chesterfield business news

Chesterfield businessmen to complete marathon for canine charity

Two dog-loving local businessmen are planning to design and complete their very own marathon route to raise money for their favourite canine charity.

Paul Gosney, who lives in Chesterfield and Tony Dent, from Ecclesall, Sheffield, are taking part in the Virtual London Marathon on Sunday October 3 on behalf of national charity Support Dogs, whose training centre is in Brightside.

Tony, a partner at B&B Vehicle Contracts, a vehicle leasing specialist in Chesterfield, and Paul, business development manager at City Taxis, are old friends who share a common love of dogs.

The pair, neither of whom have run a marathon before, are currently plotting a 26.2 mile marathon route starting at Dronfield Woodhouse and finishing at Support Dogs via various parts of Sheffield – hopefully around six hours later.

They plan to post staging posts online to encourage supporters to cheer them on at various points along the way, snaking through the city and avoiding as many hills as possible! Support will be provided by their friend Jim as pacemaker on his electric trike, Spike le Trike, and Tony’s wife Katey in a back-up van.

“We both love dogs, and Support Dogs do amazing work,” says Tony, whose company has made Support Dogs their charity of the year.

“I’ve known about their work and supported them for many years. I was recently watching one of their videos about a young girl whose life was turned round by her assistance dog, and every time I watch it, I cry!  It’s heart-breaking and heart-warming at the same time.

“It gives someone a new lease of life which you would not expect from an animal. The sheer joy that a dog brings to people’s lives and what these dogs do is incredible. They give people who have disabilities such freedom and a new lease of life, and that’s what’s it’s all about for me.”

Tony and Paul are now hard at work in the gym and pounding the streets in preparation for the event, in which participants can choose their own marathon-length route.

Toy had heart surgery two years ago, so the Virtual London Marathon is a big challenge. Both men, who have set themselves a fundraising target of £3,000 are planning a practice half marathon route in September to test their fitness.

“When people hear that we’re doing a ‘virtual’ marathon they seem to think that it’s online and we’re not actually running 26.2 miles – but believe me we are!” says Paul.

Support Dogs trains assistance dogs for children and adults with autism, epilepsy and physical disability, enabling them to lead safer, more independent lives. It receives no government funding, and for every dog it trains it receives more than 50 requests for help.

If you would like to sponsor Tony and Paul go to Virgin Money Giving

City Taxis supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Baker Mallett to take on sporting challenges in fundraiser for youth charity

Chesterfield Champion Baker Mallett has been announced as a Silver Partner for The Starting Blocks Challenge, a fundraising initiative created by UK youth sports charity, Dame Kelly Holmes Trust.

The campaign encourages participants to celebrate the moments that shaped them, by revisiting places, people or moments in a sporting way. Over the next 12 months, #TeamBM will be going back to their own individual starting blocks whilst raising funds to support DKHT in providing life changing opportunities for 11-25 year olds, facing disadvantage across the United Kingdom.

Staff team ambassadors at the company will take on challenges such as running, cycling and walking and will be inviting industry colleagues to join in, take part and #gobacktogiveback. Staff will also be completing motivational, performance and resilience workshops, delivered by elite athletes also supporting the scheme.

Baker Mallet’s involvement in the Starting Blocks Challenge aims to contribute to the first objective in the firm’s social value agenda – “Health & Wellbeing for our Clients, our Staff and the Local Communities in which we work by promoting physical activity, supporting the mental health agenda and helping vulnerable people”.

Baker Mallett Chairman, Neil Griffiths, said of the partnership: “We are incredibly proud and humbled to be invited to support such an important initiative. The last 18 months have been particularly difficult for young people and so we must act now by providing money and the right support and resources through Dame Kelly Holmes Trust to make a difference in as many individual young lives as possible.”

The challenge has had a successful start, with Baker Mallet’s Jon Mcallister raising £400 after completing the first in a series of challenges, cycling from Wigan to Manchester and back again.

Dame Kelly Holmes Trust delivers transformational programmes designed to improve wellbeing, help build healthy relationships and unlock the confidence and self-esteem needed to achieve in education, work and life. Over the next ten years their goal is to improve the health and wellbeing of 10,000 young people across the UK.

