesses the fantastic opportunity to showcase their products and services at Chatsworth Country Fair via our ERDF project.”

“The event is the biggest and best of its kind in the country and our Inspired by the Peak District & Derbyshire Marketplace offers a unique platform for businesses to reach a potential audience of thousands of people from across the UK.”

“Thanks to our funding support, it’s a great chance for businesses to assess – with little financial risk – the effectiveness of exhibiting at a show such as this, with the hope that they attend under their own steam in future years. Good luck to everyone who applies!”

Val and Nigel Hufton of The Tasty Cakery exhibited in the Inspired by the Peak District & Derbyshire Marketplace last year. They said: “Attending Chatsworth Country Fair was a huge boost for our business. It was the best fair we had ever attended and we not only sold plenty of products, but we gained good exposure to the public and also valuable trade interest.”

“It provided us with a fantastic opportunity to sell our products at an event that we probably couldn’t have afforded to exhibit at in our own right. It was also great networking with other local producers and there was fantastic camaraderie!”

Click here to find out more about the Chatsworth Country Fair

Applications are open until Friday 1st May 2020

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

ESS staff to take on the Peak District Challenge in aid of the British Heart Foundation

ESS team members Dave Newton and John Wright are taking part in the 100km-long Peak District Challenge in aid of the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

1 in 4 people in the UK die of heart and circulatory diseases. The BHF use their resources to research treatments and support those suffering from these life changing conditions. Through their help, the number of people dying from heart disease has halved since 2005 but more can still be done.

This is a very personal cause for Dave in particular. Dave sadly lost his brother, Jono, to Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (S.A.D.S) last year. S.A.D.S is a genetic condition which can cause sudden death to people who are otherwise perfectly healthy.

Jono was incredibly fit and healthy, working as a professional bodybuilder and personal trainer. Without any prior warning, he died in his sleep, leaving behind his partner and two children. There are many unanswered questions about S.A.D.S and additional funding to find causes and cures are desperately needed. Dave and John hope that their efforts can raise further awareness and resources to this end.

The Peak District Challenge, starting on 4th July, consists of a tough 100km (61 miles) route through the Derbyshire hills. Dave and John will be completing a full continuous figure-of-8-loop through the peaks without stopping for sleep. They will start at their Bakewell base camp at 7am and won’t stop until they have crossed the finish line.

They are already well on their way to their £1,000 each fundraising target and every small contribution can make a difference. Just £24 is enough to pay for 2 hours of research. You can donate to Dave & John’s JustGiving pages via the links below.

Click here to find out more about Essential Site Skills

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Local potters inspired by Chesterfield’s past

A new exhibition at Chesterfield Museum will display ceramics created by members of a local pottery class and inspired by a historic pottery in Brampton.

Potters in the class were inspired by an owl figurine that was created in the William Gordon Pottery in Brampton, a pottery that was at the forefront of ceramic design during the 20th century, and which currently resides as part of the collections in Chesterfield Museum. In December the owl figurine was the museum’s object of the month.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Town Centres and Visitor Economy, said: “This is a great way for our museum’s collection to inspire the creative community locally. We’re really excited to display the results of the students’ work in this special exhibition.”

Clare Gage, who teaches the pottery class, said: “This William Gordon owl really caught my eye and I can see so many possibilities for how students could take inspiration from it. I love the fact that we will be connecting with local history for this project. What a fantastic way to inspire new potters.”

All the work was created as part of a pottery class that was launched at the Clay Cross Adult Community Education Centre in September 2019.

William Gordon moved to Chesterfield as a result of the expertise that existed at the Brampton properties – especially in the use of a salt-glaze technique. He worked in the Briddon Pottery in the 1930s before moving on to run his own pottery where he produced unique pieces until 1956.

The exhibition at Chesterfield Museum, which is owned and operated by Chesterfield Borough Council, is open to the public from Friday 7 February until Monday 23 March. The museum is open on Mondays and Thursday to Saturday from 10am – 4pm.

