chesterfield business news

One of the country’s leading street food markets is coming to Chesterfield

A renowned street food market will be bringing its unique offer to Chesterfield, as the latest addition to the borough’s exciting events programme.

Chesterfield Borough Council has partnered with Peddler Events, which has operated an extremely successful street food market from their base in Kelham Island in Sheffield.

Peddler Events champions local creators and artisans – over the last eight years they have become known for delivering award winning cuisine, craft drinks, live music, bespoke products, art, and excellent entertainment.

Peddler Events will be bringing their unique offer to Chesterfield with the first market set to take place in June with more planned for later in 2023.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We’re really excited to welcome Peddler to Chesterfield – it’s fantastic that they see Chesterfield as a place to invest and grow their business, and they bring with them a great reputation. We know this is the kind of memorable experience that our residents want to be able to enjoy on their doorstep, as well as attracting new visitors to our town centre.

“Having Peddler bring their vast experience to our town enhances our already packed events programme, and also creates the opportunity to support local businesses by attracting more people into the town centre in the afternoon, and into the evening.

“We look forward to working closely with the team at Peddler, together with our local businesses in Chesterfield, and I hope that lots of people will come along and support these events.”

Peddler Market attracts around 8,000 visitors to its monthly street market event and has helped cement Sheffield’s place on the culinary map whilst also supporting the regeneration of the former industrial area it operates in.

The Chesterfield events represents a new opportunity for Peddler Events to work with more Chesterfield based businesses and support the wider town centre.

Ben Smith, Director at Peddler Events, said: “”Over the past 8 years, Peddler Market has played a pivotal role in helping transform Sheffield into one of the country’s leading culinary destinations.

“We’re driven by showcasing passionate people who share our ethos for quality, whether they’re creating delicious street food, craft beer and spirits, music, performance, or art.

“Our aim is to bring the leading lights of the street food world to this wonderful market town and see them shine alongside the wealth of talent and heritage that Chesterfield has to offer.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing Peddler Market to Chesterfield at such an exciting time in Chesterfield’s regeneration, and the entire team are looking forward to seeing our new partnership grow.”

The first two-day event is scheduled to take place in Chesterfield town centre on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 June.

Chesterfield is hosting a packed events programme in 2023 with the return of old favourites like the Festival of Cricket, Chesterfield Pride, Medieval Fun Day and 1940s Market but also the inclusion of new events including a Food and Drink Festival and Eat in the Park, a two day live music event in Queen’s Park, find out more about these events at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/events/

Funding to help bring the event to Chesterfield has been provided through the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Chesterfield Borough Council received £2.69m of UKSPF funding which will be invested across the borough over the next three years. A portion of this will be invested into promoting the borough as a place to visit, and providing support for arts, culture, and heritage activities.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Summer, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

Charity makes Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre its new home

A Chesterfield-based charity has got a brand-new home in the heart of the town.

CP Teens UK, which was founded in 2013 by Chesterfield based Ellie Simpson, has moved to the recently-opened Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre on Saltergate.

The charity, which provides ‘help, hope, inspiration & friendship’ to children, young people & beyond with Cerebral Palsy & similar physical disabilities both locally & nationally, was founded by Chesterfield’s Ellie Simpson, who has Cerebral Palsy herself.

Ten years on, the charity is moving to the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre as it continues to grow & expand.

Ellie said: “It’s such an exciting time for CP Teens UK – we celebrate the 10th year anniversary of the charity in October, and I feel that this move & opportunity to be based at the Northern Gateway has come at the perfect time as we continue to grow and reach more youngsters & their families.

“The facility is perfect for us as it’s so accessible, it’s a great location & it will enable us to build our initiatives, infrastructure & visibility in ways that we couldn’t before”.

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

CP Teens UK delivers a whole host of events & initiatives that help young people with Cerebral Palsy and similar physical disabilities feel connected, supported & empowered. The
charity holds a lot within the local area, including its annual Ball at the Casa Hotel. Events & initiatives are also held nationwide bringing young people & their families together across the country.

