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Chesterfield businesses invited to have say on government Industrial Strategy before time runs out

With exactly one month left until the government closes public consultation on Invest 2035 – its Industrial Strategy – East Midlands Chamber is to hold three round table webinars for the business community to help shape and influence the consultation response ahead of the 24th November deadline.

Insight and evidence gathered at the webinars – to be held on 11th, 18th and 20th November – will provide the core elements, shaping the response East Midlands Chamber delivers to the government.

The government’s Industrial Strategy proposes to boost growth across clean energy, advanced manufacturing, creative industries, clean energy, design and technologies, defence, life sciences, financial services and professional and business services. The final Industrial Strategy will be published in spring 2025, alongside the multi-year spending review.

East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Richard Blackmore said: “This is a critical moment where, with only 4 weeks until the clock runs out on the government’s public consultation, it’s essential the voice of business in the East Midlands is heard.

“The Green Paper identifies 8 key sectors which offer the highest growth opportunities for the UK economy. It is vital the East Midlands is seen as a key delivery partner for some, or all of these to ensure the region benefits from the impact on growth this strategy is set out to deliver over the next 10 years. We’re calling on the region’s business community share their views and experiences on the 10 questions we’ve raised including ‘How should the government identify the most important subsectors and technologies’ and ‘What barriers are there to investment?’

“It’s just a case of a business choosing one of the three webinar dates that work for them and registering. Sparing a short amount of time could really make a difference.

“These opportunities to influence policy on this scale are rare. It’s seven years since the previous government released the last Industrial Strategy, so now is a key opportunity which I’d urge businesses in the East Midlands to seize and shape the response that the Chamber presents to the government.“

Register to attend one of the webinars here.

2 male and 2 female business people speaking at table at Chesterfield Enterprise Centre

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New hires and exciting collaborations for Chesterfield Champions

Our town’s network of Chesterfield Champions have made exciting announcements in recent weeks.

The latest roundup includes new hires, partnerships and even a collaborative effort on a local regeneration project.

Read the latest in our roundup below.

Champions collaborate on Peak Village improvements

Peak Village conservatory improvements

The Devonshire Group has collaborated with local businesses, including Chesterfield Champion Peak Architects, to refurbish park of North Derbyshire’s Peak Village shopping centre.

Visitors to the centre are set to enjoy a new and improved shopping experience as works to the Caffè Massarella conservatory come to an end.

The refurbishment has seen the conservatory transformed following the introduction of new glass fronting and skylights, creating a brighter, more modern space for shoppers to relax and unwind.

Peak Village’s proud Derbyshire heritage has been prioritised throughout, with Peak Architects and Sheffield-based design studio, 93ft appointed to lead the works and help to create a design that better complements the site’s existing architecture, including the Grade II listed Old Station Building opposite.

Complementing the ongoing improvement works, the team at Peak Village have also unveiled a new look across its branding, which visitors will now be able to spot on the signage at the retail destination, as well as the centre’s website. This is the latest milestone in £2 million of customer experience investments made by owners The Devonshire Group since purchasing the site three years ago.

Katayune Jacquin, centre manager at Peak Village, said: “‘We have seen how investment since the acquisition has supported the significant growth of footfall, customer spend and interest from a diverse range of tenants. This most recent round of improvements into the buildings and environment, our brand and digital presence contribute to the creation of an appealing venue for local communities and visitors to Derbyshire and the Peak District.

“The new conservatory sits in a key location of the village where visitors enjoy refreshments from an established and popular tenant. Our investment into the exterior, and Caffè Massarella’s into the interior, demonstrates working in partnership to continually improve and grow.”

Local design agency Crush welcomes new Account Director

Black and white photo of male smiling at camera

Chesterfield-based design agency Crush has welcomed new Account Director, Chris Vannozzi, to oversee the company’s growing portfolio of creative projects in branding, design, digital and marketing.

Founded in 2004, Crush works with brands both close to home, and across the globe.

As an independent agency, Crush’s team has grown considerably over their 21 years in the business. Starting with just one woman, Natalie Burkinshaw (Founder and Creative Director), the Crush team now encompasses an impressive, wide range of talents in brand strategy, design, website development, copywriting and marketing support.

