chesterfield business news

Designer Contracts donates over £100,000 to Ashgate Hospicecare

Designer Contracts, the UK’s largest flooring contractor, has donated more than £100,000 to Chesterfield-based Ashgate Hospicecare.

The company ran an online Christmas prize draw to raise funds for the hospice which has been hit hard by the pandemic and then added a £100,000 donation to the £4,865 raised from the competition. It is the second time Designer Contracts has stepped in to help the hospice which provides care and support for families, patients and carers across North Derbyshire.

In 2019 the company gave £100,000 to help fund the hospice’s ‘Three Bedded Bay Appeal’ which was launched to raise money for renovations to its patient bays.

This year’s Christmas prize draw involved contributors making a donation of £3 to enter, with a chance of winning one of eight prizes, including a flat screen TV, Dyson hoover and iPads.

Designer Contracts md, Peter Kelsey, said: “Charities had a really rough ride in 2020 and we wanted to help in any way we could. The hospice has struggled to raise funds as many of its initiatives were cancelled due to the pandemic so our own company fundraising and donations were money well spent for us.

“Everyone over at Ashgate works tirelessly to ensure the hospice is a peaceful and comfortable place for patients and their families so we really hope that this donation will take a little bit of the worry and pressure off the team.”

Barbara-Anne Walker, Chief Executive at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “Thank you to Designer Contracts and to everyone who took part in their Christmas prize draw. We are thrilled and astounded by their continued generosity, particularly at a time when we are losing money due to the closure of our shops and the postponement of our fundraising events.

“Every pound donated will help to make a difference to the lives of families across North Derbyshire who are living with the impacts of a life-limiting illness. Each year we must raise over £7 million to keep delivering our crucial palliative and end-of-life care services.

“That is a huge amount of money to raise and it is only possible because of the support from generous organisations like Designer Contracts.”

Designer Contracts, which was recently named as a finalist in the 2020 Lloyds Bank Business Awards, operates across 15 UK regional facilities. As well as flooring, the company provides curtains and blinds, furniture and lighting, and operates a showhome interior design services division.

Designer Contracts and Ashgate Hospicecare support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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East Midlands Chamber urges businesses to donate spare laptops to children – and help secure a future workforce

East Midlands Chamber has urged businesses to donate spare IT equipment to homeworking parents who may be unable to afford laptops or tablets for their children.

With schools closed during the third national lockdown, it means many employees must balance work with childcare duties.

But after concerns have been raised that not everyone can afford the necessary equipment for online home schooling, the Chamber says there will be some companies that can step in to offer support – and it may even bring benefits to their business.

Director of resources Lucy Robinson said: “It’s become increasingly clear throughout this pandemic that Covid-19 is only serving to widen gaps between people according to their socioeconomic groups.

“We absolutely must not allow this to also lead to a widening of the education gap as there’s plenty of evidence to show how important a decent education is to setting children up for a good career – enabling them to contribute to the local economy in future.

“There will be many businesses that have spare laptops and other IT equipment lying around offices unused as a result of either temporary or permanent reduction in headcounts. We would encourage companies to help out by either loaning or donating kit to their own employees who fall into this category, or to schools and dedicated charities.

“Such actions can form a key part of CSR activity, which we’ve seen is becoming increasingly vital to employees who want to work for organisations that share their values, while it could also improve productivity as we’re hearing more and more about disruption to business as a result of home-schooling.”

Chamber donates laptops to Chesterfield school

The Chamber will deliver eight laptops, eight computer towers and eight monitors this week to Ashover Primary School, based near the organisation’s Chesterfield head office, following on from a donation of 12 laptops and three towers last year.

The Friends of Ashover Primary School group has helped to wipe the equipment and certify the destruction to maintain the Chamber’s data security compliance.

The school’s headteacher Sue Myhill said: “This gesture has really cheered us up at what is an incredibly challenging time for everyone.”

Some 47 laptops have also been donated to the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance charity’s IT recycling service since December 2019.

