Made in Chesterfield

Derbyshire students prepare to receive their A level and GCSE results

Thousands of students across Derbyshire are preparing to receive their A level and GCSE results.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

The ‘Energy for Business’ grant fund re-opens for applications

Local SME businesses can apply for 40% of project costs from the ‘Energy for Business’ grant fund, an EU funded project delivered by the Energy Innovation and Collaboration team at the University of Nottingham.

Funding can assist projects such as implementing sustainable energy technologies, improving energy efficiency within the business or reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Only business located within in Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire are eligible for the funding. Please see additional eligibility information below:

  • The minimum cost of the project must be no less than £2,500
  • The maximum cost of the project must be no more than £20,000
  • It is a capital funds grant that is 40% match funded
  • The monies are awarded once the work/purchase is completed
  • Recipients will be chosen by an independent panel and their decision will be deemed to be final.

To find out more, or to apply for funding, enquiries can be made by emailing energy@nottingham.ac.uk.

The closing date for applications for the current round is Friday 28th August 2020.

To find out more about the University of Nottingham’s Energy Innovation and Collaboration team and how it supports businesses, click here.

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

Chesterfield Borough Council adopts ambitious plan to rebuild economy

Chesterfield Borough Council has adopted an ambitious plan to support and rebuild Chesterfield’s economy in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Chesterfield Economic Recovery Plan, which was approved by the council’s Cabinet on Tuesday 14 July, outlines what the council, with the backing of other partner agencies, will do to support the town’s businesses to bounce back and help restore business and consumer confidence.

The Plan sets outs a comprehensive set of fully funded measures that include delivering a new business start-up support programme, which will encourage entrepreneurs and workers who may have lost their jobs due to covid-19 to bring forward new business ideas. Funding and expert advice will be available as will a premises location service.

The council will also be launching a portfolio of skills delivery initiatives. The initiatives will focus on the skills and training needs of local people, particularly young people, to enhance their prospects of securing the jobs on offer. Chesterfield residents and businesses will be able to access a new virtual skills and careers information hub. Particular attention will also be paid to the establishment of initiatives to reskill and upskill the current workforce.

Innovative promotional campaigns are already being rolled out with Destination Chesterfield to encourage people to shop local and support town centre retailers and market traders. The Plan also includes a series of initiatives aimed at raising the profile of Chesterfield as a visitor destination and hub.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Rebuilding the local economy following the easing of lockdown restrictions is a top priority for Chesterfield Borough Council and we have already implemented a number of financial and promotional measures to help our businesses through these challenging times.

“We understand this will be a worrying time for business owners of all sizes and it is important that the council and its partners continue to do all we can to ensure that local businesses receive all the help they need in these most challenging of times.

“Whilst there remains a high level of uncertainty about what the future holds, the Chesterfield Economic Recovery Plan provides a comprehensive roadmap for ensuring that Chesterfield continues to be a thriving borough.”

The council has to date paid out £25.7 million in small business grants to 2,202 Chesterfield businesses, administered business rates relief to a value of £18 million to 661 businesses and shared a further £1.05 million with 120 businesses via the Local Discretionary Grants Fund scheme.

The council has also provided expert advice and support to over 300 local businesses since mid-March and as a landlord to over 400 commercial tenants, amended rental terms including rent free periods for some and rent deferral arrangements for others.

The work done with retailers, market traders and licensees to safely and successfully re-open Chesterfield town centre has seen thousands of people return to the high street since 1 June.

The council has also not shirked from continuing to progress its ambitious £1 billion growth programme that when complete will deliver thousands of new jobs to the town and borough both during the construction phases and once works are complete. This includes the Northern Gateway Scheme where construction of the new Enterprise Centre on Holywell Cross (Donut) started on site during the lockdown period. Plans are also well advanced in progressing improvements to the public realm on Elder Way and taking forward the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project which will see a number of enhancements made to Chesterfield’s famous market grounds.