CP Teens UK is run by Ellie herself on a day-to-day basis, alongside a small team of volunteers. By having an accessible & bigger base, CP Teens UK plans to recruit more office-based volunteers, provide work experience days for local physically disabled youngsters, make more partnerships and connections with both like-minded organisations & local businesses, and continue its growth & expansion.

Since opening in Summer 2022, the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre has proven a resounding success for the town, attracting new investment to the area and helping indigenous businesses to grow and expand. Well over half of the space available has already been let since the opening of the centre.

To find out more about the wide range of quality office spaces currently available in Chesterfield, go to our ‘Find Your Perfect Office’ page.

For more information about CP Teens UK’s initiatives & services, or if you are a local business wanting to support CP Teens UK visit www.cpteensuk.org, or email office@cpteensuk.org

CP Teens

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , , ,

Scheme launched to improve employability prospects for young people with learning disabilities

A new initiative has been launched, aimed at getting more young people with learning disabilities across our region into work.

‘Connected Futures in D2N2’ is an in-depth research project seeking to identify the system and issues around employment for young people with Learning Disabilities (LD) and/or Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC).  It considers preparation for work, as well as securing employment and career progression.

The project, the first of its kind locally, is a partnership between D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (D2N2LEP), Direct Education Business Partnership (DEBP) and Nottinghamshire County Council.  It is one of only seven projects nationally to be awarded the Connected Futures Fund from The Youth Futures Foundation.

The project initially focuses on Chesterfield, Derby City, Ashfield, Mansfield, and Nottingham City (D2N2 eligible areas) before learning is applied wider.

It involves examining the processes and pathways available for young people with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism, to enter employment and identify recommendations for strengthening outcomes.

Clare Talati, DEBP Chief Executive Officer said: “We are keen to work with as many organisations and representatives as possible to help compile a comprehensive study of what is currently available.  We can then work together to create a shared understanding of the problem, shared ambition for change, and shared commitment to action.”

Currently, just 1.8% of the working-age population with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism secure employment across our local area, meaning there is a huge talent pool for employers being lost.

One young person said: “No one really understands how hard it is and how frustrated I can get; I just want a job and to be like everyone else.”

Clare Talati added: “Amplifying the voice of young people to inform and influence other key stakeholders is fundamental to ensuring that there are accessible, consistent, and inclusive pathways towards employment.”

Inclusive employment has so many benefits, not just for the young person and the employer, but for the wider society too.  It enriches the workplace, brings in new perspectives, provides access to a new diverse talent stream, creates an employer base more representative of communities and so much more!

If you are interested in getting involved, here are just some of the ways you can help:

  1. Promote ‘Connected Futures in D2N2’ across your network and encourage engagement with the project.
  2. Support in engaging and capturing the voices of representative young people aged 14-25 and/or parents/carers.
  3. Engage with a survey about your current organisational offer.
  4. Commit to being part of a Strategy Group, to look at the learning further and support our Development Boards to shape their recommendations.

For more information, please email enquiries@debp.org

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

laptop social media

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Development, Home, Love Chesterfield, Made in Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , ,

Business park in Chesterfield with ‘great location’ goes up for auction

An investment opportunity has been made available in Chesterfield, with a business park which is already home to a number of tenants set to go under the hammer in early April.

The First Stage Business Park in Chesterfield, which is home to multiple light industrial businesses, has been put up for auction with a guide price of £1.1m. The business park will be included in the next online property auction held by Sheffield firm Mark Jenkinson, now part of Eddisons, on 4 April.

Comprising 17 light industrial units, the multi-let 3.3 acre site produces an annual rental income of over £109,000 and is home to a number of local companies. Metal finisher First Stage Machining; garage and repair shop Autofit; and MR Emergency Medical Services, which provides an independent ambulance service, medical cover for events and first aid training courses, are among current tenants.

