Chesterfield Education

Chesterfield Museum collection to inspire local students

Students in the Art and Design Faculty at Chesterfield College are using Chesterfield Museum’s collections as part of a new project for the spring term.

On Friday 3 February the museum team took a beautiful example of a traditional celebratory ‘Posset Pot’ into the college for students to study and then use as an object of inspiration for their own work during the next term.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “It’s fantastic to see our museum team working closely with Chesterfield College. Whilst the Museum remains closed for a multi-million-pound renovation it’s important that we work with our partners and explore alternative routes to help ensure local people can connect with our shared history.”

Dating back as far as the 1400s, Posset Pots were a traditional decorative ceramic to celebrate special occasions.

Posset, a popular hot spiced drink made of milk curdled with wine or ale, was shared between guests and everyone drank from the Posset Pot. It was brought out at Christmas or anniversaries, but most often the Posset Pot would be used at the celebration toast of weddings, which is why most of the examples in the Museum’s collection are decorated with the names of the happy couple.

Tracey Heyes, Art and Design Lecturer at Chesterfield College, said: “The students are looking forward to working with Chesterfield Museum in this capacity and are excited at the prospect of using the Posset Pot as a starting point for their individual projects.”

Chesterfield Museum is closed for a multi-million-pound renovation that aims to create an enhanced visitor experience, but whilst it is closed the museum team are working with partners ensure the collection can still be enjoyed by the community.

Outreach cases featuring some fascinating objects from the collection are being displayed at different Borough Council sites around the borough (Visitor Information Centre, Market Hall, Town Hall, Queen’s Park Sports Centre and Staveley Healthy Living Centre). The museum team will also be attending and hosting activities at public events happening throughout the year and is working with partners, including Chesterfield College, to present exhibitions, workshops, and events in the future.

The ambitious renovation of Stephenson Memorial Hall which houses both Chesterfield Museum and the Pomegranate Theatre will bring together an extended theatre, a reconfigured museum, new gallery space, a café bar, and education and community facilities. The work will also protect the Grade II listed building, improve accessibility, to ensure that it remains part of the borough’s heritage for many more generations to come.

Funding for the project has been secured through the Government’s Levelling Up Fund with additional funding from Arts Council England.

Find out more about the plans for Chesterfield Museum by visiting: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/revitalise

Posset Pots from the Museum collection

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

University of Derby named in Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers for its commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion at work

The University of Derby, which runs courses from Chesterfield’s St. Helena’s Campus has been ranked in Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers for the first time.

Compiled by Stonewall, Europe’s largest charity for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer rights, the widely anticipated list recognises employers who support LGBTQ+ employees to be themselves at work.

The University of Derby joins a number of construction firms and legal, health, finance and education providers who made it onto the list. In addition, the institution has also received the Stonewall Gold Employer Award for the second year running.

Over the past year the University has run a variety of campaigns and initiatives to help raise LGBTQIA+ awareness among its employees and to promote an inclusive environment across its campuses in Derby, Buxton and Chesterfield. These include mentoring and coaching programmes, staff training, and development of its LGBT+ Allies staff network.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “I am delighted that the University has been recognised by Stonewall for the continuing emphasis we place on supporting all people to be themselves. The Top 100 ranking and the Gold Employer Award reflect the work we have done to emphasise our commitment to inclusion, and demonstrate that our University is a safe and inclusive environment for our staff and students to work and study.”

Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers List 2023 is the UK’s leading ranking of employers from public, private and third sectors on how inclusive their workplaces are.

Nancy Kelley, CEO of Stonewall, said: “It’s been fantastic to see all of the work put in by the University of Derby over the past year to create a workplace where LGBTQ+ staff feel free to thrive as themselves.

“For many of us, the majority of our time is spent at work, so if we have to hide who we are it can take an enormous personal toll and hold us back from fulfilling our true potential. Creating environments where we can all feel comfortable makes our workplaces a safer, better and friendlier place for everyone and helps staff be proud of who they are.”

