chesterfield business news

Resilient businesses to be celebrated at this year’s East Midlands Chamber Business Awards

The resilience of the East Midlands business community during a tough trading environment will be celebrated at a trio of upcoming awards ceremonies later this year – and firms are invited to put themselves forward for recognition.

Entries are now open for the East Midlands Chamber Business Awards 2023, which includes three gala dinner celebrations in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

Businesses, charities and individuals from each county will be recognised across 14 categories, ranging from Outstanding Growth and Excellence in International Trade through to Environmental Impact and an Education and Business Partnership Award.

Headline partner Mazars will also select a Business of the Year winner for each county.

East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “With the cost-of-doing-business crisis following hot on the heels of the pandemic and Brexit, the past few years have been as tough a trading environment as many of us can recall.

“Despite this, we’ve seen tremendous resilience on display among our region’s business community, which has found new ways to grow, innovate and collaborate.

“We are once again hugely excited about celebrating these achievements in our Business Awards, which are always one of the most highly-anticipated events in the Chamber calendar – thanks to the sponsors that help to make it happen.”

The deadline for the East Midlands Chamber Business Awards 2023 is Monday 17 July.

Finalists will be announced at a president’s summer celebration on Thursday 24 August and they will then have a chance to state their case at virtual judging panels taking place on the week commencing 11 September.

A gala dinner to celebrate the Chamber’s Derbyshire Business Awards will take place on Friday, 17th November 2023.

To enter the East Midlands Chamber Business Awards 2023 or to find out about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.emc-dnl.co.uk/services/business-awards

East Midlands Chamber Business Awards 2023 categories

  • Business Improvement through Technology
  • Community Impact Award
  • Outstanding Growth Award
  • Environmental Impact Award
  • Commitment to People Development Award
  • Apprentice of the Year
  • Entrepreneur of the Year
  • Education and Business Partnership Award
  • Excellence in Customer Service
  • Excellence in International Trade
  • Small Business of the Year
  • Excellence in Innovation
  • Excellence in Collaboration
  • Business of the Year

Derbyshire Business Awards winners

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Construction begins on speculative new business park in Clay Cross

Construction is now underway on a multi-million pound scheme to unlock land for employment in Clay Cross near Chesterfield.

Roe Developments is set to transform the second phase of Wingfield View Business Park, which will see the creation of around 65,000 sq ft across 16 high specification industrial / logistics units, offering units from 2,000 to 12,000 sq ft.

The estate will offer high quality employment and business premises, available for occupation from Q3 2023. Interest has been strong to date, with several units now under offer.

Harry Orwin-Allen, Senior Surveyor at Knight Frank in Sheffield, which is marketing the park with FHP Property Consultants, said: “Our client Roe Developments has already proved the demand for high quality, new build industrial and warehouse opportunities in this area, with Phase One a single industrial terrace having been successfully delivered and either sold or let prior to construction having completed.

“The park offers competitive lease terms and freehold sale values, with units being built to a specification to meet modern occupiers’ requirements and to provide the highest standard of industrial and warehousing space available in the area.”

Key features of the units will include full height roller shutter access, 6-8m eaves height; 3 phase power; glazed reception entrance way with personnel door and ample yard and car parking.

Wingfield View Business Park is located directly off the A6175 along Market Street on the corner of Coney Green Business Centre. The property has easy access onto the A61 and is also 10 minutes from Junction 29 of the M1 Motorway.

Wingfield View follows the successful development of the Railway View Business Park in Clay Cross by Roe Developments which is now 100 per cent let.

There are currently several regeneration schemes and developments taking place across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire. To find out more about the latest on some of the major projects across the area, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/

Wingfield View Apr 23

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Triple success for Superior Wellness at What Spa? Best Buy Awards

Chesterfield’s Superior Wellness has taken home three awards in the prestigious What Spa? Best Buy Awards 2023.

The Best Buy Awards are published in the 2023/24 edition of What Spa? magazine. The WhatSpa? magazine is one of the UK’s leading consumer hot tub buyer’s guide and has advised and informed thousands of hot tub buyers across the UK for over 10 years.

