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Expansion for popular Chesterfield café and restaurant

A popular Chesterfield town centre café and restaurant has expanded, enabling it to serve more customers its wide range of food and drink.

No.10, a family-run business based on South Street has been open since 2008 – and over the last 15 years has continued to gain popularity, serving tasty home-cooked food.

The café has now opened a brand-new upstairs area, with seating available for 40 people. The room, which has a modern and homely feel, can also be hired for private functions, such as birthday parties, baby showers and hen parties.

Keith Todd, Owner of No.10 launched the business after being inspired by his father, who was a sergeant and chef in the army.

Keith says growing the business has been tough but rewarding, especially after the difficult trading period the business faced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He commented: “We’ve always had strong work ethics and needed to think of an alternate way of keeping going, hoping that our family business would survive.

“Our dining area was transformed into a mini supermarket stocking up with essentials from our suppliers. My son Adrian went from Café Manager to Delivery Driver taking essential goods to customers all over the area. Many people gifted Afternoon Teas to relatives that needed a pick-me-up during such a stressful point in our lives.”

However, the business recovered quickly once lockdown restrictions were eased, and Keith soon realised the premises needed to expand to cater for the ever-growing footfall.

He added: “Every day we were having to turn people away as we just didn’t have enough seating to meet the demand. At this point, we decided we needed to make the huge decision to try and expand further.

“This definitely came with huge amounts of issues, plenty of blood, sweat and tears, but we did it!”

The business is now looking to add an entertainment offering to help bring more people into the town centre, Keith said: “Our long-term aim is to offer events every night of the week, from Open Mic and Quiz Nights to Psychic Medium Evenings and Paranormal Investigations.

“We have bookings for a very popular Magician who specialises in Mentalism Magic. We just want to try and offer something for everyone under one roof.

“Chesterfield is definitely on the up and a town of growth and we hope to be a part of the growing entertainment community, not just be a cafe and restaurant which people know and love us for. My motto is ‘always look to improve and never stop developing’, which is very much like Chesterfield.”

Looking to launch your business in Chesterfield? Find out why our town is an ideal location to invest and grow: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

no10 cafe

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Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre welcomes nutrition brand as latest tenant

Chesterfield’s Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre has welcomed nutritional supplement brand, Nuzest as its latest tenant.

The business joins a list of several successful organisations to move to the centre in the heart of Chesterfield, which is now more than 80% occupied within its first year of opening.

Nuzest is a premium brand of plant-based nutritional supplements. The company’s key ranges include ‘Good Green Vitality’ a super multi-nutritional greens, and ‘Clean Lean Protein’ a clean and highly digestible protein supplement.

Good nutrition has been the company’s starting point since way back in 2012. It’s what founder, Trevor Bolland from New Zealand turned to when his daughter, Monique, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at 22.

Not satisfied with the bleak prognosis they were given, they looked to health experts all over the world for advice and turned a diagnosis into a directive to help others. What started as a father and daughter looking for answers, has grown into range of premium plant-based supplements, enjoyed by families around the world.

Fast forward to the UK today, and the business is recording growing sales on its website, on Amazon and across many retail outlets including Ocado, Whole Foods Market and Planet Organic to name a few.

Nuzest’s Adrian Beckett, who will be working from the firm’s new Chesterfield location, commented: “We have operated totally virtually as a team even before Covid. Having the Enterprise Centre available to us creates a new base for all things Nuzest in the UK. A place for us to collaborate in the same space and execute some exciting initiatives much faster.

“Chesterfield is favourably located to our CEO plus some of our existing team, it has fantastic transport links and is centrally located for the rest of the team to access also.

“The building itself is an incredible standard. Very clean, modern and with all the luxuries of a premium office setting (air con, 24/7 access, showers, secure, large windows with lots of light). What really sets it apart is the management though, nothing is ever too much trouble whether it is welcoming guests, receiving parcels or anything else which comes up.”

Adrian is also impressed by the sense of community created by working amongst other growing businesses based at the centre. He added: “There is a buzz here, lots of up-and-coming businesses to network with and find collaboration. Nuzest has quite a broad appeal and we are looking forward to connecting with more and more local businesses.