Lucy added: “During 2020/21, we made significant investment in upgrading a large amount of IT equipment that was either outdated, not fit for its designed purpose or required repair. Rather than send usable equipment to landfill, we decided to repurpose and donate it to good causes.”

Chamber member donates to Derby-based not-for-profit that helps schools access equipment

Heanor-based bus operator trentbarton, which provides services in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, has donated two laptops to Enterprise for Education (E4E).

The group is a not-for-profit public-private sector partnership based within Derby City Council’s education department that aims to mobilise the city’s workforce to help young people prepare for both life beyond school and the world of work.

Jeff Counsell, managing director at trentbarton, said: “Like many businesses, we have been moved by hearing about children unable to do as much remote schoolwork as they need during lockdown.

“Some are struggling to do any and some families with more than one school-age child face added difficulties.

“We are pledging our support by donating laptops for the children of families in our community and we urge any other businesses that can do likewise to join in.”

Arshad Iqbal is programme leader for E4E, which works with Chamber members such as the University of Derby, Rolls-Royce, Freeths and Bowmer + Kirkland to support every secondary school in Derby and a number of primary schools.

He said: “There’s a lot of talk that schools will remain closed beyond the February half-term and yet there’s young people at home who don’t have access to a laptop or broadband – meaning they have a fundamental barrier to education.

“In many cases, there’s two children in a household in different age groups, but one laptop between them – and there’s one school we work with where there’s five children sharing a single laptop.

“This makes it difficult not to just access the normal school provision, but also extra educational resources, such as those offered by the BBC and the employers we work with that are trying to encourage more children to take STEM subjects from a young age.”

Arshad said there’s plenty of research that highlights the correlation between doing well at school and having a successful career, while a 2017 study from the Education and Employers charity found that students who had at least four encounters with employers before leaving school would be 86% less likely to become a so-called “Neet” – not in education, employment or training.

He added: “We’re asking businesses if they would be able to donate an old laptop or, alternatively, sponsor the purchase of a new one, offering one small step towards these young people accessing the education we know is so important to success in later life.”

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Ambitious regeneration plans to be considered by Chesterfield Borough Council

Ambitious plans to transform the area between the town centre and Chesterfield Train Station – creating a vibrant gateway to North Derbyshire and setting out potential sites to create around 850 new jobs – are being considered by Chesterfield Borough Council.

The HS2 Station Master Plan is to go before the council’s Cabinet on 2 February and, if approved, will be subject to a four-week public consultation starting on 8 February.

The proposals set out a vision for the future development of the area and are also designed to make the most of the once-in-a-generation plans for a High Speed Rail (HS2) link at Chesterfield.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Despite the challenging economic times posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Chesterfield is not standing still and we’re pressing ahead with our £1 billion growth programme – carving out a prosperous future for our borough, while creating jobs and homes for local people.

“Our HS2 Station Master Plan is a key element of this work. We want to create a vibrant gateway to North Derbyshire and the Peak District, to better connect this key site to our town centre, and to bring unused and underused land back to life for the benefit of local people.

“The proposals also have sustainability at their heart – setting out infrastructure improvements to support cycling, walking and better access for public transport.

“Our proposals also seek to harness the once-in-a-generation opportunity presented to our region by the HS2 project – a chance to cement Chesterfield’s position as a thriving place to invest and do business.

“But it’s important to note that this plan can be delivered ahead of – and independently to – the national project if needed.”

Key proposals include:

  • Establishing the principle of new development plots to accommodate a mix of uses with the potential to generate a minimum of approximately 850 jobs
  • A new station link road (a through route) between Brimington Road and Hollis Lane with improved public transport access
  • Closure of the A61 on-slip road
  • A new public ‘boulevard’ for pedestrians and cyclists (including segregated cycle lanes) leading from the station to Corporation Street
  • Replacement of the existing A61 footbridge between the station area and Corporation Street with a new wider bridge, including a segregated cycle route.
  • Suggested changes to Corporation Street to improve accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists whilst retaining vehicle access to businesses.
  • A ‘transport hub’ including a multi-storey car park (with around 550 bays) and charging points for electric vehicles
  • A cycle hub with e-bike hire and secure cycle parking
  • An overall layout that has the potential for a higher quality of natural habitats including more tree planting
  • A new station forecourt to better accommodate buses, coaches, taxis and a drop off/collection point.
  • A continuous cycle link from Hollis Lane area through to Crow Lane

Funding for regeneration at and around the station and the preparation of a master plan has been obtained by Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council through both the Sheffield City Region (SCR) and East Midlands (D2N2) Local Enterprise Partnerships.

