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BRM Solicitors advises on £83 million apartment development

Regional law firm BRM, which has a base in Chesterfield has advised on acquisition, pre-let, and development funding for an £83m apartment development in East London.

Reinforcing its position as one of the largest real estate teams in the region, this deal takes the total value of BRM’s Real Estate development deals over the last three years to over £300 million.

In this recent deal Head of Real Estate Adrian Sheehan and the specialist team of Sarah Rowland (Construction) and Chris Hey (Real Estate) advised R Blue Regen HQ Limited on a brownfield industrial site for apartment development. The firm’s support included site identification, through acquisition, pre-let, and development funding. BRM continue to advise in the £83 million development as construction commences.

Adrian Sheehan said: “This has been a fantastic project to work on, bringing this site from identification and acquisition, to pre-let, development funding and construction.

“I was ably supported by the BRM Real Estate and Construction teams in advising our client, settling all necessary documentation and our dealings with the Fund and Tenant in general.

“This forms one of the multiple sites that we have advised on for local and national developers that are in construction and others which are coming toward fruition.

“Having already completed a high number of deals in the previous 12 months, the team headed by Sheehan is predicting another strong year for the Real Estate team.

“We haven’t seen a drop in transactions, the market has remained confident, the firm’s regional and national client development portfolio has grown significantly in the past 3 years, and we are now acting on potential developments of increasing size and value”

The property team at BRM advises on all aspects of property management and transactions, including portfolio management, finance, and development with specialisms in hospitality, commercial and residential developments.

BRM Solicitors supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

BRM Solicitors Adrian Sheehan Chesterfield Champion

 

 

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , ,

Pomegranate Theatre set to close for multi-million-pound refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall

The Pomegranate Theatre is set to temporarily close its doors later this month in preparation for a multi-million-pound renovation project that will create an enhanced and improved customer experience.

The theatre will close on Sunday 26 June before planned refurbishment works start on Stephenson Memorial Hall.

A series of community led events have been arranged ahead of the temporary closure.  These performances include, An Afternoon of Song and Dance organised by the Chesterfield Theatre Friends on 19 June and local ladies choir, the Honey Belles, on Saturday 25 June. The Heights Ballet & Theatre School will present Peter Pan on Sunday 26 June before the curtains close ahead of the renovation project.

Ian Waller, Chesterfield Borough Council’s service director – leisure, culture and community wellbeing, said: “Stephenson Memorial Hall is a landmark in our town and our ambitious plans are set to make it even more memorable and enjoyable – creating a modern visitor experience in the heart of our town.

“Colleagues have been working to carefully move all of the treasured items from the Museum into secure storage. Now this is nearing completion, we are now in a position to close the Pomegranate Theatre and move many of our shows into the Winding Wheel while the transformation of the building is carried out.”

Residents and visitors to the borough will still be able to enjoy a trip to the theatre as lots of popular shows will be moving across to the Winding Wheel during the refurbishment, including the annual pantomime which you can purchase tickets for on the Chesterfield Theatres website: https://chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/

Under the plans the refurbished Stephenson Memorial Hall will bring together an extended Pomegranate Theatre, a reconfigured and modern museum, alongside new gallery space, a café bar, education and community facilities.

The work will also protect the Grade 2 listed building and ensure that it remains part of the borough’s heritage for many more generations to come.

Creating a more accessible experience is another key aim of the proposals. The plans include three new lifts which will enable visitors, staff and artists with mobility difficulties to access all parts of the building including the circle seating area and upper museum floors.

Also included in the plans are improvements to lighting, heating, and ventilation.

The project is projected to cost around £17.5 million with £11 million of funding being secured via the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

The project received a further funding boost with £695,000 from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme which will be used to install a ventilation system in the Pomegranate Theatre auditorium and create a new Changing Places toilet.

Chesterfield Borough Council has received almost £20 million through the Governments Levelling Up fund, the other £8 million will be used to support and enhance the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield Project.