Baker Mallet supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Shorts wins ‘In-house finance team of the year’ at prestigious accountancy awards

The finance team at Shorts Chartered Accountants has been named ‘In-House Finance Team of the Year’ at the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards 2021.

The annual awards ceremony, which took place on August 19th, celebrates the achievements and successes of the region’s best accountancy professionals.

The accolade is one of several gained by Shorts in recent years, showing substantial recognition from industry peers. They include:

  • Advisory Firm of the Year, Yorkshire Accountancy Awards Winner 2018
  • Mid-Tier Firm of the Year, British Accountancy Awards Finalist 2016
  • Insider Dealmakers, Corporate Finance Firm of the Year – Shortlisted 2016, 2017 & 2018
  • Insider Dealmakers, National / International Dealmaker of the Year – Shortlisted 2017 & Winner 2018
  • Insider Dealmakers, Mid-Market Dealmaker of the Year – Winner 2017 & Shortlisted 2018
  • Insider Dealmakers, Deal of the Year up to £2.5m – Winner 2018

Prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Shorts finance team was already producing regular and detailed information across the whole firm and partner group. However, the work they completed during the COVID period was essential to ongoing stability, enabling sound business decisions to be made during an extremely uncertain period.

The team demonstrated excellent standards of work and improved efficiencies, including production of revised budgets, and enhancing many internal reports.

Michelle Frost, Practice Director at Shorts said: “Our finance team blows me away with their enthusiasm and drive for continuous improvement. And when any of them have the available capacity, they will always offer a helping hand to other team members. True gems.”

According to the judges of the event: “Shorts Chartered Accountants demonstrated a focus on continuous improvement, carrying out a transformation programme that really impressed the judges, and showed how they were integral to the overall success of the business.”

With a long-standing heritage of over 130 years, Chesterfield-based Shorts has grown from a local business to a nationally recognised award-winning firm. With over 120 staff, the company is one of the largest practices in the region.

Shorts Chartered Accountants supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Recon Electrical launches free lamp recycling initiative for businesses in Chesterfield

A Chesterfield electrical wholesaler has launched a new initiative to help fellow businesses in the town improve their sustainability, by offering a lamp recycling service.

Recon Electrical is providing firms with a free drop-off point to safely dispose of and recycle their old lamps. The recycling bin will be located in the Recon Electrical trade counter car park.

Businesses are able to simply drive up to the facility on Broombank Road and load up their lamps. They will then be recycled in-line with the latest legislation and guidance.

In the UK, businesses follow waste electrical and electronic equipment regulations which aim to reduce landfill and decrease the impact on our environment caused by hazardous substances.

Russ Gratton, Director at Recon Electrical Ltd. said: “As a business we feel its important now more than ever to operate in an environmentally contentious manner and the recycling of waste materials is high on that agenda.

“Even the smallest contribution towards saving the planet is worthwhile in our opinion and cumulatively can make a huge difference, it’s great to be able to offer a recycling service locally for waste lamps and we would encourage any business to utilise this service, no matter how big or small. We also have a recycling point for small waste batteries inside our trade counter which is open for all to use.”

While compact fluorescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes must be recycled due to the products containing mercury, Recon Electrical says not all lightbulbs can be recycled. Both incandescent and halogen bulbs should be disposed of in your normal household waste.

Before recycling any old lamps, businesses must fill in a consignment note which can be downloaded from the government website.

Recon Electrical supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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BHP bolsters its VAT offering with new Director

Leading independent accountancy firm BHP has strengthened its tax team with the appointment of Carla Horsfall as a VAT Director.

Carla joins BHP from Hart Shaw Accountants where she trained as a Chartered Accountant after graduating from Sheffield Hallam University in 2006. After spending four years in the audits and accounts team at Hart Shaw, Carla moved into the tax team in 2010 and began specialising in VAT.

The BHP tax team now consists of six VAT specialists, including Amar Zaman who was recently awarded the Chartered Institute of Taxation Wreford Voge Medal for achieving Distinction and the highest mark in the country in the CTA Advanced Technical Paper on Cross-Border Indirect Taxation.

Carla, who will work across Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, said: “The experience of the VAT team at BHP really appealed to me, they have a wealth of knowledge, and I was keen to focus purely on VAT rather than a mix of everything as I had been doing in my previous role.

