Property and Construction

Chesterfield cold storage provider progresses with major expansion

Magnavale, one of the UK’s leading providers of temperature-controlled storage, has announced significant progress on the construction of a new extension at its Chesterfield cold storage facility.

The provider of temperature-controlled storage solutions is currently working on numerous projects that aim to reshape the cold storage sector, creating sustainable storage solutions.

Following a recent announcement of the company’s £130m development at Easton, Grantham, and the significant expansion at its site in Holmewood, Chesterfield, Magnavale is making significant strides towards its Net Zero goals.

Since breaking ground earlier this year, the project at Magnavale’s Chesterfield facility has reached several important milestones, bringing the UK project closer to the expected completion date of late 2024.

Site excavation on the new facility has been successfully completed, and the concrete foundations have been poured. Over the course of the summer, Magnavale’s team will shift its focus towards the steelwork construction of the cold store.

On completion, the expansion will add a significant 25,000 pallet positions to the cold store’s existing capacity of 40,000, bringing the total pallet capacity of the facility to 65,000. This will make it one of the largest cold stores in the area.

This expansion will not only accommodate the increasing volumes of Magnavale’s existing customers but also open doors to new customers wanting to utilise Magnavale’s temperature-controlled facilities and value-added services.

The facility features one of the most comprehensive portfolios of value-added services, encompassing, blast freezing, microwave up-tempering and contract packing. Coupled with its strategic location, just off the M1, Magnavale Chesterfield is extremely desirable for food manufacturers that wish to cut unnecessary cost, risk, and complexity from their cold chain.

Perfectly located in the centre of England and just off the M1 motorway network, Chesterfield is home to a number of leading manufacturing and engineering businesses. Find out more about the benefits of locating your organisation in the town at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

magnavale extension - artists impression

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Joint agents appointed for Chesterfield’s pivotal Elder Way scheme

Jomast has appointed FHP as official joint agents of Elder Way – a pivotal site in Chesterfield town centre which has been redeveloped by the leading regeneration specialist into leisure and retail units.

FHP is the dominant retail and leisure agent within the Midlands, with offices in Nottingham, Birmingham and Derby, and has won the EGi East Midlands Most Active Retail Agent award for the last 13 years.

FHP will now work alongside WSB Property to jointly market the Elder Way scheme nationally to potential occupiers.

There are currently a number of leasing opportunities available at the 21,761 sq ft scheme, from smaller E Class and Sui Generis Bar units of 1,420 sq. ft. upwards to larger units of up to 4,704 sq. ft.

Alan Pearson, Director and Head of the Retail and Leisure at FHP commented: “We are pleased to partner with WSB Property to introduce Elder Way to a wider audience across the East Midlands. The units are suitable for a variety of uses following the change of the use class order which opens this up to office and clinical use, alongside the traditional retail and leisure use.”

Jomast has transformed the former Co-op department store into a landmark mixed-use leisure scheme comprising seven street-level units and a 16,285 sq. ft. basement. The site is being marketed to food and drink, and gym operators as well as retailers.

Constructed in the 1930s, the site boasts a mock-Tudor frontage and is as renowned as the town’s crooked Spire church.

A Premier Inn hotel already occupies the upper two floors of the building where it has been successfully operating since 2019. Recently Premier Inn owner Whitbread reported that its first-quarter sales came in ahead of last year’s figures, supported by strong demand for travel and leisure and robust performance of its UK hotels.

Elder Way is one of the key developments within Chesterfield Borough Council’s £60 million Northern Gateway Scheme which includes and new multi-storey car park, completed in 2021 and an Enterprise Centre opened in 2022. The Enterprise Centre, which has 32 office suites is recording near 100% occupancy just 12 months after opening. Both the Enterprise Centre and Saltergate multi-storey are located within a two-minute walk of Elder Way.

Mark Hill, Commercial Property Director of Jomast added: “We’re committed to creating developments and regenerating properties that have a transformative effect on towns and cities and Elder Way embodies this. It is a pivotal site both in the town centre and the Northern Gateway scheme in Chesterfield.”

Find out more about the Chesterfield Elder Way development here. 

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

Chesterfield Elder Way

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‘Overwhelming’ case for HS2 to be delivered to East Midlands launched

At an event today (3rd July) the region’s business and political leaders will come together in Derby to launch Full speed ahead: bringing high-speed rail to the East Midlands report which lays out the ‘overwhelming’ case to deliver high-speed rail to the East Midlands.

HS2 and Rail Minister Huw Merriman MP will be making a keynote speech and joined by business chiefs and senior politicians including Sir Peter Soulsby, Toby Perkins MP and Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council Cllr. Trica Gilby.

The report outlines the benefits of bringing HS2 to the East Midlands and Sheffield as proposed in the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands (IRP). The arrival of HS2 in the East Midlands, integrated with other projects such as Midlands Rail Hub and Midland Main Line electrification will bring cities and towns in the East Midlands closer to each other and to centres such as London and Birmingham.

When HS2 is delivered in full, the number of people within a 90-minute rail journey of Derby will increase by more than 500,000; an additional 600,000 people will be within 90 minutes of Chesterfield.

This agglomeration will lead to an increase in job opportunities for East Midlands residents and more trade for local businesses. Nottingham, Derby and Chesterfield can access an economy of around £250 million within 90 mins by rail. With HS2 in place, this figure will increase to over £550 million.

Analysis in the report shows that HS2 will nearly double the number of jobs in high-value, rail-linked sectors within an hour of Nottingham by rail, and nearly quadruple the number of jobs within two hours.

In total, journeys from 74 stations across the East Midlands are set to benefit from improved journey times to and from London and Birmingham.

The quicker journey times resulting from HS2 will ‘shift’ the location of major urban areas closer to the East Midlands. London will ‘move’ 60 miles north to Northamptonshire (relative to Derby, Chesterfield & Nottingham). Birmingham will ‘move’ 30 miles northeast to between Derby and Loughborough (relative to Nottingham) meaning residents can get to the capital far quicker for work, business or leisure.

The event is being jointly hosted by Midlands Connect and Transport for the East Midlands.

Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect commented:

“It’s great to be here in Derby today, highlighting the importance of high-speed rail for this region. The East Midlands is an area so poorly served by rail at the moment; with these proposals in place connections from North to South, and East to West, will be quicker and easier.

“The case for delivering HS2 from Birmingham to the East Midlands is overwhelming.”

Sir Peter Soulsby, Chair of Transport for East Midlands added:

“The East Midlands boasts a resilient and thriving economy which is well placed to reap the benefits of significant rail investment.

“HS2 to the East Midlands is a key priority for TfEM and will transform links to Birmingham and London.

“With direct HS2 services to Nottingham, Derby and Chesterfield stations, coupled with the electrification of the Midland Main Line, travel times across the region will be significantly reduced and capacity enhanced.”

Find out more about Chesterfield’s Station Master Plan and the benefits it will bring to Chesterfield.

Train passing behind the Growth sculpture at Hornsbridge Roundabout

Posted in Business, Development, Property and Construction

Firms urged to inspire young people to explore careers in manufacturing, engineering, and construction

A campaign to inspire young people into manufacturing, engineering, and construction careers is set to return to Chesterfield this November.

Destination Chesterfield is calling upon local companies to get involved in the successful Made in Chesterfield scheme, which enables school pupils to get an up-close and personal look at what a career in these key sectors can offer.

The annual campaign, which will run during November and December 2023, is now in its ninth year. It aims to help reduce the skills gap in some of the town’s most valuable industries, to ensure local people and businesses can continue to thrive in the future.

Made in Chesterfield is organised by Destination Chesterfield, alongside Direct Education Business Partnership, and supported by Chesterfield College Group, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire North Careers Hub, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd and NatWest.

Through the project, thousands of young people have had the chance to explore the wide range of rewarding careers available in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) sectors. Since the campaign’s inception in 2014, more than 3,500 young people from schools have spent time in the area’s manufacturing, engineering, and construction businesses.

Headline sponsor of the project, Chesterfield College Group has also seen an increase in the number of students getting involved in STEM-related subjects since the launch of the campaign.

Julie Richards, CEO of Chesterfield College Group and Destination Chesterfield Board Member, commented: “Having supported Made in Chesterfield consistently over the past few years I’ve seen the real impact the initiative has for the next generation engineering and construction workforce.

“As we position ourselves as a reliable conduit between student and employer to enable the opportunities and inspiration for successful future careers, supporting this initiative is something we feel passionate about.

“With work on our new cutting-edge Engineering, Manufacturing and Science Centre due to commence this year and our involvement with hugely impactful programmes such as the Staveley Construction Skills Hub, Made in Chesterfield further solidifies our commitment to ensuring the young people we serve have access to the very best opportunities in their chosen engineering and/or construction career.”

Ivan Fomin, Director at MSE Hiller and Destination Chesterfield Board Member said: “There is no doubt that we are experiencing a skills gap in manufacturing, caused by an ageing workforce. Therefore, it has never been more important to generate the future pipeline of talent to ensure our local manufacturing and engineering firms can continue to grow.

“Being able to offer these tours and interact with young people on a face-to-face basis provides them with an invaluable insight into the exciting potential and scope for growth that a career in STEM can offer.”

Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth commented: “Made in Chesterfield is a fantastic programme that create an opportunity for businesses to interact with young people and help them to make informed choices about their future.

“We’re proud to support this programme because helping young people find the right path for them guarantees that they can have a great career in our borough but it also helps employers ensure that the future workforce is developing the skills that they will need.

“Together this will help improve the quality of life for residents whilst also creating a thriving local economy with opportunities for everyone.”

Clare Talati, CEO of Direct Education Business Partnership (DEBP) added: “DEBP are pleased to be able to continue supporting the Made in Chesterfield initiative; enabling space for employers and young people to come together.

“Made in Chesterfield provides meaningful experiences for learners to increase their awareness of local opportunities, and for employers to showcase their businesses and meet potential future employees”.

To find out more about how your business can get involved with Made in Chesterfield, please visit https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/made/ or contact Direct Education Business Partnership at madeinchesterfieldvisits@debp.org.

The Destination Chesterfield Partnership has received £180,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It follows a successful funding bid by Chesterfield Borough Council, to secure £2.69 million worth of funding for local projects.

Made in Chesterfield - Students visit Aztec Oils

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Chesterfield property and construction firms announce new recruits, promotions and expansions

Chesterfield businesses are continuing to grow, either with new team members, internal promotions, and even international expansions.

Our latest roundup features three property and construction firms, BSP Consulting, Derbyshire Building Control Partnership, and Redbrik Estate Agents.

Property and Construction firms in the town continue to collaborate in driving forward investment, sustainability and skills within Chesterfield. Find out more about the work of the Property and Construction Group here.

BSP Consulting announces promotions for key team members

Pedro and Oliver promotion 3

East Midlands-based civil and structural engineering company BSP Consulting has promoted two members of its team.

Pedro Navarro has been made an Associate, while Oliver McElroy have been promoted to Principal Engineer.

BSP Director Tony Goddard said: “These promotions are in recognition of their tireless technical work within the civils team and their proven ability encouraging and developing younger staff, managing project finances and going the extra mile to nurture positive client relationships.

“On behalf of everyone at BSP Consulting, I’d like to congratulate Pedro and Oliver and wish them well in their new roles.”

Pedro has been with BSP since June 2017, while Oliver joined in November 2020.

One of the largest independent civil and structural engineering companies in the East Midlands, BSP is an award-winning firm that operates across the UK, offering civil engineering, structural engineering, transport engineering, geotechnical and environmental engineering. BSP works across all sectors including housing, student accommodation, commercial, industrial, health, education, senior living, retail and heritage.

Wealth of industry experience joins DBCP

Leonie King and Catherine Potiphar

The delivery of building control services across Derbyshire and Staffordshire Moorlands has been further boosted with two new appointments at DBCP.

Experienced building control surveyor Leonie King has joined DBCP’s team of field-based building control experts, while former site manager Catherine Potiphar has been appointed as a trainee building control surveyor.

DBCP operates across Derbyshire and Staffordshire Moorlands, working directly with eight local authorities to provide the best, most up-to-date building control service.

Leonie King praised the supportive team at DBCP saying: “Thanks to the experience and knowledge within the team I am learning something new every day. I am passionate about continued professional development particularly in the field of building control. Rules, regulations and techniques are changing all the time and it’s essential we keep abreast of these in order to deliver the best service. Quality and standards are at the heart of everything DBCP which absolutely aligns with my own approach to building control.”

Prior to joining DBCP Catherine was a site manager for 12 years. Her career change is giving Catherine the opportunity to build her skills, knowledge and qualifications through a Building Control Surveyor degree with the University of Wolverhampton which is being funded by DBCP.

She explained: “There are a huge number of transferable skills between my previous career and my new one in building control. It’s great to now be able to combine on site and off site working yet still remain in the industry I love. I am really enjoying the training and development I am undertaking – learning new skills, keeps the brain active!”

Delighted to welcome Leonie and Catherine to the team, David Pratt, DBCP Building Control Manager, commented: “It’s hugely important to us that our team of building control surveyors are not only qualified but also experienced; this enables us to provide the best service to across Derbyshire and Staffordshire Moorlands and why demand for our services is increasing. We want to expand the team further but with the right people. The opportunity to develop a career both in building control and DBCP right now are very exciting.”

International estate agency services launched by Redbrik

Redbrik Estate Agents has announced the expansion of its sales service under a new brand –  Redbrik International.

The firm launched its international department with two fantastic developments, Ombria  Resort and Wyndham Grand, located in Portugal’s Algarve region.

Managing director, Mark Ross, said: “During the past ten years, Redbrik has grown from a single sales office to a multi-branch agency covering sales, lettings, land and new homes, and now international sales!

“We pride ourselves on the award-winning service our team provides, and I know they can’t wait to begin working with investors and homeowners from across the country on this pair of superb developments.

“The launch of Redbrik International, managed by our New Homes Team, is an exciting step for the business, and we look forward to bringing exclusive new investment opportunities to our clients.”

BSP Consulting, DBCP and Redbrik 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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New emergency department now open at Chesterfield Royal Hospital

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s new Emergency Department has now opened.

The hospital’s new development includes a state-of-the-art approach to patient flow, highly specialised equipment, ultra-modern technology and a real grounding in the community through the locally sourced artwork and wayfinding.

However, the message from the hospital to the public remains that people should only visit the department if they truly need to.

Dr. Katherine Lendrum, Clinical Lead for the UECD and ED Consultant, commented: “The new Emergency Department is an absolutely amazing facility which will provide our local population with Emergency Care but only when they really need it!

“We genuinely hope we don’t need to see people but if someone needs us, we will be there and do our absolute best to give high quality care in a timely manner.

“Emergency departments are open 24/7 365 days a year; they are staffed by a large team of nurses and clinicians (doctors and allied health professionals) who have expertise in immediately life or limb threatening emergencies.”

Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive of the Trust, said: “This is a truly fantastic facility for the hospital and the communities we serve. With clinical leadership, engagement at all levels and years of planning, I’m very proud of the skills, experience and hard work that have gone into shaping our new Emergency Department.

“We are on time in opening the facility and have delivered on budget, despite building work starting during Covid. It is testament to a great team who have worked tirelessly to deliver this work. Thank you to everybody involved.”

Dr Anthony Kenny, Programme Director for the Emergency Department development, said: “The new department has the ability to live monitor patients, it has a dedicated children and young people’s area and a specialist zone for neurodiverse patients or those experiencing a mental health crisis, all of which mean we are providing a truly world-class facility for the region.

“The area above the department is one of the proudest ‘added extra’ elements; we have a state-of-the-art simulation suite and facilities which will support training for ED colleagues to provide the best possible care and we have also included modern changing and break-out rooms.”

Dr Lendrum concluded: “Sometimes (in up to 70% of attendances) people choose to come to an emergency department with less urgent problems – perhaps because they don’t know where to go or because they perceive they will be seen quicker; get all the tests they need done or be treated faster.

“Problems that have lasted many days, weeks or months, that you would like a second opinion on or are already being managed by another team often do not fit into an emergency category.

“If you feel well enough to have your tea before coming to an ED think again – could my problem be managed by someone else better tomorrow?! It is everyone’s responsibility to use health care services wisely.”

Alternative sources of help for less urgent problem, particularly out of hours include NHS111, local pharmacies and urgent treatment centres.

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

chesterfield royal new Emergency department

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Chesterfield property firms addressing sector skills gaps

Attracting new talent into the property and construction sector is more important than ever. Industry experts have stated that an extra 225,000 workers are required by 2027, equating to roughly 3,500 per year in the East Midlands Region.

In Chesterfield, businesses in the sector continue to work collaboratively in improving access to careers in construction for the future generation.

This was recently identified at a masterclass discussion, aimed at sharing ideas and best practice to support both young people and businesses in securing a future pipeline of talent.

The event, which comprised several leaders from across the property and construction sector in Chesterfield, helped to update the sector on the latest career initiatives taking place, along with signposting firms to various support options open to them.

What is the sector doing to improve the skills pipeline in Chesterfield?

Careers Made in Chesterfield - improving access to careers in construction

A key initiative designed to improve access to careers in construction is  Careers Made in Chesterfield, which saw several businesses participating in face-to-face workshops at Parkside Community School.

Further bolstering the skills needed within the sector in Chesterfield, the Construction Skills Hub in Mastin Moor will welcome learners from autumn. Funded through the Staveley Town Deal, the skills hub will provide a practical platform for construction training, careers activity, and work experience on a live construction site.

The Made in Chesterfield Festival is also returning in November 2023, which sees students visiting business premises, to be inspired by the breadth of career options available.

Speaking at the Masterclass, Andrew Byrne, Property Development Director at The Devonshire Group commented: “We have previously done a lot of work for school-age students, such as the Careers Made in Chesterfield project and the Construction Skills Hub in Staveley, but we also want to focus on the transition from school or further education into the workplace.

“As a forum, we are continuing to try and identify any barriers to reduce drop-out rates in the sector. Ultimately, firms want to connect with students who are interested in the industry and turn them into employees and future business leaders.”

“I believe this is extremely important for the sector because without a reliable pipeline of skilled people, we are not going to be able to grow and projects we want to see in the future.

“We all live, work, and play in things that have been built, so our sector does touch all aspects of society. If we are to keep improving, developing, and hitting sustainability objectives, we need to ensure we have the people to be able to do it.”

Skills support for property and construction businesses

current apprentices in Chesterfield

During the session, Andrew Rodney, Senior Customer Engagement Manager at CITB updated on some of the initiatives on offer to support employers in bolstering their workforce.

Andrew said: “CITB exists to support employers. We know that businesses can find it difficult to know where to look in accessing the right training for their staff and how to access grants to support training.

“Our advisors are here to support businesses in a physical sense, by listening to their training needs and signposting to the most appropriate training organisation. We have recently created a new team to help employers recruit and mentor apprentices.

“There are so many different types of grants available for the property and construction sector. The easiest way to find out more about these would be to access our website. We encourage anyone who is not sure to give us a call and speak to an advisor, so we can point you in the right direction. We want to help in removing barriers for businesses and ensuring that they can access skilled young people to help them grow.”

Help and advice for young people looking to get into property and construction

Property Made Visit - access to careers in construction

Focusing on supporting young people during the discussion, Jenny Kitchen, Founder of Building Rapport explained the work taking place as part of the Regeneration Brainery project, which aims to improve access to careers in construction for young people.

Jenny explained: “Regeneration Brainery exists to fill the skills and diversity gap by engaging with young learners and those seeking employment in the built environment. We bring students and education providers together with businesses that are recruiting apprentices, and we help young people to find meaningful work experience.

“We need one in five school leavers to join our sector to address the current skills crisis. So businesses need to have their own resources to attract and retain young people. Offering high-quality work experience to raise awareness of the variety of roles is a collective approach our sector needs to take seriously.

“During a week with us, students spend time in businesses, on-site, and with a whole variety of professionals, giving them a snippet of working life in our sector.

“We help get young people job ready by nurturing and mentoring them, to find a career, and crucially stay in a career long-term.

“We’ve got the students who are willing to learn, and see a place for themselves in our sector, but they (or their schools) don’t know how to get there aside from a traditional university route, which isn’t the right choice for everyone.

“It is vital to give them the support they need in the first year of starting a new career, to improve retention of skilled young people in the property and construction sector, and to “grow our own.”

“If we don’t address our recruitment processes, we are at risk of excluding many talented, underprivileged, or neurodiverse young people. Who don’t have the confidence or support network to encourage or help them with their first job application.

“We’re also here to remind those who are less academic that they have choices, they can still follow a degree path via an Apprenticeship route that will lead them to reach their potential.

Chesterfield’s collaborative approach to improve access to careers in construction

Chesterfield’s Property and Construction sector continues to bring together business leaders of the region’s property sector and Chesterfield Borough Council to shape and drive forward collaboration, investment, sustainability, and skills within Chesterfield.

The group works together across four key themes, specifically the skills agenda, business support, promoting investment in Chesterfield, and sustainability and wellbeing.

The recent masterclass discussion was yet another example of how the sector continues to collaborate.

Sue Woollett, Social Value Manager at Stepnell Ltd. commented: “One of the things that I love about Chesterfield is that there is such a collaborative approach to everything, especially in the property and construction sector.

“The regular activity that takes place in the sector helps to introduce different businesses to each other and helps our sector work alongside the public sector to help achieve growth, jobs, and development in the local economy.

“It’s no secret that there is a skills gap in our sector, and there is an aging workforce. I feel that there is a misunderstanding about the variety of jobs that are available in construction. We all want to get across that there is a job for everyone in this sector, and we need to help people to understand how many opportunities there are.”

If your business is interested in getting involved with the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group, email: property@chesterfield.co.uk

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Innovative careers scheme inspires Chesterfield’s next generation and aims to reduce skills gaps

A pioneering scheme, which is linking schools with leading property and construction firms in Chesterfield, is inspiring young people to pursue careers in the construction sector.

‘Careers Made in Chesterfield’ has resulted in fourteen quality placements being offered for talented young people to learn about the property and construction sector. This follows several businesses from the town’s property and construction sector participating in workshops at Parkside Community School, showcasing the range of rewarding careers available.

Providing face-to-face interaction with students proved very successful, with 40% of students who completed the programme expressing a high interest in working in the construction sector in the future – rising from just 20% when the scheme was originally conceived in September 2022.

The initiative was launched following a report by CITB, which outlines how an extra 225,000 workers are required in the UK’s property and construction sector by 2027, equating to roughly 3,500 per year in the East Midlands Region alone.

During the ‘Careers Made in Chesterfield’ programme, business leaders carried out an initial speed networking workshop with pupils, answering their questions and helping to open their eyes into the many different exciting roles associated with property and construction.

In the second workshop sessions, students were tasked with designing a new building within the Northern Gateway area of Chesterfield. Working in groups of five to design a community venue, each group was allocated an employer mentor from the property and construction sector to help develop the design.

The project is enabling students to gain vital work experience, but also showcases the breadth of skills needed to achieve Chesterfield’s ambitious growth and regeneration plans.

The innovative pilot has seen 20 professionals from 11 local businesses helping to deliver the programme to 110 Year 10 students at the school.

Andrew Byrne, Property Development Director at The Devonshire Group, and member of the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group added: “One of the main issues being faced by the property and construction sector is that its workforce is getting older.

“It is vital to begin bringing in the next generation, and Careers Made in Chesterfield is one of many initiatives which will help to secure the future pipeline of talent that our businesses rely on.

“It is a very exciting time to be getting into the sector, and with schemes such as this, our young people will one day contribute towards delivering the physical, social, and green infrastructure that Chesterfield needs to continue its sustainable growth.”

Andrew Byrne, The Devonshire Group

Andrew Byrne, The Devonshire Group

Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth commented: “Working with local businesses to deliver the Careers Made in Chesterfield pilot demonstrates how direct engagement with students can spark their interest in different career paths.

“Helping young people learn more about the skills they need and the options available to them is key to ensuring that we can provide secure high quality jobs in Chesterfield and that they can plan for a great future in our borough.”

Ben Riggott, Head Teacher at Parkside School said: “The Careers Made in Chesterfield pilot represented a step change in creating sustained connections between our Year 10 students and some great local companies.

“This model is fantastic for several reasons.  Perhaps most importantly, students build relationships with employers across the programme, which in turn enhances their confidence and the likely outcomes of work experience.

One of the firms to be welcoming a student on placement in July is Oasis Studio, which provides virtual reality and augmented reality services to property and construction businesses.

