Made in Chesterfield

New scheme to boost digital skills of autistic individuals and women

A pioneering project to equip autistic individuals and women who want to get back into work with digital skills they need to find a job has been launched, funded by the Government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s Digital Innovation Fund.

The D2N2 Skills Academy offers a series of free, four-day training programmes to participants across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, running during June, July, September and October 2019.

A similar digital project – targeted at different audiences – will also shortly be available to individuals across the Sheffield City Region (SCR).

Led by Nottingham City Council, a range of local organisations are joining forces to deliver the programmes, including Autism East Midlands, the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), the University of Derby, Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham.

Its aim is to encourage under-represented groups across the D2N2 area to get the skills they need for a career in the digital sector.

It has been set up exclusively to help autistic individuals and women (aged 18 and over), particularly those returning to work after a period of absence, out of work or looking for another job.

Those taking part can choose from one of five different training themes, each aimed at helping them to become more digitally savvy to boost their career prospects.

Each subject area comprises four free training sessions, spread over a four-week period, designed to teach the skills required to become work-ready for a job in the digital sector. Each course set is delivered by experienced, industry-leading experts. Digital Graduate buddies, provided by the universities, will provide practical support, guidance and mentoring at each of the training sessions.

The subjects available are web development, digital marketing, data visualisation and cyber security, along with digital essentials, which covers basic digital skills including getting the most out of a range of devices, applications and the cloud.

At the end of each course, those attending will receive a certificate of attainment, along with a comprehensive workbook that can be used as a reference guide for the future.

The programme of support will continue for some attendees, with a selection chosen to complete work placements in local businesses where they can use their newly learned skills. And it is hoped that through the programme support and the engagement with the business community that a handful of attendees will secure long term work as a result.

Rachel Quinn, Skills lead at D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership said: “Digital Skills are becoming an essential part of our workforce with over 80% of advertised vacancies having a digital element.

“By working collaboratively with our partners and supporting people with barriers to work, to digitally upskill, we are benefiting both our economy and a more inclusive local economy.”

Mathew Orford, Director of Adult Services at Autism East Midlands, said: “It is fantastic that this project recognises that autistic individuals are underrepresented in the workforce and often possess the ability and potential to thrive in this sector.

“Many autistic individuals struggle in mainstream education settings and may, therefore, not achieve the qualifications required in order to secure employment in the digital sector, despite having the aptitude and desire to do so. Through this project we hope to play a part in helping these individuals build their confidence to fulfil their dreams and make an ongoing impact on society.”

Diane Beresford, Deputy Chief Executive at the Chamber, said: “The Chamber’s stated aim is to enhance East Midlands businesses and communities, so we are delighted to be involved with this cutting-edge project.

“The digital agenda is evolving all the time, so equipping autistic individuals and women who have been out of employment for a long time with the skills they need to forge a new career in this fast-growing sector is key.”

Further details about the D2N2 Digital Skills Academy can be found at www.emc-dnl.co.uk/digitalacademy.

social media and employment law

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Made in Chesterfield

Businesses encouraged to invest in Derbyshire

Derbyshire County Council have launched a new service to raise the profile of the county among the business community and encourage more companies to invest in the area.

It will:

  • raise the profile of Derbyshire globally to secure investment and create new jobs, acting as a shop window for why Derbyshire should be a destination of choice for investors
  • make it easy for investors to choose Derbyshire by providing a one-stop shop offering quality business support tailored to individual businesses’ needs ranging from help and support to choose the right site in Derbyshire to provide information on workforce skills and assisting with recruitment as well as offering guidance on financial incentives
  • use market intelligence to target businesses in growth sectors to attract them to Derbyshire

The service was launched on behalf of the Derbyshire Economic Partnership (DEP) at an event today on Friday 24 May 2019, attended by around 150 guests including investors, commercial property agents and local businesses.

Guest speakers at the event held at Holiday Inn, South Normanton, included Leader of Derbyshire County Council Councillor Barry Lewis – speaking about the commitment to unlocking growth and promoting investment – and Managing Director of Toyota Europe Tony Walker, talking about why Toyota invested in Derbyshire and continues to grow its business in the county.