“I already feel so welcomed by the team and the firm has a real family feel to it which was important to me.

“I’m looking forward to becoming a core part of the team and developing further in my role.”

Joint Managing Partner, Lisa Leighton, said: “Carla brings with her brilliant experience and knowledge, and she will be a great addition to our growing team.

“We pride ourselves on the depth of knowledge of our VAT team and our ability to offer complex specialist VAT advice to our client base.

“Investing and developing our fantastic talent pool and supplementing it with experts like Carla is a key part of our strategy going forward.”

BHP has been ranked the second-best accountancy firm to work for in the UK, and the 35th best company to work for across Yorkshire and the Humber in the Best Companies survey 2021.

The independent accountancy firm is made up of over 350 professionals and 37 partners working across a wide range of specialities including audit and assurance, consulting, corporate finance and taxation.

For more information about BHP visit www.bhp.co.uk.

BHP supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Chamber calls for clarity on the future of HS2 East

The chief executive of East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) has commented on uncertainty around the future of the HS2 Eastern Leg, calling on the government to “stop playing games” with the future of our region.

If delivered in full, Chesterfield will stand to benefit from the Eastern leg of HS2 in a number of ways, with high speed trains carrying passengers to and from Chesterfield station. There are also proposals for regeneration of the area around the station, along with further plans for a maintenence depot in Staveley, creating a significant number of new jobs in the area.

Commenting on the ongoing uncertainty regarding the future of the HS2 Eastern Leg, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) chief executive Scott Knowles said: “Fundamentally, nothing has officially changed regarding the future of the HS2 Eastern Leg since last year when the Government said it would set out its proposals in the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP).

“Yet it seems like every other weekend, we are reading reports in national media outlets in which anonymous Whitehall civil servants are sending out signals to diminish its chances of happening.

“With the IRP being kicked down the road continuously and not expected until the autumn, it has left a void for constant speculation that is causing huge uncertainty at a time when we need to know the direction ahead for future regional economic planning.

“It’s time for the Government to stop playing games with the future of our region, and those other areas that would stand to benefit significantly from HS2 East.

“While many of our perceptions have been adjusted during the pandemic, the huge economic benefits that HS2 can bring as part of the much-hyped levelling up agenda haven’t changed.

“Much of the understanding around HS2 appears to be hopelessly flawed. It is much more than just a new railway, bringing growth in the form of business investment, house building, place regeneration, high-skilled job creation, innovation, green technologies and more to areas that have faced chronic underinvestment over a number of years.

“Indeed, we are already seeing these plans start to come to fruition across Birmingham, where the certainty of the first phase of HS2 has already spurred private sector investment and development.

“Without the development of HS2 as promised, these plans will be critically undermined, and any delivery that does happen will certainly not be of the magnitude aspired to.”

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Increased demand fuels expansion for Banner Jones

Banner Jones, which has offices in Chesterfield, Mansfield, Nottingham and Sheffield, has responded to growing demand from new and existing corporate and consumer clients with the appointment of seven new colleagues across the business.

The appointments, which span the firm’s residential property, dispute resolution and commercial property departments, have been made in response to ‘unprecedented demand’ for its legal services during the pandemic – including employment law, family law, wills, personal injury, and commercial property.

In the 12-months ending May 2021 the firm’s residential property department alone completed in excess of 5500 transactions – marking a 38% increase on the previous 12months.

Joining Banner Jones is residential Property Executive Perri Boyes-Weston who brings more than a decade of experience overseeing complex conveyancing matters including leasehold & freehold sales & purchases, remortgages, new builds and transfer of equity matters to the role.

Perri has joined the Chesterfield property team along with paralegals Amy Hawksley and Lauren Smith, and the Sheffield property team has welcomed paralegals Camilla Donnell and Morgan Buisson.

Commenting on her new role Perri Boyes-Weston said she was pleased to be joining the business at the start of such an ‘exciting new era’, and is looking forward to contributing to the firm’s continued success.

The Dispute Resolution team in Chesterfield welcomes Solicitor Adam Tankard who joins the firm from Keoghs where he worked as a ‘Property Risks and coverage’ solicitor dealing with insurance litigated claims for fires / floods and property damage claims.

Previously he undertook his training contract at the Cooperative Legal Services in its Manchester office.

