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BMX pro Libby Hawkins supports Chesterfield’s Beat the Street game

Meet Libby Hawkins, the co-ordinator of the Beat the Street game that’s starting in Chesterfield this week.

Libby is well-known locally as the founder of the Tuff Riders BMX School and club manager and coach for Chesterfield BMX Racing Club based at Ringwood Park in Brimington, Chesterfield. She is a development pathway coach for Team GB and also runs coaching sessions for people of all ages and abilities from beginners to international standard.

As well as cycling, she enjoys rock-climbing, indoor bouldering and is the co-founder of a non-profit dance school. She was recently shortlisted for the BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero award plus was a finalist in the Special Recognition category at the recent Active Derbyshire awards for her commitment to encouraging the community to try BMXing.

Her latest role brings together her love of sport and community to the Beat the Street Chesterfield game which takes place from 26 February to 8 April.

Anyone from the Chesterfield area is welcome to take part in the free game which encourages people to ditch the car and to walk, cycle, scoot or run as far as possible. More than 120 beeping and flashing sensors called Beat Boxes will be placed on lampposts around the area for the duration of the game. Players join a team or choose to support one of the chosen charities: Age Concern Chesterfield and District; Community Transformation for Cosy Hub and Fairplay.

Libby is currently visiting schools, workplaces and community groups in Chesterfield to raise awareness of the game and to encourage as many people to take part as possible.

She said: “I love encouraging people into physical activity and to help remove any barriers that might be stopping them from taking part in sport. What I love about Beat the Street is that it helps people make healthy lifestyle changes like considering walking to school, or cycling to work, or perhaps getting outside at lunchtime.

“I’ve always believed that sport is a way of bringing communities together and to connect people and change their approach. When I heard about Beat the Street, I wanted to get involved as it reflects what I currently do, but on a mass scale.

“Beat the Street is so much more than just a six-week game – it leaves a sustainable legacy of signposting people into finding an activity that suits them. It’s about changing perspectives and helping them find an activity they might not have thought of or had the confidence to consider before.

“We’re delivering fobs to each school in the area, and anyone else who would like to play is welcome to pick up a free card and map from a distribution point listed on the Beat the Street Chesterfield website. There are great prizes of vouchers for books or sports equipment for the top scoring teams, and also an average points leaderboard so smaller teams have a chance of winning too, plus ‘lucky tap’ prizes that you could win just for taking part.”

Beat the Street is being delivered by Intelligent Health in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council and is funded by a National Lottery grant through Sport England and Chesterfield Health and Wellbeing Partnership.

Click here to find out more about Beat the Street Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Leisure

Tenth Celebrate Chesterfield Conference to update on Talgo Head Office and next decade of investment

Jon Veitch, Managing Director of Talgo UK Ltd, the Spanish train manufacturer that recently established its UK head office in Chesterfield, will reveal his company’s aspirations for the town at the annual Celebrate Chesterfield event.

Over 250 people are expected to attend the free event and exhibition, which is organised by Destination Chesterfield and is taking place on Wednesday 11 March at the Winding Wheel Theatre.

Mr Veitch (far right) is one of number of key speakers at the free event. He will also be joined by Elizabeth Fagan CBE – Chair of D2N2 LEP, Dr. Paula Holt – Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean at the University of Derby and Huw Bowen – Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council.

Sponsored by the University of Derby, Celebrate Chesterfield is one of the biggest and most hotly anticipated business events in the area.

The event is the tenth conference organised by Destination Chesterfield, the town’s inward investment marketing campaign, which is currently working with 180 local businesses, known as Chesterfield Champions, to raise the profile of the town.

Since the launch of Destination Chesterfield, the town has seen significant investment, with more than a billion pounds of investment currently underway. At the conference, delegates will hear updates on key development sites including Northern Gateway, Chesterfield Waterside, The Glass Yard and PEAK.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield commented: “Celebrate Chesterfield 2020 is particularly significant, not least it recognises the tenth anniversary of Destination Chesterfield, but it is an opportunity to look back over the last decade and see all that the town has achieved in terms of investment.”

“It is something we all should be proud of given the climate of political and economic uncertainty, which has surrounded the town since Destination Chesterfield was established in 2010. A positive mindset coupled with a collaborative approach across the public and private sector has led to substantial investment and development in the Chesterfield. We have created an excellent foundation for further growth and investment.”

In addition to establishing a Head Office, Talgo also has ambitions to develop an ‘Innovation Centre’, co-located with Barrow Hill Roundhouse. In addition to HS2, Talgo is central to Chesterfield’s ambition to become a hub for rail technology and development.

At the event Mr Bowen will update delegates on the Council’s plans for the train station following the announcement that Chesterfield will get an HS2 stop.

Paula Holt, Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Derby, added: “We are delighted to be working with Destination Chesterfield and supporting the Celebrate Chesterfield event again this year.”

“As Derbyshire’s only university, we look to use our academic expertise, research and innovation to foster talent and create impactful partnerships with businesses.”

“The Celebrate Chesterfield event provides a great opportunity for us to have valuable conversations that enable us to understand more about the challenges local businesses face. Our priority remains to understand and effectively service the needs of businesses and to create opportunities for individuals, employers and communities to develop and flourish.”

Bridge Help, Central Technology and Markham Vale – Derbyshire’s flagship regeneration scheme, are also supporting the breakfast event as associate sponsors.