If approved, the proposals will be subject to a four-week consultation period running from 8 February to 8 March.

Due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, this will be via a virtual exhibition and more details will be available on the council’s website and social media channels.

 

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Eye in the sky heralds Chesterfield College and Chesterfield Waterside learning partnership

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a new speed camera?

A new camera has appeared on the roof of Chesterfield College, leaving motorists on the A61 scratching their heads.

The camera is part of a learning partnership between Chesterfield Waterside, Chesterfield College and Britcon (UK) Ltd, the company appointed to build the new seven-storey, Grade A office block named One Waterside Place.

The building is the first phase of the ‘Basin Square’ character area within the £340 million Chesterfield Waterside regeneration scheme and has been forward funded by Chesterfield Borough Council.

The camera, which is focussed on the construction site, is recording the entire build process of One Waterside Place. The footage of the build process will be shared with students at the college, helping them keep up-to-date with construction methods as part of their studies, and will also be part of their virtual learning during the pandemic.

In addition to sharing the footage, once social distance restrictions allow, Britcon (UK) Ltd will be offering site tours and work experience to both local schools and Chesterfield College’s construction students.

The Chesterfield Waterside site is conveniently located within walking distance of Chesterfield College’s purpose-built construction facility, East Block One, which means when students return to college they will be able to visit the site.

Tom Swallow, Development Manager at Bolsterstone Group Plc, the company leading the Chesterfield Waterside project, commented: “I’d like to thank Chesterfield College for allowing us to use its premises for the camera installation. I’m particularly delighted that we’re able to work with the college and get students involved in the construction of the new office block, albeit remotely for now.

“Working alongside Chesterfield Borough Council, we’re looking forward to sharing footage of One Waterside Place coming out of the ground over the coming months and hope to have students on site to once restrictions allow in order to support their learning and development.”

Gavin Varley, Director of Engineering and Construction at Chesterfield College said: “This partnership provides a fantastic opportunity for our students to witness the process of developing a high profile site on their doorstep. Learning on site is invaluable and we are hopeful that we can do that soon. However, the footage from the camera will definitely enhance students’ virtual learning experience over the coming weeks. It will provide a unique, real life example to further their understanding of the development process and construction techniques.”

Construction of One Waterside Place began in October last year and is expected to be completed in August 2021. Britcon, a leading Civil Engineering, Building and Steel Frame Solutions company, has been appointed as the main contractor to construct the office building.

As part of the contract with Chesterfield Borough Council, Britcon will utilise local labour and local contractors across the whole build process as well as working closely with the college.

To ensure you keep up-to-date with the latest developments at Chesterfield Waterside, visit ChesterfieldWaterside.co.uk or follow the development on Facebook and Twitter.

Chesterfield College and Chesterfield Waterside support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Chesterfield’s BRM Solicitors supports Children’s Hospice with its ‘Make a Will’ month

A community-spirited Chesterfield law firm is waiving its fees for its bespoke Will writing service to help raise much-needed funds for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.

BRM Solicitors have partnered with the charity to offer the service throughout February in return for a donation to the hospice. BRM’s ‘Make a Will’ month comes at a time when much of Bluebell Wood’s planned fundraising activity has been cancelled or postponed as a result of the latest Covid restrictions.

BRM’s suggested donation of £75 for a single will can pay for two counselling sessions for parents coming to terms with the devastation of losing a child.

For a Mirror Will, often used by couples, BRM are suggesting a £150 donation. This amount would contribute to a short break for a family at Bluebell Wood to give them some much-needed me time.