Also in the spotlight was Sally Ambrose from Chatsworth, talking about the estate’s impact on the local economy and how, as a key Derbyshire landowner, it will drive future opportunities to promote development in Derbyshire. And delegates also heard from Peter Storey, Head of Markham Vale, explaining what lies ahead for the council’s premier enterprise zone and why it has been so successful at attracting inward investment to date.

Councillor Lewis said: “Driving economic growth and creating more job opportunities for local people is a vital part of our ambitious plans for the future.”

“Derbyshire has so much to offer investors at both a national and global level. Its unique position at the heart of the UK together with excellent transport links and quality of life make our county an attractive place for businesses to locate invest, live, work and stay.”

Chairman of the Derbyshire Enterprise Partnership Richard Horsley added: “With its rich heritage of innovation and a broad range of development opportunities, Derbyshire has one of the strongest economic performances in the country and I am proud to launch the new service today.”

“With a diverse economy ranging from advanced manufacturing through to creative and digital industries, minerals and aggregates and tourism there are many opportunities for businesses and investors alike to thrive.”

The Invest in Derbyshire service is being delivered on behalf of both DEP and Derbyshire County Council, by award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby – a public-private partnership created to raise the profile of Derby and Derbyshire and attract investment.

Click here to find out more about Invest in Derbyshire.

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

First ever intern for Pronto Paints

Pronto Industrial Paints Ltd are thrilled to announce this appointment of Mollie Brown as their Summer Intern for 2019. Working in our marketing, administration, laboratory and production departments to gain industry skills and experience. This is a new occasion for our company as we seek to support up and coming business individuals from our local community.

Mollie is currently a second-year undergraduate student studying towards a BA in Advertising and Marketing. This will provide Mollie an insight into what it is like to work for a small manufacturing company whilst acquiring beneficial skills and experience for her future career.
Speaking about her new summer role, Mollie said “I am very grateful and excited to be given the chance to work for a successful company from my hometown. I am very eager to learn and enhance my skills by working alongside talented professionals from the business industry.”

Commenting on the new appointment, Managing Director for Pronto, David Beckford, expressed “I’ve wanted to engage with Universities for a while now, and the Marketing Internship is the first step of a program to help find the next generation of talent. Having beaten over 100 applicants to the position, and impressing at interviews, I’m confident we’ve found the next star and look forward to working with Mollie this summer on various projects.

chesterfield champion Pronto

Posted in Apprentice Town, Business, Made in Chesterfield

‘Careers Hub’ announced for North Derbyshire

A national initiative to improve careers and educational support for young people, including in some of the UK’s most disadvantaged areas, will establish a ‘Careers Hub’ in North Derbyshire.

This will cover 21 schools in north-east Derbyshire (including ones in Chesterfield and Bolsover), following a successful bid by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and partners.

Around £80,000 in support will enable D2N2’s Careers Hub (led by the Shirebrook Academy) to bring together schools and colleges together with employers, universities, training providers and career professionals to improve job opportunities for young people, focusing on best practice. Support and funding, a ‘Hub Lead’ to coordinate activity and build networks, a central fund for employer engagement activities, and training for a ‘Careers Leader’ in each school are set to be available from September 2019.

This is one of 18 Hubs have been announced (and two existing ones expanded), backed by a further £2.5million in national investment, delivered via the Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC). The CEC, established in 2015, is a nationally funded body which helps link schools and colleges with employers, to increase employer engagement for young people. It works closely with England’s 38 Local Enterprise Partnerships, including the D2N2 LEP.

The Careers Hubs are based on a pilot scheme by the Gatsby Foundation (which is behind the Gatsby Benchmarks, an internationally recognised ‘checklist’ of what schools and colleges need to do to provide the best careers advice) and the North-East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), run from 2015 to 2017.

Claudia Harris, Chief Executive of the Government-backed Careers & Enterprise Company, said: “Careers education is improving across the country. The accelerated progress we’re seeing in the first wave of Careers Hubs shows that this model is working and delivering for young people, with schools and colleges in this first wave of Careers Hubs already outperforming the national average across all aspects of careers education.

“We are delighted that the Government’s investment is supporting us to roll out this model to a quarter of schools and colleges in the country, helping more young people get the vital support and opportunities they need.”

Carolyn Fairbairn, Director General of the CBI, said: “Employers understand just how important their role is in preparing the next generation for the world of work and their enthusiasm for supporting schools has never been greater. Connecting business and young people is a proven way of improving life chances.”