Three products produced by the Chesterfield-based firm, the Platinum Spas Palma, the AquaSolus Derwent and the Thermal Spas Hydro were all successful in obtaining the consumer hot tub award.

  • The Platinum Spas Palma is a family size hot tub in the brand new improved deluxe range.  It is designed for six people with one lounger and five seats.  It includes 87 powerful jets and LED lights. With a brand-new look and feel for 2023 the Deluxe range now has a more aesthetically pleasing design with the curvature of the acrylic.
  • The luxurious AquaSolus Derwent is the ultimate hot tub with one lounger and four seats.  Designed with hydrotherapy at the forefront, the Derwent has 66 jets, as well as an LED waterfall and LED fountain making it the perfect hot tub if you are looking to sit back and relax. The Derwent hot tub has an integrated WIFI, Gecko In.stream2 Bluetooth music system and is Wi-Fi compatible making it an excellent choice for relaxing or entertaining friends.
  • The Thermals Spas Hydro hot tub comes with one lounger and four seats which is the perfect hot tub for family entertainment or if you simply want to relax.  It also includes the energy efficient R10 insulation to keep your running costs lower.

Graham Message, Business Development Manager said “I am delighted that we have been awarded three Best Buy Awards once again. The What Spa? Magazine and website are a very important tool for the end customer to use when finding their perfect hot tub.  It is also great for our partner network to proudly say they are selling an award-winning hot tub.”

The Best Buy Awards features the very best hot tubs to buy. The Awards acknowledge the hot tub models that excel across a range of criteria, including design, aesthetics, comfort, hydrotherapy and value-for-money.

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

superior wellness exterior

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Local events and initiatives launched to benefit Chesterfield community

A host of local events and new initiatives have been announced by various organisations across Chesterfield, further strengthening the local community.

Recent initiatives launched include new networking events for businesses, a charity walk at Chatsworth, the return of the prestigious ‘In Bloom’ competition and a support group set up by Chesterfield FC for former footballers affected by dementia.

Find out more about the latest community news from across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire below.

Chesterfield In Bloom competitions now open

Chesterfield in Bloom

Green-fingered residents are being encouraged to show off their talents in this year’s Chesterfield In Bloom competitions.

With more than six categories there is the opportunity for everyone to get involved no matter how big or small their outside space is.

Chris Turner, Chair of the Chesterfield in Bloom committee, said: “Last year not only did we win on a regional level, but we also received lots of fantastic entries for our Chesterfield In Bloom competitions from local gardeners. The standard was exceptional and I can’t wait to see the entries for this year.

“We’re excited to see all types of garden from the largest allotments through to container displays. Please do get your entries in as soon as possible and I wish everyone the best of luck in this years competition.

People have until Friday 16 June to submit their entries or to nominate their neighbours in the following categories:

• Best Front Garden
• Best Back Garden up to 80m2
• Best Back Garden larger than 80m2
• Best Container Garden
• Best Blooming Pub/Restaurant
• Best Allotment (with subcategories based on size)

There is also an exclusive competition for council tenants, and entries are invited for Best Garden (either front or back) and Best Containers.

Residents can only enter two categories but everyone who takes part is automatically entered for the best overall garden judging.

The ever-popular schools’ competition makes a return this year too.

After the town’s success last year, the council will also be entering East Midlands In Bloom again and winners of the above competitions may also be included in the judging later this year.

Entry forms are available on the council’s website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/bloom

CMP Legal brings ‘Network King’ event to Chesterfield 

Network King Image

CMP Legal, a leading niche commercial law firm that specialises in corporate, commercial, dispute resolution and employment law is bringing ‘Network King’ to Chesterfield to support local businesses in the professional community.

The Chesterfield based law firm that delivers expert services to clients in Derbyshire, Sheffield and across the UK has arranged for Network King to host a networking event at The Batch House in Chesterfield on Thursday 11th May 2023. This event is expected to attract over 100 local delegates from the professional community, including Banks, Finance Providers, Accountancy Firms, Law Firms, Asset Based Lenders and Insolvency Firms.

The event will be sponsored by Chesterfield based CMP Legal and Leonard Curtis. Network King aims to provide an alternative to traditional networking events, by putting the fun back into networking.

