Property and Construction

Chesterfield property and construction firms encouraged to enter regional awards

The nomination deadline (Thursday 31 August) is approaching quickly for East Midlands Business Link’s East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023.

Property and Construction firms in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire still have the opportunity to showcase their business, teams, outstanding developments and boost morale with an entry for the annual celebration of the industry.

Taking place on Thursday 28 September, the Bricks shine a light on the exceptional work of those shaping the landscape of our region, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the East Midlands – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools.

The glittering awards ceremony revealing winners, at the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, will also offer the ideal chance to establish new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region.

Entries for the awards are open until Thursday 31 August. To nominate your (or another) business/development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, go to: https://www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk/mag/bricks-2023/

The awards to be presented on the evening are as follows:

• Most active estate agent
• Commercial development of the year
• Responsible business of the year
• Residential development of the year
• Developer of the year
• Deal of the year
• Architects of the year
• Excellence in design
• Sustainable development of the year
• Contractor of the year
• Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, the winner will be selected from those nominated)

The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.

Tickets are also now available for the event, which allows delegates to connect with local decision-makers over canapés and complimentary drinks, while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. Find out more here.

Chesterfield boasts an active Property and Construction Group, which brings business leaders of the region’s property sector and Chesterfield Borough Council together to shape and drive forward collaboration, investment, sustainability and skills within Chesterfield.

The group works across four key themes, that are led by members of the group, specifically the skills agenda, business support, promoting investment in Chesterfield and sustainability and wellbeing.

Find out more about the group at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/propertygroup/

east midlands bricks awards

Image courtesy of East Midlands Business Link

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Peak Gateway appoints Stirling Prize winning architects

International, award-winning architects, Stanton Williams have been appointed to design The Gateway at PEAK, consented on 300 acres of reclaimed land located on the eastern boundary of the Peak District National Park, near Chesterfield.

The Gateway is intended to play an important role in cementing Chesterfield as a destination town as part of the Peak District experience and providing visitors and the local community with low impact ways to explore the National Park thanks to a zero-carbon travel hub.

Alongside Stanton Williams, a multi-skilled project team has been assembled, led by Milligan, a specialist destination and mixed-use real estate developer, who are working closely with regional strategic partners, including Chesterfield Borough Council, The University of Derby and the Peak District National Park Authority.

Peak Gateway Properties has briefed the team to define and design the Gateway build and operations around the principles of a ‘regenerative enterprise’, promoting the restoration and regeneration of natural resources and social systems.

The founders of Birchall Properties, the landowner, have already invested over 35 years in nature recovery and passive rewilding on the 300-acre Birchall Estate which had been the subject of extensive open-cast activities. By way of the Environment Act 2021 any development on the property must achieve a biodiversity Net Gain of at least 10% on its pre-development status.

The Gateway at PEAK will be an international standard tourist destination providing a basecamp and a gateway into the 550 square mile Peak District National Park.

Like a ski resort the PEAK Resort will be built around a carless mobility service, not in this case to mountains and skiing, but into the Peaks for biking and hiking, for nature, heritage, sport and culture. The commercial village will comprise of experiential retail, locally sourced dining and unique spaces for events, artisan craft and learning experiences.

Gateway @PEAK location

John Milligan, CEO of Peak Gateway Properties and Chairman of Milligan said: “It used to be that an iconic building was one that stood out from its surroundings. The Gateway will be iconic, but we’re setting a new standard for what that means. Here buildings will integrate with their surroundings and work to enhance biodiversity beyond what will be mandated.

“We want to attract a discerning visitor, who cares about the protection of the UK’s original National Park and wants to enjoy the wellbeing benefits that nature and being in the outdoors, for either leisure or sport, can provide. A wide range of experiential retail brands with a unique proposition centred on nature and the outdoors will help create the destination.

“The travel hub is central to the Gateway’s proposition, allowing visitors to transition into electric or hydrogen vehicles for onward exploration of the Park, its stunning landscapes and thousands of activities and attractions. This is a way to expand access to the park and support more destinations in a low impact way. Currently 85% of visitors travel into the Park by car which is not sustainable. Last year we ran the first trial for the travel hub alongside Toyota and other local partners. The technology operated on a 40% regenerative energy basis which is fantastic. The trial stakeholders and users endorsed the urgent requirement for this sort of service – when it’s up and running we hope it will be an exemplar for other hubs around the Park and for other National Parks in the UK to follow.”

