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Latest employment figures show ‘great resilience’ of East Midlands businesses

Figures show that unemployment in our region has dropped for the second consecutive month, despite the overall UK unemployment rate rising by 0.2%.

The East Midlands’ unemployment rate has reduced to 3.3% for the period between March and May 2023, new figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.

It fell by one-tenth of a percentage point from the previous reporting period to April, moving in an opposite trajectory to the UK unemployment rate, which rose from 3.8% to 4%.

The region’s economic inactivity rate – which measures the number of working-age people who have dropped out of the labour market for reasons such as retirement, caring duties, long-term ill health or studying – dropped by three-tenths of a percentage point to 21.2%, the lowest level in a year.

East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “Despite some mild concerns earlier in the year that the unemployment rate was rising, it appears to have stabilised around historically very low levels, which reflects the great resilience of the East Midlands business community amid some very tough challenges.

“Rising economic inactivity has been one of the greatest concerns over the past year as it led to a dwindling labour market, which has restricted capacity – and therefore the ability to grow, raise productivity and bring prices down.

“While this rate remains significantly above pre-Covid levels, it’s pleasing to see this has now come down by just under 1.5% in the past nine months, giving firms more room to manoeuvre.

“Our own research backs this up but also illustrates persistent challenges, with our Quarterly Economic Survey showing seven in 10 businesses that attempted to recruit between April and June experienced problems in filling roles, compared to eight in 10 at the end of 2022.”

Nationally, regular pay grew by 7.3% during this period, a record annual increase despite lagging behind inflation, which stands at 8.7%.

Scott added: “While recruitment problems may be easing slightly, the record rise in wages suggests firms are still facing major cost pressures as the labour market tightness has forced employers to pay more for people at a time when they are being hit by inflation and surging interest rates.

“This is perhaps why future recruitment prospects are less optimistic, with a net 6% decline in East Midlands businesses adding to their headcount for the next three months. The proportion of firms intending to invest in training also declined by 3%, with business confidence fragile.

“What we desperately need is a dedicated Government policy that supports companies to invest in their people, whether that be in upskilling their existing workforce or reskilling prospective employees to fill skills gaps.

“In our Business Manifesto for Growth, we have set out a list of policies we believe will make the required difference, including introducing flexible incentives for businesses that invest in staff training and bringing forward the introduction of the Lifelong Loan Entitlement to support retraining and the retainment of an older workforce.

“We must also tailor policies to recognise the diversity of people who are out of work and avoid a one-size-fits-all solution. We would also like to see Government work with businesses to offer support, and share best practice, on what a flexible and inclusive workplace looks like as this is another vital ingredient in enticing people back to work.”

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

East Midlands Chamber - Chesterfield office

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HRH The Princess Royal visits Chesterfield to officially open new developments

HRH The Princess Royal visited Chesterfield this week (12th July), officially opening the Chesterfield Royal Hospital’s new emergency department and a new facility at the University of Derby’s campus in the town.

Princess Anne visited the hospital’s new emergency department as part of a series of visits in the region on the day and met the dedicated team at the Trust – recognising the great work of the hospital staff and the team who worked around the clock to deliver the £27m state-of-the-art build.

The department was operationally opened on 21 June and has since seen more than 6,000 patients through its doors.

The new development, with its innovative approach to patient flow, high spec equipment, ultra-modern technology and a real grounding in the community through the locally sourced artwork and wayfinding is a redefining jewel in Chesterfield’s crown but it’s vital that people only visit if they truly need to. Dr Katherine Lendrum, Clinical Lead for the ED and ED Consultant, commented further: “The new Emergency Department is an absolutely amazing facility, and we were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness to see what we do, how and where. It’s vital that people really do take note and only come to ED when they really need it!

“The new department is already working incredibly hard and is managing patients in a really efficient and safe way – we know that we’re providing better care and a better all-round experience for people – so it’s great that we’re able to take a moment and show our services to such a highly esteemed guest. We know that staff and patients – as well as the communities of Chesterfield will really see this as us redefining Chesterfield and showing that we’re fit for the future and providing a dedicated service which is second to none – by staff who really care!”

Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive of the Trust, said: “This is a truly fantastic facility for the hospital and the communities we serve and to have HRH The Princess Royal come to officially open it is a real coup for colleagues and the community. I’m very proud of the skills, experience and hard work that have gone into shaping our new Emergency Department and to be able to show this to a member of the Royal family – based on our history – is even more rewarding.

“It felt very apt to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to officially open our ED: She was last here in 2009, when she opened the children and young people’s outpatients department we call ‘The Den’ and before that she opened The Scarsdale Maternity and Gynaecology Wing in 1990 – so this is third time very lucky! We’re very grateful and appreciate this historical moment means a lot to the people of Chesterfield and Derbyshire.”

Amongst the facilities The Princess – who is Patron of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and also patron to the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and the Royal College of Midwives – saw was the technology to live monitor patients, a dedicated children and young people’s area and a specialist zone for neurodiverse patients or those experiencing a mental health crisis, all of which mean we are providing a truly world-class facility for the region. The area above the department was also included in the extended tour which includes a state-of-the-art simulation suite and facilities to support training, health and wellbeing of our colleagues. The visit culminated with the unveiling of a special plaque in the reception/class atrium of the ED, alongside natural day light and specially commissioned artwork of the whole Joined Up Care Derbyshire system created by the world famous and local artist Dave Draws.

Dr Lendrum concluded: “ I was interested to talk to The Princess about how patients experience ED. Sometimes (in up to 70% of attendances) people choose to come to an emergency department with less urgent problems – perhaps because they don’t know where to go or because they perceive they will be seen quicker; get all the tests they need done or be treated faster. Our message about ‘if you feel well enough to have your tea, do you really need ED?’ have gone down really well with our communities. It is everyone’s responsibility to use health care services wisely.”

HRH The Princess Royal shaking hands with a member of staff at Chesterfield Royal Hospital

Meanwhile, the new name of a hospital ward used by health students as part of their learning at the University of Derby’s Chesterfield site has been unveiled on the same day (12 July) by Her Royal Highness.

The simulation training facility, which has been renamed The Florence Nightingale Ward to honour the founder of modern nursing, features a number of hospital beds, artificial patients and other NHS-standard equipment enabling students to learn in state-of-the-art facilities to prepare them for entering the healthcare workforce.

The new name was unveiled with a plaque by HRH The Princess Royal at the site, which is home to a number of the University’s health and nursing programmes.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “Florence Nightingale had strong connections to Derbyshire, and so we are proud to recognise her inspiring and wide-reaching impact through the renaming of our simulation training facility, which enables students to gain experience and develop their skills in a ward environment during their studies.

“As an institution we are renowned for the quality of our health programmes, so it is a tremendous honour to have HRH The Princess Royal visit to see first-hand the opportunities and facilities that the University of Derby has to offer and to unveil our dedicated plaque.”

During the visit, HRH The Princess Royal met academic staff and students, who showcased skills including heart tracing and cannulation. She was also shown a number of posters created by Adult and Mental Health Nursing students, surrounding improving treatment for patients within a variety of health settings including doll therapy for patients with dementia, Huntington’s disease and Motor Neurone disease.

HRH The Princess Royal also had the opportunity to see a demonstration of the Immersive Interactive Simulation Suite – a facility which provides 360° projections of a range of working environments, such as being in an ambulance or an operating theatre, offering students real-world learning opportunities.

Dr Denise Baker, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean of the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care at the University of Derby, said: “At the University, we prepare our students to make a difference to society and our first-class facilities mean students gain the skills to provide exceptional levels of care. We were delighted to showcase this to HRH The Princess Royal and for her to meet with our inspiring staff and students.”

HRH The Princess Royal also met with a breastfeeding support group that the University hosts at its Chesterfield site through its engagement with Derbyshire Voluntary Action.

The High Sheriff of Derbyshire Theresa Peltier, Civic Chair of Derbyshire County Council Councillor David Taylor, the Mayor of Chesterfield Councillor Mick Brady and the MP for Chesterfield Toby Perkins were also in attendance at the event.