As part of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Hub, Chesterfield businesses can access an experienced business advisor and the council’s Economic Development team is always on hand to talk through and help develop solutions for businesses facing challenges large and small. You can contact the team by e-mail at economicdevelopment@chesterfield.gov.uk.

More information on the support that is available to businesses can be found at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/your-council/coronavirus-information-hub/businesses-information

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield

Chesterfield manufacturer to increase workforce by 20%

A booming post-lockdown order book has prompted a Chesterfield manufacturer to create new full-time jobs, significantly increasing its workforce by more than 20 per cent.

Blachford UK, based in Holmewood, is looking for 20 people to fulfil a number of jobs and add to its growing work force. The available roles include multi-skilled maintenance engineers, apprentices, FLT Drivers and production operatives. All roles are available to start immediately and, following a 12-week probation period, will become permanent.

The pandemic left the business fearing for its future after it was forced to furlough all staff and shut the factory down for four weeks. After implementing social distancing measures and being given the green light by the Government to re-open, Blachford has since been met with unexpected demand for its acoustic insulation products which it produces for industrial vehicles.

Jason Lippitt, Managing Director, explained: “It’s a complete turnaround situation and a very enviable position to be in considering the current economic climate. Like many manufacturers, lockdown came as a real blow to us and created uncertainty in the business. However, since re-opening the factory, orders from our European and British customers have flooded in, securing the future of Blachford and creating brand new jobs. It’s a great sign for the local economy and manufacturing as a whole.”

Jason added: “All these new roles are part of the company’s growing future. It’s vital to me that all employees progress successfully in their career with Blachford and, more importantly, enjoy being part of a fantastic team.”

People interested in applying for the roles or who like further information, should email recruitment@blachforduk.com

Click here to find out more about locating your business in Chesterfield

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

Water management system produced by Chesterfield manufacturer chosen for United Arab Emirates ship

A water management system produced by Chesterfield-based company Cathelco has been chosen for a cable-laying vessel based in the United Arab Emirates.

The Evac Evolution ballast water management system (BWMS) system will be installed on Cable Ship Etisalat, which is operated by E-Marine PJSC, a leading specialists in telecommunications submarine cable installation, repair and maintenance who have headquarters in Dubai.

The Evac Evolution system is produced and developed by Cathelco, who have been part of the Evac Group since 2018.

Stevenson Varghese, Managing Director of Cathelco Middle East, who won the contract, said: “When E-Marine contacted us, they said it was essential that the system was delivered to Dubai within four weeks so that it could be installed when the vessel was in drydock”.

Technical proposals were submitted to the customer and approved within a matter of days, enabling the assembly of equipment and delivery to proceed at record speed.

Based on a combination of filtration and UV technology, the system gained IMO and U.S. Coast Guard Type Approval in 2019, opening the way to worldwide sales.

Carlo Soddu, Country Manager, who has supervised the contract: “Ours was the first BWMS to allow owners to make an informed decision about choosing a suitable system for the areas where the vessel is sailing”.

The system is being supplied in modular form, enabling individual components to be distributed around the engine room to make best use of available space.

The Evac Evolution also incorporates a unique feedback ‘loop’. It automatically adjusts to different seawater qualities in harbours and estuaries and the system is effective in fresh, brackish and seawater.

The system is also completely chemical-free. This means that the potential hazards and safety implications of dealing with chemicals are completely eliminated, together with the cost of replenishment.

The Evac Evolution system has been fitted on vessels including cruise ships, container vessels, research ships, offshore supply vessels and cable laying craft where its small footprint and potential for flexible installation have proved to be important assets.

The Evac Evolution system is produced and developed by Chesterfield-based company Cathelco who have been part of the Evac Group since 2018.

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

D2N2 Careers Hub expands to cover additional Derbyshire schools and colleges

D2N2’s North Derbyshire Careers Hub is to expand to cover both High Peak and Derbyshire Dales.

