Local magazines get national recognition

8th October 2014

Staff at Heron Publications are celebrating after being presented with a second successive accolade in the national Magazine Publishers’ Awards.

The company responsible for local titles including ‘Twist’, ‘Dronfield Eye’ and ‘Wings’ finished runner-up in the keenly contested ‘Best Magazine Editorial’ category. Director Mike Firth received the award at a glitzy presentation evening staged at the Heart of The Midlands Conference Centre, Warwickshire.

Hundreds of publications from dozens of companies featured at the annual conference and awards night and the ‘Best Magazine Editorial’ class was the most fiercely contested category. Ten magazines were on the shortlist.

A delighted Mike said: “We were thrilled to receive a similar accolade a year ago for the excellent quality of our front pages, but this particular category saw judges run the rule over the standard of editorial throughout our magazines.

“The number of entries overall had increased by more than 200% this year and the awards night featured many excellent publications belonging to magazine owners throughout Britain.

“There were even entries from magazines in Spain and Australia, so to be presented with the runner-up ‘Highly Commended’ trophy was indeed an achievement.”

Mike added: “Heron Publications – an original Chesterfield Champion – prides itself on offering readers a variety of interesting news and feature articles to enjoy each month, accompanied by the brightest local photographs.

“We are often told by readers and advertisers just how much they appreciate our magazine being around. We know people enjoy reading it, but it is very nice indeed to be honoured at such a prestigious national industry gathering.

“Although this particular award recognises our magazine’s editorial excellence, it is a reflection of the standards of our publications as a whole.”

Heron Publications is now into its 13th year and carefully distributes 51,000 free-of-charge magazines monthly in North Derbyshire and South Yorkshire.

Photograph: Mike Firth receiving the trophy at the Independent Magazine Publishers’ Awards.

Source:Heron Publications

Posted in Business, Made in Chesterfield

Electronics firm moves into 21st-century building thanks to grant funding

3rd October 2014

An expanding electronics company is enjoying life in a new premises – and has created new jobs – thanks to grant funding of a quarter of a million pounds from the Regional Growth Fund (RGF).

Kingfield Electronics, based in Chesterfield, has moved from two separate locations into a large new manufacturing facility that provides an increased range of manufacturing capabilities, and significantly improves its competitiveness within the global electronics manufacturing marketplace.

The £2.5m project was supported by a grant of £250,000 from the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which has been awarding RGF grants to business across the region.

The grant has enabled Kingfield Electronics to create 30 new jobs and safeguard a further 20 jobs which may otherwise have been under threat.

Kingfield Electronics’ new 45,000sq ft facility at Carrwood Road is in excess of twice the size of the previous premises, and the company says it provides “a far better platform on which to develop and win new customers.”

The project also includes further investment in new equipment, and the implementation of existing equipment that has been in storage due to a previous lack of space.

Kingfield Electronics started up in 1985 and manufactures products for companies operating in a number of high reliability, high technology areas including: aerospace, defence, process instrumentation, and oil/gas production.

It has grown steadily in recent years, though global competition has become tougher due to increased amounts of manufacturing moving out of the UK to countries offering cheaper labour rates.

Nick Taylor, Managing Director of Kingfield Electronics, said: “There is a constant requirement to offer ongoing performance improvements, cost reductions, and ever-quicker turnaround times.

“This latest investment has involved purchasing and refurbishing our new premises, as well as adding new production equipment, including an additional high-speed robotic assembly line.

“We are still a relatively small company, with no group company or external investors. However, we hope that this expansion – made possible with the grant from the RGF – will enable us to grow and compete more strongly in a global marketplace.”

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Leader and Executive Member for Regeneration said: “Chesterfield is on the up – each year we see new businesses relocating to the borough and existing businesses like Kingfield Electronics growing. In great part this is due to our own regeneration team providing expert support for Chesterfield businesses.

“It is great to see businesses growing thanks to the funding they have received from the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and as a board member I will continue to work with other members in the partnership to get the best deal for businesses and residents in the region.”

The grant funding has come from the LEP’s “Unlocking Business Investment” programme, which has seen £32m in central Government funding allocated to the Sheffield City Region.

Around £29m of that fund has already been allocated, while £3m is still available to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that plan to create sustainable, private sector employment in the Sheffield City Region.

Significant expenditure must have taken place by March next year and the balance of investment must be in place by March 2016.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the Sheffield City Region has secured a £320m “growth deal” from the Government, which will create more than 28,000 jobs and training for 40,000 people.

This is the fifth-largest sum to be secured of the 39 LEPs within the country.

For more information on Kingfield Electronics visit the website atwww.kingfield-electronics.co.uk

Information regarding Sheffield City Region’s “growth deal” will appear hereover the coming months.

Source:Sheffield City Region

Posted in Business, Development, Made in Chesterfield

First event announced for Made in Chesterfield Week

4th September 2014

Businesses are being invited to attend Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium this November for a free breakfast seminar on the future of manufacturing.

Hosted by Shorts Chartered Accountants, NatWest and Banner Jones Solicitors, the event takes place on Thursday 13th November from 8.00am and will bring together key speakers from the industry, including David Grey MBE, Group Managing Director of the OSL Group, a manufacturing group with branches throughout the UK.

A number of students interested in a career in the sector have also been invited to attend.

Places are free of charge, but space is limited and early booking is recommended. Email bookings@shorts.uk.com now for more information.

This seminar is the first to be promoted as part of Made in Chesterfield week; a series of events taking place between 10 – 14 November.

Coordinated by Destination Chesterfield, the festival is designed to raise the profile of Chesterfield and North Derbyshire’s thriving manufacturing sector and associated industries, and to make young people aware of the employment opportunities available, as well as the number of varied and exciting roles.

So far 10 Chesterfield companies have signed up to run activities for schools, including hosting factory tours for teachers and students, presenting in schools, and running masterclasses and competitions. Destination Chesterfield is currently working with Derbyshire Education Business Partnership to match up schools from the area with businesses.

The activities are designed to embrace the modern face of the town’s thriving manufacturing sector as well as looking at the manufacturing practices of a bygone age.

Two of the companies that have signed up, Magnifica Technologies Ltd and Kingfield Electronics, are hosting a competition for schools via the social media network Twitter. Using software built by bespoke technology specialists Magnifica, a Quadcopter (drone) will be controlled using data collected from Twitter at Kingfield Electronics’ new manufacturing facility on Sheepbridge Industrial Estate.

From the modern face of the sector to embracing Chesterfield’s manufacturing heritage, StraightCurves Crafts will be working with children to recreate Victorian clay tiles using traditional design methods as well as teaching weaving.

Local camping brand FieldCandy will also be challenging students to come up with unique artwork for a new designer tent.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, said: “Chesterfield has a thriving manufacturing sector which has survived for generations and is an important part of the town’s future. Made in Chesterfield Week is designed to showcase this sector and the companies and jobs within it to young people and show them that an exciting and worthwhile career is ready and waiting for them on their doorstep.

“Companies in the sector are telling us they have jobs and apprenticeships ready and waiting to be filled. This is an excellent opportunity for every school involved to make young people aware of a career that they may not have considered and for companies to potentially secure future talent for their organisation.”

There are still opportunities for Chesterfield businesses to get involved in Made in Chesterfield week – either to run a manufacturing seminar or workshop or to work with schools to promote the opportunities that are available in the town and celebrate everything that is made in Chesterfield.

If you’d like to take part please contact dom.stevens@chesterfield.co.uk for more information.

Source:Destination Chesterfield

Posted in Made in Chesterfield