Adrian Little, director at Mark Jenkinson, said: “This is a well known business park that’s in a great location on the outskirts of Chesterfield and close to junctions 29a and 30 of the M1. Occupancy levels remain consistently high and all 17 units are currently fully occupied, making this a fantastic investment opportunity.”

Bidding on the First Stage Business Park, and the other lots in Mark Jenkinson’s online property auction, opens at 9am on 4 April and closes from 12pm the same day. To view the full catalogue, go to www.markjenkinson.co.uk  

Mark Jenkinson is now part of property group Eddisons after it was acquired by the Leeds-based firm, which has 25 offices across the UK, earlier this month.

Find out more about the range of benefits associated with investing in Chesterfield, including the town’s ideal location, collaborative business community and quality workforce: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

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

First stage business park

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Chesterfield skills providers recognised at prestigious apprenticeship awards ceremony

Two skills and training providers in Chesterfield have been recognised in a national ceremony, which celebrates the best in apprenticeship delivery across the UK.

The AAC Apprenticeship Awards took place on 14th March 2023, in a special ceremony in Birmingham. A record 375 entries were received from training providers, colleges, universities and employers.

Workpays won the award for Legal, Finance, and Accounting Apprenticeship Provider of the Year, while GBS Apprenticeships were worthy finalists in the Digital Apprenticeship Provider of the Year category.

2023 marks the third year in a row that Workpays have won an accolade at the annual award ceremony, and is the second time that Workpays have won Legal, Finance, and Accounting Apprenticeship Provider of the Year.

Alex Glasner, Managing Director of Workpays (pictured above), said: “We are thrilled to win such a prestigious award for a third year in a row. This really is testament to the dedication of our apprenticeship team, who work day-in day-out to provide the best training possible to individuals across the country.

“Apprenticeships are an amazing way to support employees to gain the skills they need to excel as well as a great path to grow new talent. Our portfolio of apprenticeships and accredited qualifications enable this to happen.”

Alex continued: “All our programmes are tailored to the businesses and individuals we work with, each with its own unique learner journey, this is what has set us apart. We know first-hand how this can change people’s lives and help businesses grow. This award is further recognition of
the hard work of our entire team and I’m incredibly proud.”

Speaking about the company’s nomination as finalists in the Digital Apprenticeships category, GBS Apprenticeships said it was a ‘great honour’ to be recognised – adding that it indicates that the work the company has been doing is being acknowledged by experts and peers in the industry.

A statement from the company’s CEO, Penny Guard said: “I would like to thank the GBS team for their continued hard work and dedication to the company, and our students that continues to push boundaries through stretch and challenge creating talented individuals that strive for even greater successes in the future”.

Chesterfield is the first town in the UK to declare itself an Apprentice Town, demonstrating its commitment to developing future skills for young people and providing a strong pipeline of talent for local businesses. Find out more at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/what-is-apprentice-town/

Workpays and GBS Apprenticeships support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

AAC Awards GBS

GBS Apprenticeships at the AAC Awards 2023

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Home, Love Chesterfield, Made in Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Custom Solar completes rooftop installation at neighbouring manufacturing business, Weightron Bilanciai

A Chesterfield solar installation business has recently completed a project with one of it’s neighbours, improving the sustainable energy use of one of our town’s manufacturing firms.

The team at Custom Solar say they are proud to have recently completed thr Solar PV Installation for Weightron Bilanciai, on Chesterfield Industrial Estate.

The 57kWp system was installed using 115 Solar PV Panels, allowing 48,019kWh of green energy to be generated per annum for the client.

During the delivery period of this project, Custom Solar’s operations team had to work particularly cautiously as they faced the challenging weather conditions of frosty December mornings. Their health and safety team closely monitored the situation daily and assured it was safe for the installation team to proceed with works. Monitoring the environment daily meant Custom Solar were able to complete the install successfully with no complications, maintaining their 10-year incident free Health and Safety record.

