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Chesterfield business using augmented reality to support homeless charity

Chesterfield-based technology company, Oasis Studio, are aiming to raise £1,000 for homeless charity Centrepoint, through their augmented ‘Mini Santa’ reality app.

Oasis created a festive, augmented reality animation to raise money and awareness for Centrepoint, a charity who give young homeless people a future. The animation plays from a smartphone or tablet, triggered from 3D pop-up card, which has been delivered to their clients and connections. However, a digital version is available for the general public to experience their Mini Santa animation.

According to Centrepoint, 103,000 young people asked for help with homelessness in 2018, and as digital media company Oasis Studio operate in both the education sector and property industry, they wanted to help change this.

Tom Swallow, Development Manager of The Bolsterstone Group and receiver of one of the Oasis Christmas cards, said: “The card produced by Oasis Studio demonstrates the innovative approach they take to all projects to produce a high quality product. The clever use of technology highlights how AR is becoming simpler to use and an increasingly important marketing tool with so many applications. The support for Centrepoint adds a great touch and is a very worthy charity!”

Augmented reality is a technology that places a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, usually accessed through a smartphone or tablet.

Oasis Studio always aim to do something spectacular for Christmas, and this year set the ambitious target of creating something that is digital, whilst also containing a tangible element, as well as telling a story.

Founder of Oasis Studio, Paul Deakin, explained: “We are a forward-thinking studio with large ambitions, and this translates into everything we do. We set our target high because of this, and I encourage everyone to try our app for themselves, and help us to raise our £1,000 target for a very worthy cause.”

The Mini Santa Christmas card was completely made in-house by Oasis, from the printing of the 3D pop-up card, to the laser cutting, to the augmented reality, to the animation.

Download the Mini Santa App here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Christmas, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield

Consultation on proposed rail changes for Chesterfield

The public consultation into East Midlands Railway December 2020 timetable is now open to passengers, businesses, stakeholders and local communities across the East Midlands route.  This includes proposed changes to and from Chesterfield.

December 2020 will see a significant change to EMR services, particularly those travelling to and from London St Pancras International.

Combined, these changes will provide:

  • Up to 30 minutes’ quicker journey times for some EMR Intercity services
  • Up to 13,000 additional standard class seats to and from London St Pancras every week day
  • Earlier morning and later evening services
  • Simpler and more consistent timetable with a more even spread of departure times
  • Improved services for London Luton and East Midlands Airports.

The changes proposed for Chesterfield are:

  • Peak time journey improvements into London of up to 30 minutes
  • Significantly earlier arrivals into London, with the earliest service due to arrive around one hour earlier.
  • Significantly later departures from Chesterfield to London St Pancras International with the final service departing an hour later.
  • Increasing the number of services from London St Pancras International which arrive into Chesterfield before 11.00.  There are currently five and this will increase to seven.
  • An additional evening departure from London St Pancras International to give two trains per hour throughout the evening peak.
  • Later evening departures from London St Pancras International to Chesterfield, with two services planned to run later than the current final departure.
  • Consistent departure times throughout the day, with particular improvement during the morning peak.
  • An overall daily increase in the number of services to/from London St Pancras International
  • Off peak journey times will remain similar to today with the quickest journey just over one hour 45 minutes.

There are further timetable improvements proposed which are a step towards a more substantial improvement for EMR Regional services in December 2021. A further consultation for these changes will take place towards the end of 2020.

The consultation document is split by line of route and includes a separate page for each station on the Midland Main Line. This is intended to help passengers and communities easily understand what the proposals will mean for them and their journeys.

Julian Edwards, Managing Director, East Midlands Railway, said: “Our proposals for the December 2020 timetable would deliver a step change in capacity, improve journey times and introduce a simpler and more consistent timetable.

“Although some of the changes, such as the introduction of electric services between London and Corby, are a requirement of our franchise there is still the opportunity to fine tune and improve our plans.

“We know how important a reliable and punctual railway is for the towns and cities we serve. December 2020 is a vitally important part of our promise to deliver more seats, more services and better journeys for our customers and we look forward to your feedback.”