Careers Hub schools and colleges have access to support and funding to help coordinate activity and build networks, a central fund to support employer engagement activities, and training for a ‘Careers Leader’ in each school and college.

The expansion into High Peak and the Derbyshire Dales is part of a new wave of Careers Hub expansion announced by the Department for Education and The Careers & Enterprise Company, extending coverage in local communities across England.

The expanded D2N2 Careers Hub will be made up of 32 local schools and colleges working together with local employers such as AECOM and United Cast Bar, universities, and training providers.

Across the country, more than 2,200 schools in communities will now be in a Careers Hub – nearly half of all state sector schools and colleges.

D2N2 Careers Hub Lead, Dan Heffernan, said: “In these challenging times, it’s more important than ever to ensure our young people are given high quality, relevant and timely careers provision.”

“The North Derbyshire Careers Hub will play a key role in supporting localised skills development and contribute towards the long-term success of our region’s economy, driving up aspiration and creating a pipeline of talent that our businesses will need to bounce back and to thrive.”

“I’m delighted that we will now be extending our reach to cover the whole of North Derbyshire, and I look forward to welcoming the new schools into our Careers Hub Community in the coming weeks. The progress that we have seen over the last 7 months has been substantial, and we are excited to build on that success over the next academic year.”

Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills, Gillian Keegan said: “We want young people across the country to receive the best careers advice so they can get a head start in the world of work and go on to have successful careers.”

John Yarham, Interim CEO of The Careers & Enterprise Company said: “Careers Hubs bring people together. They create a powerful partnership between schools, colleges, employers and local agencies focused on improving skills and opportunity for young people, tailored to local need – nationally led, locally developed and delivered.”

Over one hundred people attended the launch of the North Derbyshire Careers Hub on 14 January.

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

Free advertising for Chesterfield businesses

To help support local businesses that are re-opening, and to showcase Chesterfield as a great place to visit, Chesterfield Borough Council is offering retail, hospitality and leisure businesses the chance to take out free listings on the VisitChesterfield website until 31 March 2021.

Councillor Kate Sarvent said: “We know things have been tough for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses over the past few months. It is hoped this advertising opportunity will assist them with the process of reopening and provide a timely sales boost.”

Kate added: “VisitChesterfield aims to promote the town and its businesses to potential tourists as well as local residents, so this free advertising provides a great opportunity for these businesses to let customers, both old and new, know that they are back open for business.”

Independent businesses who are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity should visit www.visitchesterfield.info/advertising, complete the application form and send it to events.promo@chesterfield.gov.uk along with high resolution landscape images of their business.

Destination Chesterfield are also offering free listings to local businesses on their new Supporting Local website – www.chesterfield.co.uk/supportinglocal. It currently has details of nearly 100 shops, food and drink businesses, training, support and service providers in and around Chesterfield that have adapted to provide and supply their products and services remotely.

Many town centre businesses are positive about their future following the success of the Shop Local message which has been championed by Destination Chesterfield, Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Borough Council throughout lockdown.

Chesterfield Visitor Information Centre

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

Chesterfield’s independent retailers share their reopening experiences

Non-essential retailers in Chesterfield town centre returned to their shops and stores on Monday 15th June.

Supporting retailers and visitors, Chesterfield Borough Council has implemented social distancing measures throughout the town centre, market and Market Hall.

The implementation of safety measures mean that some retailers are now promising a ‘celebrity’ shopping experience for Chesterfield shoppers.

For shoppers who are still shielding however, the Supporting Local website created by Destination Chesterfield has details of around 100 shops, food and drink businesses, training, support and service providers in and around Chesterfield that have adapted to provide and supply their products and services remotely.

Below, owners of three independent retailers in Chesterfield share their experiences since re-opening to the public.

Laura Jo Owen, Owner of Adorn Jewellers in The Shambles, has been in contact with customers via social media throughout lockdown finding out how they wanted to shop once lockdown was lifted. They told her that they didn’t want to queue to get into the shop do an appointment-only system was introduced when the shop re-opened on 15 June.