With over 25 years experience working for London agencies in content marketing and commercial strategy, Chris’ wealth of expertise will lend a hand not only to nurturing client relationships at Crush, but also to strategy and big-picture perspective for their creative campaigns.

Chris has delivered creative projects for world-recognised brands such as Unilever, P&G, John Lewis and M&S – as well as public sector projects for King’s College London, Development Media International and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Speaking about his new role, Chris said: “What excites me about Crush is the range of creative projects we get involved in. Coming from a London agency background, it’s refreshing to be joining a team that works on big, corporate projects, as well as supporting local, smaller businesses.

“I hope that my years of experience will prove effective in bringing together more projects like this for the Crush team.”

UKATA to host mock trial event at National Justice Museum

UKATA Exhibition stand

UKATA is set to host a unique Asbestos Mock Trial event on Monday 28th October at the National Justice Museum in Nottingham. It aims to educate industry professionals about the legal intricacies of asbestos-related claims through an engaging courtroom reenactment.

The event will feature expert speakers from various fields, including legal professionals, health and safety advocates, and industry leaders, providing invaluable insights into the complexities of asbestos litigation. Attendees will benefit from a unique opportunity to observe a simulated trial, allowing for a deeper understanding of the legal processes involved.

Law students from both Nottingham Law School (Nottingham Trent University) and The School of Law at The University of Nottingham will attend the event, providing a valuable educational opportunity for future legal professionals to engage with asbestos litigation.

UKATA’s Senior Operations Manager, Debbie Nixon, added, “I am very excited to be hosting this event in collaboration with Sewell Law and PCR Global. This event will enhance awareness and promote best practices for safety in the workplace. We are honoured to have DSK as sponsors, underscoring the importance of promoting asbestos awareness within the industry and future legal professionals.”

Black Swan Cyber Security Solutions Teams Up with Chesterfield FC

Man in football kit shakes hands with man in business wear in football stadium

Black Swan Cyber Security Solutions has announced the shirt sponsorship of Chesterfield FC’s goalkeeping coach, Dave O’Hare.

In a statement, the company commented: “As the last line of defence on the pitch, Dave O’Hare trains his goalkeepers to anticipate every shot, react swiftly and neutralise threats. Similarly, Black Swan equips businesses with the tools and expertise to defend their digital assets from cybercriminals.”

Kevin Walker, owner of Black Swan, added: “Just as Dave O’Hare ensures Chesterfield FC’s goal remains untouched, we’re dedicated to safeguarding our clients’ digital assets. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to excellence and our unwavering focus on protecting what matters most.”

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National award win for Chesterfield’s RA Information Systems

RA Information Systems, a Chesterfield-based IT company has received the 2024 UKSPA Customer Service – Business Affiliates Award.

The prestigious award recognises business affiliates that go above and beyond in delivering exceptional service to support scientific and technological innovation hubs across the UK, contributing to the success of the UKSPA community.

The success of RA Information Systems is driven by a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to customer service. The company integrates incident, problem, and change management into a robust workflow system, ensuring every client interaction is meticulously tracked and managed.

This allows the firm to maintain consistently high service standards through continuous performance monitoring and review. The team works seamlessly with 2nd/3rd line support, product managers, and external IT partners to resolve issues swiftly and efficiently. From product implementation to ongoing support, RA Information Systems says it is committed to delivering excellence at every stage, ensuring client satisfaction and enhancing the overall experience.

Having attended the event, Helen Hadfield, Financial Director at RA Information Systems, shared her reflections on this important milestone.

She commented: “This is a very proud moment for our company, as this prestigious award celebrates Business Affiliates that consistently go above and beyond in delivering exceptional service to support scientific and technological innovation hubs across the UK, and myself and Richard Fowler were truly honoured to accept the award on behalf of our incredible team!

“This award not only highlights the hard work our team puts in every day, but is also a reflection of our collective commitment to excellence and our focus on supporting our clients and driving innovation. I am excited to see where our innovation leads us next and how we can continue to provide the excellent service we offer our clients.”

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

 

RA information Systems award

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Prestigious Legal 500 listing for Chesterfield’s CMP Legal

CMP Legal, a niche commercial law firm based in Chesterfield has been ranked in the prestigious Legal 500.