Stonewall’s Top 100 list is compiled through submissions to a free, voluntary benchmarking tool, the Workplace Equality Index. All submissions are then marked against thorough and standardised criteria and the Top 100 are picked out by Stonewall for their excellent work in creating inclusive workplaces for their LGBTQ+ staff.

Stonewall was founded in 1989 by a small group of people who wanted to break down barriers to equality. It continues to campaign on LGBT Equality, as well as work with employers and schools to create environments which allow LGBTQ+ people to thrive.

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

Univerity of Derby

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

Conference hears how public, private and education collaboration is set to address construction sector skills gaps

A powerful collaboration between Chesterfield’s public, private and education sectors – working alongside Chesterfield Borough Council – is set to roll out two initiatives which will address skills shortages within the construction sector.

The initiatives – Careers Made in Chesterfield and the Construction Skills Hub – were showcased at the annual Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference, held on 8 February at The Winding Wheel Theatre.

Currently being piloted with Parkside Community School, the Careers Made in Chesterfield initiative aims to deliver careers support and guidance in schools and also forge links with businesses within the local construction and property sector. Already, the initiative is reporting increased interest in construction careers from the pupils who have been involved with the pilot.

Mr Riggott, Headteacher, Parkside Community School, said: “The Careers Made in Chesterfield pilot represented a step change in creating sustained connections between our Year 10 students and some great local companies. Our students loved it!

“This model is fantastic for a number of reasons. Perhaps most importantly, students build their knowledge of and relationships with employers across the programme, which in turn enhances their confidence and the likely outcomes of work experience following an extremely informed choice.

“I am a huge believer in the power of schools working closely with local companies in this way. As a school leader, I have seen first-hand the transformational potential of such partnerships, including through the hugely successful Avenue School Challenge in 2019 which led to apprenticeships for a number of our students following the programme.  As a parent, this year I have also seen one of my sons begin a degree apprenticeship with the company with whom he completed work experience back in Year 10.”

Careers in Chesterfield has been supported by the Chesterfield Property and Construction Forum, which is led by Andy Dabbs, a Chartered Architect and Board Director at Whittam Cox Architects. Members of the Forum have delivered in-school talks, hands-on activities, and workshops to raise awareness of the sector and jobs and roles available within it to the entire Year 10 group at Parkside Community School.

Mr Dabbs said: “Collaboration between businesses and schools is crucial in addressing the skills shortage in the property and construction industry. The Property and Construction Forum’s involvement in the Careers Made in Chesterfield pilot is a prime example of the importance of creating pathways for young people to enter the sector. Without these efforts, the industry’s growth will be hindered, both regionally and nationally.”

Subject to funding, Chesterfield Borough Council will work with partners to roll out the Careers Made in Chesterfield initiative to more schools and sectors across the borough from September 2023.

Mr Riggott added: “Chesterfield schools, the College, other education providers and businesses have a real opportunity to work with Chesterfield Borough Council and sector forums on programmes like the Careers Made in Chesterfield project and to shape wider skills planning for an exciting future for our young people.  We are very much looking forward to being part of that work.”

Both locally and regionally, the construction sector is suffering a skills shortage. In the East Midlands an extra 17,500 construction workers will be needed from 2023-2027, an annual requirement of 3,500 new workers every year.

Cllr Amanda Serjeant, Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “We’re proud to support and strengthen partnerships between businesses, education, and the public sector, by bringing together these sectors we can help ensure that young people receive the training and support they need to develop great careers in Chesterfield. This is all about ensuring that our borough continues to thrive and that the quality of life for local people is improving.

“We’ll continue to proactively support initiatives like this conference and Careers Made in Chesterfield because they really do help ensure young people can have the best start to their careers and can then stay and progress in Chesterfield. Developing skills though is not just about helping young people and our new Construction Skills Hub will help people who want to retrain and access careers in construction.”