She added: “Firms can sometimes struggle to engage with the schools and colleges that need their support. It’s therefore hugely encouraging to see more Careers Hubs on the way. There is no doubt they will play a pivotal role in helping employers get more involved.”

Funding for the Careers Hubs initiative is being delivered via the CEC, with funding from the Department for Education.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Made in Chesterfield

Chesterfield business offering debt-free degrees to school leavers

Three Year 13 school leavers are being given the chance to gain a debt-free university degree by Chesterfield-based Blachford UK.

The company, which is part of the global Blachford Group, is looking to recruit its senior managers and board directors of the future through its graduate apprenticeship programme. As well as a providing a fully funded degree, the successful applicants will also be paid a salary throughout their apprenticeship.

Based in Holmewood, the UK arm of the company is a leading European manufacturer of acoustic and thermal insulation components.

As part of the company’s succession planning programme, it wants to attract school leavers who have recently completed their A Levels and who have a passion for maths and chemistry and who want to follow careers in design engineering, chemistry and process engineering.

Interested students should have a strong track record in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects.

Successful applicants will embark on a degree apprenticeship with Blachford UK.

To raise awareness of the degree apprenticeship opportunities, the company is holding a recruitment open day for people interested in applying for the positions. The open day will take place at the company’s premises on Thursday 27 June from 11.00am – 2.00pm.

The day will involve a tour of the company – both the factory floor and behind the scenes, where you will get to meet employees, ask questions and see for themselves the variety of permanent job roles available and routes for progression within Blachford. There will also be some activities on the day for students to display their problem solving, communication and maths skills.

Jason Lippitt, Managing Director of Blachford UK explained: “Manufacturing is an exciting industry and Blachford is no exception. I am a chemist myself and have had an amazing career with Blachford. I have travelled the world and been part of teams that have created ground-breaking products. I now want to give that opportunity to three young people.”

Launched by the government in 2015 and studied over the course of one to six years, degree apprenticeships are designed to propel students into the world of work and fill high-level skills gaps by tailoring learning to specific business needs.

A degree apprenticeship combines full-time paid work and part-time university study to offer candidates the opportunity to gain a full Bachelors or Masters degree while undertaking practical, on-the-job training. Degree apprenticeships are created by partnerships between employers and universities or colleges.

He added: “Apprenticeships are very important to the future of Blachford as they give us the opportunity to mould and develop individuals to the business helping it progress and grow. We invest in all our apprentices, so it’s important to us that they enjoy long careers with us. My hope is that the young people who join us as degree apprentices will ultimately lead and shape the direction of the company.”

Blachford UK have also agreed to take part in the Made in Chesterfield project which looks to promote opportunities in STEM careers across North Derbyshire.  The Initiative is coordinated by Destination Chesterfield and Derbyshire Education Business Partnership.

To attend the Blachford UK Degree Apprentice Recruitment Open Day, please register your interest on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/blachford-uk-degree-apprentice-recruitment-open-day-tickets-61787937384 or by emailing Joanne Kisgory at Joanne.Kisgory@blachforduk.com.

Find out more about apprenticeship opportunities in Chesterfield

Find out how your business or school can take part in Made in Chesterfield

Blachford

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Made in Chesterfield

Inspiration Rover Project Encouraging Children Into The World of STEM

Twelve young people from Derbyshire recently enjoyed a day at Leicester’s award-winning National Space Centre, celebrating their achievements as part of educational outreach project Inspiration Rover.

The project, which was led by mature student Henry Bennett from the University of Derby with support from fellow undergraduates, academics and alumni, saw the young people involved help develop a scale model of the Mars Science Laboratory Rover using a design from NASA Jet Propulsion Labs.

It was designed to help the participants build their confidence and engage them with practical engineering work. All the young people involved are currently supported by Derbyshire County Council’s Childrens Services and many of them have had challenges in, or even had to leave, mainstream education, making this engagement even more valuable.

The project was funded by the Institute of Engineering and Technology, and supported by the National Space Academy, IET TV, UK Space Agency, Catena Space Engineering and Derbyshire County Council.

Derbyshire County Council Children’s Services invited young people to apply to take part and selected 12 participants aged 11-14. They were each partnered with an engineering student, working one-on-one together across six weeks. Working intensively alongside engineers and University students, they learnt transferable engineering and employability skills, as well as building their confidence and working as a team.