Together this funding will help maintain Chesterfield as a vibrant market town by improving connections across the town centre and enhancing the visitor economy.

Find out more about the proposals for the Stephenson Memorial Hall on the Chesterfield Borough Council website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/business-and-economic-growth/regeneration-and-economic-growth/revitalising-the-heart-of-chesterfield/stephenson-memorial-hall-development

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , ,

Improved customer experience technology being introduced at Chesterfield leisure centres

Visitors to Queen’s Park Sports Centre and The Healthy Living Centre will start to see several changes that will improve their experience when using the centres.

From late-June this year, self-service kiosks will be installed in the reception areas making it quick and simple to book and pay for various activities.

A new online booking system will also be introduced which has several functions, to include, booking and cancelling activities, paying for activities, accessing activity programmes, and managing personal details.

Staff will on hand to guide customers through how to use the new facilities during their visit, but it is anticipated that the new equipment will reduce waiting times in the reception area and allow customers to enjoy their leisure time quicker.

Ian Waller, Service Director – Leisure, Culture and Community Wellbeing, said: “The new system will be easy to use, although staff will be available to assist those who need any help when they attend our centres.

“Customer service is very important to us, so the new kiosks and online functionality will improve our customers experience when arriving at the centres and / or booking exercise classes, swimming sessions or amending membership details.”

If customers have any questions or queries about the changes being put in place, Chesterfield Borough Council encourages them to speak to a member of the leisure centre team when they next visit, although there will be a series of information and communication updates as  the go live date for the new system approaches.

To find out more about the different places to visit and activities you could be getting up to in Chesterfield, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/places-to-visit/

Posted in Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , ,

Success for undergraduates completing placement at Mitchells Chartered Accountants

A pair of undergraduates are set to take up permanent roles at Chesterfield’s Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, following a successful placement year working with the firm.

Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers have long been an Apprenticeship Ambassador, helping to promote Chesterfield as an Apprentice Town and raising awareness of apprenticeships and their benefits to strengthen the workforce of the local economy.

Some years ago, Mitchells put in place various strategies to ensure the development of a staff pipeline. Bringing in talented and dedicated people through apprenticeships and yearlong undergraduate placements is a vital element to their sustainable model for the future.

From the moment their training begins, everyone is assigned a mentor who monitors and supports their professional and personal development. They offer a comprehensive, fully supervised, structured training programme which is supported and closely monitored by a leading firm of external tutors. Training consists of a combination of courses at the tutors’ offices, private study and regular tests, as well as on-the-job training. Paid study leave is granted and course and examination fees are paid.

Alongside this, they have the support of Mitchells’ partners and senior staff, all ready and willing to offer guidance and advice at every stage of their journey towards becoming a Chartered Accountant or Chartered Tax Adviser. The openness and friendly nature of all the staff makes it easy to speak up and ask for assistance whenever needed.

Melissa Grafton (pictured right) and Hannah Longton (pictured below) are undergraduates in Accounting and Finance. Melissa studying at University of Lincoln and Hannah studying at Sheffield Hallam University. They have both just completed their year’s placement at Mitchells.  This is what they had to say about their experience:

“Applying for a placement is a very daunting thought, after being in full time education for the past 20 years, the idea of writing up a CV and applying felt very overwhelming but this couldn’t have been put more at ease when we applied to Mitchells. The application process at Mitchells gave us both a great idea of what it would be like to work here with having an interview with both our line manager and a partner at the firm. This showed us how hands on our superiors are with new workers and what our work environment would be like.

“From the moment we started working at Mitchells we were given the space and jobs to help us develop as people both academically and personally. Some of the many personal skills we have developed include confidence, communication, and time management. Working in a corporate environment has greatly improved our time management skills as we have had to ensure we complete jobs on time in order of importance. We both believe our confidence and communication have developed hand in hand as Mitchells have always provided an environment to ask for help off colleagues and superiors to ensure that we are learning and developing on each job and never struggling.