Gavin Henderson, Principal Director at Stanton Williams, said: “We are delighted to be working with PEAK Gateway Properties to realise their ambitious vision for this exceptional site. The Gateway will be a unique destination designed as a cohesive group of buildings integrated into the landscape. The scheme embraces the principles of the circular economy and uses highly sustainable, durable materials including local stone and timber. As well as regenerating a former open-cast mine, it supports natural ecosystems through habitat protection and enhancement, while connecting people with nature and encouraging active and low-carbon travel to and within the Peak District.”

Rupert Carr, a founder shareholder in Birchall Properties, the landowner, and a director of PEAK Gateway Properties said; “The planning consents for PEAK Gateway Resort were implemented and safeguarded in 2016. We are very pleased to be moving forward again after surviving the challenges of Brexit and COVID.

“The realisation of Gateway fulfils our long-held ambition to showcase regenerative enterprise through land reclamation, a low carbon build and significant local employment creation.

“It is particularly pleasing to be a first mover in respect of offering tourists a zero carbon, carless mobility service to the attractions and landscapes of the UK’s first national park and to the medieval market town of Chesterfield.”

The Gateway’s zero carbon mobility service and its related infrastructure are critical to the delivery of this £300m investment programme into the visitor economy. The intention is to emulate the success of an international ski resort by providing hospitality and mobility from the outside of a national park. The Gateway, phase one of the PEAK Gateway Resort, represents a £150m capital investment and over 1,000 jobs, secured through a ‘green economy’ skills academy.

Section 73 and Reserved Matters Applications relating to the consented planning approvals will be submitted to Chesterfield Borough Council early Autumn.

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

The Gateway @PEAK Bird's Eye View

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New Chester’s drive-thru fish and chip shop opens at Markham Vale

A Chesterfield restaurant and takeaway, which has received rave reviews and awards for its fish and chips over the last decade has completed the opening of a 2nd branch.

Chester’s, which has been based on Sheffield Road since 2012, has now opened a new eatery at Markham Vale, just off Junction 29a of the M1 motorway.

The new branch boasts a drive-thru capability, meaning those passing through on the motorway and around the Chesterfield and Bolsover area can get their favourite dishes conveniently while on-the-go.

Owner, Chris Ioannides commented: “We are so proud and relieved that we have finally got the new branch open.

“It’s been a tough couple of years, from aspects like not being able to get energy to the property, or the extreme price increases we have had to endure since covid.

“We can finally stand from across the road and feel proud. You can expect to see nearly all your favourite dishes that are served from our Sheffield road branch, from our amazing fish to our homemade burger.”

Chris also spoke with fondness about being based in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, telling us he is pleased to have made his latest investment in the area: “We love Chesterfield, and since our first launch at the beginning of 2012, we now know most of our customers by name!”

“It’s not just a business for us, we want to be a part of the town and its people. Many of our customers are like family. We named our breakfast dish on our new menu after a close neighbour to our Sheffield road branch, who made us serve it on our menu, Alf’s breakfast!”

“Sadly he passed, but the memory will always be with us and he will always be part of the making of Chesters. We always try to support local suppliers and businesses on our journey.

Speaking to other would-be entrepreneurs in Chesterfield, Chris added: “Our advice is if you have a business plan, work hard at it, never give up, use local businesses when you can and don’t let little things get you down on the way.”

Find out why Chesterfield is the perfect place to get your business idea off the ground at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

Chesters Markham Vale

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HS2 Eastern Leg progress needed quickly after report outlines detailed process for rail improvements

A recent report has highlighted a detailed process for rail improvements in the north of the country, which will deliver better connections for our region.

The three-phase process will incrementally build on the proposals within the government’s Integrated Rail Plan published in November 2021 by offering much-improved inter-city and inter-regional connectivity.

The three phases are estimated to cost just over £8 billion to deliver and would represent a £7.4 billion saving on the forecasted cost of delivering the full eastern leg of HS2 as initially proposed.