Phase one of the project was carried out over six weeks and involved the young people in all areas. In weeks one and two, they came to the University’s Institution of Engineering and Technology to understand how to use computer-aided design software, along with the software required to 3D print components for the Mars Rover.

Weeks three and four involved an introduction to the basics and principles of electronics, which included the young people creating their own circuit boards. In the two final weeks of phase one, they worked with the University team to assemble the parts into the scale model.

To mark the participant’s hard work, a celebration day was hosted at the National Space Centre with support from the National Space Academy to thank and reward them for taking part. The young people (and engineers) had the day to explore the site and see the wonders of space.

The young people met Dr Suzie Imber, Co-Investigator on the Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer instrument on board the BepiColombo spacecraft currently heading to Mercury, and winner of the BBC programme ‘Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes’. After her presentation, the young people saw the completed Mars Rover replica for the first time.

“The project aimed to depict the whole journey into engineering, and to show that although a challenging subject, it can also be fun – which worked! After phase one, around half of the children wanted to be engineers,” said Henry Bennett, student lead of the project.

“It has been possible to do this project with support from the IET, which gave us the funding, the University of Derby, which gave us facilities and space in which to work, Derbyshire County Council for identifying and engaging the teaching staff and young people and the National Space Centre, which kindly hosted the celebration day.”

Yvonne Wright, Space Ambassador from Derbyshire County Council, said: “The next phase of the project will involve the young people attending Robot Day on 6 July and then delivering STEM activities to their local primary schools using the Inspiration Mars Rover to inspire a younger audience.

“They will use this opportunity to complete their Derbyshire Voluntary Passport and on completion, participants will receive a Level 1 NCFE Investors in Quality certificate, and an identification badge.”

Dr Kierann Shah, General Manager of the National Space Academy added: “I was really impressed by this project. It can be a real challenge for young people to see a pathway for themselves if they don’t fit the traditional route through school, so helping them to build their confidence and develop their skills is key. Engineering is a great context in which to do this.

“We were really pleased to be able to host the celebration event at the National Space Centre and to invite the young people to participate in one of our space science masterclasses, which they seemed to enjoy very much!”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Made in Chesterfield

Chesterfield Manufacturer’s Goods Selected for Famous London Retailer

Chesterfield business Ingmans is celebrating after a luxury briefcase which retails at £3,995 has been commissioned by Joseph Cheaney & Sons.

Their leather luggage brand “Cobb England” is manufactured in the heart of Chesterfield alongside their retail and cobbler business.

Andy Ingman said “To say we are proud to be commissioned by a 150 year old,  established English company, with such prestige as “Joseph Cheaney & Sons is an understatement of great magnitude.
Joseph Cheaney are one of the UK’s greatest quality, Goodyear welted shoe manufacturers. ”

“Great Britain ?? is  the cultivator of the shoe industry in the 18th century, and has held its own on a global front ever since. So for our company as small as it may be, shows craftsmanship, quality, consistency and tenacity has made us break through into our capital London. Not only that, Jermyn street which is famous for retail throughout the world.”

The business relocated to the former Burton’s Store in Chesterfield on Burlington Street in 2018.

Andy Ingman, added “We wanted to create a lovely place to shop with a unique experience where we can offer excellent customer service.  We have a beautiful stock of shoes, clothing & handmade leather goods and we have also created a wonderful workspace for shoe repairs.”

Ingmans have also been nominated as a finalist in the best new store category at the Chesterfield Retail Awards.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Summer, Visiting

Chesterfield Champion specially chosen to feature at Grand Designs Live

Grand Designs Live have contacted Chesterfield Champions GCL Products after discovering their X-Grid ground reinforcement product whilst searching for a recycled ‘hero product’ to use at the event. X-Grid will be used as the main feature of the entrance to the Gardens Hall section.

X-Grid is a permeable ground reinforcement grid, designed and manufactured from 100% recycled plastic waste. It is a weatherproof, rot-proof and UV stable product that will not break down over time. Weighing just over 5kg per square metre, X-Grid is very easy to handle and with its simple slot and peg connecting system a single person can lay up to 100m² per hour. The fast installation also helps save through reduced materials and labour time, which also leads to a reduction in costs. Click here to find out more.