“From spending the year at Mitchells, we can see exactly how transferrable the skills we have gained are to our final year at University. At University it can sometimes be hard to comprehend how theory is used in practise, but from working in different sectors and different clients. We have expanded our commercial awareness and our ability to retain and relate our knowledge. We have both felt our Excel skills have been greatly enhanced from being able to work on special and innovative projects within Mitchells.

“We have not only gained in skills and experience but have also gained an inclusive social work team. Every month our colleagues have made effort to include us and feel welcomed into the workspace by having monthly events such as escape rooms, and meals out. This has helped settle and ease our worries of joining the world of full-time employment. It has also helped us develop good working relationships.

“We couldn’t recommend completing a placement year at Mitchells enough, we have even had the lucky offer of being invited back. Which we have gladly accepted as we know that the Mitchells working environment will give us all the support as we study and work towards our ACA qualification to become a Chartered Accountant.”

Andrew McDaid, Partner at Mitchells said: “Throughout the year that both Melissa and Hannah have spent with us, they have consistently exceeded all expectations. The whole team at Mitchells wishes them all the best in the final year of their degrees and look forward to welcoming them back in 2023 as permanent colleagues.”

Dan Plumley, Principal Lecturer and Recruitment Lead for the department of Finance, Accounting and Business Systems at Sheffield Hallam University commented “Mitchells provide an excellent placement scheme for Sheffield Hallam Students and the fact that they then go on to secure full time work with Mitchells after they graduate is testament to the impression they make whilst on placement. This is exactly what placement years are all about for both the students and the employers as it gives them a chance of guaranteeing employment before they have even finished studying with us. We are delighted to work with Mitchells to offer students such great opportunities and experience and are always on the lookout for other local employers that would like to do the same.”

Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

Essential Site Skills retains place on government register of apprenticeship training providers

Chesterfield’s Essential Site Skills has successfully retained a place on the UK Government’s Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP).

Apprenticeships thrive in businesses with strong learning cultures; they provide a fantastic platform for developing employees, enabling organisations and businesses to grow a skilled workforce who can take on responsibility and act with greater independence.

Providing an equal opportunity for employees to participant in apprenticeship programmes will develop key management skills that they can apply directly into real work-related environments, projects, and tasks while they learn, increasing a manager’s ability to delegate work with confidence.

Essential Site Skills believes the future of businesses requires the responsibility to learn and the responsibility to teach. Apprenticeships, provide the principal building blocks for a culture of learning, they develop careers, keeping employees loyal and more engaged in their work.

Giving individuals the opportunity to combining a qualification with their job through a 12–18-month ‘work-study‘ programme, enables employees to grow professionally, earning while they learn. Consequently, organisations and businesses benefit from the valuable skills and knowledge that can be applied from the beginning of all ‘work-study ‘programmes. If you are an employer looking to up-skill your team, the business case for apprenticeships is a compelling one.

Leighton Arnold, Apprenticeship and Employer Engagement Manager at Essential Site Skills commented: “Apprenticeships are an exciting way to work and study at the same time. Learning new skills while earning a salary and getting a qualification at the end of it.

“For years, Essential Site Skills have been delivering apprenticeships, continues learning and professional development, training, and support into all kinds of industries UK wide.

“It has become ESS mission to secure a talent pipeline, via the correct training and education programmes that have been designed to inspire a workforce to choose and or reset their career path.”

Essential Site Skills already works with organisations and businesses nationally. For organisations and businesses looking to find apprenticeship courses for their workforce, Essential Site Skills are recognised as an approved provider by the ESFA.

For further information on apprenticeships courses with ESS, head over to the company’s website: https://essentialsiteskills.co.uk/apprenticeships

To find out more about apprenticeship opportunities across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/

Essential Site Skills supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

 

 

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Development, Home, Made in Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Double award win for University of Derby at Student Nursing Times Awards

The University of Derby has been recognised at the Student Nursing Times Awards 2022 – taking home accolades for ‘Best Student Experience’ and ‘Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs’.