For more information about studying in the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care at the University of Derby, visit: https://www.derby.ac.uk/colleges/health-psychology-social-care/

Chesterfield Royal Hospital and 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.

HRH The Princess Royal meets nursing students at the University of Derby

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Chesterfield cold storage provider progresses with major expansion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

magnavale extension - artists impression

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New Chesterfield ice bath business invites residents to ‘take the plunge’

A new Chesterfield business is offering people the opportunity to experience ice bath therapy for the first time in a safe environment.

Cold Plunge Chesterfield is based at ‘The Nest: Therapy & Wellness Hub’ in Chesterfield town centre.

The business, which is located on South Place, off Beetwell Street has a specially designed ice bath, which ensures water can be cooled to the precise degree.

Traditionally, deliberate cold water exposure has been used to reduce pain, inflammation and speed up recovery time.

More recently, research has begun to show the positive impacts ice baths on the nervous system, neurotransmitters and mood, alongside positive impacts on an individual’s immune system, metabolism, mental clarity and sleep.

Gemma Howard, owner at Cold Plunge Chesterfield said: “No experience is necessary as we have trained ‘cold water practitioners’ who can fully support their first ice bath allowing an understanding of how your body will react to the cold.

“Clients can come alone, or with friends, or even hire the studio space for a private event. We also offer the option of having a ‘guided plunge’ with a mindfulness experience or ‘contrast therapy’ using our infrared sauna blanket. Everyone’s reason and experience in the cold water is as unique as them.”

Speaking on why she decided to invest in the town, Gemma commented: “I have lived in Chesterfield for most of my life. Most of my working career has been spent as a Psychology teacher in a local secondary school, but I have had a passion for experiencing and learning about cold water therapy and ice baths for about 4 years now.

“An opportunity to invest in this business and work with the team at ‘The Nest’ arose, and it just seemed like the right time to share the magic of cold water therapy with the people of Chesterfield.

“I have loved meeting all the different clients who live in and around the Chesterfield area. Whether someone comes for physical recovery after an event or training, or to alleviate feelings of anxiety/depression, or even help manage menopausal symptoms – It’s a privilege to watch them push themselves slightly out of their comfort zones and feel the benefits afterwards.”

To get more information about Cold Plunge Chesterfield, head over to the website: www.coldplungechesterfield.co.uk

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

cold plunge

 

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Strongmen and strongwomen to flex their muscles at the Peak District Highland Games

Some of the nation’s strongest men and women are coming to our region next month, to battle it out in the bid to be The Peak District Highland Games Champion 2023.

The flagship show, now in its eighth year, takes place at Matlock Farm Park on Sunday 27 August. It features athletes participating in six demanding strength events including the Tossing of the Caber, Eight Tonne Tractor Pull and Peak District Dinnie Stone Challenge.

Beginning with a parade of the athletes accompanied by The City of Manchester Piper Band and a Scottish dancer, the day sees an expert MC provide exciting commentary to enthuse the crowd, with the opportunity for spectators to even take part in a Tug of War.

Lotty Hawkins, Communications Manager of Matlock Farm Park, said: “We’re delighted to be running this fantastic event once again. It’s such a favourite for so many people, whatever the age. It’s a real spectacle and with so much else going on in the park, there’s something for everyone”.

peak District Highland Games 2022 log press

The day also features a range of food, market and craft stalls with a Bradfield Brewery beer tent and a Prosecco stand for Summer refreshments. There is an interactive exotic animal encounter, along with much of the usual fun of the farm park, including sheep racing, small animal handling and playtime fun with the Enchanted Hamlet and Jumping Pillow.

The last two years of the Games have seen strongwomen also competing, much to the delight of inspired spectators. Initially taking part in three of the six strength events, last year they competed in all six disciplines, also pulling the same eight tonne tractor as the men, with Michaela Moore taking the women’s title.

Manbeast Events director Andy Picken said: “There is growing diversity in strength sports and women are demonstrating great dedication to training and some awesome displays of strength”.

He continued: “The female and male athletes are really excited about this year’s Peak District Highland Games, with some amazing competitors lined up. In 2022, newly crowned men’s champion Jake Rideout was pushed right to the very end by Shaun Blairs in a tight contest. With the introduction of some mystery new athletes this year, Manbeast are keeping the rest of the competitors in the dark to keep them focused and ready to battle it out!”