“The Enterprise Centre is an ideal home for us, it is the place where we see the business taking leaps and bounds in the coming year or two. We are focused on growing all of our main sales channels both in the UK but also the EU. We also have a healthy pipeline of new products which will start to feature online and in-store in the coming months, watch this space.”

Looking for premium office space for your organisation? Our friendly team will help you find the perfect location for you and your business right here in Chesterfield. Find out more at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/office/

Nuzest chesterfield northern gateway

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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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Chesterfield Royal Hospital’s maternity services rated ‘good’ by inspectors

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has been rated as ‘Good’ in maternity services, following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection, which happened in May.

The inspection, carried out by the CQCs national maternity services inspection programme, aims to provide an up-to-date view of the quality of hospital maternity care across the country and a better understanding of what is working well to support learning and improvement at a local and national level. This latest inspection covered the ‘safe’ and ‘well-led’ areas of the CQC questions.

The Trust’s overall Maternity Services have also been rated as ‘good’ – which remains the case since May 2020.

Krishna Kallianpur, Chief Nurse, said: “This is great news for the Trust and something we are very proud to announce. It is incredibly challenging for Trusts to reach this standard of care in maternity services and is testament to a lot of hard work by colleagues at all levels.

“I am particularly pleased that the CQC recognised and highlighted such a positive culture where colleagues feel respected, supported and valued. It’s important to all of us across the Trust to be able to raise concerns without fear and this, too, was raised as a positive with leaders being visible and approachable.

“Our goal is for continuous improvement and development, so working with organisations such as Derbyshire Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership and directly with our communities, I feel we can continue to learn and develop and continue to strive as well as celebrate this achievement together.”

The inspectors also recognised the leadership team’s skills and abilities of colleagues managing the service.

Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive, said: “I very much welcome this report and the findings of this inspection. It’s great to see that the CQC saw the service was there for people when they needed us and all colleagues were committed to improving to ensure people receive a high standard of care. This highlights again that we continue to do more and more to ensure we are recommended as a place to not only work but receive great care. It is a huge positive for Chesterfield Royal Hospital especially against the challenges maternity care is facing nationally.”

Inspectors found the following during this inspection:

  • Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff understood the service’s vision and values, and how to apply them in their work.
  • Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent.
  • Staff worked well together for the benefit of people using the service, and understood how to protect people from abuse.
  • The service controlled infection risk well.
  • Staff assessed risks to people using the service, acted on them and kept good care records.
  • Safety incidents were managed well and lessons learned from them.
  • The service engaged well with people and the community to plan and manage services.
  • Staff were focused on the needs of those receiving care.

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.

royal hospital aerial shot

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Innovative scheme supports more than 900 Derbyshire start-up businesses

A ground-breaking support scheme has provided funding and advice to more than 900 start-up businesses in Derbyshire so far.

The Vision Derbyshire business support scheme offers free, impartial advice and support to new businesses. It also provides grant funding of up to £10,000 to eligible businesses.

To date, more than £280,000 has been issued in grant funding to support entrepreneurs across the county.

One of the businesses to receive the support is Chesterfield-based CK’s Fruit, Veg and Flowers – formerly known as Ibbotson’s. The shop in Hasland offers quality local produce, such as honey from Wingerworth, potatoes from Calow and various vegetables from Holymoorside.

Rich Jones, Co-owner of CK’s Fruit and Veg commented: “Without the support of the Vision Derbyshire team we wouldn’t have been able to install new fridges, cutting our energy usage by 2/3, and certainly wouldn’t have been able to justify the creation of our E-Commerce website where our full range of fruit, veg and flowers are available to buy for delivery across the whole of Chesterfield.”

“Schemes like this don’t only provide financial support for projects and improvements, they also have training and support behind the scenes to help you succeed as a business, these can include one-to-one conversations, webinars or in-person training days at the colleges and other training providers in the area.

“It’s very easy as a small business owner to feel alone, however the team have supported us over the last 12 months and are always there if we’ve got a question or query.”