The consultation runs until midnight on 14th February 2020. The consultation document and survey for responses are available online at www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/december2020

Chesterfield Railway Station at Night

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home

Corrugated Case Company invest in new equipment to increase productivity

Local manufacturer Corrugated Case Company have invested in new equipment which will allow them to offer a wider range of products, reduce lead time and improve overall quality.

Corrugated Case Company design, develop and manufacture innovative corrugated cardboard packaging solutions and have produced over 15 million boxes this year.

The brand new Topra GD Rotary Flexo Folder Inline Gluing machine is made up of a 2 x 2.8m printer, converter, gluer and palletiser and offers a high quality print, improved machine capacity, high quality finished boxes and an increased range of sizes.

Mark Wilcockson, M.D. of The Corrugated Case Company, said “We are very excited about the installation of our latest investment and the benefits it will bring to our operations here at CCC. It will enable us to broaden our customer base, particularly into the mail order and e-commerce sectors due to the enormous environmental benefits of using corrugated cardboard.”

From Monday 16th December, the process of installing the new machine will begin. Older machines will be removed and work on improvements will continue through until 7th January, when it will be fully installed and raring to go.

Corrugated Case Company hope by installing the equipment over the Christmas period, they will minimise any disruptions to customers during the installation, however their team will keep customers updated throughout the process.

Earlier this year, Corrugated Case Company expanded its distribution warehouse with a new 680-pallet, 13,000 ft space, helping the firm to meet increasing demand and be able to offer next day delivery. These improvements are in addition to the firm’s new easy-to navigate website and several new faces joining the team.

Click here to find out more about the Corrugated Case Company.

Click here to find out more about basing your company in Chesterfield. 

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

Show home opens in Van Dyk village

A festive-themed five-bedroom show home has just opened at Van Dyk Village.

More than 50 people attended an event to mark the launch of the Knightsbridge II show home, enjoying champagne and canapes as they explored the luxury five-bedroom property.

Van Dyk Village is a unique new community being created off the A619 between Chesterfield and Worksop, on the site of a former garden centre.

Jayne Swift, Sales and Marketing Director for Jones Homes, said: “It was great to welcome so many people to Van Dyk Village for the launch of our fabulous Knightsbridge II show home. It’s an extremely luxurious and well-designed property which showcases the very high specification of the homes we are building at this exclusive development. The comments we’ve received from visitors have been overwhelmingly positive.”

“With the festive season now upon us, our interior designers have decorated the show home for Christmas, giving it a warm and welcoming ambience. Our garden room has been decked out with a beautiful Christmas tree complete with presents underneath, creating the scene every family looks forward to waking up to on Christmas morning.”

“As for the development itself, Van Dyk Village seems to have really caught the imagination of the public. It’s an exciting project, years in the planning, which is creating a traditional village with a village green from scratch on this beautiful Derbyshire site.”

“We received more than 1,000 enquiries before the site had even launched. We think that might make it the most popular new housing development in Derbyshire. Given such a high level of interest, I would encourage people to visit Van Dyk Village today and see the show home in all its festive glory.”

The Knightsbridge II show home is a superb double-fronted detached family home with five bedrooms and a detached double garage.

The spacious ground floor has a 20ft living room, with bi-fold doors to the rear garden. There’s a generous separate dining room, while the large contemporary open-plan kitchen and family room lead to a luxury garden room, which also has bi-fold doors to the rear garden. There’s also a convenient utility room, a study and a downstairs cloakroom.

Van Dyk Village will be an intriguing mix of three, four and five-bedroom homes, all from Jones Homes’ very high specification Signature Collection.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development, Home

Grants awarded to kick-start new schemes in Derbyshire communities

Enterprising groups across Derbyshire are showing that a little can go a long way following their successful applications for an Action Grant from Derbyshire County Council.