The HS2 East group’s proposals are based on three phases:

  • Phase 1: Ahead of HS2 / Northern Powerhouse Rail: To be delivered immediately and into the mid 2030s, this has already been budgeted for in existing schemes so comes at no extra cost. It would include completion of full Midland Main Line electrification, some new/increased/re-introduced services, including a second hourly fast Sheffield-Leeds service on the existing line.  With the addition of the infill electrification from Sheffield to Moorthorpe (South Kirkby) to connect with the East Coast Mainline to Leeds.
  • Phase 2: Deliver the missing gap: To be delivered between the late 2030s to early 2040s, these improvements would cost £4.1 billion and would include the upgraded / new high speed rail line between Sheffield and Leeds along with a new ‘T’ shaped station in Leeds, including the delivery of the originally proposed HS2 route between Clayton junction and Leeds to allow HS2 trains to be extended from Sheffield to Leeds, and an upgraded East Coast Main Line between Doncaster and Leeds and up to Newcastle as per the IRP.
  • Phase 3: Further increments: To be from the late 2040s onwards and delivered at a cost of £4.1 billion, this would include upgrading and electrifying the Erewash Valley line, upgrading Nottingham-Newark, and reopening the Leamside Line to enable freight to be diverted off the East Coast Main Line.

Overall, the phases would deliver:

  • Faster journey times from Birmingham to Leeds and Birmingham to Sheffield, York and the North East.
  • Much improved connectivity between the West and East Midlands, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Leeds and the North East.
  • Clarity around safeguarded land. This includes the release of Chesterfield’s Staveley Depot site for development.
  • More flexible infrastructure to accommodate future services requirements.

East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “It’s great to see partners within the HS2 East group working collaboratively and proactively to demonstrate the value of creating better rail connections across the North and Midlands.

“HS2 East’s proposals will have an important economic and social impact – sparking regeneration in our towns and cities, connecting our communities to where future jobs are being created, and driving innovation in nationally-critical industries.

“From an East Midlands perspective, it is pleasing to see the report reiterate the importance of finally completing Midland Main Line electrification in full, giving us cleaner, faster and quieter trains that link better with the HS2 Eastern Leg.

“However, it is disappointing there is no suggestion of reinstating the high-speed link we were promised between the East Midlands and Leeds via Sheffield, but was significantly scaled back in the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP), as this affects regeneration and growth plans in places like Chesterfield and Staveley.

“We are keen to learn how this work will be progressed in future, while at the same time bringing forward the economic benefits of the IRP as soon as possible, so that businesses can implement the opportunities provided by improved infrastructure into future strategy planning.”

Commenting on the release today of the HS2 study to Leeds terms of reference, Midlands Connect’s CEO Maria Machancoses said: “We welcome the release of the much awaited terms of reference for the HS2 review up to Leeds.

“Midlands Connect remains unanimous on the enormous economic, social and environmental benefits associated with getting HS2 connections from the Midlands to the North.

“We will now seek to be actively involved in the next stages of development ensuring as part of the study, consideration is given to our proposals for improved services from the East Midlands to Leeds and beyond.”

 

hs2

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5 reasons why families are choosing to live in Chesterfield

Why are families choosing to live in Chesterfield? In May 2023, the town ranked 2nd best in the UK to raise a family – according to enjoytravel.com.

Meanwhile, local estate agency Redbrik reported a 200% rise in Google searches for houses in Chesterfield over the past year.

To find out why demand has shot up in such a short space of time, we have been speaking to experts and leaders in the town’s network of Chesterfield Champions and the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group.

Here are five reasons why Chesterfield is proving a desirable place for families to call their home:

1. Perfect location

Champions Event

 

Located in the heart of the UK, Chesterfield is set amongst the stunning backdrop of the Peak District National Park.

Despite the beautiful landscapes surrounding the town, Chesterfield is close to several major cities such as Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby and Leeds too. The town is easily accessible by all means of transport.

Well served by the Midland Main Line, Chesterfield is within an hour of four major airports. Additionally, London is under two hours by rail.

Speaking about the town’s ideal location, Ross Bateman, Associate Director at Redbrik said: “It is located just a short train ride away from Sheffield, Nottingham and other cities, and a short drive from the Peak District, which positions Chesterfield perfectly in the middle of all the action!”