Rich hopes the shop will help to provide a quality and good-value local service to people across Chesterfield, providing an alternative to the major supermarket chains.

He added: “We’re really keen to get our little business and the amazing products out there to the wider Chesterfield area. Supermarkets provide an amazing amount of convenience and it’s not always easy to get to your local Fruit and Veg shop or Florist and that’s where we’re hoping to make that little bit of difference. What’s more, we deliver it directly to your door. Find us at our website www.cksfruitvegandflowers.co.uk or on Facebook.”

Cllr Tricia Gilby, Economic lead for Vision Derbyshire and Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council commented: “I’m delighted to see CK’s Fruit, Veg & Flowers develop and grow thanks to support from our Vision Derbyshire Business Start-Up support scheme. Helping businesses to be sustainable is a key objective for the scheme, and I wish the team all the best for the future.”

Thinking of launching a business in Chesterfield? For more information on starting and growing your organisation in the town, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

Read our latest blog of local start-up success stories, along with tips and advice from local business leaders at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/2023/01/get-your-business-idea-off-the-ground-in-chesterfield/

 

Rich CK's Fruit and Veg

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Robinson creates packaging for Biscuiteers

Chesterfield-based manufacturer Robinson, which specialises in value-added custom packaging, is creating a range of boxes for Biscuiteers.

Biscuiteers Baking Company is a British gifting retailer, specialising in both bespoke and corporate hand-iced biscuits, chocolates, and cakes.

Robinson were approached to supply rigid boxes with a stylish pristine white paper and detailed embossing. The boxes are contemporary looking with a solid black printed finish and gold foil blocking.

The letterbox designs come in both a solid lid version and a window option to highlight the beautifully hand decorated iced biscuits.

biscuiteers

Liliana Bonilla – purchasing manager at Biscuiteers commented: “Robinson Paperbox have helped us with their stockholding facility. This enables us to bulk order so we can achieve better pricing and call off the stock as required to meet our customers’ demand”.

Jon Walker – New business development manager at Robinson Paperbox Packaging commented:” Working with Biscuiteers on existing and new boxes has been very exciting. Our recently installed SATE machine offers both extremely high quality and good rates of efficiencies. The detailed foil blocking design needed to be applied accurately to the lid, and our new machine allows us to do this to an exceptionally high standard due to it having the lowest tolerances.”

Robinson were also recently awarded FSC ® certification (Licence code: FSC-C186000) for its Paperbox division.

FSC certification ensures that all products produced at Paperbox are sustainable. FSC-managed forests help provide clean air and water by restricting hazardous chemicals and following strict harvesting and forestry practices. Their work also helps ensure a diversity of animals, trees and plants as well as providing safe working conditions for everyone involved.

Robinson partners with some of the world’s most luxurious brands, from concept to commercialisation, creating widely recyclable packaging made from 100% post-consumer recycled material.

Find out more about why Chesterfield is an excellent location to base your manufacturing business: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

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

Robinsons packaging

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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/

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

£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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University of Derby signs new Strategic Partnership Agreement with Derbyshire Voluntary Action

A renewed strategic partnership has been announced between the University of Derby and Derbyshire Voluntary Action.

The partnership is set to further strengthen the link between the University and charity and community groups across Derbyshire.

The University and DVA created Community Chesterfield in 2019. The lottery-funded partnership project, led by the University’s College of Health, Psychology, and Social Care, aims to connect knowledge and expertise at the University with that of the voluntary and community sector in the region.

The Community Chesterfield partnership has won several national awards in the last four years, including Student Nursing Times and Voluntary Sector Awards.

It has delivered thousands of hours of training, placements, networking opportunities, and more for students and staff at the University, as well as supporting businesses, charities, and community groups.

As part of Community Chesterfield’s core goal to strengthen the voluntary and charity sector, they have come together with the University to contribute to the academic curriculum of student nurses.

The partnership is adding rich new elements to their studies, introducing them to the wealth of knowledge and resources that charities and communities can give, and giving them the opportunity to connect with groups and individuals who have lived experience of the systems that they will be working with.