Anna Cattee, Co-Founder of CMP Legal says: “It’s been great to bring Network King across the county border into Chesterfield and be part of providing a new networking event for the local, professional community. When we set up CMP Legal, we wanted to shake up the local legal sector and assist businesses across the area, so to have been part of creating a new, popular event, which allows us to network with each other is hugely beneficial for the professional community.”

Richard Pinder, Director of Leonard Curtis and Co-Founder of Network King says: “Network King was set-up with a view to providing networking events specifically for the professional sector.  Karl Hodson (co-founder) and I had attended enough networking events to know what good looked like and we wanted to translate that in to fantastic events across the Yorkshire region and further afield.  Leonard Curtis has helped the organisation grow by supporting events in areas where they have a strong presence and will continue to do so as the Network King events attract the right calibre of people to strengthen our brand.”

Spireites in Mind launched

Spireites-in-Mind

Chesterfield FC Community Trust has launched Spireites in Mind – a support group for former players affected by dementia, together with their families.

Fronted by legendary former Spireite Sean O’Neill, the event saw ex-England internationals Tony Currie and Dave Watson join a host of ex-Chesterfield players at the event, including Jim Brown, Dave Pugh, Bill Dearden and Colin Prophett.

Jenny Moss, the wife of Spireites legend Ernie Moss, also attended the lunchtime meeting held in the SBK Spires Restaurant.

ITV Calendar were in attendance and conducted interviews for a feature which was broadcast.

Chatsworth to host Pink Ribbon Walk

Chatsworth House

On the 8th July, Breast Cancer Now’s Pink Ribbon Walk is returning to the beauty hotspot of Chatsworth House. The charity is calling on outdoor lovers to step forward for people affected by breast cancer at the 10 or 20-mile walks.

The Pink Ribbon Walk events are one of the Breast Cancer Now’s biggest and best-loved fundraising events – having raised more than £14.5 million for world class breast cancer research and support since its first walkers crossed the finish line in 2005.

Claire Pulford, Associate Director, Community and Events at Breast Cancer Now, said: “It’s fabulous to once again be inviting everyone to put their best foot forward and get sponsored to join us for one of our Pink Ribbon Walks at Chatsworth.

“Every 10 minutes, someone in the UK hears the words “you have breast cancer”. Money raised from Pink Ribbon Walk events will help us to provide support for today and hope for the future for people affected by breast cancer.

Walkers will be supported all the way with a clearly marked route, expert guides and regular rest stops with snacks – allowing those taking part to soak up the spectacular scenery and focus on reaching that finish line.

Chesterfield Borough Council, CMP Legal, Chatsworth House and Chesterfield FC support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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New venue to boost the popular food & drink scene in Brampton

A new bar has opened on Chatsworth Road in Brampton, adding to the popular evening offer in the area.

The Brampton Social Club, formerly known as The Alma, is expected to provide guests with a great range of beers, a delicious wine list and a range of classic and interesting cocktails.

The bar will have rotating taps which will offer new lines on a regular basis, including guest beers from local producers such as the popular Brampton Brewery.

Sporting action will also be shown on screens in the venue, alongside an eclectic mix of music. Customers will also be able to relax and enjoy the sunshine in the beer garden, which bar owner Santiago Perez is hoping to extend in the near future.

brampton social club

Speaking on where the inspiration came from for the Brampton Social Club, Santiago explained: “I own a late-night venue in Chesterfield, Apartment. I love hospitality and giving people a great place to go and experience.

“Chatsworth Road is a vibrant area where I have been looking for some time. The opportunity came up with the Alma, the location was right but needed a bit of focus and a new look. We wanted to keep the community feel and somewhere for people to go meet friends and new people with a nice feel. The design by Oli Perez, is quite unique but delivers the social environment we want to create.”

Brampton and Chatsworth Road is already proving a popular area for Chesterfield’s food and drink scene, with a number of unique and independent bars and restaurants already established there.

Santiago commented: “Chatsworth Road is the happening place, with good weeknights and vibrant weekends. There are great venues in the area, such as Deja Vu, Junction, Crafty Dog, and the Brampton Brewery pubs to name a few, giving a great choice of a night out for locals and visitors. We want to be part of creating Brampton as the place to go, so we all benefit.”