Nick Catt, Managing Director at Weightron stated, “Custom Solar were able to deliver a solution that meets our current requirements, yet has the capacity to be expanded in the future if required, a seamless project from enquiry to completion.”

Custom Solar’s Director of Business, Gary Sucharewycz, said “We are proud to have worked in partnership with Weightron Bilanciai to deliver a system that puts the business on the road for a more sustainable future. We loved having the opportunity to work locally with a neighbouring company to support them on their renewable energy journey.”

Custom Solar LTD designs, develops, installs, and maintains large scale infrastructure storage and solar systems for clientele including commercial and public sector institutions across the UK. The company’s track record of tailoring projects for large-scale commercial clients relies on creativity, expertise in engineering, and an industry-leading attitude to health & safety.

The collaboration with Weightron is a great example of two local businesses working together to improve sustainability across the town, and shows partnership working to help our local economy grow. Find out more about how the town’s businesses are being encouraged to further collaborate, following the Celebrate Chesterfield Business Conference 2023.

Custom Solar and Weightron Bilanciai  support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

custom solar weightron installation

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Made in Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Unique shop opens in Chesterfield selling comics, retro games and trading cards

An independent shop which sells comic books, trading cards and retro games has opened it’s doors on West Bars in Chesterfield, after proving a big success in nearby Sheffield.

The Vault is an independent store founded originally in late 2020, and opened in the city on the first day after the last Covid lockdown ended.

After more than two years of continued success, the business has expanded with a second store, choosing Chesterfield as it’s new location.

The shop stocks a wide range of comics, trading card games, retro games and much more. It’s most popular items are individual cards which are on sale in-store, with Pokémon cards being a sought after item for collectors.

Owner of The Vault, Samir Jaouane told us that the shop has somewhere in the range of 90,000 cards on sale – making it one of the only shops in the country to stock that amount of individual cards.

Samir said: “Our Sheffield shop proved to be very popular and gained a lot of local return customers, so we decided we should try and open a second shop in Chesterfield as we noticed there was a gap in the market for our shop in the area.

“Chesterfield is a great town with a bustling market on market days. The local area is full of friendly people and is really well maintained. We hope all our customers feel welcome when greeted by our friendly staff.”

Samir also had a message on the importance of supporting local businesses and keeping the town’s high street thriving: ” As a small independent business, we rely on the trade of the local residents to stay open. The best description for supporting an independent local business is ‘if you don’t use it you will lose it.’

Find out more about Chesterfield’s fantastic range of local independent shops and market traders at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/shopping/

the vault pokemon cards

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

Opportunity to meet employers at Chesterfield market recruitment event

People looking to take the next steps in their career are being invited to meet employers and find out about local job vacancies at a recruitment event in Chesterfield Town Centre.

The recruitment day – which is the latest in a series of other successful events run by Chesterfield Borough Council and partners – takes place on Wednesday 22 March between 10am and 12pm, in Chesterfield market place.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “I’m proud that as a council we have continued to host these events with our partners, and they have to date led to more than 200 job offers with around 100 people securing new careers in our area.

“It helps job seekers and employers to meet informally and discuss available roles before an application. If you’re looking for a new job in Chesterfield, then please do head along to this event and speak to some of the great businesses based in our area.”

Paul Munday, Employer Adviser at DWP Jobcentre Plus Derbyshire, said: “Having first run one of these events in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council back in 2021 it’s a testament to their success and positive feedback that on Wednesday 22 March that we are running our fifth event.

“As with our last event held in October 2022, we will be focusing on sustainable employment opportunities and health and wellbeing support for Chesterfield residents, as well as offering support and information around the latest Government initiatives of supporting the over 50s into work and In Work Progression for those already in part time employment.”

The drop-in event is open to everyone, with no need to make an appointment, but job seekers registered with Jobcentre Plus can reserve their place by speaking with their work coach.