Counselling and short breaks are two incredibly important aspects of the wraparound care the charity offers, something Saki and Rudi’s families know all too well.

Saki, who was always the life and soul of the party, passed away in 2019 after a lifelong battle with a series of complex conditions. Since saying goodbye to her son, mum Sharon has relied on Bluebell Wood’s support through the dark days that followed.

“I didn’t grieve properly to start with. I struggled on for months but then I literally broke,” said Sharon, from Barnsley.

“One of Bluebell Wood’s counsellors, picked me up and put me back together again. Without them there’s a massive possibility I wouldn’t have been here today.”

Four-year-old Rudi, from Chesterfield, loves visiting Bluebell Wood for short breaks and wows staff and volunteers alike with his infectious smile and bubbly personality. Mum Daniella explains just how important a break from the pressures of caring for a child with a life-shortening condition is to her family.

“Everyone’s welcoming, understanding and has empathy for our situation,” she said.

“Nothing’s ever too much trouble. It’s a safe and comfortable place for us to go and having that support to rely on really does mean the world to us.”

To book an appointment, which can be done in person, over the phone or via video call, contact BRM on 01246 555111 or info@brmlaw.co.uk

Rob Woodhead, Head of Wills and Probate at BRM Solictors, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Bluebell Wood this year with our Make a Will month after several successful years of supporting amazing local charities.

“As well as helping to raise money for local charities, our free will months are a great way to promote the importance of making a Will and ensuring money and possessions go exactly where you want them to.

“We are hoping to raise as much money as possible to support Bluebell Wood through these challenging times, so please do get in touch if you’d like to put your affairs in order whilst supporting a good cause.”

Rachael Dawes, Individual Giving Manager at Bluebell Wood, said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to BRM for supporting Bluebell Wood with their Make a Will Month.

“We need to raise over £5 million each year to keep our doors open, and our ability to fundraise has been significantly impacted by the pandemic.

“So a gift left in someone’s Will, of any amount, will help us to continue to be there for children and families at a time when they need our support more than ever.

BRM Solicitors supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Derbyshire Institute of Sport offers Chesterfield companies the chance to Inject Olympic know-how into their business

Imagine the difference it would make to your business if you could recruit a team of high performance experts to boost happiness, wellness, productivity and resilience.

That’s what Derbyshire Institute of Sport is offering as part of its new Thrive programme – an EXTRA package of benefits launched in Chesterfield this month for current and new business sponsors.

DIS is a Community Interest Company on a mission to develop, inspire and support champions. Since 2012 it has helped many talented young athletes to become world-class. It receives no Government funding and relies on business sponsors to keep the cost of its support services as low as possible for athletes who already face high costs and sacrifices to pursue their dreams.

Managing director Chloe Maudsley, said: “We have been looking closely in recent weeks into how we can better support our community and help protect and improve people’s mental and physical health and wellbeing. We’ve now put together Thrive, a package that gives all our sponsors access to our team of experts and coaches.

“They have supported elite athletes and professional sports stars to become world class and now they can lend their support to our business sponsors to help them boost workplace wellness.”

Key benefits include:
• Access to an online, weekly group exercise session.
• Access to a monthly ‘lunch and learn’ online health and wellbeing workshop.
• Online physiotherapy screenings and nutrition consultations.
• Discounts on team development days.

Chloe added: “These new benefits are on top of the existing promotional benefits of being a DIS supporter.”

UK Government guidelines say that adults should aim for 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Yet, an estimated 11 million people in England (that’s 24.6% of adults) are doing LESS than an average 30 minutes activity a week. A study in the Lancet found that spending eight hours a day sat at a desk increases the chance of early death from diseases such as cancer and heart disease by 60%.

Regular, moderate exercise reduces that risk. It also boosts mood levels and, along with healthy eating and lifestyle choices, it can help you enjoy improved sleep and reduced anxiety levels.

Head of Athlete Development at DIS, Laura Wake, who is a former Commonwealth Games athlete, said: “If your staff members are working in various locations, some from home, it’s easy to feel disconnected and isolated. Coming together online for an exercise session can build relationships and improve everyone’s mood, as well as their health, leading to a more optimistic view of life.