Find out more about The Brampton Social Club on Facebook.

brampton social club

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Collaboration leads to eye-catching display at Chesterfield Waterside

Two Chesterfield Champions have collaborated with Chesterfield Borough Council to deliver an attention-grabbing display in and around the Basin Square area of the Chesterfield Waterside scheme.

FWD: Motion, a creative agency based in Chesterfield, managed the branding, design, manufacture, and installation of the new perimeter display at Basin Square working alongside Bolsterstone Group PLC which is delivering the Waterside scheme with Chesterfield Borough Council.

The new site display builds on the brand redevelopment and website build for Chesterfield Waterside which FWD Motion completed in 2019.

Chesterfield Waterside is one of the UK’s largest regeneration schemes; a £340 million sustainable development set in a canal-side environment. Waterside is built across 16 hectares with phase 1 of the development, known as Basin Square, delivering Grade A office space, a hotel, apartments, and a multi-storey car park.

Phase one at Basin Square recently saw the completion and opening of One Waterside Place, a seven-storey large floorplate office funded by Chesterfield Borough Council.

The new display, which features 190 meters of printed and cut vinyl 8x4ft di bond aluminium hoarding boards with protective anti-graffiti laminate, showcases the high quality office space available within the building.

Already two floors of One Waterside Place have tenants – BHP Chartered Accountants and luxury women’s leisurewear company Varley’s, and the new eye-catching display boards are helping to attract the attention of prospective tenants.

Tom Swallow, Development Manager at Bolsterstone Group PLC commented: “It was a pleasure to work with FWD Motion as always on the design of the hoardings. They worked with us to deliver a quality product which compliments the high quality public realm at Chesterfield Waterside. They are helping to create a lot of interest from prospective tenants and investors in both the office building and forthcoming developments at Basin Square and the wider Waterside scheme.”

Emma Cole, Marketing Director at FWD Motion commented: “FWD were delighted to work with Bolsterstone on the aluminium hoardings project, Chesterfield Waterside is a fantastic development for the local area, and we are proud to be a part of that. Working not only on design, but also print and installation means we get to see a project delivered and in use. Seeing it on display makes a real difference as you can visualise the impact it will have in the local surroundings.

“As a fully integrated creative and digital agency we can work with clients on design, print, installation, development, and marketing projects.  We love working with local companies and helping make a positive branding impact.  If anyone has a project they’d like to discuss, we’d love to help.”

Bolsterstone and FWD Motion support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

One Waterside Place signage

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Full refurbishment completed at The HQ in Chesterfield

Leading property and asset management firm, FI Real Estate Management (FIREM), has completed all phases of a full refurbishment of The HQ, Rowland Hill House to reveal 44,000 sq ft of modern open-plan office space.

The £1.2m project has seen FIREM upgrade the former Royal Mail building to Grade A office space specifically designed for flexible working, offering bespoke and turnkey packages tailored to meet specific business needs and requirements.

After the completion of the first phase in April 2022, FIREM began a second phase of works to the ground and third floors, completing in February 2023.

The rise of hybrid working has created a shift in office requirements for businesses across the region, with The HQ pioneering a new approach in the Chesterfield business community.

Award-winning commercial vehicle hire company, Northgate Vehicle Hire, has recently signed a lease of 8,000 sq ft, alongside other tenants, Derbyshire Police and Reed in Partnership, demonstrating the diversified offering of the office facilities to suit a range of businesses.

Tim Knowles, founder and Managing Director of FIREM commented: “The HQ’s office concept has never been seen before in Chesterfield and reflects the work we are doing to progress Chesterfield’s business offering in line with nearby cities.

“It is arguably the most competitive office product in the Chesterfield market, offering businesses a bespoke turnkey service from day one that can be modified to suit their changing needs and requirements.”

Modern, well connected office spaces are now available across Chesterfield. Regardless of your workspace requirements, from co-working and hotdesking to spacious offices for a large team, our aim is to make you as productive as possible.

To find out more about the wide range of office spaces on offer across the town, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/office/

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

The HQ reception

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Chesterfield’s Grade A office spaces contribute to town’s ongoing success

Grade A office spaces in Chesterfield are proving a major success, bringing new investment and jobs to the local area. Recently-completed developments are attracting businesses to Chesterfield, as well as providing modern spaces for existing firms in the town to grow.