There will be lots of opportunities available on the day from a range of sectors including hospitality, social care, engineering, logistics, transport and many more.

As well as job opportunities there will also be several apprenticeship providers who are currently recruiting for new apprentices. An apprenticeship offers a great opportunity to earn while you learn and can help people at any stage in life. Search for apprenticeships in Chesterfield by visiting: www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/become-an-apprentice-in-chesterfield/find-an-apprenticeship-in-chesterfield

The event is free for local businesses to attend and advertise vacancies, if you wish to have a stall at the event please email: chimene.cutler@dwp.gov.uk

Cllr Serjeant with employees from Chesterfield Borough Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Development, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Made in Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , ,

Chesterfield reveals ambition to increase visitor economy by £32 million

Ahead of English Tourism Week 2023 (17 – 23 March), Chesterfield has announced its bold ambition to increase the value of its visitor economy by 20% by 2030.

A 20% increase in tourism will bring an additional £32 million into the economy annually helping create jobs for local people and opportunities for existing and new businesses.

The town will build on its heritage, retail and leisure offering as well as its proximity to the Peak District National Park, to increase the number of overnight stays in the town.

As part of its drive to attract people to visit and stay in the town, the town’s inward investment marketing campaign Destination Chesterfield has appealed to businesses and residents to ‘talk up the town’ within their networks and help attract visitors.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “Chesterfield has an excellent offer for visitors, as well as the town’s close proximity to one of the most visited National Parks in the world. There is an opportunity for us to attract more people to visit and stay overnight in Chesterfield using the town as a base rather than just passing through on their way to the Peak District.”

The Peak District currently welcomes more than 13 million visitors annually with 83% of these arriving by car. Attracting some of these visitors to stay in Chesterfield and using its bus and rail links to visit surrounding areas, including major attractions like Chatsworth House, will not only benefit the borough’s economy but also support the Park Authority’s Sustainable Transport Action Plan.

Additionally, there are cycle paths into the Peak District, the border of which is just five miles from the town centre.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire praised Chesterfield’s ambitions, saying: “Tourism already plays a vital role in making the area such a brilliant place to live, work and visit, and we strongly support Chesterfield’s ambition to grow the value of its visitor economy even further.

“The tourism sector generates billions of pounds for the local economy each year, supporting thousands of local jobs and displaying huge potential for future growth, particularly in areas such as sustainable and active travel, which Chesterfield can really capitalise on.

“Growing and developing the town’s tourism offer will not only benefit local businesses, it will also have a positive and lasting effect on local residents and communities. We look forward to working with partners in Chesterfield to support them in achieving this goal and ensuring the visitor economy’s long-term success.”

Mark Thurman, Managing Director of Casa Hotels which owns and operates two four-star hotels in the borough, urged people to ‘celebrate what we’ve already got,’ saying: “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We have wonderful accommodation, great restaurants and fantastic transport links to bring people to Chesterfield to then go and explore the surrounding area. We don’t need to do anything other than celebrate what we’ve already got.”

The town’s proximity to the Peak District has already attracted major investment to the borough including the £300 million PEAK, an all-year-round round leisure education, wellness and entertainment destination. PEAK’s masterplan has been developed around a transport and mobility system connected to the National Park. Phase one of the development, Gateway at PEAK, which is being developed by Milligan is expected to be completed in 2025.

celebrate 2023 visitor economy panel

Experts discuss Chesterfield’s visitor economy at Celebrate Chesterfield 2023. (Left to right: Jo Dilley – Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, Phil Bramley – Derbyshire Times, Mark Thurman – Casa Hotels, Jimmy Drew – Derbyshire County Cricket Club)

The town is already home to the award-winning Casa Hotel and further hotel accommodation is planned within the £320 million Chesterfield Waterside scheme located close to the close to town’s mainline train station. The developer, Bolsterstone Group Plc, is in talks with major hotel brands to operate the proposed 120-bed hotel within Phase 1 of the scheme. The new hotel will be a further addition to the popular 92-bed Premier Inn Hotel which was opened within the Elder Way development in the town centre in 2019.