Furthermore, a pioneering zero-carbon tourist transport network was recently trialed in Chesterfield and the Peak District. The trial was led by the Gateway at PEAK, alongside Toyota and Chesterfield Borough Council.

The PEAK Express will offer visitors access to a hop-on, hop-off service, linking our town to the Peak District. Find out more here.

2. Affordable properties

One of the reasons families are choosing to live in Chesterfield is the town’s affordability.

House prices in Chesterfield offer you more for your money per square foot than nearby towns. According to Rightmove, the average house price is at least £10,000 cheaper than nearby cities of Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham too.

Rental costs are also cheaper than major nearby cities. According to Richard Sherwood, Director at Roy Peters Estates, the local market remains competitive.

He said: “Rents are certainly rising in Chesterfield but perhaps not to the same unaffordable levels that we are seeing in some of the larger cities in the region. This is perhaps due to the ongoing development of attractive sites in and around the town.

“Chesterfield remains a forward-thinking market town. There always seems something going on to appeal to families and to individuals and it’s great to see people returning to the High Street.”

3. New houses contributing to the area’s regeneration

badger croft chesterfield

Several new housing sites are coming to life in Chesterfield, bringing quality and affordable homes to the town.

Chesterfield Borough Council’s Local Plan (2020) set out the town’s strategy to build 240 homes a year by 2035. So far, that target has been exceeded in each of the last three years.

New homes at Chesterfield Waterside are bringing people closer to our town centre. Meanwhile, projects to build thousands of homes in Staveley and Mastin Moor are set to transform the area.

Dave Wood, Director at Woodall Homes commented: “Chesterfield is a fantastic place to live, with so much going on in the town centre. It should come as no surprise that the area has become a hotspot for development.

“As a market town, Chesterfield has thriving retail spaces. The town is also host to fantastic events like the brand-new Peddler Market, so there is plenty for people living in the area to get involved with.

“We firmly believe that Chesterfield is a fantastic place to live and to raise a family. This is why we are currently working on three developments in the area; The Orchards at Clay Cross, Churchfields in Calow, and The Shrubberies in Chesterfield town centre.”

4. Great outdoor spaces

With our beautiful outdoor spaces and a fantastic leisure offer which encourages health and wellbeing, you’ll feel very welcome in Chesterfield.

People who live in Chesterfield enjoy being located close to the Peak District. They have access to several Green Flag award-winning parks, and scenic walking and cycling routes.

Ryan Fish, Associate Director at Whittam Cox Architects recently chose to move to the area. He commented: “With the Peak District on our doorstep, a quality affordable building stock and a vibrant emerging town centre, moving to Chesterfield was a no-brainer.

“Immediate access to leafy green walks and room for our family to grow was a very attractive proposition, particularly to our lively 3-year old dalmatian!

“The central connectivity of diverse spaces in the form of Queens Park and the canal all add to the allure and the inherent potential of Chesterfield.”

5. Perfect work/life balance for modern working patterns

Networking at Celebrate Chesterfield

People no longer need to be in a city to secure their dream job. This is due to more people and businesses opting for flexible working patterns.

A rise in home working during the pandemic showed that a hybrid approach can be beneficial, in terms of wellbeing for employees and costs for businesses. Now, Chesterfield is capitalising on its excellent transport links by providing high quality, sustainable and modern office accommodation.

The availability of this space is attracting more people to live in Chesterfield. This is thanks to the ideal commute to and from the workplace, and the excellent quality of life our town offers outside of work.

Jamie Wajs, Director at Lime Living Estate Agents commented: “I think that post-pandemic, many people are working from home or choosing a hybrid approach. People who have lived in the town previously, and moved away for education or work are now coming back.

“I think you can look at where Chesterfield sits now. We all know it’s well placed, has great communication links and offers a great work and play lifestyle, with the Peak District being on our doorstep.”

For more information about living and working in Chesterfield, head over to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/about-chesterfield/

This post has been produced thanks to contributions from Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Group. To find out more about the group, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/propertygroup/

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£18 million funding for our region as part of devolution plans

Millions of pounds in funding, made possible because of plans for devolution in the East Midlands, has been agreed and will be spent on improving housing, transport and the skills of local people.

In total, £18 million of funding is being offered to Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham as part of early investment to the area during devolution negotiations and is not dependent on devolution proposals going ahead.