Toby Perkins MP for Chesterfield and Staveley, and Shadow Minister for Skills and Further Education, said:   “It was great to hear how much commitment there was to apprenticeships and the value of careers guidance to open young people’s careers. I would encourage more businesses to investigate opportunities to take on apprentices and for learners to consider whether an apprenticeship might be for them.

I was also glad to explain how our proposed reforms would improve careers guidance and increase apprenticeship opportunities.”

Further addressing the increasing construction skills shortage within Chesterfield, the Construction Skills Hub in Mastin Moor will welcome learners from autumn this year.

Funded through the Staveley Town Deal, the skills hub will provide a practical platform for construction training, careers activity and work experience on a live construction site.

Initially the Skills Hub will provide training in site and bench joinery, brickwork, ground works and electrical installation but in time the offer will expand to include training in retrofit and green technologies. It will be open to school leavers and other residents seeking to train or retrain.

The Hub will provide training, careers insights, and work experience for more than 5,000 learners over 10 years.

Chesterfield College with support from the University of Derby have been appointed to deliver the training. It will be delivered in collaboration the Devonshire Group, which is bringing forward a new housing development in Mastin Moor.

Speaking at the conference Principal and CEO of the Chesterfield College Group Julie Richards said: “We firmly believe in providing the skills and experience necessary for a successful career to support the local economy we serve. We must work in collaboration with local employers and other stakeholders. As such, we’re delighted to be part of a variety of significant local projects such as partnering with Devonshire Group for the Construction Skills Hub servicing Staveley and surrounding areas.

“The unique initiative provides a huge variety of work-based training opportunities on one of the largest housing developments in local history delivering qualifications from Entry Level to Higher Education progression in partnership with the University of Derby.

“To provide a pipeline of highly skilled workers for years to come the hub has a firm focus on skills for the future and will deliver both traditional trade skills alongside cutting edge methods of construction including low carbon technologies.”

The annual free-to-attend conference, which aims to strengthen links between education providers and businesses, was organised by Chesterfield Borough Council and Destination Chesterfield, with support from Derbyshire North Careers Hub. It was attended by businesses, schools and education providers in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Businesses and schools that wish to register their interest in the Careers Made in Chesterfield initiative, are urged to contact Emily Williams, Skills Delivery Officer at Chesterfield Borough Council on 01246 959717.

employability-Cllr-Serjeant-with-Whittington-Green

Pupils from Whittington Green School welcomed delegates to the conference

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

Chesterfield College praised by OFSTED in recent inspection

Chesterfield College has announced it has received a ‘good’ rating by education inspector OFSTED, following an inspection in late 2022.

The college was found to be ‘Good’ across all eight key areas of the key areas of inspection, and also received the highest possible rating for its contribution to meeting skills needs. Inspectors praised the college’s  ‘highly responsive’ approach to the ‘changing needs of the local community’.

Julie Richards, Principal and CEO at Chesterfield College, said: “We are delighted to achieve such a positive Ofsted inspection which is testament to the remarkable staff and students at Chesterfield College.”

“We are particularly pleased to achieve the highest judgement for our contribution to the skills agenda, one of only a handful of providers to be recognised for this across the UK.”

“This demonstrates the college’s ability to support our local businesses and communities to grow and prosper and confirms the positive relationships we have fostered to address the skills needs for the future.”

In the report, OFSTED praised learners at the college, stating:

  •  “Students’ work shows strong critical analysis skills and the ability to understand and analyse complex information.”
  • “Students demonstrate high levels of empathy and maturity in their practical work.”
  • “Many volunteer in valuable community activities. For example, students participate in a clothes swap that promotes sustainability and design clothes with school children that promote inclusivity.”
  • “Students explore each other’s opinions respectfully and can link British values to their subject.”