Community Chesterfield, which is a partnership between the University of Derby and Derbyshire Voluntary Action, won the ‘Best Student Experience’ award, which recognises universities and providers of nurse and/or midwife education that put an emphasis on the overall student experience.This focus ensures students are supported in a learning community that is nurturing of the whole person as well as being conducive to encouraging excellence in learning and sharing best practice.

Faith Vargas, Lecturer in Pre-qualifying Health Care at the University of Derby, said: “Working with Community Chesterfield over the last few years has been such a rewarding part of my role. I have made many new connections that have led to positive experiences for students and the Community Chesterfield team is always eager to collaborate.

“Ultimately, the partnership with Derbyshire Voluntary Action has enabled us to widen our students’ knowledge and exposure to the voluntary sector, it has increased their learning potential and provided them with a unique insight into the role that the community has within the health sector.

“Winning this award is recognition of all the hard work that has gone into this partnership, and it will send a positive message about the University of Derby to future students and other educational institutions. It feels incredible to be a part of this work and I am so proud of the team who have contributed to making this happen.”

Jennifer Raschbauer, Community Chesterfield project manager, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won the ‘Best Student Experience’ award.

“Over the last three years we have created almost 4,000 meaningful connections between the University of Derby and local voluntary sector organisations, so it really recognises the hard work of everyone who has been involved in the Community Chesterfield project – colleagues in the voluntary sector and those at the University of Derby.”

The Student Nursing Times Awards brought together close to 500 talented student nurses, education providers and mentors at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

The University of Derby was shortlisted in multiple categories, taking home two of the top prizes on the night. The ‘Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs’ category was won by Derby’s Kayty Richards, who is a first-year BSc (Hons) Midwifery student and president of the University’s Midwifery Society ‘Midwifery Rocks’.

Community Chesterfield and University of Derby support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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

Display of thousands of remembrance flowers set to open at popular country house

Ashgate Hospice is inviting people to remember their loved ones by visiting a spectacular and poignant display featuring thousands of forget-me-not flowers at a North Derbyshire country house this month.

The hospice launched its new Forget-Me-Not Appeal, sponsored by Graysons Solicitors, in May as a special way for supporters to celebrate, mourn and remember loved ones.

Hundreds have donated to receive a flower in memory of someone special, each flower measures 45cm in length and is lovingly crafted by the British Ironwork Centre.  Anyone who would like to dedicate a flower to their loved one can do so by making a suggested donation of £25.

The striking pink flowers will form a display within the picturesque grounds of Grade I-listed Renishaw Hall and Gardens, near Eckington.

Supporters can visit the display for free from Wednesday 15th June to Sunday 19th June and between Wednesday 22nd June and Sunday 26th June.

Amongst those remembering someone special is Karen Esposito who has dedicated a flower  in memory of her dad, Tony Jackson, who was cared for by the hospice at the end of his life.

“Dad was a true force of nature. A man who stood for his community and his family, who didn’t understand the words ‘it’s not possible’.

“He met my mum, Elaine, at a party in the 60s, as teenagers. Dad thought she looked just like Audrey Hepburn, and mum said that he was the most handsome man she had ever seen.

“It was the beginning of a lifelong love; they celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary in September 2021, shortly before he died.”

Tony was diagnosed with a rare form of MND in November of 2020; Karen tells of the “special” care her family received on Ashgate’s Inpatient Unit.

She added: “The physiotherapists took him for walks around the grounds, which he loved. We received regular home visits from the specialist nurse and the consultant, and through this we felt respected, looked after, and listened to.

“I especially remember the much-needed humour in the face of a terrifying disease. Ashgate made Dad feel as comfortable as he possibly could be.

“He passed away at Ashgate in December 2021. We weren’t there with him when he passed away – I had gone home for a rest, expecting to see him again the next day – so it was such a comfort to speak to the two wonderful nurses who were holding his hands for us.