The latest funding amount of £9.9 million has now been approved and will help councils to carry out retrofit work on homes to make them more energy efficient.

Councils across the two counties have been working with the government on devolution plans including a package of local powers and funding worth £1.14 billion, from 2024.

Other programmes which have already been approved, and are underway or completed, include:

  • £1.2 million for new gigabit broadband for Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham. It will mean that an extra 118 rural public sector schools and libraries will be connected to gigabit broadband. The scheme is expected to go live by March 2024.
  • £750,000 for a new cycling and walking route in Derbyshire – a 1¼ mile link connecting Markham Vale to the existing cycle route in Staveley.
  • £1.5 million for a new growth through green skills. The investment will enable the creation of a new £5.4 million flagship skills centre and low carbon demonstrator in the region, as well as 2 electric minibuses for getting students to and from the site, to support the growth of a future low carbon economy as we work towards net zero.

Funding hasn’t been the only benefit drawn in through devolution; with the East Midlands securing one of just 12 new Investment Zones being created across the UK.

The low tax Investment Zones are being introduced to boost growth in areas outside London and will be clustered around universities and research centres. Each zone is to get £80 million of support over 5 years, with tax incentives to attract businesses.

Devolution would mean a new guaranteed funding stream for our region of £38 million a year over a 30-year period. Covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham, the devolved area is home to around 2.2 million people, making it one of the biggest in the country.

The devolution deal includes an extra £16 million for new homes on brownfield land and control over a range of budgets like the adult education budget, which could be better tailored to the needs of people in local communities.

A regional mayor would lead a new combined authority, which would include representatives from existing local councils, with decision-making powers and resources moving from London to the East Midlands. Local businesses would also have a voice, as well as other organisations.

Devolution would not mean scrapping or merging local councils, which would all continue to exist as they do now and would still be responsible for most public services in the area. The mayor and combined authority would instead focus on wider issues like transport, regeneration, and employment across both cities and counties.

Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “We’ve been pursuing a devolution deal to bring more investment to the region and this early funding pot to improve housing, transport and skills is most welcome.

“If a devolution deal for the East Midlands goes ahead, it will bring a package of local powers and much-needed funding worth £1.14 billion that will help to improve the lives of people in Derbyshire and throughout the region.

“Devolution would bring massive benefits and opportunity to the East Midlands for things like improving transport infrastructure, building more homes and creating more jobs and better training opportunities.”

Now the 4 councils have formally backed the plans, and agreed on a final version of the proposal, it means that new local powers and funding to improve the environment, skills training, transport, housing, and the economy could be in place as soon as next year.

For that to happen, new legislation is needed, so that a new form of Combined Authority can be created. With new legislation in place, proposals for devolution could be sent to the government for approval and Royal Assent, meaning that devolution in the East Midlands could be a reality from spring 2024, with the first ever election for a regional mayor, covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham, taking place in May 2024.

To find out more about why Chesterfield is an ideal location to invest, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

View of the Crooked Spire from above

Image courtesy of Derbyshire Economic Partnership

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Planning application submitted for major improvements to Clay Cross town centre

A planning application for major regeneration in Clay Cross town centre has now been submitted.

North East Derbyshire District Council and the Clay Cross Town Board have made progress over recent months, culminating in the planning application for the Town Centre Regeneration project.

The planning application has been submitted as part of the next steps in delivering the £24.1m Clay Cross Town Deal and is a momentous occasion as the reality of the project draws nearer for residents and businesses.

A public consultation was undertaken to gauge opinions of the proposed plans following on from ongoing face-to-face engagement with local businesses over the last few months. Feedback from this has been positive and has been taken into consideration as part of the ongoing project to help shape the future of Clay Cross.

The planning application is made up of four key elements in the proposals, which are:

  • The creation of a new Town Square which will become a public space to be used for markets, seasonal events and as a public forum.
  • Food and Beverage and Leisure Units – the route from Broadleys to the public square to be lined with artisan food companies, leisure operators and cafes and restaurants.
  • The Clocktower (Derbyshire Adult Education Centre) – to make the best use of the existing building, enhancing existing uses and bringing the library into the heart of the town.
  • The “Block A” (working title) proposal – Repurposing an existing historic building with the aim of providing a quality food and drink offering and leisure opportunities, directly overlooking the public square.