“If you have people coming back from furlough, some team activity online can help them feel part of the team again.”

During the first UK lockdown, a Sport England survey found that an average of 63% of respondents said exercise and physical activity had been an effective way of helping them manage their mental health, as well as benefiting their general health. One of the current DIS sponsors is Ilkeston-based logistics firm Lobina Transport.

Managing Director Luigi Lobina said: “Being a sponsor has given us some great stories to tell online and we’ve had some energising and exciting team-building experiences in the office thanks to DIS athletes and coaches.”

Derbyshire Institute of Sport supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Record 2020 results for Mortgage 1st despite pandemic

Back in March last year when the pandemic began no one had any idea how the year would pan out and like most businesses Mortgage 1st’s objective was to survive. They have done more than that since and are absolutely thriving!

Their business model was already built around offering remote advice so when COVID hit they didn’t have to change anything about how they operated. This meant there were no interruptions for their customers who continued to receive the same quality service and support.
Other than adjusting to working from home (whilst juggling home-schooling!) for their Chesterfield based head office team, it was pretty much business as usual for Mortgage 1st.

The team confidently navigated and adjusted to all the changes in the mortgage application process and sympathetically dealt with the delays caused by the initial lockdown and tighter lender restrictions ensuring their customers remained top priority throughout.

When the Estate Agents re-opened and valuations and surveys were allowed to take place again in the spring, it was like someone had flicked a switch and the new enquiries came flooding in. So much so that Mortgage 1st were then able to confidently continue with their ambitious growth plans and recruited 7 new Mortgage Advisers and a Mortgage Processor during the summer adding to the 2 new Advisers that had already joined the team earlier in the year.

With a strong team in place and the abundance of new customer enquires meant a record year of results across the board for Mortgage 1st. Their Advisers applied for 1,672 new mortgage applications equating to £301m worth of lending and they arranged 827 insurance policies to ensure their customers were fully protected financially.

Lisa Stones, HR & Marketing Director, Mortgage 1st said: “We are unbelievably proud of our team and the resilience they have shown during 2020. It’s been the craziest and toughest year in our history and to achieve record results is testament to everyone’s hard work and sheer determination. We have grown even stronger as a team over the last year and are all feeling very positive about what 2021 will bring for our industry, the business and us all personally.

January is always the busiest month for new mortgage enquiries and already 2021 is shaping up to be another fantastic year for Mortgage 1st. Their recruitment plans continue at pace and by the end of March an Apprentice, Mortgage Administrator, Mortgage Processor and 4 new Advisers will have also joined the team.

Mortgage 1st supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

 

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D2N2 Growth Hub Launches Peer Network Programme

The D2N2 Growth Hub launches it’s Peer Network programme which aims to bring together diverse cohorts of SMEs to work together collaboratively to discuss challenges, share feedback and devise practical solutions.

The programme, which is being delivered locally by a network of Growth Hubs, forms part of the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing EU transition. It seeks to improve the resilience of SMEs, their capability to adapt their business models to the “new normal” and position themselves for future success, driving longer-term productivity gains.

The programme, which will be delivered by a network skilled facilitators, will consist of the following sector based Peer Networks:

  • Manufacturing
  • Hospitality and Visitor Economy
  • Creative Industries
  • Life Sciences
  • Retail
  • Construction
  • Food and Drink
  • Social/Healthcare

The Growth Hub will also deliver the following mixed-sector groups:

  • High growth businesses
  • Women-owned businesses
  • BAME businesses
  • High growth businesses with a focus on digital (technology, cyber security)
  • High growth businesses with a focus on leadership and management
  • High growth businesses with a focus on sales/e-commerce

Each of the above networks will bring together groups of 11 SMEs which will run from January to March 2021. In total 18 hours of Peer Network support will be provided to each business with an additional 3.5 hours of one to one support. The key benefits to businesses are:

  • Overcoming business challenges and recognising new opportunities
  • Build a trusted network of connections
  • Improving long-term personal and business performance
  • Achieving higher turnover, employment levels and productivity growth – as research indicates for businesses adopting formal management practices

Chris Pook, D2N2 Growth Hub Manager said: “The Peer Networks are a welcome addition to the wealth of business support already delivered via the Growth Hub. This tried and tested action learning methodology will provide added value to the businesses involved, especially during these challenging economic times.”