Examples of this can be seen at the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, One Waterside Place and The HQ. Did you know that office spaces at the Northern Gateway Enterprise centre are already 75% let?

To find out about their success, we’re taking a look at some of the prime locations you can choose from when investing in Chesterfield.

If you want to know more about how Chesterfield’s office spaces can help your business grow, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/office/

One Waterside Place

Grade A One Waterside Place office

For large, modern, and well located office space, look no further than One Waterside Place.

Bolsterstone Group recently delivered the new 36,000 sq ft Grade A office space at Chesterfield Waterside in the Basin Square neighbourhood. This development provides large spaces (up to 15,000 sq ft) which are critical to support inward investment into Chesterfield.

Furthermore, companies based in the centre have the advantage of being a very short walk away from Chesterfield Rail Station.

Tenants including BHP Accountants and Varley have already made One Waterside Place their new home.

Speaking on why Chesterfield is such an attractive proposition for any relocating business, Tom Swallow, Development Manager at Bolsterstone Group said: “Chesterfield has so much going for it. We are centrally located, close to big cities and the Peak District and have amazing transport links.

“Chesterfield station provides a link to London in under two hours. Manchester or Leeds can also be easily reached in just over an hour.

“As well as affordable house prices, Chesterfield also has a great mix of independent and boutique shops, cafes and restaurants.

“The town’s location together with its offer is ideal for companies who are looking at providing a good quality of life for their employees.”

Tom added that he believes the provision of high-quality office space in the town is hugely important. He commented: “It is needed to both help existing companies grow and also support direct inward investment from companies looking to relocate into the area.

“Quality offices are also more sustainable in economic, social and environmental ways. This can benefit companies looking to improve their ESG agenda as well as helping Chesterfield achieve its net zero ambitions.”

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre Grade A office space

The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre has exceeded initial expectations since its opening in 2022.

Several organisations are now operating from the building, with more than 75% of the space available already taken.

So, what do businesses love about it? Of course, it’s central location – in the heart of Chesterfield town centre. But tenants also benefit from ‘easy in and out’ letting terms at the Grade A development.

Tenants also benefit from access to a range of other council services. This includes 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-storey car park and close to all major bus routes and Chesterfield Train station.

Edwards Employment Solutions moved into the building in 2022. Managing Director Izabella Edwards commented: “Our move to the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre has been an absolute game changer for us.

“From a business point of view, we are benefitting from the excellent location. People looking for a new job are able to pop in and see us when they are in town. We even have our clients from local businesses coming in to see us!

“We now have such modern and functional facilities to host people – it’s really working well for us.  In addition to this, my team and I are really enjoying being back in Chesterfield Town Centre and making the most out of shopping and eating out at lunchtime.  I would encourage any business thinking about making the move to go for it, we’ve certainly not looked back.”

The HQ

Grade A office space at The HQ, Chesterfield

Specifically designed as a solution to modern ways of working, The HQ recently underwent a £1.225m refurbishment to upgrade the existing building to Grade A office facilities.

With 44,000 sq ft. of flexible and conventional office space, The HQ has been popular with several local and regional businesses. Firms working across various industries operate from the development, including ChargedEv and Derbyshire Police.

Businesses benefit from not only the high-quality space but also the community and support network within the building. This gives them a forum to connect and collaborate with businesses they otherwise may not meet.

Dominic Knowles, Head of Offices at FI Real Estate Management, which operates The HQ commented: “The market town boasts an active and vibrant business community that is keen to forge partnerships, giving local and regional firms the opportunity to expand their networks.

“Chesterfield is also ideally located near the motorway network with great access to the M1; the neighbouring cities of Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham can all be reached within an hour.

“Nestled on the edge of the Peak District and surrounded by a selection of high-quality bars, restaurants and shops, Chesterfield is the perfect location for those looking to create the desired work-life balance.”

Dominic explained why the provision of Grade A office space is key to the town’s future. He added: “Providing quality office space ensures the town keeps pace with nearby cities.