North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Clay Cross Town Deal, Cllr Jayne Barry said, “This is a momentous point in the delivery of the £24.1m Clay Cross Town Deal and a pivotal moment (in submitting the planning application) as our residents and businesses, who have shared their views and helped shape the proposals for the regeneration of the town, can now see we are moving onto the next stages of the project as it becomes closer to reality.

“It’s an exciting time for the town with some amazing plans and developments underway already, including the building of the new Clay Cross Active leisure centre, and I am delighted at the progress made to deliver this exciting project by collaborating with our residents and businesses.”

Find out more about the wide range of investment opportunities across Chesterfield at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

Clay Cross

Birds’ eye view of Clay Cross Town Centre

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New skills action plan to boost career opportunities across Chesterfield

A new plan which is designed to boost skills and career opportunities for local people has been launched by Chesterfield Borough Council.

The new Skills Action Plan sets out a variety of partnership initiatives – working with local agencies and businesses – to help bridge the skills gap.

It includes new projects that are designed to provide training and support for local people to improve their skills and access a wider range of career opportunities. The plan also establishes a new Skills and Employment Partnership which aims to put employers at the heart of local skills development and ensure local people are developing the right skills to access new opportunities.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and vice chair of the Skills and Employment Partnership, said: “This new plan and partnership aims to deliver our objective of creating a thriving borough where everyone can benefit from a growing local economy. We want to ensure that local people have the skills to progress in their careers or access new opportunities as they become available. Working closely with businesses is key to achieving our aims because we need to ensure that we are helping local people develop the skills that employers need.

“Our action plan introduces a range of new programmes and initiatives that will help people of all ages to boost their skills and develop new careers. We will be working with lots of delivery partners including education providers, employers, voluntary sector organisations and other councils, to ensure these programmes meet the needs of local people.”

The action plan sets out 12 areas of action across six themes including, Young People, Ambitions and Connections to Work, Increasing Higher Level Skills, Barriers to Employment and Widening the Workforce, Anchor Organisation Project Opportunities, Sector Specific and Future Skills, and Skills Brokerage and Partnership.

Within each theme there are a series of activities and commitments, these include the expansion of the Careers Made In Chesterfield programme, delivering a digital inclusion and work readiness programme, and the creation of a workforce upskilling programme focussed on green and digital careers. These are just some of the many actions that the council will take over the next five years to realise the ambitious plan.

Michael Timmins, a Director at AECOM and chair of the Skills and Employment Partnership, said: “To help the local economy continue to grow we need to work together to ensure people have the right skills and experience to access high quality jobs. I’m proud to chair the new partnership because it shows there is a strong commitment to listening to businesses and responding to their needs through skills development. I look forward to seeing the new programmes starting up and hope that lots of people will take these opportunities on.”

The Skills Action Plan will run from 2023 until 2027. It is just one of a range of projects and initiatives which is being funded through the UKSPF, after the council was successful in securing £2.6m from the Government. It will fund initiatives, until 2025, which are designed to improve life for local people and support local businesses.

More information about the Skills Action Plan and how people can access the support available will be shared on the council’s website.

Careers Made In Chesterfield - Parkside Community School pilot

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Growth and milestones announced for several Chesterfield firms

Chesterfield businesses are marking further growth, with new staff, office expansions, award nominations and key milestones.

Find out about the latest growth and achievements from across the town’s network of Chesterfield Champions in our latest roundup below:

Demand creates substantial growth for BRM Real Estate Division

BRM Property Team

Regional Law Firm BRM Solicitors has added to its strong property department, with the recent recruitment taking them to the 24 lawyers.

BRM’s 24-strong team now includes eight directors and counts Woodall Group, Gleeson Homes, Reef Group and Global Brands among its clients.

Whilst the real estate industry is facing challenges, nimble-footed clients continue to succeed by meeting private and local authority housing needs, taking advantage of permitted development rights, developing large-scale storage and distribution sites, embracing cloud data and battery storage projects, refocussing office space to hybrid working, assisting regeneration of city centres by re-gearing and upgrading retail offerings and encompassing science, educational and tech sectors.

To meet changing and increased client requirements, BRM has recruited and trained its team to create one of the largest property legal departments in the region.