“The staff are special at Ashgate. They are skilled, compassionate, and open. I honestly do not know how we would have managed without them; we all have an increased respect for the work they do and the need for the specialised approach that is needed for people who are at very vulnerable stages of life.”

Once the display ends, supporters of the campaign can then collect their flower from Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield between Friday 1st July and Sunday 3rd July. Donors can also choose to have their flower posted to them.

Head of Fundraising at Ashgate Hospice, Jack Wood, said: “We’re so grateful to everyone who has supported our Forget-Me-Not Appeal so far, the donations will mean we can be there to provide vital care for families like Karen’s across North Derbyshire.

“We can’t wait to see all of the stunning flowers form the display at Renishaw Hall and Gardens later this month – last year’s display at Chatsworth was so beautiful and poignant and this one promises to be just as special.

“It’s not too late to dedicate a flower in memory of your loved one, just head over to our website to find out more about supporting the campaign.”

The suggested donation for a forget-me-not flower is £25 and the money raised will be used to fund the hospice’s round-the-clock specialist end –of life care.

To dedicate a flower, visit www.ashgatehospice.org.uk/forget-me-not or call the fundraising team on 01246 567250.

Ashgate Hospice supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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

Chesterfield businesses encouraged to find out more about recruiting the right talent

Businesses in North Derbyshire can learn how to improve their chances of recruiting the right people at an event next month.

Since 2019, D2N2 Recruiting Talent events have taken place across Derby City and Nottinghamshire, focusing on Inclusive Recruitment. Hundreds of businesses have attended the workshops and networking activities, with experts from a range of organisations helping them to recruit future talent by using more inclusive approaches.

An event is now being planned for North Derbyshire (Chesterfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire) taking place on 19th July 2022.

Recruiting Talent is bringing together local businesses and experts. Its partners include: D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, Department of Work and Pensions, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), County and Borough & District Councils, Building Better Opportunities Stakeholder Managers and Local Business Clubs in each district.

North Derbyshire Recruiting Talent Event

Taking place at Chesterfield College, The event will:

  • Help employers to understand the current landscape around employment and skills
  • Include a keynote address from a range of partners
  • Act as a catalyst to positive change around recruitment enabling employers to better prepare and adapt to meet their future recruitment needs
  • Showcase the benefits of inclusive recruitment, with case studies and input from employers who are reaping the benefits of increased productivity and growth
  • Show how you can change the way you recruit to encourage more local people to work for your business and the opportunity to tell us what support you need to make this happen
  • Help to change the way you work to retain your best talent
  • Highlight how your Local Enterprise Partnership (D2N2) and other partners can help your business to increase productivity

The event will be followed by a networking session providing the opportunity to meet local partners that can provide further support. If you are an employer in North Derbyshire, and want to attend the event to share good practice and find out more, click here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Development, Home, Made in Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , ,

Enterprising Women Awards 2022 finalists revealed as East Midlands Chamber’s network celebrates 25th anniversary

From rising stars to established leaders, the best of the region’s female business talent is recognised in a special edition of East Midlands Chamber’s Enterprising Women Awards this year.

Owner of Chesterfield based Rose Cottage Doggy Day Care, Dawn Brown was one of the finalists who were named across 11 categories  for the 2022 awards, organised in partnership with headline sponsor Futures Housing Group, at a summer barbecue held at Winstanley House, in Leicester.

Three new categories have been added to the bill for the annual gala dinner, which takes place at Leicester Tigers’ Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium on 30 September at to mark the 25th anniversary of the Enterprising Women network.

These include a Diversity Champion, Rising Star and Lifetime Achievement Award, the latter of which doesn’t have a shortlist and will instead be given as a surprise to an unsuspecting winner on the night.

Long-time categories such as Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Apprentice of the Year, Team of the Year and the headline award of Business Woman of the Year return alongside these.

A judging panel, comprising members of the Enterprising Women team, Chamber board of directors and category sponsors, will be held on 5 July for the finalists to get their chance to pitch before winners are decided.