Assistant Solicitor Rozeena Aslam has joins Banner Jones Business Legal Services department in the firm’s Chesterfield commercial property team.

Having qualified at Trent Law where she gained experience in commercial law, she says she is ‘now very much looking forward to expanding her knowledge of commercial law at Banner Jones’.

Welcoming the new colleagues, Banner Jones Chief Executive, Simon Wright said, “The last year or so has been extremely challenging for all businesses, but the demand for both business and personal legal services has bounced back strongly.”

“In response to that, we are delighted and privileged to be welcoming seven new colleagues to the Banner Jones family.

“We are committed to investing in our staff and look forward to providing them with opportunities to develop their career within the firm.  I’m sure that all of our new recruits share our firm-wide passion and dedication to delivering outstanding customer service.”

Simon added that the firm’s recruitment drive was still under way, saying: “As we continue to grow, we remain on the lookout for passionate, skilled individuals at all levels and we would invite anyone that can contribute to our expert, no-nonsense legal services to reach out.”

The firm are currently recruiting for two roles in their Sheffield office, a Head of Corporate and an Employment solicitor or legal executive.  Details of the roles can be found here https://www.bannerjones.co.uk/pages/vacancies.

Banner Jones employs more than 140 staff across its South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire offices; operating across a full spectrum of legal services including personal matters such as Personal Injury, Divorce, Wills and Probate, Residential Property and Dispute Resolution through to business advice on Company Formation, Commercial Property, Company Finance, Partnership Agreements, Debt Recovery and Employment issues.

Banner Jones Solicitors supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Find your next career at the Chesterfield Market Recruitment Event

People searching for work in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire are being invited to a recruitment event where they can, learn more about the Kickstart vacancies, meet employers and get help to perfect their CV.

Chesterfield Borough Council has teamed up with DWP Jobcentre Plus to stage the event – designed to give job seekers a helping hand to find their next role and support local businesses to recruit. This will include hospitality, leisure, construction and health care businesses which are all struggling to recruit following the pandemic.

There will be a special focus on the Kickstart scheme, which provides 16-24 year olds with a six month paid work placement, that could lead to a full time role. There will be the opportunity to find out more about current placements by speaking to the employers directly.

It will run between 10am and 3pm on Wednesday 15 September at Chesterfield Market Square, with employers from sectors including Hospitality, Retail, Warehousing, Logistics, Customer Service, Administration and more still to be confirmed attending on the day.

Find out more about the event here.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, deputy leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Events like these are a great way for job seekers to directly meet employers in the area, and hopefully find the right opportunity for them – while helping local businesses fill their vacancies at a time when some sectors are struggling to recruit.

“Working with our partners in North East Derbyshire and Bolsover, we’ve been supporting virtual jobs fairs over the last 18 months and feel it’s important to host this face-to-face event now that restrictions have eased. It gives employers a chance to speak to their potential employees and it gives job seekers a great opportunity to make a fantastic first impression.

“If you’re looking for work, then this event is here for you. Not only will you be able to find out more about current opportunities, you can also get support to develop your CV, interview skills and covering letters.”

Julian Sutton, North Derbyshire Employer Lead & Kickstart District Account Manager, said: “The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Chesterfield Jobcentre Plus Offices (Markham House and Steeplegate) are looking forward to working collaboratively with Chesterfield Borough Council to co-host the Chesterfield Market Place Recruitment Event and bring this fantastic opportunity for the local residents of Chesterfield and North Derbyshire. On offer will be a fantastic array of new employment skills, employability skills, jobs and Kickstart vacancies through our local Partner organisations and Employers.”

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 also be a selection of local training providers and other organisations who will be able to offer help and support with your job search. They will be able to offer advice on apprenticeships and the training available.

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Professor Brian Cox CBE to inspire young people at Work-Wise Foundation event

Chesterfield Champion, The Work-Wise Foundation is set to welcome Professor Brian Cox to one of its upcoming events, aimed at inspiring the next generation to consider careers in STEAM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths).

 The North Star Science School event will take place at Gulliver’s Valley Theme Park Resort and at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.

This major event for schools, now in its second year, promotes innovation and opportunity to inspire the next generation to consider careers in STEAM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths).