The company is the only law firm based in Chesterfield to be recognised in the Corporate and Commercial: Elsewhere in East Midlands category.

For over three decades, the Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research programme revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market.

The Legal 500 assesses the strengths of law firms in over 150 jurisdictions. The rankings are based on a series of criteria, the Legal 500 highlight the practice area teams who are providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel.

The Legal 500 research is based on feedback from 300,000 clients worldwide, submissions from law firms and interviews with leading private practice lawyers, and a team of researchers who have unrivalled experience in the legal market.

Anna Cattee, Executive Director at CMP Legal said: “We are delighted to be ranked in the Legal 500. This is such a remarkable achievement and an incredible milestone for CMP Legal. We launched in 2021 and to receive such recognition in such a short period of time, and from the firm’s very first submission, is testament to the hard work and commitment from everyone in our team.

“It is fantastic to be ranked alongside such high-calibre, well-established and large national corporate law firms. We’re immensely proud of our achievement.”

The Legal 500 Editorial commentary stated: “Commended for its ‘attractive depth of knowledge and experience,’ CMP Legal Limited’s key strengths lie in corporate restructuring, M&A, and shareholder agreements. Anna Cattee oversees the practice from Chesterfield and is well-informed in healthcare law. The ‘technically accomplished, well-connected and commercially minded’ Cattee is also knowledgeable of distribution agreements.”

One of the independent testimonials featured read: “The team at CMP have an attractive depth of knowledge and experience coupled with excellent client care skills. They go above and beyond to meet timescales and expectations with first rate advice.”

CMP Legal supports 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 canal bridge installed at Staveley

Staveley has gained a new impressive landmark, following the installation of the new Trans Pennine Bridge over the Chesterfield Canal.

The structure was lowered into place on Monday, October 21st. It spans 38 meters in length and weighs around 40 tons.

It replaces a brick bridge on what was originally the Great Central Railway. The old bridge was knocked down about thirty years ago and since then users of the Trail have had to go on a ‘zig-zag up and down’ route. They will now be able to go straight over the new bridge.

The project has been managed by the Chesterfield Canal Trust. It is the first phase of a £6 million canal restoration scheme. Most of the money will come from the Staveley Town Deal, a £25.2 million investment in Staveley through the Government’s Towns Fund, covering ten projects in all.

O’Brien Contractors readied the site and installed the massive bearing structures. CTS Bridges delivered the two halves of the bridge on 8th October. These were welded together and painted before the final lift took place. The rest of the earthworks and finishing works will now be completed ready for the bridge to be opened to the public before the end of October.

Trans pennine bridge chesterfield canal

O’Brien Contractors Director, Tony Mitchell commented: “The installation of the bridge marks the continuing works towards the reinstatement of the Chesterfield Canal and O’Brien Contractors are proud that we have been able to contribute to this.”

Ivan Fomin, Chair of the Staveley Town Deal, said: “This is not only a huge milestone for the Chesterfield Canal Trust but also for the Staveley Town Deal. Work to restore the Canal is one of our key projects and will help attract more visitors and improve outdoor facilities for residents. There has a been a lot of hard work to get to this point and I want to thank all the staff and volunteers at the Trust for their efforts.”

Next year, a length of canal will be reinstated under the bridge along with a new lock and another accommodation bridge at the bottom of Bellhouse Lane. There will also be a pumping system and Bellhouse Basin will be restored. The towpath will be upgraded to a multi-user trail, stretching over two kilometres all the way across the Doe Lea Valley to Renishaw.

Finally, the whole area will be planted with wildlife friendly vegetation and a seating area will be installed for people to enjoy the tranquillity of the newly restored canal. You will be able to follow the progress of the works as they happen by going to the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s website.

Rod Auton, Publicity Officer for the Chesterfield Canal Trust, said: “This is an incredibly important achievement for the Trust. It proves to our supporters and to potential funders that we can take on huge engineering challenges and bring them to fruition. We owe a great debt of thanks to our Development Manager, George Rogers, who has been working on the whole project for four years, and to Jon Lindley of Beyond consultants who has managed the bridge project with O’Brien’s.”

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.

 

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Hundreds of kids take part in superhero walk for hospice

More than 1,300 children and adults got their capes on for Ashgate Hospice’s Superhero Night Walk in Chesterfield.