On standards of teaching at the college, OFSTED commented: 

  • “Teachers set clear expectations for students’ behaviour. Classrooms are calm and productive environments.”
  • “Teachers plan the curriculum effectively to gradually develop students’ and apprentices’ underpinning knowledge and skills”
  • “They use a variety of appropriate activities, provide clear explanations and design good-quality resources. Teachers make good links between theory and practical activities.”
  • “Teachers prepare apprentices well for their final assessments.”
  • “Teachers provide students with good-quality written or spoken feedback. Students understand their strengths and how to improve their work.”
  • “They benefit from a range of opportunities to keep their subject-specific knowledge and skills up to date, such as on-site visits and shadowing activities in industry. They use this experience to enhance the curriculum for students and apprentices. For example, carpentry and joinery teachers receive training on sustainable kitchen fitting and share this with students.”

OFSTED also recognised the college’s contribution to meeting skills needs:

  • “The college makes a strong contribution to meeting skills needs.”
  • “Leaders understand very well how they contribute to meeting the skills needs of the local and regional area. They establish several highly beneficial partnerships with relevant stakeholders to support economic recovery and regeneration.”
  • “Leaders and managers involve employers and universities very effectively in curriculum design and implementation.”
  • “Leaders are very proactive in seeking advice on new sector developments and the latest industry standards. They make good use of funding to update premises and purchase industry-standard equipment and resources to meet future skills needs. This equips students very well with the skills they need for their future careers.”
  • “Leaders are highly responsive to the changing needs of the local community, which is rightly valued by their partners. For example, managers quickly adapted the ESOL curriculum as a direct response to the growth of Ukrainian refugees in the area.”

On the support offered to learners, OFSTED said:

  • “Students and apprentices highly value the support and encouragement they receive from staff. Learning, engagement, achievement and progress (LEAP) mentors have a very positive impact on students. They help them to develop useful strategies to manage their physical and mental health.”
  • “Students and apprentices feel safe at college or at work. They have access to a wellbeing hub, where they can receive specialist advice and support. Staff are vigilant, and students and apprentices are confident that any concerns that they raise will be dealt with effectively by staff.”
  • “Students, including those with high needs, have access to a wide range of clubs and societies”
  • “Students with additional needs are identified quickly, and appropriate support is put in place to meet their needs. Teachers support students with special educational needs and/or disabilities who move from pathway courses into vocational courses well. They ensure learning support staff are consistent and that any ongoing support strategies are understood by teachers.”
  • “Managers ensure that students and apprentices have access to a wide range of help and support. They work well with local agencies and charities to provide this. Where referrals are made, staff record these in detail and take timely and appropriate actions to support students. The safeguarding team is diligent, reflecting on and developing approaches to supporting students and apprentices.”

In terms of progression and employment for srudents at the Chesterfield College, OFSTED noted: 

  • “Young people set career goals and plan how to achieve them. Apprentices often secure permanent roles following their studies. Adults develop valuable life skills or gain qualifications to help them progress to higher education. Students with high needs have clear progression routes to develop their independence or gain employment.”
  • “Leaders and managers plan the curriculum with a strong focus on progression and employment. For example, there are clear progression routes from entry level pathway courses to vocational courses. Students are well prepared to make the transition because of the subject taster sessions they complete.”
  • “Young people benefit from good opportunities to undertake a range of work-related activities. This includes work experience, guest lecturers, work-related projects and visits and trips. Students with high needs, who study vocational courses, benefit from these high-quality opportunities.”
  • “Careers staff work very closely with curriculum teams to help students, adults, apprentices and students with high needs understand the potential routes available to them.”

Find out more about learning in Chesterfield at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/about-chesterfield/learning/

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

Julie Richards, CEO at Chesterfield College

 

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

Local businesses, schools and education providers invited to help shape the future of education and skills delivery

‘Careers Made In Chesterfield’ – a brand new Careers Workshop pilot, which is designed to inspire and inform local students, will be launched at this year’s Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference.

Schools and employers, who are keen to support the future career and job opportunities for local young people, are being urged to attend the free annual conference to learn more about the exciting initiative.

The Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference, which aims to strengthen links between education providers and businesses, is returning for a seventh year and will take place at the Winding Wheel Theatre on Wednesday 8 February, from 8am -11am.