Laura Jo said: “Because we are just a small shop, we put an appointment-only system into place to manage the social distancing guidelines, but we didn’t know how it was going to work out. However, it has gone really well. On the first day of opening we were fully booked and have been nicely booked up since which is very positive. We have hand sanitiser in the shop, which we are encouraging customers to use and we clean in between appointments.”

“It’s been a lovely week back at the shop. People are considerate, understanding and happy to be out. There’s still a spirit of ‘in this together’ which is encouraging to see.”

“I really hope this new-found momentum for high street shopping continues. Now, more than ever, people are voting with their feet for the shops and stores they want to see remain on the high street.”

Lisa Swift, Owner of Shop Indie in Vicar Lane Shopping Centre said: “We’re delighted to re-open. We’ve had a steady flow of customers in the store since re-opening. Lockdown has given people a new appreciation of going into a shop and being able to browse, particularly when they’re looking for a gift and don’t know what they want.”

“The shop has hand sanitiser throughout the store which customers are encouraged to use. We’ve also put stickers on the floor reminding people of social distancing and added a Perspex screen to the counter.”

“The feedback from customers has been great. We’ve spent lockdown finding new suppliers and products for the shop and we’ve had great feedback from customers. At the moment the shop is only open on Monday, Friday and Saturday as we’re having to combine operating the business with home schooling our young children. We’ll be increasing the opening hours of the business gradually. We’re very much looking forward to getting back to being open six days a week.”

Dorothy Robinson, Owner of Dotique on Chatsworth Road, re-opened on Monday 15 June. She said: “We are so excited to be open again,. It’s a relief to re-open our doors after so many weeks and welcome customers into the store. Some were nervous coming in for the first time but seeing the safety measures we have in place has given them confidence to return.”

“We’ve thought a lot about keeping our staff and customers safe. Only four customers are allowed in the shop at any one time and, once inside, we ask them to sanitise their hands from one of our sanitiser points. We have two-metre marking throughout the shop, free masks and gloves and Perspex screens on the till point. Customers are allowed to use the changing rooms to try on clothes but afterwards we fully clean the changing room and the clothes are steamed and put in isolation for three days – luckily we have a lot of clothes.”

“It’s early days and despite talk of reducing the two metre rule to one metre, we’ll keep two metres in place as we want to ensure everyone is safe when shopping with us.”

Many town centre businesses are positive about their future following the success of the Shop Local message which has been championed by Destination Chesterfield, the Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Borough Council throughout lockdown.

A report released yesterday (25 June) by East Midlands Chamber has revealed optimism among local businesses for a full recovery following the outbreak of Covid-19. Click here to read more.

Destination Chesterfield are always passionate about supporting local businesses and are keen to encourage people to continue to do so at the moment. In the latest blog by Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, read why Supporting Chesterfield retailers is vital for our local economy.

Click here to visit Destination Chesterfield’s Supporting Local website

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Summer, Visiting

Tourism businesses encouraged to apply for new industry standard mark

Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire has welcomed the announcement of a new UK-wide industry standard mark that will provide a ‘ring of confidence’ for tourism businesses as the sector works towards reopening on 4 July.

The ‘We’re Good To Go’ accreditation, introduced by VisitEngland in partnership with national tourist organisations, means businesses can demonstrate that they are adhering to Government and public health guidance and have the required processes in place.

The scheme is free to join and Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire is encouraging local businesses to apply as soon as possible to ensure they are COVID-secure and ready to welcome visitors.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire says: “We’re encouraging all local tourism businesses to apply for the ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard, which will play a vital role in ensuring visitors can enjoy a holiday in the Peak District and Derbyshire this summer and be confident they can do so with peace of mind.

Jo added: “We know that businesses are already working incredibly hard to prepare for reopening on 4 July, and this new industry standard provides a welcome boost of confidence for the sector and added reassurance for our visitors that we are putting all the right measures in place.”