The walk, sponsored by Motan Colortronic, saw fundraisers descend on Queen’s Park for the event on Saturday 19 October.

Participants took on one and three-mile routes from 5.30pm to help raise funds towards the hospice’s care for families across North Derbyshire.

Sponsorship for the event is still rolling in, but the charity hopes to raise more than £50,000 to help fund its crucial palliative and end of life care.

Children taking part donned their favourite superhero costumes, with many families walking in memory of loved ones who had received care at the hospice.

Every child who registered for the event received a free superhero cape and a glow in the dark mask to wear as they walked the route with family members.

There was a host of entertainment on display including stilt walkers, big bubble displays, live singers and dancers, and more.

Dozens of volunteers gave up their time to support the hospice’s fundraising team to ensure everyone taking part was safe and had fun throughout.

Charlotte Butterworth, Head of Fundraising at Ashgate Hospice said: “After holding our first ever Superhero Night Walk last year we were thrilled to bring it back for a second year.

“Thank you to all of the little superheroes that raised sponsorship money and took part, they all looked absolutely fantastic in their costumes as they made their way around Queen’s Park.

“Everyone at the hospice is so incredibly grateful to all our volunteers, main sponsors Motan Colortronic and many other local businesses for their generosity and support – without them we couldn’t put on events like this.

“The support helps us raise the £11 million we need each year in order to fund our care for families across North Derbyshire.”

Ashgate Hospice’s Superhero Night Walk will be returning again next year with details set to be announced in the near future.

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

Kathryn and Logan superhero walk

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Regional tourism awards to be celebrated next spring

Shining stars of the East Midlands’ vibrant tourism industry will be celebrated at a prestigious joint awards ceremony hosted by Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, next spring.

It has been announced that the winners of the Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards and the Nottinghamshire Tourism Awards will be revealed at a glittering joint awards ceremony held at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham on 20 March 2025.

The region’s two Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) – Visit Nottinghamshire and Visit Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby – are joining forces to deliver the awards ceremony in partnership for the first time, to celebrate excellence and outstanding achievement across the tourism sector and give local businesses an opportunity to share their success stories, generate valuable publicity and reach new customers.

From B&Bs and visitor attractions to hotels, campsites and unique experiences, the diverse award categories reflect the breadth of the region’s tourism landscape.

The awards are held in partnership with VisitEngland and Gold winners will have the opportunity to progress onto the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025, which represent the highest accolades in English tourism.

The awards ceremony is supported by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) to celebrate the success of local tourism businesses whilst highlighting the sector’s vital £5.25BN of economic impact contribution to the East Midlands’ economy.

The evening will bring together 500 guests from across the region’s tourism, leisure, culture and hospitality industries, including shortlisted businesses from 30 overall awards categories plus local MPs, partners and stakeholders.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “One of my priorities is to boost tourism and celebrate our region’s heritage, vibrancy, culture and natural beauty through my Visit East Midlands campaign. This joint awards ceremony is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate excellence in all aspects of tourism across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, and I’m delighted to host and support these awards.”

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “We’re excited to be joining forces with our LVEP partners in Nottinghamshire to deliver a glittering joint awards ceremony celebrating the very best of tourism in the East Midlands next spring.

“The Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards are a celebration of the passionate, hardworking and innovative businesses who continually raise the bar of our world-class tourism offer. Not only do these awards showcase the sheer quality of our tourism products, but they also highlight the value of our visitor economy and the important role the industry plays in driving growth, creating jobs, and making the region such a great place to live, work and visit.

“The visitor economy is a vital yet often underappreciated asset of the East Midlands, and this event will help us harness the industry’s full potential so we can truly start to punch above our weight”.

VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: “It’s great to see these two amazing Awards come together, ramping up the impact and value of entering for tourism businesses in Nottinghamshire, Peak District and Derbyshire.  These areas have truly outstanding national winners, and we look forward to welcoming the regional award winners to the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in 2025. I wish all of those who enter the very best of luck.”

The 2025 Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards are sponsored by EV charging specialists VoltShare and Derbyshire-based C W Sellors Fine Jewellery & Luxury Watches, who will be designing and handcrafting luxury bespoke awards for all Gold winners. The Awards Ceremony is sponsored by Nottingham Venues.