Confirmed speakers at the go-to event include Andy Byrne, Property Development Director for the Devonshire Group, which is behind the Staveley Works scheme. He will be updating on the innovative Construction Skills Hub, which is set to provide specialist training for thousands of learners as part of the Staveley Town Deal.

Alongside Andy Byrne, Julie Richards, Principal of The Chesterfield College Group will be speaking at the event. The College, with support from the University of Derby, has been appointed as the training provider for the new Hub. Over 10 years, the public/private sector collaboration aims to provide training, careers insights, and work experience for over 5,000 learners.

The conference will also welcome students from Whittington Green School and apprentices from Tarmac as well as Cllr Amanda Serjeant, Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council.

The conference is an opportunity for businesses, schools and education providers in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire to come together and shape the future of education and skills delivery in the area.

During the morning, businesses are invited to feed into local and regional skills plans and help shape the strategic direction through discussion of business needs, challenges and successes.

Organised by Chesterfield Borough Council and Destination Chesterfield, with support from Derbyshire North Careers Hub, the conference is part of the Derbyshire Festival of Business programme and open to all businesses, schools and education providers in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire to attend.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, deputy leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “This year’s Skills and Employability Conference looks set to be another packed showcase of the exciting opportunities and aspirations which exist across our borough. It’s a great way to strengthen the links between business and education, which ensures that our young people can develop the skills local employers need – creating a thriving and ambitious local workforce for the future.

“On the day, we will be delighted to be joined by students from Whittington Green School and look forward to hearing from senior leaders at Brookfield Community School about steps we can take together to develop robust career strategies that will further benefit the borough’s young people, along with an employer panel that will be chaired by Tarmac’s apprentice.

“The spotlight will also be on some of our innovative skills projects which are moving ahead in the borough, including investment in the Construction Skills Hub through the Staveley Town Deal which is set to create some fantastic opportunities for thousands of learners over the coming years, especially young people living in the Staveley area.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, commented: “With over 15,000 students set to gain their GCSEs and A Levels over the next five years in North Derbyshire, a strong and successful partnership between education providers and local businesses is critical. We need to ensure young people have the right skills, are work-ready and can make the most of the employment opportunities available in a wide range of sectors and industries on their doorstep. This conference is the first step in making this happen.”

Tickets for the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference are free and can be booked at https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/chesterfield-north-derbyshire-employability-skills-conference/.

2023 employability eventbrite image dfob

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

2023 Made in Chesterfield festival inspires girls to consider careers in engineering and manufacturing

Girls have been inspired to consider a career in engineering and manufacturing thanks to this year’s Made in Chesterfield festival, co-ordinated by Destination Chesterfield and Direct Education Business Partnership (DEBP).

Maddy, a Year 9 pupil from Whittington Green School who visited performance vehicle specialist Scooby Clinic in Wingerworth, said: “I would definitely consider a future career in STEM. There’s a stigma about STEM being just for boys but actually more women should give it a go; they can do it. It’s not just for boys.”

Maddy was one of more than 150 male and female students from secondary schools throughout Chesterfield that took part in workplace visits to companies operating in the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) sector during the four-week festival.

The visits, which were organised by Direct Education Business Partnership, were designed to introduce secondary school students to the varied STEM careers available in the local economy.

Sonya Martin, Out of School Tuition Tutor at Whittington Green Secondary School, praised the campaign, saying: “We’ve had quite a few female students say they didn’t realise engineering was open to them and that, actually, the work would be a lot of fun. Having the chance to bring them around different workplaces, especially Scooby Clinic, has been really good for them because we very rarely get to know what goes on in our local environment.”

Scooby Clinic was one of a number of businesses that welcomed students into the workplace during the festival. MSE Hiller, Weightron Bilanciai, United Cast Bar, Superior Wellness, Atlantic Pumps, Robinson PLC and Aztec Oils also opened their doors to students.

Aztec Oils, which is based in Bolsover and is one of the UK’s leading specialists in high-performance lubricant manufacture and distribution, welcomed students from Springwell Community College.