To obtain the accreditation businesses must complete a self-assessment through an online platform, before receiving certification and the ‘We’re Good To Go’ mark for display in their premises and online.

Businesses must align with the Government’s official guidance for the sector including ‘Working Safely during COVID-19: Visitor Economy’, which outlines the processes and facilities that tourism businesses in England need to put in place before reopening.

The scheme has been developed in partnership with national tourist authorities with input from more than 40 industry bodies including Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire. For more information on the industry standard mark, click here.

Details of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s ‘welcome back’ campaign will be released shortly.

Please note: images were taken prior to the Coronavirus pandemic

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

Local businesses optimistic for recovery

A report released today (25 June) by East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) has revealed optimism among local businesses for a full recovery following the outbreak of Covid-19.

As part of the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey for Q2 2020, firms were asked a series of questions about how they view their post-coronavirus prospects, with one in five responding that they anticipated their business to return to 100% or more of its pre-lockdown activity levels by the end of the year. A further 45% said they would achieve this by the end of 2021.

To help them do so, 36% said they would actively look to invest in activity that would help to diversify their offer to access new markets, while 25% said they would invest further in staff training to improve efficiencies.

Chamber Chief Executive, Scott Knowles, said: “Although national figures published over the past few weeks have given a broad overview of what has happened to the economy in general, the findings of our survey provide the first real, tangible evidence of the impact that Covid-19 has had on businesses across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.”

“The speed at which the economy shut down because of the pandemic and the resulting lockdown was unprecedented. Whole swathes of the business community either ceased or dramatically reduced activity, with some yet to get back underway.”

“For most businesses, this period has been defined by uncertainty and a wait for much-needed clarity about how and when the economy may unlock and any further health implications this may have.”

“The key thing many businesses need right now is focused support to assist in the transition of their staff out of furlough and back into the workplace and to adapt their operations, to help them return to pre-lockdown levels of economic performance as quickly as possible.”

“Clearly, there’s a long way to go before the economy can fully recover, and there will be many hard stories at both an organisational and an individual level in the months ahead.

“However, regardless of the individual experiences of businesses over the past three months, many see opportunities to grow and succeed outside of this current period, perhaps taking a different approach to how they do this.”

“To help them in this, continuing to support businesses to innovate, diversify, enhance their resilience and think differently must become a central focus of the Government’s policy response as we come out of the pandemic.”

In its report, East Midlands Chamber highlights the full extent to which the Covid-19 crisis affected local firms in the second quarter of the year. Read the full report here.

Click here to find out more about the East Midlands Chamber

East Midlands Chamber are members of the Chesterfield Champions local business membership scheme. To find out more about the Chesterfield Champions, click here.

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

Chesterfield manufacturer designs bespoke parts for TransPennine Express

A Chesterfield manufacturer has supported TransPennine Express to install USB sockets across 320 of its 4 car trains, enabling customers to recharge devices onboard for the first time.

Working with a range of other companies as part of a major refurbishment project, The Sanitaryware Supplies Company was selected by TBM Rail to design and manufacture nearly 900 bespoke parts for the national rail company.  Products included steel electrical switch boxes for USB sockets and cable securing clips, in addition to purpose-made grab poles for the carriages.

Director of The Sanitaryware Supplies Company, Andy Dukelow said: “The partnership with TBM Rail has been exciting and it was a pleasure to work with the rail industry once again, following the bespoke washbasins we created for a refurbishment project Bombardier carried out on East Midlands Trains.

“We were chosen because of our ability to offer fabrications across various material types, including machined parts, in short lead times and to a high specification.  This in turn, has allowed TBM Rail to open up a new service for the part of their business, which looks after fleet refurbishments.

“Railway work is very much custom made and under severe time pressure.  The product must be able to stand up to very hard wear. We are delighted that we have been able to make rail journeys a better experience for travellers.”

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

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