In the latest round, 112 groups have been awarded grants totalling £53,195, at a maximum of £500. In many instances it has given the impetus to get things off the ground but for other groups, the money is helping to support existing activities. There is still money left in the pot for the remaining two rounds.Derbyshire County Council have now awarded Action Grants totalling £632,000 to 712 projects across Derbyshire in six rounds of the scheme since it launched in May 2018.Community groups, clubs, charities and parish councils are being encouraged to apply for the seventh round which is open now up to a deadline of 31 January 2020. Successful applicants so far have been able to show they promoted one or more of the Action Grant themes:

  • Youth activity: Including setting up youth clubs, organising activities for young people, projects to help young people gain new skills or schemes to help them deal with mental health issues
  • Community activity: Such as setting up new community groups, organising a local event or starting a community project
  • Physical activity and sport: Money for schemes to encourage residents of all ages to take part in physical activities, keep fit and stay healthy – or which encourage people to get active if they’re not already
  • Community safety: Grants for projects to reduce crime and the fear of crime including raising awareness about scams and rogue trading, schemes to tackle anti-social behaviour and initiatives to help residents keep themselves safe.

Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Culture and Tourism, Councillor Barry Lewis said: “There are lots of inspiring projects going on in Derbyshire communities and I am pleased that we are able to support many of these with our Action Grants.”

“A growing number of the applications have been for environmental schemes as residents become more conscious of helping to reduce the carbon footprint in their communities. These are very welcome as are applications across all four categories.”

“People of all ages are benefiting and I’d like to thank the staff and volunteers who put in so much time and effort to run these schemes.”

“If you’re involved with a community group, club or charity in Derbyshire an Action Grant could be just the helping hand you need. Think what your group could do with £500 and send us your applications.”

“The process is quick and simple and if you apply now for the January deadline we’ll aim to give you a decision within four weeks.”

The deadline for the current seventh round of Action Grant applications is 31 January 2020.

There will be one more round until the scheme ends on 31 May 2020. The May round will include a number of £5,000 and £10,000 grants in addition to the £500 ones. The larger grants are available for schemes which can be shown to offer long-term benefits for local people and promote two or more of the Action Grants themes.

Meanwhile, Derbyshire County Council cabinet members have asked officers to look at introducing a new grant scheme to support local communities to take action on climate change.

To find out more about Action Grants, including full details of deadlines and list of recipients so far and videos of some of the successful applicants, click here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home, Leisure

Leading asbestos authority welcomes two new apprentices to the team

Olivia Anderson and Alicia Higgins have joined UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) as apprentices.

Olivia (below right), from Chesterfield, is a former Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School student and is undertaking a Level 3 Digital Marketing apprenticeship with UKATA. In her work-based learning role she will be working in both the Brand Development department and Events & Marketing department, assisting in the management of UKATA’s social media channels and wider marketing activities.

Olivia explained: “I really enjoy creative thinking – coming up with a solution that’s a little more out of the box. I’m of a generation that has grown up with fast-growing technology and social media, so marketing is something that I’ve always been exposed to. It made perfect sense to combine these things and go for the apprentice position with UKATA.”

She added: “All of the staff have been lovely – I immediately felt comfortable with the team and my days are flying by. I’ve been made to feel so welcome and couldn’t really ask for more. I’m really excited to learn and grow with the organisation.”

Alicia (below left), also from Chesterfield, is a former Netherthorpe School student. She is undertaking a Level 2 Business Administration apprenticeship. Within her new role as a Membership Assistant at UKATA, Alicia will be supporting the membership department in liaising with and supporting UKATA’s members and associates nationwide.

Alicia commented: “UKATA’s objectives are so important and incredibly interesting, I’m really glad to have been able to secure a role with the organisation and embark on my goal to undertake a Business Admin apprenticeship. I love how much there is to learn at UKATA – I’m never bored!”

She added: “Everybody at UKATA is very friendly and professional and I’m really enjoying it. The professional environment is great to be in and the personal development involved with the apprenticeship is exactly what I’d hoped for.”

UKATA’s Chief Operating Officer Craig Evans (right) welcomed Olivia and Alicia to the UKATA team and their new roles, saying: “We are passionate about apprenticeships and using them to develop people. I started my career as an apprentice, so I understand first-hand the very real benefits they bring to both a business and to the people who choose to undertake them.

“Olivia and Alicia are a great fit for the UKATA team; we’re excited for their future with us.”

UKATA is one of a number of Apprentice Ambassador companies in Chesterfield that are committed to working together to promote apprenticeships in the town.

Click here to find out more about becoming an Apprenticeship Ambassador.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home

Heathcotes appoints Group Managing Director

Chesterfield care provider, Heathcotes Group, has appointed Brendan Kelly as Group Managing Director to provide nationwide strategic leadership.