Scooby Clinic Made in Chesterfield

During the visit Year 9 pupil Lara commented; “Being here today has made me reconsider my GCSE options. It’s shown me that STEM is more than science and there are lots of jobs and so many opportunities out there.”

Julie Richards, Principal of The Chesterfield College Group, explained: “It is so positive to see the impact of raising aspirations in STEM subjects with girls across the region thanks to initiatives like Made in Chesterfield. This is the latest in a long line of positive actions to breakdown any perceived barriers for young women who enter a career in STEM. Year on year we are delighted to see more and more young, driven women studying programmes and apprenticeships at Chesterfield College in STEM industries. These students consistently inform us that when talking to school age girls about getting into a STEM related career they should ‘just go for it!’ Whilst they admitted they felt daunted when first entering the industry, that apprehension quickly subsided when they realised how supported and valued they were by their classmates or work colleagues.”

According to a report by The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM, only 27% of the UK’s STEM workforce is female compared to 52% of the wider workforce.

Made in Chesterfield, which is sponsored by the Chesterfield College Group, is now in its eighth year. The annual festival is playing a key role in addressing the technical skills shortage amongst local businesses.

Research by the UK Commission for Employment & Skills found that 43 per cent of national STEM vacancies are hard to fill due to a shortage of skilled and experienced applicants.

Ivan Fomin Destination Chesterfield board member responsible for manufacturing and engineering in the Borough said: “I am delighted at the impact the Made in Chesterfield festival has made with students, schools and businesses this year. Seeing so many mixed groups of students undertaking visits to STEM workplaces in Chesterfield is incredibly encouraging. Ensuring that our workplaces are diverse is critical to tackling skills shortages in the sector both locally and nationally.”

Clare Talati, Chief Executive of DEBP added: “DEBP are delighted to work in partnership on the initiative; at a time with increased pressures for schools and employers, the feedback demonstrates just how important workplace visits are in enabling young people to understand more about the amazing opportunities available locally.”

Since its 2014 launch, Made in Chesterfield has introduced over 3,500 young people to the jobs and careers available operating in the STEM sector within local businesses.

Whittington Green Made in Chesterfield Scooby Clinic Visit

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

Made in Chesterfield returns to connect manufacturing and engineering businesses with next generation of employees

The annual Made in Chesterfield festival, which aims to get more local young people interested in careers in businesses operating in the town’s engineering, manufacturing, property and construction businesses has returned for the eighth consecutive year.

Co-ordinated by Destination Chesterfield and Direct Education Business Partnership and sponsored by the Chesterfield College Group, the 2022 Made in Chesterfield festival was officially launched at Chesterfield College.

Speaking at the event, Reece Berry (20), Software Engineer Apprentice at Weightron Bilanciai and a former pupil of St Mary’s Catholic High School, said: “Young people need to be aware of apprenticeship opportunities in the engineering and manufacturing sector. They offer brilliant careers for young people.

“I chose to go down the apprenticeship route as I was passionate about IT and software development. I had the option to go to university, but I wanted to work in a real, live environment to gain a mixture of skills that would benefit me in multiple ways.

“Weightron Bilanciai is providing me with the training, support and skills I require to undertake the challenge of becoming a highly skilled software engineer and developer, this has given me the chance to explore and learn areas of IT I never knew about.”

During the four-week festival, which runs until Friday 2 December, young people from Chesterfield’s secondary schools will be introduced to the varied science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers available in local businesses through a number of workplace visits and events.

Performance vehicle specialist Scooby Clinic, engineering business MSE Hiller and manufacturer United Cast Bar are amongst a number of businesses who are inviting young people to their workplaces during the campaign.

The annual festival is playing a key role in helping address the technical skills shortage amongst businesses locally. According to the UK Commission for Employment & Skills, 43 per cent of STEM vacancies nationally are hard to fill, mainly because of a shortage of applicants with the required skills and experience.

Since launching in 2014, Made in Chesterfield has introduced more than 3,500 young people to the jobs and careers available within local businesses operating in the STEM sector.