Increasing the visitor economy of the town is one of the key targets in the 2023-27 Chesterfield Growth Strategy which was launched by Chesterfield Borough Council on 23 February. In addition to growing the visitor economy, key headline targets, include:

  • Increasing the number of employee jobs in the borough by 4% (2,000 jobs)
  • Increasing the number of businesses by 12% (400 businesses)
  • Increasing the number of higher value businesses by 15% (100 businesses)
  • Increasing the share of Chesterfield residents in knowledge-based occupations by 15% (baseline Census 21 – 18,000)
  • Increasing the value of the visitor economy by 20% (baseline £163m)

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We are already a fantastic visitor destination but growing our visitor economy strengthens growth across the borough, it leads to more people supporting our local businesses and town centre. This will in turn create new jobs and opportunities for our residents. To do this we need to work closely with our partners to promote our town, we have excellent transport connections, fantastic accommodation choices and our proximity to the Peak District puts us in a very strong position to bring more people to our town.”

Peter added: “The lasting and far reaching change we are striving for in Chesterfield cannot be done by one organisation alone; it must be a collaborative effort. By doing this, there is a real opportunity to build a thriving visitor economy in the town.”

Chatsworth Country Fair

Chatsworth Country Fair – Image by Chatsworth House Trust

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

‘Substantial’ public support for regional devolution plans

There is substantial support for regional devolution plans in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, according to the results of a recent consultation on the proposals.

Local leaders are backing devolution to promote economic growth, secure more investment in our area, for more and better jobs, and for better transport, skills training, housing, and an enhanced greener environment. It would also mean more power in local hands.

Thousands of people took part in the consultation, which took place from November 2022 to January 2023. It was open to residents, businesses, community and voluntary groups, and other employers in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham.

There were 4,869 responses to the consultation overall, from members of the public and people answering on behalf of an organisation. The number of responses was higher than similar consultations on devolution in other areas.

The majority backed the proposals:

  • 53% agreed with the proposals for transport, compared to 35% disagreeing.
  • 52% agreed with the proposals for skills, compared to 32% disagreeing.
  • 51% agreed with the proposals for reducing carbon and improving the environment, compared to 33% disagreeing.
  • 51% agreed with the proposals for public health, compared to 33% disagreeing
  • 46% agreed with the proposals for homes, compared to 39% disagreeing

The only area which was more balanced was in terms of the proposals for governance, with 42% agreeing and 45% disagreeing. Comments tended to centre around the need for a regional mayor. Having a regional mayor is a condition set by the government for a level 3 deal, which offers the most powers and highest funding.

The government has offered new powers to Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham, along with at least £1.14 billion of funding, through the proposed creation of an East Midlands Combined County Authority. A formal proposal was developed, outlining how devolution would work in the area, which was the focus of the consultation.

Historically, the East Midlands has often been an area of low government funding, compared to many other areas of the UK. If the proposals for devolution go ahead, a guaranteed funding stream of £38 million a year for 30 years could help to reverse this trend.

Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “It’s very encouraging to see the broad support for these plans to bring in £38 million a year and move major decision-making to the people who best know our communities, rather than Westminster.

“I’m pleased that so many residents and organisations came forward to give their views about the East Midlands devolution proposal, and I’d like to thank everyone who took part.

“Clearly there was less support for an elected mayor which I fully acknowledge. The reality is, to obtain the greatest powers and highest levels of funding from the government to benefit local people, an elected mayor is a condition of that deal.

“I firmly believe that by working together across traditional boundaries – and an elected mayor would play a key part in that – this devolution deal will help us attract more investment to our region, better support businesses, upskill our workforce, develop our infrastructure and improve public health.