North Star is part of the Science Summer School national initiative co-founded in 2012 by Professor Cox and Lord Andrew Mawson OBE with the aim of making Britain the best place in the world to do science and engineering. The event is presented in partnership with Well North Enterprises,  a social business led by Lord Mawson.

North Star will be led and organised by The Work-wise Foundation, a non-profit, employer-led charity which aims to develop young people for employment in STEAM subjects within South Yorkshire region and North Derbyshire.

Professor Brian Cox, Britain’s leading physicist and science communicator will officially launch North Star on November 24th and also appear as the keynote speaker.   The event will be hosted by Ruth Amos, inventor and founder of Kids Invent Stuff.

There will be a special opportunity for current and prospective project sponsors and supporters to hear Professor Cox speak at a special ‘invitation only’ evening event at the Advanced Manufacturing Park on November 24th.

John Barber, CEO of The Work-wise Foundation explains: “The daytime event is designed to connect our young people to inspirational businesses which will spark their imaginations and set them on the road to great opportunities in STEAM careers.  It is very exciting to be welcoming Professor Brian Cox to South Yorkshire and we look forward to seeing the impact this whole event could have on raising aspirations and shaping careers choices for our region’s young people.”

The Work-Wise Foundation 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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Kickstart Scheme enables Action Coach Chesterfield to grow

Action Coach Chesterfield is one of the latest businesses in the town to benefit from the Kickstart Scheme, which aims to reduce levels of unemployment among young people.

The initiative provides funding to create new jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment. Employers of all sizes can apply for funding which covers:

  • 100% of the National Minimum Wage (or the National Living Wage depending on the age of the participant) for 25 hours per week for a total of 6 months
  • associated employer National Insurance contributions
  • minimum automatic enrolment pension contributions

Action Coach Chesterfield has recently taken on Andrew Marwood as a Customer Journey Agent thanks to the scheme, after Managing Director, Fiaz Sadiq attended a Kickstart day at the Chesterfield Job Centre to see how the firm could help those in the community seeking employment.

Fiaz commented: “The skill set we required for the Customer Journey Agent was to be data and analytic driven, to help support the complete journey for the client. In the first 5 minutes speaking to Andrew, he demonstrated confidence and ability in these skill sets, and his attitude to take ownership made it an easy decision.

“In times like these, the best thing we can do is give chance, and provide a supporting environment for young people to grow and learn skills, that will not only help them in their professional life, but more importantly build life skills.”

The company has now confirmed that further to adding Andrew to the team, the firm is now looking to fill two further positions through the scheme. One of the positions is currently being advertised (Business Development Agent), providing an opportunity for an experienced salesperson to progress within their career with a future in Business Development.

Another position in the company will be out soon; as the company aims to add a Marketing Agent to its team. This position will focus on all things Marketing, identifying social media trends and working with social media accounts.

To find out more about how Kickstart can benefit your business, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/business-support/skills/

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

Andrew Marwood- Action Coach Chesterfield

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Tickled Trout provides hundreds of lunches for students at Chesterfield summer school

North-Derbyshire restaurant, The Tickled Trout has provided 140 lunches for summer school pupils at Outwood Academy in Newbold.

The initiative is the latest in a line of kind community efforts from the Barlow-based gastro-pub, after staff provided doctors, nurses and carers at Chesterfield Royal Hospital with meals during the height of the covid-19 pandemic.

Chris Mapp, who owns and manages the restaurant said: “We just want to do our bit to help people in this really troubling time. I hope that by providing these lunches, it can help the students get a bit more out of the summer School.

“Having been in the academy, I am aware of the culinary talent of the students already there. It really is exceptional. Some of the dishes were brilliant, especially Mia’s dessert which I would quite happily serve in the restaurant. I am excited to work with the students more and see them progress.”

Chris also runs an education programme with the school through his restaurant, to help students improve their skills, and to identify students who could become future apprentices and embark on a career in the sector.

Rob Southern, Head of School at Outwood Academy Newbold, said: “We are delighted and grateful that Chris has stepped up to do this for us. Everyone is aware of how difficult it has been the last 18 months, and it really is a time for people to come together and work together.

“At Outwood, we believe in working with our community to the benefit of our students and this partnership is the perfect example of this. Working closely with someone as talented as Chris will be the opportunity of a lifetime for some of our students.”

The Tickled Trout 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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