To find out more and to purchase tickets for The Peak District Highland Games, see matlockfarmpark.digitickets.co.uk/tickets.

Find out more about the wide range of events and activities taking place across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire this summer at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/summer/

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

peak district highland games caber toss

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Joint agents appointed for Chesterfield’s pivotal Elder Way scheme

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Find out more about the Chesterfield Elder Way development here. 

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

Chesterfield Elder Way

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Businesses encouraged to apply for prestigious Derbyshire Tourism Awards

Businesses in Chesterfield’s visitor economy sectors are being encouraged to apply for a prestigious awards ceremony, which could see them gain national recognition.

Applications for the 2024 Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards will officially open on Friday 14th July 2023.

Organised by Visit Peak District & Derbyshire in collaboration with Visit Derby, the awards will celebrate excellence and outstanding achievement across the tourism sector.

The awards are set launch at an exciting time for the area’s visitor economy with Visit Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby recently gaining Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) status from VisitEngland, as part of a new national programme aimed at transforming and growing the visitor economy across England in an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable way.

There are 14 awards categories in total covering different aspects of the tourism industry, ranging from hotels, B&Bs and campsites to pubs, visitor attractions, unique experiences, and the hardworking people behind local businesses.

Applications will be open from 14th July to 30th August 2023. Shortlisted finalists will be revealed in the autumn and winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony held at the Museum of Making at Derby Silk Mill on 7th March 2024.

The awards are held in association with the acclaimed VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2024 and eligible regional winners will be automatically put forward for judging in the national awards.

The Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards are free to enter for members of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire and Visit Derby. Non-members can enter at a fee of £150 plus VAT per category. Entrants must be based in Derbyshire, the city of Derby, or within the Peak District National Park boundary, and must be part of the visitor economy.

Businesses interested in applying for the 2024 Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards can boost their chances of success by attending application masterclasses on Tuesday 11th July or Thursday 13th July 2023.

The free 90-minute webinars will include top tips on how to write a quality awards application and insights on what the judges will be looking for.

Full details of how to apply, and more information on the application writing webinars, can be found at: www.visitpeakdistrict.com/industry/tourism-awards

The 2024 Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards are sponsored by digital solutions company Destination Core and Derbyshire-based C W Sellors Fine Jewellery & Luxury Watches, who will be designing and handcrafting luxury bespoke awards for all Gold winners.

Businesses interested in sponsoring a category at the 2024 Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards should contact Lindsay Rae at lindsay.rae@visitpeakdistrict.com.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, says: “The Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards are a celebration of our world-class tourism industry and the passionate people who work tirelessly to provide visitors with experiences to remember.

“Tourism plays a vital role in making the Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby such a great place to live, work and visit, and these awards also provide a timely opportunity for our hard-working, innovative and inspiring businesses to pause and celebrate what they have achieved.

“Becoming one of the first destinations in England to gain LVEP status from VisitEngland is a testament to the long-standing collaboration and growth of this sector over the years, and these awards provide a fantastic opportunity for tourism businesses to showcase why they are so important for our region.”

Chris Sellors, Managing Director of C W Sellors Fine Jewellery & Luxury Watches, says:“As a business that prides itself on promoting quality and celebrating our Derbyshire heritage, C W Sellors Fine Jewellery & Luxury Watches is delighted to be once again producing bespoke awards for the Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards. Good luck to everyone who applies!”

Categories for the 2024 Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards:

  • B&B and Guest House of the Year
  • Hotel of the Year
  • Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
  • Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
  • Visitor Attraction of the Year
  • Pub of the Year
  • Experience of the Year
  • New Tourism Business of the Year
  • Taste of the Peak District & Derbyshire
  • Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
  • Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award
  • Unsung Hero Award
  • Team of the Year (Local Award)
  • Tourism Young Achiever (Local Award)

Gold winners at the 2023 Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home, Leisure, Summer, Uncategorised, Visiting

“Ensuring we have opportunities for our young people will make Chesterfield a more attractive place to live, work, and invest”

Chesterfield is currently undergoing a period of major regeneration, and with this change comes opportunity.