For more information and to register your interest in joining a network please click here.

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Award for Redbrik’s Chesterfield Lettings Team

Redbrik’s Chesterfield Lettings team have won the British Property Awards Letting Agent of the Year for Chesterfield.

Lettings Manager, Abigail Wilks, commented: “The award is very well deserved and is a credit to our fantastic team at Chesterfield Lettings.

“The team consistently show outstanding customer service in everything they do. I was thrilled this was highlighted throughout the extensive British Property Awards judging period, which included mystery shops assessing customer service, knowledge and helpfulness.”

The British Property Awards provide agents throughout the UK with the opportunity to compare the service that they provide against the service provided by their local, regional and national competition.

Agents who go that extra mile and provide outstanding customer service levels are rewarded with an accolade, which acts as a beacon to highlight these attributes to their local marketplace.

Robert McLean, from The British Property Awards, added: “If an agent has been attributed with one of our awards, it is simply down to the fantastic customer service levels that they have demonstrated across a prolonged period of time.”

REDBRIK is one of Chesterfield’s leading independent sales and lettings agents. Founded in January 2013 by directors and experienced agents, Mark Ross and Julie Bulheller, REDBRIK is built on an ethos of honesty, unrivalled customer service and innovative marketing.

Since opening their first branch, REDBRIK has enjoyed continual success, expanding into two Sheffield offices at Crystal Peaks and Millhouses, and a substantially larger office in Chesterfield to accommodate company growth.

Going from strength to strength, the company started out with two directors in one small office, and now employ more than 40 members of staff and provide services across Chesterfield, North Derbyshire and Sheffield.

Redbrik supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Redbriklogo2020

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Radical Rebrand for Chesterfield-based Robinson

Robinson – the leading manufacturer specialising in value added custom packaging – is starting the new year with a dynamic, refreshed, radical rebrand.

The modern, new look Robinson – formerly Robinson Packaging Innovation – is the result of investment into months of intense external and internal research into the evolving packaging market and the markets it serves, offering unique insights into customers, competitors, from employees, and the status of the company, while aligning with its strategic direction.

The heritage, values and personality of the brand have been brought to life in a confident, striking new look and strategic blueprint.

The research demonstrated that Robinson’s identity is refreshingly real and honest; always agile, working flexibly and responsively with its customers as a trusted partner, completely committed to its customers’ success.

CEO Dr Helene Roberts says the rebrand is a stimulating development for the company. She says: “We are staying true to ourselves, reflecting on who we really are as a company today – we are and always have been very proud of our heritage. We have been in the packaging business for more than 180 years  but need a brand that remains relevant and supports our ambition, captivating to our customers and aligned with the future of the industry.

“We lead our business with purpose to go above and beyond to create a sustainable future for our people and our planet, and our revitalised identity reflects this.”

The new logo has been handcrafted to reflect the Robinson character, which is defined as confident and straightforward. It is complemented by a modern Stag icon, which was the old family crest of the Robinson family and based on the company’s original registered trademark for surgical dressings. It was used from Robinson’s inception in 1839 through to the 1930’s.  Dr Roberts says: “The stag is Robinson’s connection to its history and its people, with our modernised symbol representing the close-knit family business we still are today”.

The company’s new sign-off says simply ‘Together since 1839’ and is designed to represent the proud, unique heritage of a dependable partner with collective spirit that goes above and beyond to get the job done and which is truly working towards a more sustainable future.

The colours replicate Robinson’s personality and help differentiate them, with teal being their new core brand colour, which is open, calm, and natural. The brand’s supporting palette of red, yellow, grey, black and white complement the core teal colour and bring depth and optimism to the broader brand world.