For more details on the Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards please visit: www.visitpeakdistrict.com/industry/events/category/tourism-awards.

Derbyshire and Derby tourism awards

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Further award success for Dalton Roofing

Chesterfield’s Dalton Roofing continues its year of successful award wins, picking up the Family Business of the Year accolade at the 2024 East Midlands Business Masters Awards.

The ceremony was hosted by regional business news website The Business Desk and held at Nottingham’s Crowne Plaza Hotel. It saw business leaders and executives from across the region celebrating some of the biggest success stories across the East Midlands.

The latest win for Dalton Roofing is the latest in a long list off successes in 2024, with several nominations across various national and regional awards.

Philip Dalton, the owner of Dalton Roofing commented: “I have a phenomenal family, who mean everything to me, and I have an amazing work force who are our extended family and we wouldn’t be where we are today without the hard work and dedication from everyone.”

“Some of our core values are teamwork, professionalism, development, and training, being passionate about giving our customers the best possible customer service experience.”

TheBusinessDesk.com’s East Midlands editor, Sam Metcalf, said: “Tonight’s shortlisted and winning companies were part of another huge show of support for our Business Masters Awards.

“One thing the judges remarked upon during the judging session was the sheer strength in depth of the entries and I think this is the reason why the East Midlands continues to be one of the most economically dynamic regions outside of the south-east and the businesses in the room tonight play a huge part in making it that way.”

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

Glass award trophy placed on desk

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Shorts advisors support businesses to grow

Chesterfield-based accountancy practice Shorts continues to support businesses with financial advice, assisting in business acquisitions and helping one company transition to employee ownership.

The company recently advised Sheffield-based Abbeydale Brewery Ltd as it moved towards becoming an Employee Ownership Trust, strengthening the commitment to its talented team, safeguarding its long-standing values and securing the legacy of the business.

Shorts acted as lead advisors on the transaction, including valuation, fundraising, tax advice and project management.

Connor Marshall of Shorts added “It has been great to work alongside MD Law in transitioning such a well-known, acclaimed business into becoming an Employee-Owned Business. From the start the Shareholders and Senior Management Team wanted to do what was best for the employees and, with the implementation of the EOT, this solidifies the prospects of both the business and employees for the longer term. We all look forward to seeing the continued success of such a prominent Sheffield business.”

Elsewhere, Shorts has assisted in the expansion of AxFlow UK, advising on the acquisition of Moody Direct Ltd, a long-established supplier of solutions and services to the dairy, food & beverage, brewery, chemical, and pharmaceutical sectors headquartered in Retford.

Shorts’ Corporate Finance team were lead advisers to Moody Direct and Wake Smith solicitors provided legal advice to the sellers.

Andy Ryder, Corporate Finance Parner at Shorts, said: “We are delighted to have successfully concluded this transaction on behalf of the owners of Moody Direct, Ken and David. It has been a pleasure for our team of myself, Adam
Ames, Brian Gooch and Ahad Choudry to work with them on this international deal and we look forward to hearing of the continued success of this great business as it becomes part of the Swedish owned Axel Johnson AB Group, giving it access to further fantastic opportunities.”

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

Group of people working for financial advice firm and brewery smiling to camera

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Work set to begin on regeneration of Staveley market

A multi-million pound regeneration project is set to begin in Staveley in November.

Chesterfield Borough Council’s Staveley 21 project, funded through the Staveley Town Deal, includes the construction of a new landmark building in the town centre, improvements to the market square and rejuvenation of the high street. Together the works will help support local businesses by creating a more attractive, welcoming and safe town centre for everyone to enjoy.

A drop-in session will be held in Staveley market square from 1pm to 3pm on Wednesday 23 October where local residents and business owners can come and find out more about the plans and the programme for construction.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “This project will transform Staveley town centre and encourage more people to visit to support both existing retailers and market traders. The project will help expand the town centre offer, creating new opportunities for events and social spaces we want to boost visitor numbers and provide the space for local businesses to thrive.

“We’ve been speaking with local businesses and hosting drop-in sessions throughout the design process to ensure the plans are right and at this next drop-in session you’ll be able to speak with the contractor who is delivering the project and find out more about the programme.