Grand Designs Live is held twice a year, in London and in Birmingham. The aim of the event is to inspire, advise, launch new products and hold special exhibits across six project zones – Build, Gardens, Interior, Kitchens & Bathrooms, Technology and Design Arcade.

Throughout the event are stands and exhibits set up by companies and people who wish to share their ideas, services and products. The vendors will vary from architects, garden designers and food suppliers to tile suppliers, play equipment suppliers and security system installers. There will also be various experts on hand throughout the day to advise on a wide range of topics.

As X-Grid has been chosen to be a hero product by the Grand Designs Live team, GCL Products have been given the opportunity to offer free weekday tickets or weekend tickets at a reduced cost of £8 (instead of £15) to the London event on 4th-12th May. To avail of this offer, use the discount code “GCLGDL” on the website here.

Design image which shows how the Grand Designs Live team are planning to use X-Grid:

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

Apprenticeship training provider sees record increase in placements

Chesterfield’s apprenticeship training provider, Learning Unlimited, has seen a record increase in the number of apprenticeship applications this spring.

This month the apprenticeship specialist provider has been asked by regional and local employers to recruit on their behalf for more than 150 apprenticeship places – an increase of 40% on exactly the same time last year.

Learning Unlimited’s Operations Manager, Leah Shortt said: “At this time of year we normally begin to receive more enquiries from people potentially considering an apprenticeship as they prepare to finish school. This spring though we’ve also seen a rise in opportunities too as the employers we work with are planning to take on a new influx of apprentices over the summer.

“The figures show that the demand for apprenticeships keeps growing. More and more young people are interested in following that route rather than going on to university and more employers are also recognising the benefits of taking on an apprentice. They see it as a way of recruiting the new talent they need while shaping their workforce.”

The number of apprenticeships available has increased the most in business related roles. There is also demand for apprentices across other sectors ranging from engineering to IT and social media. Apprenticeship opportunities range from electricians, engineers, hairdressers, nursery assistants and social care assistants, to chef and automotive body technicians.

The team already has over 115 people booked in for registration and interview this month and will be holding an Advice Evening at Chesterfield College on Tuesday (16 April) between 5.30pm and 7.30pm for anyone interested in finding out more about apprenticeships. It will give potential apprentices the chance to talk about the opportunities available locally and regionally. It also gives people the chance to get advice about entry requirements and meet the team who will support them through their apprenticeship application.

Learning Unlimited will be joined at the Advice Evening by employer, Heathcotes Group; an organisation which works nationally to provide specialist residential care for adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs and challenging behaviours. During the evening  people will get the chance to talk face-to-face with the employer, who has recruited almost 600 apprentices over the past five years and is an Apprenticeship Ambassador for Chesterfield.

Learning Unlimited, which is part of the Chesterfield College group, currently provides apprenticeships and learning programmes to more than 3,000 apprentices nationally.

Chesterfield College open days

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Made in Chesterfield

IT lessons goes galactic for students from The Bolsover School

School IT lessons were brought to life by the world’s leading independent end-to-end IT services company for a group of students from The Bolsover School recently.

Eight Year 9 students from the school visited DXC Technology as part of the Made in Chesterfield campaign. The visit to the Chesterfield-based company was designed to show the students how they could apply their IT skills to real-life work.

As part of the visit, students learned about IT security, teamwork and coding in a real-life working environment. They even got to send a message to the International Space Station (ISS) through Mission Zero. With the support of DXC Technology, the students wrote a simple programme to display a message to the astronauts onboard, proving a big hit with the students.

Debbie Crossley, Career Information, Advice and Guidance Officer at The Bolsover School commented on the visit: “We were very fortunate in being able to take several of our Year 9 students to visit DXC Technology as part of the Made in Chesterfield campaign. The students were amazed by the type of work carried out by DXC and were fascinated by what they learnt.

“The visit offered so many learning outcomes for us around careers, apprenticeships, technology and much more. DXC Technology made us feel very welcome and the students were so pleased they went on the trip – we’ll definitely be planning another visit to this employer.”

Made in Chesterfield is aligned with the National Curriculum in order to help students and teachers access the unique leaning experiences that Made in Chesterfield will deliver throughout the year.

The campaign, which is co-ordinated by Destination Chesterfield and Derbyshire Education Business Partnership and sponsored by University of Derby, is designed to bring together businesses, schools and training providers to showcase the sector to future school leavers.