Ivan Fomin, Managing Director at MSE Hiller and Destination Chesterfield board member responsible for manufacturing and engineering in the borough, commented on being part of the annual initiative: “It’s fantastic for us to be able to showcase our industry and business to young people and encourage them to consider a career path that may not have been on their mind beforehand. We have been involved with Made in Chesterfield since the campaign began and it has helped us attract young people into the business in both apprenticeship roles and work experience placements.

“Each year, Made in Chesterfield makes a real difference to local businesses, education providers and young people. I am delighted to see it return once again.”

Julie Richards, Principal and CEO of Chesterfield College Group explains, “It’s vitally important we continue our support for the Made in Chesterfield initiative. We are proud to play our part in the growth of engineering, science, technology and manufacturing locally. The increasing development of STEM in Chesterfield is something we have mirrored in our curriculum with investment in the latest technologies, such as 3D printing and augmented reality, all with a focus on sustainability.

“Partnering with initiatives such as Made in Chesterfield and working with local employers and schools, our core focus is to provide a clear, aspirational pathway for the next generation of local workforce be that through full time study, apprenticeships, T-Levels or higher education. Our mission of inspiring futures and changing lives is brought into clear focus through working with Made in Chesterfield and we are delighted to once again host this year’s launch event.”

Made in Chesterfield is delivered in association with the Chesterfield College Group and with support from Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire North Careers Hub, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd, and NatWest.

To find out more about Made in Chesterfield and how you can get involved, please visit: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/made/.

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

Peak Indicators donates 19 laptops to Chesterfield College

Peak Indicators has recently donated 19 laptops to Chesterfield College, so that they can be used by people who need them the most.

The laptops were no longer needed at Peak so it was decided to donate them as part of the company’s “Giving Something Back Scheme”.

Students on the IT Network Infrastructure Technician course at Chesterfield College are going to take the laptops, perform another reset and wipe them, before installing a new operating system.

Once the laptops have gone through the resetting process, the college will work with charities in the local area to distribute the laptops to families and groups that need them the most. The recipients will often be people who don’t have access to a computer or laptop.

The donation also provides the opportunity to develop the skills of the college’s students and helps Peak Indicators to contribute and support the local community. It has also prevented waste going to landfill.

Kenneth Neilson, Managing Director of Peak Indicators said: “I am delighted that we can recycle our laptops in such a way that they will make a huge difference to those that need them most in the local community once reprovisioned by the students at Chesterfield College.”

Piers Ching of Chesterfield College commented: “I wanted to say again many many thanks for your donation, it’s contributions like this that are genuinely life changing for families and individuals”.

Peak Indicators is a visionary Data Services, Data Science & Advanced Analytics consultancy based in Chesterfield. The company brings together a diverse and passionate team with best-in-breed technologies and methods to deliver innovative solutions that drive transformational results.

The firm believes data can be a force for good; helping people make better decisions and helping companies grow.

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

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

Schools urged to get involved with Made in Chesterfield 2022

Schools and training providers can now book free workplace tours, with engineering, manufacturing, property, and construction businesses as part of Made in Chesterfield 2022.

The annual campaign, which is coordinated by Destination Chesterfield is taking place between 7 November – 2 December later this year. It is designed to expose pupils to the vast array of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) careers available in businesses across the town. The visits can also support schools in their efforts to achieve the Gatsby Benchmarks.

Open to Year 6 – 13 students, a diverse line-up of businesses have already signed up to deliver tours of their sites, including United Cast Bar, MSE Hiller, Penny Hydraulics, Aztec Oils, SCR, Superior Wellness and Trans-Tronic.

Praising the workplace tours, Nick McGowan, Assistant Headteacher at Whittington Green School, which visited Woodhead Construction as part of Made in Chesterfield 2021, said: “We’ve been teaching construction in the school for the last 15 years and one thing we have always struggled with is access to site, so the visit was absolutely brilliant. It opened the students’ horizons to the jobs and opportunities within the construction sector.”