“We’re trying to minimise the disruption caused in the town centre to ensure that businesses can continue to trade and will be ready to benefit from the improvements once work is complete.

“This is a really exciting project for Staveley and will help ensure that the town can thrive for generations to come.”

Stepnell who have been working to complete the town centre designs have been appointed to lead construction on the Staveley 21 project.

Tom Sewell, regional director at Stepnell, said: “Staveley 21 will be incredibly transformative for the town centre and as a complete construction partner with vast experience enhancing public spaces, we recognise the importance of close collaboration with local authorities, partners and future users to exceed on these expectations.

“Early engagement with the local community is vital to ensuring the landmark building, market and high street can maximise their impact and we have made great progress since our appointment. Social value can be just as transformative to the community as the build itself, and the Staveley Town Deal will encompass this approach as we look to commence works.”

Works in November will begin with the removal of the disused toilet block on the market square.

In its place a new landmark building will be built that will form a new focal point for the town centre. Once completed the building will house Derbyshire County Council’s Staveley Library on the ground floor and the upstairs will provide space for new businesses.

Staveley 21 also includes the transformation of the marketplace to create an enlarged public space to support existing uses such as Staveley Town Council’s regular markets but also as a setting that can be used to host a wide range of new events to encourage more people to visit the town centre.

Proposals include new tiered outdoor seating to support outdoor theatre and performances, and natural play equipment to help make the marketplace more attractive to families.

Designs for the play equipment have been developed in collaboration with pupils from Staveley Junior School, who visited the site with Stepnell and took part in a workshop to discuss what kind of equipment they would like to see installed.

New paving, lighting, street furniture and planting will help create an enhanced atmosphere and visitor experience at any time of day or night whilst new signage will help connect the town centre with Staveley’s other visitor attractions including the Chesterfield Canal and Staveley Hall.

There is also a shop front improvement grant scheme for businesses based in the town centre. Up to 80% of the costs of shop front improvements like new signage, windows, canopies, and much more can be funded through the scheme.

Through the Animate Chesterfield public art project, Coralie Turpin has been appointed to work with the community and develop a new piece of artwork that will celebrate Staveley’s heritage and develop designs that can be incorporated into the new paving.

Coralie said: “I am looking forward to working with the people of Staveley, we’re planning some fun activities reflecting the local canal heritage and nature to generate ideas for the design. I’m excited to create a great piece of public art for the new marketplace that is friendly and interactive.”

Around £5 million of funding has been provided through the Staveley Town Deal, a £25.2 million programme that aims to ensure Staveley is a place to start, stay and grow.

Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and vice chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, said: “I’m pleased that work will be starting soon on Staveley 21, this is a key project in the Town Deal programme and will make a real impact on the ability of the town centre to attract additional visitors to support local businesses and explore the Staveley area. I look forward to seeing the plans come to life over the next year.”

To find out more about regeneration in Staveley and the developments currently taking place across Chesterfield, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/

 

Staveley pavillion building artist impression

 

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Exciting news and initiatives to support Chesterfield communities, businesses and regeneration

Chesterfield Champions have once again been busy supporting our communities with charity initiatives, events, mental health support and more.

Find out the latest community news across our town in the roundup below:

Archeological Dig to take place in Staveley

Archaeological digging group

Before the next stage of canal restoration at Staveley, Chesterfield Canal Trust has engaged York Archaeology to organise an archaeological dig at Bellhouse Basin.

They will be on site from Monday 21st October to Friday 1st November.

As part of their work, they are asking for volunteers to help on Wednesday 23rd, Thursday 24th, Friday 25th and Saturday 26th October. It is possible they may also need help on Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th.

On each day they will need six volunteers.

To volunteer, you must be of at least secondary school age and reasonably physically fit – certainly able to kneel for an hour or more at a time. If you are under 18, you must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Previous experience is not essential because you will get a full briefing, but it would be helpful.

You will need to wear old, robust clothes and have a decent pair of boots. Gloves, such as gardening gloves, would be a good idea. Tools and any other necessary equipment will be provided.

You will need to report to the site at 08.30 and you will finish by 16.00 at the latest. You should bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee will be available.

If you would like to volunteer, email publicity@chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk stating on which day(s) you will be available.