Enterprising Women co-chair Jean Mountain said: “In a big year for the Enterprising Women network, we wanted to celebrate with an extra-special awards, and we firmly believe this shortlist delivers this.

“It features some truly inspiring women across a wide range of sectors and backgrounds, as well as across different parts of their career journey – from those just starting out in apprenticeship roles to highly successful business leaders representing everything that is great about our region.”

Fellow co-chair Eileen Perry MBE DL added: “We were overwhelmed to receive so many fantastic entries that selecting who goes through to the final was a massive challenge, and we can’t wait for the judging panel now to decide our 2022 winners.

“One of our favourite new additions this year is the Diversity Champion category, which opens the door for the first time to some incredible men who play a pivotal role in supporting our enterprising women, while we’re very excited about recognising a very special person with the Lifetime Achievement Award on the night.”

Enterprising Women Awards 2022 shortlist

Business Woman of the Year – Sponsored by Futures Housing Group

Olivia Pritchard – Bustler Market @ The Chocolate Factory

Samantha Bennett – Hear4u & Healthscreen

Emily Smith – Michael Smith Switchgear

Monica Huang – Morningside Pharmaceuticals

Laura Cook – The Learning Support Centre

Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Sponsored by Midlands Engine Investment Fund

Olivia Pritchard – Bustler Market @ The Chocolate Factory

Jaz Kaur – Fraser Stretton Property Group

Dawn Brown – Rose Cottage Doggy Day Care

Charlene Brand – The Wellness Brand

Sarah Withers – Withers Gin

 

Social Commitment Award – Sponsored by She Inspires Global

Gift Wellness

Michael Smith Switchgear

Morningside Pharmaceuticals

Treetops Hospice

TTK Confectionery

 

Small Business of the Year – Sponsored by Unique Window Systems

Access Training East Midlands

Cross Productions

EMA Training

Fraser Stretton Property Group

Noble Events

 

Female Employee of the Year – Sponsored by Smallman & Son

Victoria Philp – Everards Brewery

Katie Stephens – Noble Events

Lizzie Peate – Penny Price Aromatherapy

Karen Miles – trentbarton

Leah Binney – TTK Confectionery

 

Team of the Year – Sponsored by PPL PRS

Balls2 Marketing

Everards Brewery

Loates HR Consultancy

TTK Confectionery

TwentyTwenty – Love4Life

 

Outstanding Contribution to Work in STEM – Sponsored by Pick Everard

Bam Boom Cloud

ChangeXtra

De Montfort University

Lotus Maternity

PERFORMS Assessment

 

Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by EMA Training

Rebecca Houlston – Cross Productions

Polly Oakes – Express Recruitment

Lucy Bamford-Jones – Fidler & Pepper Lawyers

Esme Wade – MacMartin

Rubie Birks – Purpose Media

 

Rising Star Award – Sponsored by Amanda Daly, The Turnaround CEO

Lottie Hardy – EMA Training

Emma Baumback – Future Life Wealth Management

Grace Golden – Purpose Media

Jessica Barnett – Timms Solicitors

Santa York – TTK Confectionery

 

Diversity Champion – Sponsored by Breedon Consulting

Stephen Gould – Everards Brewery

Narinder Nijjar – Fraser Stretton Property Group

Maria Hanson – me&dee

Gill Heppell – PerCurra

Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan – Zinthiya Trust/She Inspires Global

 

Lifetime Achievement Award – Sponsored by Paradigm Wills

*Finalists not announced for this category – winner announced at the gala dinner on 30 September

Posted in Business, Home

Custom Solar joins Mitie Group

Mitie Group plc announces today that it has entered into a sale and purchase agreement (‘SPA’) to acquire the entire issued share capital of Custom Solar Ltd (‘Custom Solar’), a solar power solutions company specialising in the development, design, installation and maintenance of solar power systems for public and private sector clients.