New developments in the town, such as Chesterfield Waterside, Markham Vale and the Hartington sites in Staveley are really coming to life now – thanks to councils and businesses working together closely.

Thousands of new homes are currently being built across the borough, which will attract new families seeking an affordable and friendly place to live, with access to good schools and plenty of green spaces.

I was delighted to hear the news that Chesterfield was ranked recently as the second-best town in the UK to raise children. This is a testament to the work of several organisations across the area.

Furthermore, Chesterfield’s ambitious growth plans are creating exciting career options for our young people. A key sector of growth locally is property and construction. Did you know that in this sector alone, around 17,500 new recruits will be required across the East Midlands between 2023-2027?

As a town, we must keep encouraging our young people to consider careers which are offering secure, skilled, and well-paid employment. To that end, it is pleasing to hear that 12 work placements have been offered to students locally by business leaders from the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group. All credit to the innovative ‘Careers Made in Chesterfield’ project, in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council.

Representatives from local firms inspired students by speaking about the wide range of roles available in the property sector, carrying out a series of workshops and face-to-face mentoring sessions with students based at Parkside Community School.

At the beginning of the scheme, only 20% of pupils said they would be interested in a role in property and construction. When asked again at the end of the project, that figure had doubled to 40%. This shows that a hands-on approach can really work in engaging our young people.

As a town, Chesterfield is used to rolling up its sleeves and tackling issues head-on, and this is another example of how our people are continuing to work hard in delivering the changes we all want to see.

Innovative projects, such as the new Construction Skills Hub being developed in Staveley will further boost jobs in the sector, training thousands of local people. It excites me to think that the next generation of builders, architects, surveyors, and designers will be trained in our area.

Ensuring we have opportunities for our young people will make Chesterfield a more attractive place to live, work, and invest. With investment comes jobs, and with jobs comes further growth and prosperity. This is why it is vital we continue to make our future generations aware of the breadth of opportunities available to them, right here on our doorstep.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Made in Chesterfield - Students visit Aztec Oils

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

Vicar Lane to showcase some of Chesterfield’s top independent retailers

Vicar Lane is set to shine a light on its independent retailers throughout July, encouraging shoppers to find out more about the range of goods and services they offer.

This year, the official Independents Day UK campaign to celebrate independently run businesses in high streets across the UK, is having its annual focus across a full weekend, on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd July.

It is because of this, that Vicar Lane will launch a month-long initiative throughout July to celebrate all of the centre’s independent retailers that trade on Steeplegate and introduce shoppers to all their wonderful wares.

In an effort to continue to connect their visitors with the independent stores and the entrepreneurs that run them – the centre will give them some love on the big screen in St James’ Square and across their social media channels.

Followers on the centre’s Instagram channel will be able to catch their ‘Tell us Tuesday’ series across the weeks to be in with a chance to win a £10 voucher.

More details on how to get involved and win can be found on the Vicar Lane website.

Vicar Lane has recently welcomed two new independent retailers to Steeplegate just in time for summer.

Nursery and children’s gifting retailer, The Little Ark, is having great success following its expansion from The Chesterfield Market Hall into Vicar Lane Shopping Centre, having tripled their sales within the first month of trading.

Lovers of all things vintage can now get the goods at YNOT? Vintage. Focused on sustainability and top brands at affordable prices, YNOT? Vintage doesn’t fall short on style from the 80’s and 90’s, which are sourced from all over the UK and beyond.

Sarah Bowler, Tenant and Community Liaison Manager said: “We always strive to support and recognise the positive impact our independent retailers have on our local community so we are really excited to extend the official Independents Day Weekend throughout the entire month of July.

“We are proud to be able to offer a complete range of retail, entertainment and food and beverage outlets that cater for all styles, needs and wishes”.

Throughout July there’ll be plenty going on at Vicar Lane as the centre hosts its Sumer Fest schedule of events. Find out more.