Click here to find out more

Students of the pottery class at Clay Cross Adult Community Education Centre have designed and produced pieces inspired by a William Gordon pottery owl

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Funding boost for mining memorial project

More life-size steel figures honouring miners who lost their lives in 3 disasters at Markham Colliery are to be added to a memorial project following a £30,000 funding boost.

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

Consultation on funding for local voluntary and community sector launched

Local voluntary and community sector groups in Derbyshire are being asked to help shape their future funding arrangements during a 12 week consultation.

Derbyshire County Council has launched the consultation into funding for local voluntary and community sector (VCS) infrastructure organisations with a view to developing a fairer more consistent way of allocating money to support our ambitions and priorities.

The council has already met with the infrastructure groups – umbrella organisations which offer information, support, guidance, training and funding advice to the local charitable sector – as well as health partners and district and borough councils, to develop future funding principles based on:

  • fairness and consistency
  • outcomes (measurable achievements)
  • long term sustainability

We now want as many people as possible across the county to take part in the consultation and give their views.

Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Carol Hart said: “We’ve already been out talking to infrastructure organisations to find out what they need from us to carry out their work in a sustainable way. Based on their feedback, we’ve come up with some ideas and we’d now like to hear from as many people as possible on what they think of our proposals.”

Derbyshire County Council give grants of more than £3 million a year to local voluntary and charity groups carrying out valuable work for Derbyshire residents. A proportion of the funding supports the infrastructure organisations – often local council for voluntary service (CVS) groups.

The new proposals could see grants given out over 4 years instead of one, distributed along borough and district boundary lines and key performance indicators introduced.

Councillor Hart added: “The way we fund organisations has developed organically over time which has led to a fragmented approach. By developing a new funding framework, the community and voluntary sector will have a better idea of what we expect from our funding.”

“The sector is also asking us to look at providing funding over the longer term to give it stability.”

“As an Enterprising Council one of our key priorities is to create empowered and self-sufficient local communities. Supporting the voluntary and community sector to grow and thrive is central to achieving this.”

A report on the outcome of the consultation is due back before Cabinet in the summer.

Click here to read more about the proposals and fill in the online questionnaire.

Action Grants

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home, Leisure, Visiting

‘A night at the museum’ to celebrate those who are improving lives in Derbyshire

The efforts and achievements of individuals and groups who are using physical activity to help improve the lives of people across Derby and Derbyshire will be recognised at the second ‘Towards an Active Derbyshire Awards’.

The event will showcase individuals who have used physical activity to achieve outstanding change in themselves, as well as some incredible tales of what others have done to transform the lives, health and wellbeing of members in their communities.

The awards celebrate some of the amazing work happening in our communities and Active Derbyshire, who organise the event, want the opportunity to thank the volunteers, groups and staff who help to make physical activity the norm.

There are 8 categories in this year’s awards including:

  • Project/Initiative/Innovation of the Year
  • Active Place
  • Change4Life
  • This Girl Can
  • Inclusive Project, Group or Club of the Year
  • Community Coach/Activator
  • Special Recognition
  • Community Group/Association/Team of the Year

So far there are 4 finalists from Chesterfield which have been shortlisted from hundreds of nominations. These finalists have demonstrated the great impact they’ve had on the community and will be in line to win the award for their category:

  • Hunloke Community Garden (Active Place award)
  • Hannah Kendall (This Girl Can)
  • Dave Cartawick, Unit 1 Martial Arts (Community Coach/Activator award)
  • Libby Hawkins (Special Recognition)

This year’s awards are going to be jointly presented by sports broadcaster Colin Hazelden and GEM Radio presenter Jo Russell, with 200 guests expected to attend.

Event sponsors for this year include: Action Nation, Strategic Leisure, University of Derby, Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council.

More information on the event and categories can be found here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Visiting

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