Head of Real Estate and Executive Director, Adrian Sheehan, said: “The recent and continuing recruitment drive has been a major step in BRM’s development as we continue to focus on the core elements of its Real Estate offering.

“Our team is regionally recognised as specialists in the field of real estate and property disputes and the team now boast a wealth of experience in this field.”

Head of Dispute Resolution and Executive Director Rob Cooke, said: “The team’s strong track record and breadth and depth of experience is fundamental to our growing client portfolio. This is the start of an important period in the firm’s growth strategy, and we intend to remain at the forefront of the legal property sector for years to come and we have a series of announcements in the coming months that are really exciting for the future of BRM.”

BRM’s property dispute resolution experience is evident in the complex cases they have successfully litigated, including disputes over property rights, breach of contracts, and land use.

For more information on BRM and their legal services, please visit their website or get in touch with their legal team.

BSP Consulting business development manager shortlisted in Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Awards

Carrie Booth

The business development manager at East Midlands-based civil and structural engineering company BSP Consulting has been named as a finalist in the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Awards.

Carrie Booth, who joined the business in 2004 as a junior member of the admin team and now leads the business development side of the operation, has been shortlisted in the Inspirational Leader – Consultant Award.

The awards, which attracted a record breaking number of entries this year, champion the role of women in construction and engineering.

Carl Hilton, managing director at BSP Consulting, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Carrie has been shortlisted in these national awards. She puts her heart and soul into creating business opportunities for the team, which has played a key role in helping to make BSP Consulting one of the largest independent civil and structural engineering firms in the East Midlands.

“She is extremely capable, tenacious, dependable and 100% committed to her role. She always delivers, not only for BSP but for the numerous groups she is a member of too.

“This shortlisting is very well deserved and we’re sure that anyone in the construction sector in the East Midlands who knows Carrie will be delighted to hear the news that she is a finalist in the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Awards 2023.”

The awards, which are run by Construction News and New Civil Engineer, will be presented at the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Conference in London on 4th October.

Carrie Booth, who works across BSP’s offices in the East Midlands, said: “I feel very humbled to have been shortlisted in these awards, which turn the spotlight on women working in construction and engineering.

“The shortlist features a list of very talented women from companies working across the construction and engineering sector in the UK and I am honoured to be amongst them.”

Green Arch Consulting celebrates 5 years of business

Emma Knight-Strong Green Arch Consulting

A Chesterfield Champion which provides specialist strategic sustainability support to businesses of all sizes, has celebrated five years of success.

Green Arch Consulting provides a range of coaching, management consulting and technical advice and support to help their clients deliver business-led, tangible solutions for tackling the sustainability challenge.

Recently, the company has worked with major international firms, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the FTSE 250 listed JLEN.

Emma Knight-Strong, Owner of Green Arch Consulting commented: “Over the past 5 years Green Arch Consulting has worked with clients spanning 5 continents, across multiple sectors, ranging from government departments to national infrastructure providers to FTSE250 companies to SMEs looking to boost their product offerings through integration of sustainability into their processes. I am so proud of the work that we’ve done and I’m excited for the next 5 years!”

Principle Finance expands into new Sheffield based office

Principle Finance

Principle Finance, a leading commercial finance and residential mortgage brokerage who are part of the SMH Group, have announced the opening of a new office in Sheffield as a result of their continued business growth.

The new office has been refurbished to meet the company’s requirements and will serve as Principle Finance’s hub for commercial finance operations.

The company’s expansion into their new office comes as a strategic move to allow for future growth of the team and to better serve clients in the region by providing a tailored approach to commercial finance.

Commenting on the expansion, James Furniss, Head of Commercial Finance at Principle Finance, said: “We are thrilled to be opening our new office, which marks a significant milestone for the business. Our expansion is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and the continued support of our clients.

“As a business, we are committed to providing the highest level of service to our clients, and our new office will enable us to work more closely as a team and to be more accessible to businesses across the whole region.

“We are excited about the opportunities this expansion will bring, and we look forward to continuing to provide our clients with the exceptional service they have come to expect from Principle Finance.”

In addition to opening their new office, Principle Finance has also undergone a re-brand along with the development of a new website, which reflects the company’s commitment to providing innovative solutions and exceptional service to their clients.