Custom Solar’s design and installation expertise, combined with Mitie’s industry leading project management and mobile engineering offering, will support Mitie’s ambition to be a leading provider of end-to-end green energy solutions.

The transaction consideration comprises an initial payment of £8m, with deferred payments in aggregate of up to £4.4m by the end of FY25, linked to performance targets.  Custom Solar will be acquired cash free, debt free, with a normalised level of working capital.  The transaction is expected to complete on 30 June and will be funded through existing facilities.  For the 12 months ended 31 March 2022, Custom Solar generated revenues of £15m and profit before tax of £2m and had gross assets of £7m.  Custom Solar is expected to be accretive to earnings in the first 12 months of ownership.

With the demand for sustainable energy solutions set to increase significantly, UK solar power generation is targeted to reach 40GW in 2030, up from current levels of 14GW1.  Mitie’s strategy is to fill a gap in the market for truly integrated solar solutions, building on its expertise in upgrading the electrical infrastructure and providing grid connections to support the UK’s decarbonisation agenda.  This follows Mitie’s recent acquisition of Rock Power Connections which specialises in high voltage electricity grid connections, electrical infrastructure upgrades and EV charging installations.

Matthew Brailsford, Managing Director, stated:

“Today’s announcement is an incredibly exciting one not just for Mitie and Custom Solar but also for the whole of the UK regarding our decarbonisation plans. As we move towards net zero we need to see mass adoption of renewable energies and the combination of our expertise and industry knowledge paired with Mitie’s strength, drive and ambition will only go to make this goal more achievable in a shorter time frame.

On a personal note it’s a proud moment to see the company I founded and the team I so thoroughly enjoy working with, to be recognised as the industry leaders who can and will continue to pioneer the UK solar sector.”

Simon Venn, Managing Director, Technical Services, Mitie, said:

“The acquisition of Custom Solar continues Mitie’s strategy of investing in high growth, high return businesses within the energy and decarbonisation market to help our customers accelerate their path to Net Zero.

“Custom Solar’s expertise in large scale commercial solar deployments, combined with Mitie’s high voltage connection and project management expertise, will enable us to offer end-to-end renewable power generation at scale. With our client base including national brands, public sector organisations and critical infrastructure providers, this is yet another element of our support to help decarbonise Britain.”

Custom Solar supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in Business, Development, Home

Another independent retailer chooses Chesterfield to be their home

RD Models opened its new store on Whittington Moor in Chesterfield this May.

They are the latest of a number of independent retailers and hospitality businesses that have chosen to open or expand their business in Chesterfield.

RD Models specialises in high quality radio control cars, parts, spares and offer repairs on site.

The owner, Dave Hanson, has had a love of cars since he was a young boy and had good memories of working alongside his dad building kit cars, and this year he decided to open his first store on Sheffield Road.

Dave Hanson, Owner of RD Models said: ” We are proud to call Chesterfield home – our lovely town is growing and expanding and we are excited to be part of this regeneration.  The community of businesses and families on Sheffield Road has really welcomed RD Models and we are so grateful for all the support we have received.”

Since opening in May 2022, the store has received a wonderful response from people who are shopping local and is proud to be part of the independent scene in Chesterfield.

Dave added “There is such a diversity of wonderful shops on our doorstep and the Chesterfield community does an amazing job of supporting independent businesses like ours to keep the vibrant variety of shops available to us!   With the Chesterfield Football Stadium, Northern Gateway and the newly opened Glass Yard on our doorstep, RD Models is excited to be part of the revitalisation of Chesterfield.”

RD Models also partners with the British Radio Car Association and Bakewell RC Car Club by offering a trackside shop at local and regional races and also sponsors the Notts and Derby Off Road RC racetrack.

More information on the Chesterfield shop, local events, and the groups they partner with, can be found at www.rdmodels.co.uk

Find out more about other businesses that have recently opened or expanded in Chesterfield

Discover more about the regeneration of Chesterfield and the developments that are currently underway.

RD Models Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Development, Home, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, Summer, Visiting

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