This new expanded strategic partnership will unlock further resources and opportunities for students and staff across the University to connect with charities and community groups across Derby and Derbyshire.

It will allow new areas of the University to benefit from Community Chesterfield’s network, introducing course leads and students to a knowledge base outside their predicted experience.

The strategic partnership affirms the commitment to see both organisations working together to make positive change and widen the understanding of the difference charities and communities really make to people’s lives.

Jacqui Willis, Chief Executive of Derbyshire Voluntary Action, said: “Amplifying the voices of communities has never been so important. The opportunities Derbyshire Voluntary Action’s partnership with the University of Derby has created for students to enhance their studies has been incredible and impactful.”

Dr Denise Baker, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the College of Health, Psychology, and Social Care at the University of Derby, added: “We are extremely proud to have the continuation and extension of this partnership with Derbyshire Voluntary Action.

“The impact created by working in partnership with local charities and community groups is remarkable, generating opportunities for our students and staff and sharing the expertise we have at the University to help make a difference.”

The new strategic partnership aligns to DVA’s core goals of supporting the voluntary sector, and with Derby’s Civic University Agreement, which was launched in 2022.

If you would like to find out more about how you can be involved, and what you or your organisation can benefit from, DVA invites you to connect with them through https://www.communitychesterfield.org.uk/getinvolved.

Derbyshire Voluntary Action and the University of Derby support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Community Chesterfield

 

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Multiple Green Flag Awards for Chesterfield parks and green spaces

Chesterfield has been recognised for its excellent parks and green spaces with several Green Flag Awards.

King George V Park in Staveley is raising the flag for the first-time following improvements carried out over the last two years. Spaces including Eastwood Park, Queen’s Park, Holmebrook Valley Country Park, Poolsbrook Country Park and the gardens of Chesterfield and District Crematorium have all retained Green Flag status.

Hollingwood Hub, managed by Chesterfield Canal Trust has also received the prestigious award, marking the seventh year in a row in which the centre has recieved the accolade.

Councillor Jonathan Davies, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Green spaces are important for the whole community. They offer a place to socialise, support the health and wellbeing of our residents and help improve biodiversity.

“Winning six of these awards shows the quality of parks and outdoor facilities in our borough. These awards also recognise the hard work of our teams in keeping these spaces to a high standard.

“I’m especially pleased that we have received a Green Flag for King George V Park in Staveley as we have been focused on improving this park and creating better facilities for local residents.”

Rod Auton, Secretary of the Chesterfield Canal Trust, said “We are absolutely delighted to have received this award once more. We are so lucky to have a group of hard-working and reliable volunteers who look after the gardens at Hollingwood Hub throughout the year.

Hollingwood Hub

“We know their work is much admired by our thousands of visitors, both the regulars and those who happen upon this beautiful place by accident. I have lost count of the number of people I have seen taking selfies by our flower boat.”

Over the last two years King George V Park has benefitted from a lot of investment to ensure it is suitable for visitors of all ages. Improvements have been made to the bowling facilities, multi-use games area, and skate park. Funding through the Staveley Town Deal allowed for the installation of new play equipment and an outdoor gym.

Last year a new tree boulevard was planted to welcome visitors to the park and currently works are underway to improve the tennis courts in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association.

Councillor Jonathan Davies added: “We are investing in parks and green spaces across the borough over the next five years, and one of our key aims is to further increase the number of parks with Green Flag awards.”

The Parks, Open Spaces and Play Delivery Plan (2023 to 2028), which was approved by Cabinet in February 2023, sets out Chesterfield Borough Council’s commitment to making sure local communities continue to have access to modern and well-maintained spaces for leisure and play, and to support people’s health and wellbeing.

It will lead to more than one million pounds being invested in parks and green spaces over the course of the five-year programme. Communities will benefit from 18 enhanced youth and play spaces, and also aims to double the number of its sites that are acknowledged by the Green Flag Award.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world.

A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces is available here.

Cllr Jonathan Davies, Paul Mann and CBC Staff

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