Several other digs have taken place on the canal recently; to see them click here and here and here.

Boy, six, to conquer hospice’s Superhero walk for charity in memory of ‘amazing’ dad

Ashgate Hospice superhero walk

A six-year-old whose “Superman” dad died from a rare form of cancer will be taking on Ashgate Hospice’s Superhero Night Walk in tribute to the end of life care he received.

Fletcher Parkes was just 10 months old when his dad Gavin Parkes was diagnosed with a rare form of bladder cancer in August 2018.

Months later – after undergoing intense hospital treatment for the illness – doctors told him the devastating news that his cancer was incurable.

The kitchen fitter, from Sheffield, was admitted to the hospice’s Inpatient Unit in Chesterfield in March 2019, where he received round-the-clock specialist care.

Gavin and his partner Lori’s wedding had been planned for June, and they soon realised he was not going to make it to the date.

But staff and volunteers rallied together to ensure they could tie the knot at the hospice, with Fletcher by their side, just days before Gavin’s death on 4 April, aged 39.

Fletcher and Lori will join hundreds of others at the Superhero Night Walk fundraiser in Queen’s Park, Chesterfield on Saturday 19 October.

“It has been heartbreaking for us all,” said Lori, 30, from Chesterfield. “Gavin was the most amazing man and an incredible dad to Fletcher.

“I honestly can’t explain how much we appreciated everything that Ashgate did for us in those last few weeks.

“Once Gavin arrived at the hospice, I stayed there with him every night. They went above and beyond for our family.

“Ashgate set up our entire wedding for us – including a car, cake, drinks, hair and makeup. It was just fantastic and all our family and friends were there to see it.”

The family, who were living in Sheffield but moved to Chesterfield to get family support, also received care at home from Ashgate before he was admitted to the ward.

Fletcher is continuing to receive child bereavement support from the hospice’s counselling team.

He is getting set to don his favourite Superman costume, which is particularly fitting given Gavin had the theme song played at his funeral.

Lori, a teaching assistant at Tupton Hall School, added: “Fletcher is just starting to feel the impact of losing his dad at such a young age.

“He’s receiving child bereavement counselling from Emily at Ashgate which he loves so much!

“Fletcher wants to take part in the Superhero Night Walk so we can give something back to the hospice for everything they’ve done for us.

“He first did the event last year and loved it! He loves dressing up as Superman because that’s what he called his dad, and we even had the theme tune playing at the funeral.”

Since Gavin died, Lori’s family and friends have raised more than £10,000 to help fund end of life and palliative care for future families.

Tickets cost just £6 per child and adults go FREE – registrations must be made before 1pm on 17th October. The walk will start at 5:30pm, and doors will open at 4.30pm.

Every participating child will receive a fundraising pack, superhero cape, and a glow-in-the-dark mask to wear whilst taking part in the event.

Sign up or find out more about the Superhero Night Walk event on the the hospice’s website or call 01246 567 250.

Chesterfield FC Community Trust’s mental health initiative featured on TV

ChesterfieldFC (35)

Chesterfield FC Community Trust has picked up national media attention, for providing a room in the HUB at the SMH Group Stadium for the weekly Andy’s Man Club meetings.

Andy’s Man Club is a network set up to support men’s mental health The meetings take place from 7pm to 9pm every Monday. They are free to attend.

Take a look at the feature on Sky Sports, with organiser Pete Wilson and Trust chairman Mike Goodwin both interviewed.

Businesses encouraged to share their positive news with local media

Birdseye view of man sitting at a laptop

Businesses are encouraged to share their news with local media organisations to help promote their organisations.

The Derbyshire Times is urging local companies to help spread positivity around Chesterfield and beyond, by submitting their news via a new online portal.

The YourWorld portal is free to use, and provides businesses with an easy step-by-step process to share their stories.

Want to shout about your business achievements? Submit your story on the YourWorld portal here:

You can also share your news with Destination Chesterfield by emailing: info@chesterfield.co.uk

Phil Bramley, Editor of the Derbyshire Times commented: “The new portal on the DT site is a great way to let people across north Derbyshire know what’s going on with our fantastic local businesses.

“It’s simple to use and helps put our local businesses right at the heart of the community.”

The organisations featured in this article 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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