Since Made in Chesterfield was established, more than 2,500 young people from schools have spent time in the area’s manufacturing and engineering businesses. The visits to businesses operating within the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) sector are being organised by Derbyshire Education Business Partnership.

DXC Technology is one of a number of companies from Chesterfield’s STEM sector which are opening their doors to students from across the borough in an effort to raise awareness of job opportunities.
Nicola Mills, Global Account Delivery Executive at DXC Technology explained why she thought the visits are so important: “Being a STEM Ambassador is a truly rewarding role; it creates the opportunity to work with young people like the ones from The Bolsover School at our recent Made in Chesterfield event. Events like this enable them to explore the wider world of technology that is outside of their normal day to day reach and hopefully inspires them to consider careers that they hadn’t previously.”

“As a technology company, it is vital for us to support the development of talent, the world is evolving and we are moving to a truly digital age. We can’t meet these demands without the foundations of a digital workforce; our graduate and apprentice programmes help make that achievable. We are all looking forward to a follow-up with The Bolsover School and to see the results of their Hour of Code being played on the International Space Station in May.”

Alongside the educational activity, there is also a programme of business events including a manufacturing conference, manufacturing and engineering forum, business masterclasses and networking events taking place throughout the year as part of Made in Chesterfield.

In addition to Destination Chesterfield, Derbyshire Education Business Partnership, University of Derby, Made in Chesterfield is also supported by, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd, NatWest and Placing Futures.

To find out more about Made in Chesterfield or to arrange a school visit, please visit here.

DXC Visit- The Bolsover School

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

Nominate a rising star in Chesterfield’s retail sector

The search is on to find the rising stars of retail in Chesterfield.

The work of apprentice retail workers will once again be commended in the Chesterfield Retail Awards.

Retail managers and shop owners are being called on by the event organiser, Destination Chesterfield, to nominate promising young apprentices for the 2019 Apprentice of the Year award.

Last year the coveted award was won by Hair and Beauty Apprentice Chloe Hall from The Therapy Lounge in Hasland (below).

The take up of retail apprenticeships in Chesterfield is strong compared to the national picture. In 2017/18 there were 110 retail apprentice starts in Chesterfield.

And it’s not just apprentices who are being recognised at the prestigious awards. The search is also on to find the Apprentice Employer of the Year.

The apprentice categories are part of a 15-strong award line-up, the winners of which will be announced at a glittering black-tie awards ceremony being held at Casa Hotel on 19 June later this year.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “Apprentices play a vital role in the town’s food and drink sector and we’re delighted to be able to recognise the young talent we have here in Chesterfield, as well as the employers that are supporting them through their apprenticeships. However, we can’t recognise the town’s rising stars unless they are nominated. If you think there is an apprentice who deserves recognition for their hard work and determination to succeed, then please make sure you let us know.”

The Apprentice of the Year and Apprentice Employer of the Year categories are sponsored by Apprentice Town, (led by Chesterfield Borough Council) and Learning Unlimited (The Chesterfield College Group) respectively.

The introduction of the Apprentice and Apprentice Employer of the Year categories to the Retail Awards line up last year followed the announcement that Chesterfield had become the first town in the UK to declare itself an Apprentice Town.

The Apprentice Town initiative demonstrates Chesterfield’s commitment to growing the future careers of young people alongside business and the economy by retaining and developing young talent in the town, helping attract more employers to invest here.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader, said: “As the lead partner in the Apprentice Town initiative, Chesterfield Borough Council is committed to developing new talent through apprenticeships.”

“With more than 100 people taking up retail apprenticeships each year, the awards are an opportunity to reward and recognise the work and dedication put in by these apprentices – so I would encourage people to nominate their apprentice and apprentice employer of the year at the Chesterfield Retail Awards.”

In addition to Apprentice Town (led by Chesterfield Borough Council) and Learning Unlimited (The Chesterfield College Group), the 2019 Chesterfield Retail Awards are supported by Chesterfield Borough Council, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), eBusiness Works, In the Works PR, Jumble Creative Design, JP Fire Safety, Spire Radio, Temple Safety and University of Derby.

You can nominate an aspiring apprentice and\or apprentice employer in Chesterfield’s retail sector online at www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards. Nominations can be made until Monday 15 April 2019.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield