Property and Construction

Hotpod Yoga studio set to open at Chesterfield’s Elder Way

Hotpod Yoga will be the first tenant to locate to the new units created in the former Co-op department store on Elder Way.

Chris Wilkinson, owner of the new Hotpod Yoga Chesterfield franchise, has signed a 10-year lease on unit 7, a 1,420 sq ft unit located at the top of Elder Way near Saltergate.

He said: “I love the location. It is prominently located in the town centre and offers convenient parking for customers. It is a beautiful building, full of history and fresh energy. I am very much looking forward to opening the studio.”

Hotpod Yoga Chesterfield will open to the public on Thursday 18 April, with the first class taking place at 12.30pm.

Part of the national Hotpod Yoga chain, the new studio on Elder Way will offer an immersive yoga experience, using a pod as a safe environment for people to practice yoga in 37-degree heat while maximising the senses through relaxing sounds and calming scents.

The new Hotpod Yoga unit is one of seven street level units and large basement that have been created by regeneration specialist Jomast Developments. Additionally, there is a 92-bed Premier Inn hotel which has been successfully trading on the upper two floors of the building since 2019.

Mark Hill, Jomast’s Commercial Property Director welcomed Hotpod Yoga Chesterfield to Elder Way saying: “The addition of Hotpod Yoga to Elder Way brings forward the health and wellbeing element we envisaged for the building when we redeveloped it. Elder Way offers an ideal location for businesses. Not only is it an iconic building, but it is centrally located and benefits from excellent amenities and footfall from surrounding businesses, all of which have been further boosted by Chesterfield Borough Council’s investment in the town centre.”

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “It is fantastic to be able to welcome a new business to the town centre and I am delighted that they have chosen to be based on Elder Way. Following on from the redevelopment of the old Co-op department store we invested in improving the paving and area from Elder Way along Packers Row as part of our Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project.

“This investment has helped create a more attractive area and we will begin work on the wider project in the marketplace later this year. Using external funding to help improve our town centre is about creating an environment where businesses and visitors want to be, which will help grow our local economy.

“I wish Chris all the best with his new business venture, and I look forward to welcoming more businesses to Elder Way in the future.”

Work is now underway to install the heated pod, showers, toilets, changing and reception areas ahead of the opening next month.

Chris commented: “The unit is a real blank canvas which is making for a straightforward fit out.”

As a former NHS mental health nurse, Chris, who is also a qualified yoga teacher, aims to offer both health and wellbeing benefits through the yoga classes which will be delivered by fully qualified instructors. Classes, which are suitable for all levels, will run seven days a week from 6.30am.

The opening of the new yoga studio at Elder Way brings the Hotpod Yoga brand back to Chesterfield. Previously owned by another franchisee, and located at Chesterfield FC, the studio was forced to close amid the Covid crisis.

Chris commented: “I am delighted to bring the Hotpod Yoga brand back to Chesterfield. There was demand for it then and I believe demand has increased further as people recognise the mental health benefits of hot yoga as the heat enables the mind to become more focussed.”

Launched in 2013, Hotpod Yoga is now Europe’s largest yoga business with around 70 locations, including Sheffield and Derby.

Six units now remain available at Elder Way with joint agents, WSB Property and FHP, reporting strong interest from a number of operators.

For enquiries or further information about the units, visit www.elderway.co.uk

To book a class at Hotpod Yoga Chesterfield, visit hotpodyoga.com/studios/chesterfield/

Chris Wilkinson Hotpod Yoga Elder Way

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Work completed on luxury Chesterfield town centre apartments

The creation of 55 high-spec apartments in a prominent Chesterfield town centre building has been completed less than a year after work began.

The project has come in bang on schedule, and a launch date for the new apartments above shops in Burlington Street is taking place today (Friday, March 15).

Nottingham-based developer ALB Group has achieved a “first” for the company in its conversion of the town centre space.

As part of the redevelopment, an extra floor has been added at the top of the building, providing an additional 13 apartments, many of which have the benefit of a balcony.

Arran Bailey, managing director of ALB Group, said he was delighted with the end result.

“The result is unbelievable,” he said. “Not only has it made the existing building look so much more appealing and modern, but it has also created some apartments with fabulous outside space.

“The upper two floors of the building have now been remodelled while the ground floor remains in use for commercial retailers.”

Tenants currently occupying the commercial space on the ground floor include H Samuel, Betfred, and Max Speilman.

Arran said: “It’s the first time we have added an extra storey onto a block, and it’s turned out fantastically – we are very pleased with the results.”

The development has taken just 51 weeks from work starting until finish.

“We are extremely happy with how this redevelopment has turned out,” said Arran. “It has transformed the high street, breathing new life in this part of the town, while also providing high specification ‘must have’ apartments for the people of Chesterfield.”

ALB is committed to championing improvements in town and city centres across the country. The firm has made recent property purchases in Norwich, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby, Nottingham, Peterborough, Ipswich, Huddersfield and Birkenhead, where footfall has since seen significant increases.

Rated the 2nd best place in the UK to raise a family, and the happiest place to live in the East Midlands, our town has so much to offer. Find out more about living in Chesterfield here. 

Chesterfield apartments burlington street external

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PEAK Gateway Resort receives reserved matters planning approval

Chesterfield Borough Council has approved the reserved matters planning application for a revised first phase of the PEAK Gateway Resort on the reclaimed Birchall Estate. The 300-acre property is located on the eastern boundary of the Peak District National Park in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

PEAK proposes to bring the scope and services of internationally successful ski resorts to create the UK’s equivalent for biking, hiking and other adventure sports as well as for nature, culture and heritage experiences.

PEAK will have its own micro grid for energy, waste and water. PEAK will generate and consume its own energy and operate a zero-carbon tourism dedicated mobility service.

Planning permission includes extensive overnight and holiday accommodation supported by hospitality, leisure, wellness, a multi-disciplinary bike park and experiential retail. As such, it is one of the largest permitted mixed-use leisure schemes in the UK. Five of the six largest cities in England are within 75 miles, providing a visitor catchment of over 20 million people.

Labelled Gateway at PEAK Image

Locally, PEAK has the potential to create over 1,000 new jobs. It will partner with the education sector to deliver a Green Skills Academy in support of both PEAK and Chesterfield’s commitment to training and upskilling across a broad range of key sectors, but especially for construction and tourism.

PEAK will be open to day, as well as stay visitors. Local residents and businesses will be able to take advantage of incentives and membership opportunities.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “PEAK Resort offers a fantastic opportunity to bring more visitors into Chesterfield, grow our local economy and create a range of new jobs.

“It will be an incredible asset for our borough and will be a national leader in respect of clean energy, zero carbon mobility and skills.

“I look forward to seeing this development take shape over the next few years.”

PEAK Gateway Resort from above

The current landowner has, over many years, fully reclaimed the 300-acre Birchall estate from opencast. The property now provides the perfect natural setting for the consented development. Nature and outdoor experiences are at the heart of the PEAK offer and BNG (Biodiversity Net Gain) resulting from the development will all be achieved on the property.

Birchall and PEAK hope to be an exemplar of the reclamation of land from the industries of the past into enterprises of the future.

Rupert Carr, a director of Birchall and Peak Gateway Properties, said at the Planning Committee Meeting: “PEAK is the opportunity to deliver a clean growth infrastructure for the regional visitor economy, an opportunity for Chesterfield and indeed the region to build a significant presence in one of the fastest growing economic sectors. PEAK is finally of its time.”

PEAK Resort will also support the UK’s first hydrogen and EV tourist mobility service linking visitors to Chesterfield’s medieval market town centre, its national rail station and surrounding attractions as well as to the trails and natural wonders of the National Park.

Tarah Gear, director at Milligan who are part of Peak Gateway Properties said; “PEAK will become a blueprint for sustainable tourism, adding value to Chesterfield’s economy and community through job creation, investment in skills and regional connectivity.

“Milligan are proud to have been part of the team bringing the project forward to a point of market readiness. PEAK, as proposed, has been achieved through true partnership, a collaboration between local and regional stakeholders as well as national and international commercial operators. PEAK now has the opportunity to be a trailblazer and set new standards for the future of leisure and tourism.”

Colliers’ National Capital Markets team have been appointed to take the project forwards.

PEAK Gateway View

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£117m to be invested in council housing across Chesterfield

Around £117 million is to be invested into council homes across Chesterfield over the next four years – as part of Chesterfield Borough Council’s continued commitment to creating affordable, decent homes for people across the borough.

The Housing Capital Programme sets out the investment priorities for the next financial year, which will see the council spend £30.1 million on improving and increasing the housing supply in the borough.

The capital programme also details the council’s longer-term plans through to March 2028 to ensure that the council can continue to meet the decent homes standard, further improve the energy efficiency of its houses, and provide quality, affordable and accessible homes for local people.

Modernisation and refurbishment of the council’s existing homes remains a key priority in the council’s programme and will see the continuation of kitchen improvements and roofing upgrades, whilst there will also be improvements to footpaths, fencing and gates to help improve the look and feel of neighbourhoods.

In addition to refurbishing the existing housing stock, the council is committed to building almost 100 new council properties by 2028 to increase the number of affordable homes available in the area. Work to create 22 new build properties at Middlecroft and Westwood Avenue is now well underway, and additional sites have also been identified for new build projects.

In line with the council’s climate strategy, the work set out in the capital programme will also make a significant step towards improving the energy efficiency of its homes, for example replacing boilers and windows with more efficient options – allowing Chesterfield to become a low carbon, resilient and sustainable borough. This will not only help to reduce carbon emissions but will also help to reduce energy bills for tenants.

A further investment will also be made to help tackle damp and mould in homes. A recent survey has shown that the number of homes experiencing issues with damp and mould has almost halved but the council remains committed to tackling these issues.

Councillor Jean Innes, cabinet member for housing, said: “Our aim, as always, is to enhance Chesterfield’s housing offer and ensure we can provide affordable high-quality homes. A stock condition survey carried out in 2022 identified that the quality of our council homes has improved from the previous survey that took place in 2017.  This shows our investments have been made in the right areas, but we know there is more that we can do to ensure we can achieve and maintain a 100% decent homes standard.

“Our newly approved capital programme set out our strong commitment to achieving this and improving our homes to ensure they meet the needs of the people of Chesterfield, as well as actively contributing to the climate change agenda by ensuring all homes are energy efficient.

“Like local authorities across the country, the council is facing unprecedented financial challenges  but our priority is to make sure under-pressure budgets are spent on the essential services that local people rely on, including the provision of quality and affordable homes for the people of Chesterfield.”

town hall drone shot

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Research shows Derbyshire is still on track for EV boom

New research suggests our area remains on track for an EV boom. A study by Midlands Connect predicts that Derbyshire and Derby city could see just under 66,000 electric cars on its streets by the end of the decade, with a significant increase in public EV charge points needed to keep up with demand.

The new projections were announced today at Midlands Connect’s EV Conference. Figures suggest Derby and Derbyshire will see a 440% increase in uptake in electric vehicles by the end of 2030, with projections predicting to rise from 12,216 EVs today to 65,915 on its roads by the end of 2030.

New research forecasts have shown Derby and Derbyshire require a further 6,949 public charging points by 2030 to support the increase in EV use over the next decade, an 1,534% increase from the 453 chargers existing across the region today.

Estimates suggest that by 2030, the Midlands could be home to over 2million EVs, with just under 1 in 3 (32.5%) vehicles being electric. To support this growing number of EVs, 58,997 new public EV charging points must be installed across the Midlands by the end of the decade. This means installing 27 new EVCPs every day, 194 per week, and 9,832 per year until the end of 2030.

The work is part of the Sub-national Transport Body’s efforts to support Local Authorities in increasing EV charger roll-out. In September 2023, it partnered with 14 Local Authorities for a total of £40.3mil of Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to be part of consortium approach, accounting for ~61% of the regions £66.5mil funding.

The figures were announced at Midlands Connect’s EV Conference today, which brought together senior leaders and policymakers to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the Electric Vehicle industry. Discussions included hearing from firms manufacturing EVs; electrifying fleets of vehicles and ensuring that electrified transport is accessible to everyone.

Commenting on the research, Midlands Connect’s CEO, Maria Machancoses, said: “It’s clear Derby and Derbyshire is still on the brink of a boom in Electric Vehicles, that could see just under 66,000 electric cars on its streets by the end of decade.

“Local Authorities across the Midlands are doing a great job to roll out charging points, but they cannot do this alone. We’re already working with Local Authorities to support their work and help secure EV infrastructure funding from Government.

“Our conference allowed us to bring together many different aspects of the EV industry, including Government, to discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead. We want to make the Midlands the home of the green industrial revolution.”

Councillor Carolyn Renwick, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, said: “We welcome this valuable research from Midlands Connect which qualifies the actions we’re taking to meet this projected demand.

“We’re committed to providing convenient, comprehensive, and cost-effective charging solutions for road users in Derbyshire and are progressing several projects in this area.

“We’re providing solutions for those without off street parking by developing a network of slow chargers utilising existing street lights. This solution is perfect for overnight residential use and we’re working with residents to locate suitable sites where there is demand. We’re also exploring opportunities to develop Rapid and Ultra rapid charging hubs, through private sector partnerships, to keep commercial fleet operational.

“But we can’t do this alone. Obviously, we need to work in partnership with private sector providers to roll out charging infrastructure in Derbyshire at pace and we’re currently in conversations with industry with a view to installing the next phase later this year.”

Cars driving on road with crooked Spire in the background

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Chesterfield council housing project shortlisted for award

An £8 million regeneration project on council homes in Chesterfield has been shortlisted for a Building Communities Award – as works that improve, transform and modernise a housing estate are finalised.

The project, which has seen the transformation of the blocks of flats located at Newland Dale in Stonegravels has been shortlisted for the ‘Refurbishment Project of the Year’ award at the event that takes place on 15 March 2024.

The flats on Newland Dale have benefitted from a major facelift as part of Chesterfield Borough Council’s commitment to providing quality affordable housing across the borough and create modern, attractive places for people to live.

The modernisation works, carried out by the council’s main contractor Fortem Solutions Ltd. include a rendering works to the outside of the buildings – bringing a fresh and modern look and feel to the area.

In line with its climate change strategy, the council is committed to ensuring its properties are energy efficient, and a number of improvements have been made to the properties to help achieve this.

This included upgrading and fully re-insulating the roofing as well as replacing the windows throughout, whilst each property has also benefited from a boiler upgrade. As well as supporting the council’s climate plan, these measures will also help reduce fuel bills for council tenants.

All indoor communal areas have been redecorated, with non-slip flooring and new handrails being installed throughout to further improve the safety for tenants.

Outside of the properties, the project has seen the addition of two new car parks on site, including additional disabled bays and new cycle store rails. Footpaths and roads have also been resurfaced, with new traffic calming measures being installed – such as new speed signs and a pedestrian crossing.

Councillor Jean Innes, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “We are really pleased to see another one of our modernisation projects complete. Creating attractive places for people to live is at the heart of what we do and this project really has helped to improve tenant’s homes and brighten up the area.

“It is great that the project has been shortlisted for a ‘Refurbishment Project of the Year’ award as it recognised the hard work that has been put in by the council and Fortem to transform these properties for our tenants.

“It is really positive to see the homes become much more energy efficient too as we work towards our goal of becoming a carbon neutral borough by 2050. As the cost of living continues to rise, these measures will also help to reduce the fuel bills for our tenants too.”

Tom Nicholson, commercial manager for Fortem Solutions, said: “We want to extend our praise to both the site team and our esteemed client upon the successful completion of the Newland Dale refurbishment project. The dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment demonstrated by the site team throughout every stage of the project was truly fantastic. Their tireless efforts, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills ensured that the project was executed flawlessly, exceeding all expectations.

“We also want to express our gratitude to our client for their collaborative approach and unwavering support throughout the entire process. Their clear vision, constructive feedback, and willingness to engage in open communication were instrumental in achieving our shared goals.

“Together, we have transformed ideas into reality, delivering something that not only meets but surpasses the needs and desires of our client and their residents. It has been an absolute pleasure working alongside such dedicated professionals once again, and we look forward to the opportunity of future collaborations.”

Chesterfield Borough Council and Fortem Solutions support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Newland Dale

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Contractor appointed to build new canal bridge at Staveley

The Chesterfield Canal Trust has appointed O’Brien Contractors Ltd. to construct and install a new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists over the soon-to-be restored route of the canal at Staveley.

This will be the first stage of the Trust’s £6 million restoration project. The bulk of the money is from the Staveley Town Deal, a government levelling up project.

The new 38 metre long bridge will take the Trans Pennine Trail across the canal to meet the Arkwright Trail. Later the canal itself will be restored including a new bridge for farm vehicles and a new lock. There will also be a freshly landscaped relaxation area including picnic benches and information boards. This will be carefully planted to encourage wildlife.

O’Brien’s will start on site in April and major groundworks will start in May. The bridge will be installed in the summer and there will be a formal opening ceremony in September. You will be able to follow the progress of the works as they happen by going to the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s website.

Tony Mitchell, Director, O’Brien Contractors Ltd, said: “We are extremely pleased to have been appointed by The Chesterfield Canal Trust to provide the new canal bridge at Staveley. This prestigious project will be a huge benefit to pedestrians and cyclists all over the region and the restoration of this historic route will benefit the community for many years to come. We look forward to working with the Trust and their team over the course of this exciting project.”

Chesterfield Canal Trust Development Manager, George Rogers, said “This is a big milestone for the Chesterfield Canal Trust, and we are delighted to appoint O’Brien Contractors to deliver this statement structure over the canal. Installing this bridge will open up the route for future restoration in multiple ways and I am looking forward to seeing it progress over the summer”.

Ivan Fomin, Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, said: “It’s taken a huge amount of work by the team at the Chesterfield Canal Trust to get to this point and I want to thank them for their efforts and congratulate them on reaching this important milestone. The expansion of the canal is an important project for the town deal – it will help make the town a more attractive place to visit and provide residents with new outdoor facilities to explore. I look forward to seeing the bridge completed as this will unlock the next stages of this project.”

The Trust currently has an appeal to raise £50,000 to go towards the cost of the gates for the new Keith Ayling Lock, named after a former Chair of the Trust.

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

TPT Bridge Chesterfield canal artist impression

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Midlands Engine Investment Fund II launches providing businesses with the funds to grow

The British Business Bank has launched its £400 million Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, unlocking additional funding to help smaller businesses in Derbyshire prosper and thrive.

The fund will drive sustainable economic growth by supporting new and growing businesses across the whole of the Midlands, through investment strategies that best meet the needs of these firms. It includes a range of finance options with loans from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investments up to £5 million to help small and medium-sized businesses start up, scale up, or stay ahead.

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II aims to build on the success of the inaugural Midlands Engine Investment Fund, a £300m fund which has already supported 739 smaller businesses since its launch in 2017. The new fund will help hundreds more businesses to achieve their potential and further increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance by providing options to firms that might otherwise be unable to secure investment. Funding is designed to help smaller businesses with activities including expansion, product or service innovation, new processes, skills development and capital equipment.

Five fund managers have been appointed to manage the fund. BCRS Business Loans and First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans will manage the smaller loans part of the fund (£25,000 to £100,000), Frontier Development Capital and Maven Capital Partners will be responsible for larger loans (£100,000 to £2 million) and Mercia Ventures will manage equity deals (up to £5 million).

Louis Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, British Business Bank said: Small businesses are at the heart of The Midlands’ economy. Since launching in 2017, the first Midlands Engine Investment Fund has so far created more than 4,000 jobs across the region by backing 739 smaller businesses, boosting the region’s productivity by 70%.

The first Midlands Engine Investment Fund provided a blueprint for how we can support entrepreneurs and founders, whoever they are and wherever they are in the region, to access the funds and support they need. This new fund will allow us to continue supporting business owners across the Midlands, whether they’re at the start of their journey or are already running an established firm.

Promoting growth by ensuring entrepreneurs can access the finance they need regardless of where and who they are is one of the Bank’s strategic objectives, and vital to unlocking the full potential of the UK’s smaller businesses.

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Gareth Davies MP said: Small businesses are the engine of the economy, which is why having access to funding like this is vital to help them thrive and grow, creating jobs and spreading opportunity everywhere.

As the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, the Midlands propelled the UK into a new era of technological and economic growth and now the next generation of entrepreneurs will have the support they need to continue this success.

Find out more about support available to businesses in Chesterfield.

Manufacturing at Weightron. Two men working on industrial weighbridge with sparks flying

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Chamber warns new government railway funding needs to do more to respond to East Midlands’ needs

Long-anticipated government funds of £123 million allocated to Midlands Rail Hub – a project to improve connectivity between train stations across the midlands – is to be welcomed, however, does little to meet the needs of those in the East Midlands, say East Midlands Chamber.

The initiative uses cash freed up by abandoned HS2 funds to upgrade stations and improve infrastructure across the overall midlands area.

East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Chris Hobson said:

“While any investment in midlands railway infrastructure is to be welcomed, we’re concerned that once again the primary focus is on towns and cities outside of the East Midlands. Our Manifesto for Growth 2024, which we’re taking to Westminster on 11th March, asks our policy makers to ensure we deliver fair funding for infrastructure in the East Midlands.

“This isn’t about receiving investment at the expense of our neighbours to the west, it’s about Government doing more to rectify the fact that we are the most under-funded region in the country when it comes to rail travel.