“Investing in office space helps attract more businesses, which then stimulates further investment in the area, boosting employment and enriching the working lives of the local community. It also helps employers incentivise staff to come back into the office.”

Chesterfield Property and Construction Group

Bolsterstone Group, FI Real Estate Management, Whittam Cox Architects and Chesterfield Borough Council are all represtented in the town’s Property and Construction Group, which aims to shape and drive forward collaboration, investment, sustainability and skills within Chesterfield.

Find out more about the group at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/propertygroup/

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North East Derbyshire businesses to benefit from Shop Front Enhancement Scheme

North East Derbyshire businesses are set to benefit from the launch of a new Shopfront Enhancement Scheme, with grants up to £10,000 up-for-grabs.

North East Derbyshire District Council is inviting businesses and landlords with street-facing commercial premises in the district to apply for grants to help improve the visual appearance of their properties.

This means businesses in towns such as Clay Cross, Dronfield and Eckington will be eligible for the support.

Funded through the North East Derbyshire UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme, the Shopfront Enhancement Scheme will not only enhance the character, value and appeal of each individual property, but collectively will have a positive impact on the appearance of the district’s high streets.

Matthew Broughton, North East Derbyshire District Council’s Director of Growth and Assets, said: “The Shopfront Enhancement Scheme is an exciting opportunity for businesses and landlords to improve their properties, helping to make our town centres and high streets a more inviting and vibrant place for residents and visitors to enjoy.”

“The Scheme will have a positive impact on our local communities and make a visible difference to our district whilst also providing an opportunity to make premises more energy efficient and reduce their utility costs and carbon footprints. We look forward to supporting North East Derbyshire District businesses to improve their properties, footfall and help their businesses thrive.”

Grants are available from a minimum of £500 to a maximum of £10,000, a contribution of up to 75% of total project costs.

The scheme could fund the following types of work:

  • New signage, windows, doors, canopies and professional fees
  • Improved energy efficiency
  • Appropriate lighting
  • Access improvements
  • Reinstatement of historical shopfront
  • Stonework repairs
  • Appropriate external art-work
  • External planters or seating

All works must adhere to the recommendations and principles of NEDDC’s Shopfront Design Guide.

For more information on eligibility criteria, the Shopfront Design Guide, and application process, visit the shop front enhancement pages on the council’s website.

For advice about the scheme, Email North East Derbyshire Council’s Economic Development Team.

The Shopfront Enhancement Scheme is the latest project to get underway, as part of a £2.5m package of funding awarded to the Council earlier this year from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to spend on initiatives to improve the District’s parks, play areas, shop fronts, tourism offer and business support, amongst other improvements over the coming years.

Clay Cross

Birds’ eye view of Clay Cross Town Centre

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Derbyshire tourism organisations receive new national accreditation

The two organisations responsible for leading on the promotion, marketing and development of the visitor economy in the Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby have formed a partnership that has been recognised by VisitEngland – in a government programme to establish a new structure for the tourism industry.

Visit Peak District & Derbyshire and Visit Derby have come together as Visit Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby to receive official Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) status from VisitEngland.

The LVEP programme is a new national portfolio of strategic and high-performing tourism bodies that work in collaboration with local, regional and national stakeholders on shared priorities to support and grow the visitor economy.

LVEP accreditation recognises tourism bodies that can play a critical role in place-shaping, providing effective leadership and management of their destination and ensuring the area is inclusive, accessible and sustainable for visitors both nationally and internationally.

The creation of LVEPs was part of the UK Government’s response to the recommendations of ‘The De Bois Review’, to reshape destination management across England, reducing fragmentation and bringing coherence to its tourism landscape.

As well as a nationally recognised official status, LVEPs will also be able to access expert advice, dedicated toolkits and training programmes from VisitBritain/VisitEngland in areas ranging from distribution, accessibility and sustainability to business support and marketing.

Importantly, LVEPs will also be able to bid for Government funding streams to support the growth of the visitor economy in their area.