“The councils involved are now working together on a final devolution proposal. I can assure everyone who took the time to take part in the consultation that their views will be central to shaping our thoughts to the government.

“At the heart of this devolution deal is a desire to seize every opportunity to improve people’s lives across our region by making sure we get a fair share of government funding.”

The leaders of Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council, and Nottingham City Council all signed up to work on a devolution deal in August 2022 at Rolls-Royce in Derby, following an announcement from the Government that a package of new powers and funding, worth £1.14 billion, were available for the 2 counties and 2 cities.

The 4 councils then worked on a more detailed proposal, including more information about how devolution would work in our area, which was the focus of the consultation.

Many local organisations support devolution for the area. Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “Our region is home to a wide range of fantastic businesses, from industrial powerhouses with household names to university spin-outs that boast vast potential, and everything in between.

“What they now need is the political apparatus that removes any obstacles to national and local decision-making, enhances our ability to attract investment and ultimately creates a more business-friendly environment.

“This would help them to take strides forward in productivity and innovation, enabling firms to drive the economic growth that creates jobs and wealth locally.”

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “We are delighted that the authorities within the East Midlands are working to secure a deal for a combined authority. This should provide an opportunity to present a compelling case to central government for more levelling up funding that can be spent strategically to improve productivity and the number of highly skilled jobs across the region.

”It will also enable universities, and other providers of skills, innovation, and business support, to work collaboratively with a single group ensuring spend on regional development delivers the best value for money.”

If all 4 councils vote to accept the results of the consultation, and move forward with the process, a final version of the devolution proposal could then be sent to the government.

Legislation to make the new form of Combined County Authority legal could go through Parliament later this year, which would then need to be approved and receive Royal Assent. This could happen in early 2024.

A new East Midlands Combined County Authority could then officially come into existence in spring 2024, with the first ever election for a regional mayor,  covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham, taking place in May 2024.

A future mayor would be held to account by elected representatives from county and city councils in the East Midlands, as well as a scrutiny committee. The mayor would be directly elected by residents in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham.

 

Chesterfield town centre views outdoors

 

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Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre welcomes digital transformation company as new tenant

Chesterfield’s Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre has welcomed another new tenant, with Konektio relocating to the town from nearby Clay Cross.

The company, which specialises in digital transformation solutions for the industrial and manufacturing industries has chosen the centre due to it’s ideal location and connectivity.

Commenting on the move, Peter Stephens, CEO at Konektio said: “We are delighted to announce the relocation of Konektio’s global headquarters to the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre.

“As a leading provider of Industrial IoT and Energy Monitoring applications, we are enabling the digital transformation for the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Konektio creates significant value for our clients across the UK, Europe, and the US with turn-key solutions for asset condition-based monitoring and energy usage solutions. We help our customers tangibly reduce their operating and energy costs, improving their profitability whilst reducing their impact on the environment.

“The decision to select the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre was a strategic one, as the Centre offers an outstanding business environment and top-notch facilities that align with Konektio’s vision and support our customers and rapid organisational growth.”

Since opening in Summer 2022, the Enterprise Centre has gone from strength-to-strength, with more than 60% of the space already occupied, and less than a dozen of the 32 office spaces now remaining.

The Grade ‘A’ Office space is offered on easy in and out letting terms and tenants also benefit from access to a range of other council services and venues, including business support and corporate rates for leisure passes, parking permits and conferencing facilities.

With its town centre location, the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre is easily accessible by car, train, bus and cycle users. It’s situated opposite the new Saltergate multi-story car park and close to all major bus routes and Chesterfield Railway station.

Th centre is also an exemplar of sustainable development, having been designed to a BREEAM Excellent standard. BREEAM (Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method) is a sustainability rating scheme and focuses on building design, construction and use. It helps measure and reduce the environmental impacts of buildings.

Find out more about locating your business at the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/northern-gateway/

Konektio

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , , ,

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