The new website is designed to provide a more user-friendly experience and showcase the company’s range of commercial financial and mortgage solutions for both business and personal requirements.

For more information about Principle Finance please visit www.principlefinance.co.uk on contact the team on 0330 107 1558 or info@principlefinance.co.uk to discuss your finance requirements in more detail.

BRM Solicitors, BSP Consulting, Green Arch Consulting and SMH Group support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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70 new houses to be built in North Wingfield

70 new homes are set to be built off Whiteleas Avenue in North Wingfield, following a deal betweeen Rykneld Homes and Countryside Partnerships.

On land owned by North East Derbyshire District Council, and formerly consisting of post-war non-traditional housing, Countryside Partnerships will deliver a mix of two- and three-bedroom homes, as well as four-bedroom homes to address the need for larger homes in the area. The new development will include homes for affordable rent along with homes for sale.

All 70 homes will be built for North East Derbyshire District Council and managed by Rykneld Homes. The agreement with Countryside Partnerships was facilitated by Efficiency North’s EN:Procure Framework, a not-for-profit consortium serving the construction procurement needs of the social housing landlord community.

Using this route enabled Rykneld Homes to work directly with Countryside Partnerships to develop the proposals in collaboration.

As well as delivering much-needed, high-quality new homes for the local community, Countryside Partnerships will also provide six apprenticeship places over the course of the build.

The development will also deliver a number of improvements to the local area, including upgraded play facilities at Alice’s View and Blacks Lane play areas, £165,000 to fund improved education facilities at North Wingfield Primary and Nursery School and Tupton Hall School, and over £28,000 for the NHS Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

Greg Wood, Land and Development Director at Countryside Partnerships South East Midlands, said: “Working in partnership to unlock brownfield sites and create high-quality homes of a mix of tenures where communities can thrive is what we’re all about. So it’s great to be working with North East Derbyshire District Council and Rykneld Homes on this regeneration project that will provide much-needed new homes for local people, while also contributing to local services.”

Cllr Nigel Barker, Leader of the Council with responsibility for Housing, said: “We are looking forward to working with Countryside to further regenerate the area of Whiteleas Avenue, North Wingfield, bringing forward muchneeded homes for our local communities. We have listened to our communities who have told us that they want quality affordable homes in the district and this scheme, which includes 48 homes for affordable rent, demonstrates our commitment to do so.”

housing residential

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80% of rooms let as Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre celebrates one year anniversary

After being open for just one year, 80% of offices are now let in Chesterfield’s flagship enterprise centre – providing a state-of-the-art base for new and growing businesses.

The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre was officially opened in July 2022 and to mark one year since opening an informal networking session was held on Thursday 13 July to celebrate with tenants.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and cabinet member for economic growth, said: “We faced many challenges when developing this building but it was a cornerstone of our Covid recovery plan and to see the building almost fully let just one year after opening shows that our local economy is strong and that Chesterfield is a great place to do business. The building is home to a really diverse range of businesses with lots of them being new startups that we hope will grow and thrive in our town.

“It was fantastic to speak with our tenants and learn more about what they do and the opportunities they are creating for local people.”

The Enterprise Centre includes 32 office suites in a range of sizes, all of which are fitted with the latest hi-tech features that are now standard requirements for modern businesses. It has meeting facilities allowing businesses to host hybrid meetings and secure cycle parking and shower facilities to allow tenants to bike to work – supporting low carbon transport options. There are also features like the break out room where businesses can network and find out how they can work together.

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

But the centre provides much more than just office space, as tenants can access bespoke business support services to help them grow and develop, supporting the creation of more jobs and boosting the local economy.

The building also boasts some first-class sustainability features which help keep energy use down and ensure the building is fit for the future – supporting to the council’s target of becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2030.

The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre was part funded through a grant from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Investment Fund, with additional funding provided by Chesterfield Borough Council.

To find out more about your business being based in the Enterprise Centre contact the Enterprise Chesterfield team by calling 01246 903 900 or emailing enterprise@chesterfield.gov.uk

No matter what stage you are along your business journey, Chesterfield has a fantastic range of modern, flexible and sustainable office spaces to suit your organisation. Find out more at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/office/

Group at North Gateway Celebration

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