Tony Buck, Associate Director at Oasis Studio commented: “We jumped at the chance to get involved in the pilot scheme. The construction industry is continually evolving, adopting new technologies and construction methods.

“To stay competitive, I believe it’s crucial we have a skilled workforce that can embrace these advancements. I really enjoyed demonstrating the range of opportunities in the sector today.  We utilised our VR headsets during the workshop to offer the students a virtual site visit and help them understand the brief. I was genuinely impressed by the student’s level of maturity and engagement throughout the workshops, and their ideation of concepts was fantastic.”

Further addressing the increasing construction skills shortage within Chesterfield, the Construction Skills Hub in Mastin Moor will welcome learners from autumn this year.

Funded through the Staveley Town Deal, the skills hub will provide a practical platform for construction training, careers activity and work experience on a live construction site.

Initially the Skills Hub will provide training in site and bench joinery, brickwork, ground works and electrical installation but in time the offer will expand to include training in retrofit and green technologies. It will be open to school leavers and other residents seeking to train or retrain.

The Hub will provide training, careers insights, and work experience for more than 5,000 learners over 10 years.

Businesses and schools that wish to register their interest in the Careers Made in Chesterfield initiative, are urged to contact Emily Williams, Skills Delivery Officer at Chesterfield Borough Council on 01246 959717.

The Destination Chesterfield Partnership has received £180,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It follows a successful funding bid by Chesterfield Borough Council, to secure £2.69 million worth of funding for local projects.

Careers Made in Chesterfield header image

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East Midlands Chamber urges businesses to adopt new thinking in recruiting and retaining people amid skills gaps

From supporting out-of-work people to find sustainable jobs to creating workplaces where employees feel they “belong”, new thinking is needed from businesses to plug major skills gaps, says East Midlands Chamber.

The business support and representation network for Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire is embarking on a strategy to support firms with their people needs by gathering intelligence from employers, facilitating the sharing of best practices and creating new toolkits.

A key milestone in this work was the East Midlands People and Skills Summit, held in partnership with Loughborough University at its West Park Teaching Hub.

More than 200 delegates heard from speakers including Baroness Nicky Morgan, the former Education Secretary who now chairs The Careers and Enterprise Company, a national organisation that helps to bring employers closer together with educators in developing careers education.

Naomi Clayton, director of the Learning and Work Institute, also discussed research into why the UK has a shortfall of about one million workers compared to pre-pandemic trends because of rising economic inactivity levels – in which people have left the labour market for reasons such as long-term sickness, caring duties, studying and early retirement.

East Midlands Chamber director of policy and insight Chris Hobson said: “People are a critical ingredient to businesses realising their growth ambitions, yet many have faced major challenges in finding the skills they need from one of the tightest labour markets we have ever seen.

“In 2023, we are in a position where a multitude of changes are unfolding – whether it’s in technology, ways of working or the make-up of our society and workforce – which means we must adopt new thinking to how we recruit and retain our people for business needs.

“The Chamber has a key role to play in helping firms navigate these areas, and the East Midlands People and Skills Summit was a major milestone in this body of work, with the insights we learned helping us to determine the practical business support tools we can create.

“These cover how they can tap into the young talent coming out of our schools, colleges and universities, but also includes how we engage those people who have left employment since the beginning of the pandemic.

“We must also consider how to create a sense of belonging within workplaces, which engages a more diverse workforce with the ability to bring new ideas, perspectives and skills to an organisation – ultimately benefitting the bottom line.”

East Midlands Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey showed that while six in 10 East Midlands businesses attempted to recruit in the first three months of 2023, almost three-quarters (73%) of those struggled to fill roles.

Other key activity within its people and skills focus includes dedicated research into inclusive workplace policies across East Midlands employers, a roundtable about how to support more businesses in this area, and the launch of a Collective Skills Intelligence Observatory that provides a data-led approach to help companies and educators understand skills needs and delivery in local areas.

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

Chris Hobson, East Midlands Chamber

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Property and Construction

Peak Resort exceeds nature recovery targets

The 300-acre PEAK Resort site has exceeded the nature recovery targets in support of its revised, post-pandemic first phase.