Anthony Clitheroe, Director at HBD, development partner for the Markham Vale site commented: “The past 10 years at Markham Vale has seen a transformation of this site. Alongside our partnership with Derbyshire County Council, we are proud of the changes, both locally and further afield, this development has made to the region.

“The scheme has seen continued growth as several developments completed towards the end of last year. We’re now looking forward to other opportunities that will see us bring some fantastic new occupiers to the Markham Vale site.”

Ian Snow, Managing Director at Central Technology said: “Supporting Destination Chesterfield is of great importance to us here at Central Technology. This event has always been the perfect place to meet and work with like-minded organisations and helps put Chesterfield on the map as a great location to both work and live.”

“To continue to provide the best IT support and Disaster Recovery Service and Solutions across all sectors of business, we work hard to actively seek local talented people. We have a comprehensive internal training and development platform to ensure continual training and improvement is maintained throughout our teams. We also have an apprenticeship programme in place, which works to build our teams from the ground up. Training and development is of paramount importance at CT, It is crucial not only for our customers but also the team here that they are able to learn, develop and achieve qualifications to reach their potential. We look forward to supporting Destination Chesterfield in 2020 and beyond.”

Chris Sellars, Chief Executive of Bridge Help added: “We are delighted to support both Destination Chesterfield and the Celebrate Chesterfield event. Commercial developments can often take a significant amount of time to come to fruition and you can overlook the progress that has been made. this event is an excellent opportunity to both recap on what has been achieved over the last 10 years and learn about forthcoming developments and investment in the town.”

Tickets for the breakfast event, which is being held from 7:30am to 11:00am, and includes an exhibition with 30 businesses, are available to book now.

To book your ticket at the event or an exhibition stand, please click here.

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

#ChallengeDerbyshire initiative smashes through £1million mark in support of North Derbyshire hospices

The recent #ChallengeDerbyshire Charity Ball raised over £200,000 for three North Derbyshire hospices, bringing the total amount raised to over £1.1million.

#ChallengeDerbyshire, which first began in 2015, is a fundraising initiative, supported by local businesses, raising money for Ashgate Hospicecare, Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust and has managed to raise over £1million, thanks to a number of brilliant events and challenges.

David Hopkins, CEO of Markovitz, the driving force behind #ChallengeDerbyshire, said: “Thank you so much to everyone who has helped us reach this fantastic milestone so soon! I hoped we would hit the £1million on Saturday but to smash it raising well over £200k on the night taking us past £1.1million was amazing. Excellent end of life care should never be a ‘nice to have’ it should be an absolute right for everyone.

We must never take for granted the incredible work our three charities do for our patients and their families at the most difficult time in their lives. The support we have received from local businesses has been incredible, but the need doesn’t go away. Please keep giving as generously as you do and encourage others to join us in support of our three wonderful charities.”

The money raised so far by #ChallengeDerbyshire has made a significant difference to local people across North Derbyshire.

Barbara-Anne Walker, Chief Executive at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “Since #ChallengeDerbyshire first began in 2015, this amazing initiative has made a significant contribution to Ashgate Hospicecare and an undoubtable difference to the care that patients and their families across North Derbyshire have been able to receive.

“The hospice would simply be unable to run without the amazing support and kindness from initiatives like #ChallengeDerbyshire and all the people associated with it. To have raised over a £1 million for all three charities and make a difference to thousands of people across North Derbyshire is incredible.

“It means a huge amount to everyone here at the hospice to know this will help us ensure we’re her for the future. On behalf of all our patients, their families and everyone associated at the Hospice, thank you so much!”

If your business links would like to lend their support to #ChallengeDerbyshire, to help them continue making a difference to the lives of local people, please contact Jennifer McBain on 01298 72021 or events@challengederbyshire.org.uk.

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

Quarterly Economic Survey will establish direction of travel for region’s businesses

2019 was another year of political and economic uncertainty for businesses across the East Midlands and the UK, characterised largely by the ongoing negotiations to leave the EU – only resolved in the final month of the year – and the snap general election of the same month.

With the UK having now left the EU, and with a Government with a strong majority in place, are businesses preparing for more certainty and less turbulence moving forward, or are challenges and outstanding questions – not least what a UK/EU trade deal might look like – resulting in caution among businesses? Importantly, what are the region’s prospects like for 2020 in terms of job creation and growth?

The East Midlands Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) seeks to answer these questions, asking businesses to respond to a series of questions on different economic indicators, including sales, orders, investments, international activity, cashflow, recruitment plus many more; including a focus in this survey on the low carbon economy.

Responses to this crucial survey, and the feedback received, will be used to help shape regional and national decision making on how to best support the local business community.

The QES is part of the UK’s biggest business survey run through the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) network and polls around 10,000 businesses each quarter to monitor business trends.

Commenting on the survey launch, Chris Hobson, Director of Policy at the Chamber, said: “While for the most part 2019 generated more questions than answers, business across the East Midlands area remained relatively robust. However, in conversation with our members across the region there was definitely a sense of driving with the handbrake on, and for some the uncertainty of last year caused real problems.

“What the results of this survey will detail is how the region’s businesses have responded to the outcome of the General Election, the UK formally leaving the EU and the start of the transition period for us to agree trading arrangements leading up to the end of 2020.

“Whatever happens, there will be both challenges and opportunities – the Quarterly Economic Survey will give a sense of how businesses are responding to these as the year progresses, and a steer on the kind of support they need in order to succeed.”

The survey runs until 9 March. To take part, visit www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HSS8Y8D.

Click here to find out more about the East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire)

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

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, 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