Brendan was a Regional Director with a national charity prior to joining Heathcotes Group in 2009 as Regional Director for Heathcotes Northern. In his new role, Brendan will now oversee all regions with key responsibilities for the operational aspects of the organisation, including quality and compliance, learning and development and employee relations. Brendan has over 20 years’ experience in Health and Social care, primarily in adult mental health and learning disabilities, as well as a wealth of expertise in delivering, managing and developing services including crisis services, supported living and carer education.

David Harrison, CEO at Heathcotes Group, said: “It is fitting that, having reached his tenth anniversary with the company, Brendan is stepping up to this new role – he has been at the heart of Heathcotes’ success over the past decade. Brendan is someone who understands how the culture of an organisation is vital to the delivery of high quality care and he has led that culture at Heathcotes, making us one of the UK’s fastest-growing specialist care providers. We now employ over 2,200 staff as a trusted partner to over 50 local authorities and Clinical Commissioning Groups. I know that Heathcotes’ continued success will be driven by Brendan’s strategic vision and passion for the work we do.”

Brendan said: “I’m delighted to be appointed to this position, with some exciting times ahead for Heathcotes. The company’s ethos remains the same as it was when I joined ten years ago – a commitment to providing a better quality of life and greater opportunities for some of the most vulnerable people in society.”

He added: “We have achieved a great deal in recent years, including the development of a unique model of residential therapy for people with personality disorders, an award-winning apprenticeship programme which has become a benchmark for recruitment in the care sector and the successful introduction of a new independent supported living provision to complement our full-time residential care services. Heathcotes has the potential to achieve much more in the coming years and I’m looking forward to being part of that.”

At the Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference at Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa in February, Brendan spoke to delegates about the importance of embedding apprenticeship and skills initiatives into workforce development strategies to facilitate business growth. In March, Heathcotes Group joined the town’s Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, helping to increase local apprenticeship participation.

Heathcotes Group currently provides 72 specialist residential services supporting adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs, specialist children’s services, and a pioneering service model for people with personality disorders.

Click here to find out more about the Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference 2020. 

Click here to find out more about becoming an Apprenticeship Ambassador.

Heathcotes Group joined the town’s Apprenticeship Ambassador Network following the Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Employability & Skills conference, where Brendan Kelly was a key note speaker.

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

Go behind the scenes of Chatsworth at Christmas with a Channel Four TV Special

Billed as must-see TV, watch the hour long ‘Christmas at Chatsworth House’ airing on Channel Four on Thursday 12 December at 9pm.

Chatsworth welcomed the national broadcaster to come and spend several weeks filming behind the scenes at the Derbyshire stately home as it pulls out all the stops to put on its annual festive season enjoyed by more than 100,000 visitors each year.

Taking a look behind the scenes of the historic Derbyshire house that provided the iconic backdrop for Pride and Prejudice, Christmas At Chatsworth House follows this unique British institution as it prepares for its most important weeks of the year and gets ready to open its doors to its Christmas visitors.

In just five days housekeepers, designers, gardeners and foresters transform Chatsworth with traditional and nostalgic Christmas displays. The house alone is decorated with over 30 Christmas trees, 60,000 baubles and a million fairy lights.

This year’s theme, A Land Far, Far Away, is a global experience with the grand rooms of the house dressed in homage to countries that have influenced generations of the Cavendish family. The Chatsworth team has delved into the collection to find a treasure trove of memorabilia from around the world. Morocco, India, Netherlands, Italy, China, Japan, and America all feature in what is described as ‘one of the most ambitious Christmas seasons staged by Chatsworth’.

ITN Production’s Executive Producer, Will Smith, said: “Viewers will be amazed at the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to transform Chatsworth House at Christmas and make it such a magical and enchanting time for visitors. This one-off documentary will provide a compelling insight into the sheer scale of getting the house ready so that guests can participate in the festive fun and have a Christmas to remember.”

Chatsworth’s Head of Visitor Experience, Sally Ambrose, said: “Christmas at Chatsworth has become one of the biggest events of the year for the estate, so we were delighted to welcome a national broadcaster to come and have a peek behind the scenes and feature some of our wonderful staff who make this such a special experience for thousands of visitors each year.”