Visit Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby has joined the LVEP programme as one of 12 new partnerships alongside Marketing Cheshire, Experience Oxfordshire, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, Visit West, Marketing Manchester, Visit Hertfordshire, Visit Kent, Liverpool City Region, Cumbria Tourism, and Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire says: “Receiving Local Visitor Economy Partnership status is fantastic news for the Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby. Not only does this official accreditation reflect the effectiveness of our strategic approach to growing the county’s visitor economy, but the wide-ranging support we offer to tourism businesses.

“Great destinations are great places to live, work and visit and it’s essential that we work collaboratively to develop our offer and secure further investment. We are very proud to be at the forefront of delivering the ambitions of the De Bois review and welcome the role that we can play in driving forward change, working closely with our partners and local authorities.

“Having this official status will help us grow our visitor economy further, and will ensure the Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby continues to be a compelling destination for both domestic and international visitors.”

Derbyshire County Council Leader Councillor Barry Lewis said: “We strongly backed this LVEP application and to hear it has been successful is wonderful news which will be welcomed by everyone involved in the county’s tourism sector.

“We already have a thriving tourism industry and strong local visitor economy but this will provide a huge boost to the excellent work that is already being carried out by all the partners involved, who continue to attract millions of visitors to our beautiful and varied county from across the country and much further afield.

“The national recognition will lead to more collaborative working locally, regionally and nationally, better access to extra funding and expert advice on hand from VisitBritain/VisitEngland, ensuring every opportunity can be taken to support, promote and grow this valuable sector which benefits so many.”

VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: “VisitEngland is delighted to welcome onto the programme the 12 new LVEPs, who will play a central role in transforming the visitor economy in England in an inclusive, accessible and sustainable way. Ensuring we have the right national and local infrastructure in place to grow our visitor economy will ensure England continues to be a compelling destination, for both domestic and international visitors, for years to come.

“We look forward to working in collaboration with the LVEPs, providing ongoing support including a team of dedicated VisitEngland regional development leads. LVEPs will also have access to resources and guidance from VisitBritain/VisitEngland in areas including product distribution, business support, bidding for funding and marketing.”

VisitEngland welcomed the first three LVEPs, NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Visit County Durham and Visit Northumberland, into the programme earlier this year. They form the pilot Destination Development Partnership (DDP) in the North East of England, led by NewcastleGateshead Initiative, first announced by the UK Government in November 2022. The pilot is a valuable opportunity to prove the DDP concept and the impact the model can have on growing the visitor economy, strengthening the case for future funding.

Visit Peak District & Derbyshire and Visit Derby will work closely with VisitEngland during the LVEP set-up process and beyond, with ongoing support from a dedicated VisitEngland regional development lead.

staying tourists

 

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Shorts acts as lead advisor on £18 million sale of car parts manufacturer

Shorts recently teamed up with Freeths to act as lead advisors and legal representatives to AML Juratek Ltd in their sale to Brazilian car parts manufacturer, Fras-Le in a deal worth £18.2m.

Founded in 1995, Juratek Ltd supply high-quality automotive aftermarket braking products for both Light & Commercial Vehicles, from its head office in Doncaster.

The Company employs 50+ people and distributes around the world. Matt Robinson (Managing Director), Toby Whewell (Sales & Marketing Director) and Mark Clegg (Operations Director) took over full control of the business in 2019 following a Management Buyout, and the business subsequently acquired Braking specialists Bettaparts in 2021 before now selling to Fras-le.

Andy Ryder, Partner at Shorts commented “Having assisted Matt, Toby and Mark through a number of transactions over the last 4 years, it has been an absolute pleasure to have advised them through the latest stage of the Juratek journey.”

Matt Robinson added: “We were delighted to conclude the transaction with the support of Shorts and Freeths. It is a fantastic deal for the shareholders but also the start of an exciting journey for the company under the ownership of Fras-Le.”

On announcing the news, President and CEO of Fras-le, Sergio L. Carvalho was quoted on Fras-le’s website as saying: “With this strategic action we reaffirm our position as one of the largest portfolios of brands for the auto parts aftermarket, expanding the model that has been working in Brazil for new markets; allowing even more growth, important operational synergies and adding value to our business and quality in delivering solutions to our customers.”

With a long-standing heritage of over 130 years, Shorts has grown from a local business to a nationally recognised award-winning firm which is home to a wide range of experts and specialists.

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

Shorts Juratek sale

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