“We have desperately inadequate service between stations within the East Midlands and this hampers the tremendous growth potential of businesses. It’s all very well that a Birmingham-bound passenger might be able to jump on an extra train here and there at Nottingham but what we’re stating loud and clear in our manifesto is the huge need for transformational improvement within the East Midlands.

“We look forward to taking our manifesto to Westminster on 11th March and insisting politicians listen to what our businesses need to succeed.”

In Chesterfield, ambitious plans are set to transform the area between the town centre and Chesterfield Railway Station – creating a vibrant gateway to North Derbyshire and providing improved public transport access.

Read more about the Chesterfield Station Masterplan here.

Chesterfield rail train station

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Chesterfield homes to get a new lease of life in major renovation

A section of houses in Chesterfield which have been unoccupied for many years are now being brought back to life, following an exciting collaboration between two property businesses.

The buildings at 18-20 Highfield Road date back over 150 years, and are now being restored into high-end and co-living homes.

Once complete, the properties will be managed by Dovedale Property Lettings, who are working alongside Property Projects Group on the revamp.

The works will also greatly improve the energy efficiency of the properties, with plenty of insulation being installed ready for the arrival of new occupants.

Rick Cusimano, Co-Owner of Dovedale Property Lettings explained the story behind the exciting project: “Overgrown with trees and weeds, the houses were barely visible from the road for many years.

“I first became aware of them around 5 years ago, when I tried to make some enquiries to locate the owners, to no avail. Eventually, I saw them go up for auction and immediately knew I had to try and restore them if I could.

“Mark-Jonathan Wilkinson from Property Projects Group shared my vision for bringing these properties back into use and after a few visits he decided to take it on! His team is doing a great job over there.”

“With super-fast broadband and modern decor, these will be stunning places to live. I’m incredibly excited to be able to restore these houses to high-end homes, it’ll be an incredible transformation. Work is progressing well and we’re hoping to be able to officially launch in August this year!”

In addition, Rick also explained the many strengths Chesterfield has for people looking to locate themselves or their families: “I’m a huge advocate for Chesterfield, it has so much potential, with excellent transport links north and south, and the Peak District on the doorstep, it has an enviable location and a huge charm and character with its iconic crooked spire and mock tudor buildings.

“We’re so excited to see the regeneration and development happening within the town, and we’re delighted to be helping, one property at a time!”

Keep up-to-date with the project on the Property Projects Group Linkedin page and the Dovedale Property Lettings website.

progress_garden_clearout Highfield Road

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Chesterfield apprentice employers encouraged to enter prestigious top 100 list

Firms in Chesterfield are being encouraged to enter themselves into the running for the England Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list.

The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers celebrates England’s outstanding apprenticeship employers, recognising their commitment to creating new apprenticeships, the diversity of their apprentices, and the number of apprentices who successfully achieve their apprenticeships.

And the Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers features the country’s leading small and medium-sized employers who offer apprenticeship programmes.

First compiled in 2020, the prestigious annual employer rankings have been developed by the Department of Education, in partnership with High Fliers Research, who independently assess and rank the nation’s top apprenticeship employers.

Over the past three years, more than 1,000 apprenticeship employers from a wide range of industries and business sectors have entered for the rankings.

The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers are back in 2024 to showcase the apprenticeship employers that have done the most to provide apprenticeship opportunities over the past 12 months.

Entries are now open and the results will be announced during a special TV programme in the summer – and apprenticeship employers featured in the new 2024 rankings will be invited to attend a celebration lunch at the House of Commons in the autumn.

Previous Chesterfield winners for the top 50 SME list include Less Than Zero barbers and Clee Hill Plant. Find out more about their nominations here.

Together, the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers will reveal which employers – large and small – are this year’s most successful apprenticeship employers.

Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education commented: “Since 2020, we’ve been highlighting the top apprenticeship employers in England, to recognise their ongoing commitment to delivering amazing apprenticeships.

“Last year we received a record number of entries from more than 800 different employers, and this year we want to break that record. We’ve revolutionised technical education in this country, with almost 70% of occupations now available as apprenticeships. We couldn’t do that without you, the fantastic employers who deliver them.

“We look forward to seeing another fantastic range of entries for the 2024 rankings. Thank you and good luck!”

Find out more about the list and nominate your business at: https://topapprenticeshipemployers.co.uk/

Apprentice welder and mentor at a local manufacturing business in Chesterfield

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