Chatsworth Christmas runs up until 5 January 2020. Tickets for House and Garden are priced at £25 per adult and £15 per child (aged between 3-16). Family tickets are also available.

Click here to find out more about Christmas at Chatsworth House.

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

55,000 sq ft industrial building now available at Markham Vale

The brand new 55,000 sq. ft. industrial building at Markham Vale, aptly named MV55,  is now available for immediate occupation.

MV55 provides a gross internal warehouse area of 52,500 sq. ft. with a further 2,500 sq. ft. office accommodation at 1st floor level with an option to expand below. With a 10 metre internal height, a 40 metre yard depth, 2 dock level loading doors and 4 level access loading doors, the building provides excellent opportunities for a range of industrial and logistics uses.

Markham Vale is a 200-acre business park with direct access to the M1 motorway via a dedicated junction, J29a. This prime development site offers build-to-suit units from 2,500 up to 300,000 sq. ft. for industrial, warehouse, hotel, office or retail builds.

It has also been announced that HGV repair and maintenance company Transcare 28 Ltd are the latest business to select Markham Vale as a place to meet their growing business needs.

2018 saw 1,600 jobs maintained at the development, along with 164,500 sq. ft. secured of new commercial space for three global businesses; Protec International, Sterigenics and Grangers International.

For a copy of the MV55 brochure or to find out more about relocating to Markham Vale, please click here.

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

HGV repair and maintenance specialist moves to Markham Vale

Transcare 28 Ltd are the latest company to select Markham Vale as a place to meet their growing business needs.

The company provide HGV repair and maintenance solutions throughout the Midlands and into South Yorkshire. They offer a full range of onsite and workshop based maintenance services for all commercial vehicle operators. This includes trucks, trailers, light commercial vehicles and PSVs.

As well as a comprehensive range of routine maintenance, inspection and repair services, the company also provide specialist diagnostics, HGV, Trailer and PSV MOTs and tachograph calibration installation and repair.

Managing Director, Darren Parkin says “We’re very excited at being part of the Markham Vale community and look forward to the completion of our new depot.”

The new Markham Vale depot will bring their services closer to a growing list of customers based in the area and will boast a large workshop with drive-through bays, MOT test lane, tachograph calibration equipment and vehicle wash facilities.

Click here to find out more about Markham Vale.

Markham Vale

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home

Pioneering Empty Property Scheme extended for North Derbsyhire

A pioneering scheme set to bring dozens of empty homes across North East Derbyshire back into use, has been extended.

In January 2019, North East Derbyshire District Council became the first council in the country to take part in the Empty Property Scheme in partnership with energy company E.ON. The council was approached by E.ON, due to their commitment in tackling empty properties.

Originally set to pilot for one year, the scheme has now been extended for a further 12 months, due its success in reducing the number of empty properties in the District.

Cllr Richard Welton, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “The scheme is an excellent example of how the public and private sector can work together, at a time when it is vital for local authorities to maximise their income, to continue to provide essential public services.”

“NEDDC is taking the lead in developing innovative solutions to empty properties which are a blight on the local community. These homes also provide much needed housing for our residents.”

Since the scheme launched, 25 long term empty properties have been – or are in the process of – being brought back into use.

There are approximately 400 empty properties in the District at any one time and at a time where there is a shortage of housing, the Council is keen to help owners bring them back into use.

Nigel Dewbery, Director of Energy Efficiency at E.ON, said: “We’re really pleased to have extended the scheme for another twelve months and to be able to continue to work together with North East Derbyshire District Council to tackle the problem of empty properties.”

Services offered as part of the scheme include:

  • Free one-to-one support and advice.
  • A free property survey carried out by a professional from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
  • Property cleaning and clearance.
  • Probate services.
  • Free EPC (Energy Performance Certificate).
  • Flexible payment terms with no interest or charges.
  • Fully project managed renovation.
  • Discounted estate and letting agent rates.

The initiative has received widespread praise from a number of organisations, including other local authorities and the Empty Homes Network, who invited the Council and E.ON to talk at their National Empty Property Conference about the scheme.

If you own an empty property and would like to see if you are eligible to benefit from the scheme, please contact Thomas Evans on 01246 231111 or email Thomas.evans@ne-derbyshire.gov.uk.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Home