The change in branding is reflected in both visual and verbal identity. Lubna Edwards, Sustainability and Marketing Director, is working with the entire team at Robinson to showcase the new branding internally and externally. She says: “We are building a committed culture by applying our core values and behaviours in everything we do – being honest, agile, empowered and engaged – that’s how we do business.

“As an organisation we are genuine, open, and trusted in our knowledge and delivery.  Our small business allows us to be nimble and to work flexibly and responsively to keep on track and maintain speed of execution, while being a provoker of change. We have comprehensive initiatives to help our people thrive while doing things better in our processes and operations.

“We are trusted by our customers – it’s why they keep coming back and why we continue to attract more. We believe our new branding that comes from our DNA is not just a change of logo; it really reflects who we are and will be in the future.”

The Robinson roll out of the new branding will be followed with the announcement of a new website and sustainability pledge.

Robinson supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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New owner sees a bright future for Peak Shopping Village

Situated in the village of Rowsley, on the edge of the Peak District National Park, the Peak Shopping Village has been bought by the Devonshire Property Group Ltd (DPG) which says the outlet centre has “exciting potential”.

The company has acquired the site for an undisclosed sum with the intention of growing customers and jobs through a fresh approach based on its local expertise. The Devonshire Property Group is a part of the Devonshire Group of companies that represent the interests of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and includes nearby Chatsworth, as well as Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire and Lismore Castle in Ireland.

Located in the Derbyshire Dales, just three miles from Chatsworth, DPG approached the previous site owner, a significant property investor in multiple countries, and completed the sale today (11 January 2021) following several months of negotiations.

DPG will work with the existing management team to improve the site, with immediate actions to include some essential repairs and redecoration. By revitalising the customer experience at Peak Shopping Village, with more units occupied and stronger marketing, DPG aims to boost footfall for the benefit of all occupants. There are no current plans to expand the site or create a discount Chatsworth Gift Shop or Farm Shop.

More than 30 shops currently operate at Peak Shopping Village, which employs between 80 and 100 people. National names such as Pavers Shoes, Leading Labels, The Gift Company and Regatta operate alongside independents such as The Woolroom. The site hosts events year round, including regular Makers Markets showcasing the talent of local artisans, and its biggest event, the ‘Peak Festive Spectacular’ at Christmas.

The Devonshire Group believes Peak Shopping Village is perfectly located as a gateway to the Peak District National Park and the Chatsworth Estate.  It views the purchase as a long term investment and an opportunity to create both a local retail outlet for the community and an exciting retail leisure destination for visitors to the Derbyshire Dales.

The Devonshire Group has strong experience in retail through its existing operations at Chatsworth (the estate farm shop and gift shops) and at Bolton Abbey and is a landlord to many retail outlets across its estates.

Lord Burlington, the Duke of Devonshire’s son, and Stephen Vickers, CEO of the Devonshire Group have been heavily involved in the planning and negotiation of the purchase.

Stephen Vickers: “We believe Peak Shopping Village has exciting potential and we see a bright future for jobs and growth. Our ultimate aim is for the site to realise its full potential as an important contributor to the fabric of the local economy, and we will be developing our plans for achieving this in the coming months.”

Lord Burlington: “Our team has the experience and expertise to help to reinvigorate Peak Shopping Village so that it’s a better experience for shop owners and those who use the office space. We are determined to make it the best it can be, both for our local communities and for the experience of visitors to the area. For us, it’s an exciting, long-term investment in Derbyshire, at the gateway to the Peak District National Park and the Chatsworth Estate.”

This investment is unrelated to any of the visitor facing businesses at either the Chatsworth or the Bolton Abbey Estates. The purchase is a capital transaction funded from the sale of commercial assets in Eastbourne.

The nearby conservation area and nature trail managed by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is part of the sale and the Devonshire Group aims to support it in future with a renewed education focus and experience for visitors to the shopping village. The nearby allotments are not part of the sale.

The Devonshire Group supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

All images supplied by the Chatsworth House Trust

Posted in Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

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