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

vicar lane shopping centre qoozies

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Research finds inclusive workplaces can help East Midlands businesses fill vacancies amid skills shortages

A growing number of East Midlands firms are creating inclusive workplace policies, new research has found – as they identified a range of business-critical benefits including higher productivity and lower staff turnover rates.

A study from East Midlands Chamber in partnership with emh group found the proportion of firms in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire with a specific equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)-related policy increased from 48% in 2022 to 54% this year. There was also a 3% drop to 37% of firms saying they had no such policy.

Some 56% of respondents said EDI formed part of strategic discussions at leadership or board level, with 15% believing this was to “a great extent” – although the same proportion said there was no focus on EDI at all – in figures similar to 12 months ago.

The biggest benefit attributed to having an engaged approach to EDI was its ability to create an inclusive working environment, which was cited by 65% of respondents.

Other popular reasons included the role it plays in supporting diversity of thought in decision-making (58%), staff recruitment and retention (52%), and better representing customers and clients (44%).

An average score of five out of 10 was given to the importance of EDI engagement to the success of an organisation. This was down from 5.6 a year earlier, while it also falls behind corporate social responsibility, which was awarded a score of 5.7 in a separate survey.

East Midlands Chamber director of policy and insight Chris Hobson chaired a roundtable with business leaders at the East Midlands People and Skills Summit recently to discuss the findings and recommendations for future business support tools.

He said: “EDI is about having a focus to create an inclusive workplace environment in which people feel they ‘belong’, in order to bring their best selves to work and support a business to realise its growth ambitions.

“Our research shows that while EDI has slipped slightly down the agenda – perhaps due to the persistent pressures on firms caused by a cost-of-doing-business crisis that has occupied leaders’ minds over the past 18 months – it remains an important consideration for many businesses in the East Midlands.

“Those engaged cite benefits such as supporting innovation, staff recruitment and retention, and better representing customers – all business-critical issues at a time when firms are looking for new ways to improve productivity and plug persistent skills gaps, with our research also showing 73% of firms that try to recruit will struggle to fill roles.

“While there are still barriers to adoption, including a lack of understanding among leadership teams and a fear about getting it wrong, we know that providing businesses with the support they need to implement inclusive policies can lead to greater adoption – and ultimately support business success.”

The research was carried out within East Midlands Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey – which gathers intelligence on how businesses are faring in areas such as sales, cashflow and recruitment – for Q1 2023, with 320 responses. Other key findings included:

  • There was a relatively even split in EDI policy adoption between services-based businesses (55%) and manufacturers (52%) – with a significant growth in engagement among manufacturers after 43% had a policy a year earlier
  • EDI adoption reduces the further down we descend in the business size spectrum – from 90% of large firms having a dedicated policy, this reduces to 68% of medium businesses, 57% of small companies and 37% of microbusinesses
  • Barriers to having an effective EDI policy included it not being viewed as a priority (cited by 42% of respondents), concerns about getting it wrong and causing inadvertent upset (30%), the time it takes to develop a policy (28%), ensuring buy-in from staff (24%), a lack of understanding among the leadership team (22%) and a perception it isn’t needed in their workplace (22%).

The research will be used to create a series of recommendations for further business support and policy activity around how Government can collaborate with employer representative bodies to advocate for EDI and support further engagement.

This was the second instalment of EDI research as part of a strategic partnership between East Midlands Chamber and emh group, an affordable housing, care and support provider based in Leicestershire.

Chan Kataria OBE, chief executive of emh group, added: “I’m encouraged that the second year of our strategic partnership research has seen a positive shift in some areas of engagement among members of the business community.

“This demonstrates a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as acknowledgement of its contribution to business success.

“A key aspect of this research was to explore the barriers to engagement on EDI. The results strongly indicate an appetite for support, and increased engagement on the broader spectrum of EDI.

“The findings also provide a platform to explore opportunities to share good practice and collaborate for better business outcomes.

“EDI is at the heart of what we at emh do, and I look forward to our continued work with the Chamber and its members to help deliver the actions that will make a real difference.

“I’m proud that the diversity of our communities is one of the biggest unique selling points of the East Midlands, and a key factor in its economic success.”

East Midlands Chamber - Chesterfield office

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