On-going surveys of the Birchall Estate show a spectacular recovery in biodiversity in areas outside of the principle permitted development areas. A mixture of passive re-wilding, and limited land management in the principle permitted development areas have achieved this. The increased biodiversity balance across the whole estate is already well beyond what will be the mandatory target of a 10% Net Gain set by the Environment Act 2021.

Once PEAK Resort is fully implemented, approximately 70% of the estate ownership will be given over to a nature reserve, equivalent to an area of 1.4 times the size of the National Arboretum.

The first phase of PEAK is proposed on 10% of the Estate and will generate 1,000 jobs. Further details of this development will be published this summer.

Achieving a balance between nature’s needs and people’s wants is at the core of the PEAK’s Regenerative Enterprise manifesto.

From the Middle Ages areas within the Birchall Estate were continuously exploited for quarrying, coal mining, opencast, timber extraction, munitions testing, and building demolition landfill.

The current landowners acquired an interest in the Birchall Estate in the late 1980’s over 35 years ago when large areas of the Estate were ecologically barren following extensive open-cast activity.

They saw an opportunity to regenerate the Estate as a place where both people and nature could flourish.

Over two miles of new public access greenways and woodland trails, adopted as Public Rights of Way, have already been created on the Estate. These include a spectacular river walk and areas of native mixed species hedgerows full of bird song.

The landowners have entered into a joint venture with Milligan, a mixed-use real estate and destination developer for the first phase regeneration programme.

John Milligan, Executive Chairman of Milligan said “It was fundamental to our involvement that the land itself supported a continuity of purpose. The Gateway at PEAK will be a world-class tourist and leisure destination, achieving a balance between the interests of nature and people are critical to its success. Birchall have got this off to a cracking start with the achievements in biodiversity gains to date”.

Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council said “It is fantastic to see formerly open cast land being regenerated for a purpose which balances both human and natural interests. The council is fully behind this regenerative enterprise which is entirely consistent with our climate change and economic growth ambitions.”

The Landowner, Birchall Properties said, “Good news to be getting underway again in the wake of so many challenges – the banking crisis, BREXIT, and COVID have not been able to distract us from our mission – onwards!”

If you would like to know more or visit the Estate at the end of the current ecology season please visit https://www.peakliaison.co.uk/

Peak is one of over £2 billion of regeneration projects in progress or planned in Chesterfield find out more about some of the developments here and discover why Chesterfield is the perfect place to invest.

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.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Property and Construction

Redbrik Estate Agents reports almost 200% increase in Google searches for Chesterfield homes

A Chesterfield estate agent says recent investment in the town is attracting more people to live here.

Data revealed by Redbrik, based on Glumangate in the town centre shows that Google searches for homes in the town have rocketed by 196% over the last year.

The figures come shortly after Chesterfield was named the 2nd best place in the UK to raise a family, thanks to its affordability, access to green spaces and a range of highly-rated schools and education facilities.

Redbrik’s data also shows that a number of people are looking for a move away from the larger cities. It shows more than 200 people in the Sheffield area have begun their search for a move to Chesterfield recently.

Jessica Risorto, Director at Redbrik, said: “It’s great to see so much interest in Chesterfield at the moment and so many people looking to move there as there is so much going on.

“Lots of young people choose to continue living in the city after they finish university as they don’t want to give up their exciting lifestyle, but more people are now realising that moving slightly further away doesn’t mean they have to give up on all the benefits of city living.

“In fact, they can have all those benefits with the advantage of the beautiful Peak District on their doorstep and more square footage for their money.”

Chesterfield will play host to several new events and activities this summer, such as the renowned Peddler Market and the first ever Chesterfield Children’s Festival.

On top of that, the independent food, drink and leisure offer in Chesterfield Town Centre, Chatsworth Road and Whittington Moor provides people with great options for socialising and spending their free time.

Pubs and bars dirty habit 873x466

Chesterfield is also well connected, with the beautiful Peak District sat on the western edge of the town, and great connectivity to major cities such as Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby, Manchester and Leeds. Chesterfield residents can also reach London within two hours by train.

Jessica added: “It’s amazing to see so much investment in Chesterfield and so many new offerings which are making a real difference in attracting people to the town – and bringing a slice of the city to the area. Coupled with recently being named one of the best places to raise a family in the country, Chesterfield is well and truly on the map!”

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

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