Mark Lord, Managing Director of Aztec Oils, which has been involved in the Made in Chesterfield campaign for several years added: “We fully support the Made in Chesterfield initiative, helping young people develop skills and interests to broaden their career opportunities. We gladly facilitate school visits for those interested in chemistry and manufacturing, giving insight into process, the varying job roles and the key skills required for each.

“We’ve had great engagement from students so far who seem interested and genuinely inspired by what they see at Aztec Oils. I personally think it’s an important scheme and I know it would have been of great value to me when I was at school”

Carol Claydon, Head of HR at Superior Wellness also commented on their involvement with the campaign: “We are delighted to be involved, once again, with the workplace tours organised as part of Made in Chesterfield. The campaign is a fantastic way to inspire the next generation and hopefully showcase the different sectors and opportunities that are available within the local area.”

All Made in Chesterfield school visits are organised by Direct Education Business Partnership, an organisation which specialises in supporting the aspirational decision making of young people to shape their future helping them to fulfil their potential.

As well as the workplace tours, during Made in Chesterfield schools can access a range of careers videos and tours of Chesterfield businesses to allow young people to experience the tours, activities and careers information they would receive in person, virtually. Alongside this, young people can access the MyFuture Virtual Careers Exhibition, where they can meet local employers, learn about exciting employment opportunities and much more.

Already, Made in Chesterfield school visits and activities have introduced more than 3500 pupils to careers in the sector since the campaign was launched in 2015. Chesterfield College has also reported an increase in the number of students getting involved in STEM related subjects.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield commented: “These Made in Chesterfield tours provide a fantastic opportunity for both students and teachers to learn about potential careers at local businesses. Inspiring the next generation of workers and helping them to understand employability skills is crucial to ensure the town continues to grow and thrive.”

Julie Richards, Principal and CEO of Chesterfield College Group which sponsors the campaign said: “Our commitment to the next generation of local workforce is to inspire them and equip them with the skills and experience that sets them up for a successful career in industry. A large part of that relies on the involvement of local employers to provide vital opportunities such as industry placements, work experience, site visits, guest lectures and apprenticeships to help a young person experience an industry.”

In addition to the Chesterfield College Group, Made in Chesterfield is supported by Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire North Careers Hub, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd and NatWest. The organisation of Made in Chesterfield is financially supported by the D2N2 Derbyshire North Careers Hub as part of their regional Open Doors programme.

Schools wishing to arrange a workplace visit should contact Direct Education Business Partnership on 01246 212535 or email madeinchesterfieldvisits@debp.org. Or, if you’re a local manufacturing, engineering, property or construction business that would like to find out more about Made in Chesterfield, please visit here and register for a drop-in session organised by Destination Chesterfield: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/made-in-chesterfield-business-drop-in-session-tickets-366705314467

 

 

 

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

Derbyshire North Careers Hub celebrates achievements of schools, colleges and businesses

The achievements of a young adult with special educational needs who has secured himself an internship at Chesterfield Royal Hospital – plus an aspiring female electrician engineer – were recognised at an event held to celebrate businesses and educators who have worked together to support hundreds of students in Derbyshire.

The Derbyshire North Careers Hub brings local employers together to work with schools and colleges to support their careers programmes which enable students to choose what they would like to do next, while also ensuring school and college leavers have the skills needed by employers in the region.

Part of a national programme funded by the Careers and Enterprise Company and the Department for Education – and managed locally by D2N2 LEP – the Derbyshire North Careers Hub works with more than 30 schools and colleges as students prepare for their best next steps.

The event, which was held at The Whitworth in Darley Dale, was the first face-to-face meeting the Hub has had since being launched pre-lockdown, in February 2020. Students from The Highfields School, in Matlock, supported on the day.

Eighteen-year-old Jamie, a pupil at Alfreton Park Community Special School, gained valuable work experience with the Woodhead Group; a family-owned group of companies specialising in construction.

He was one of four pupils from the school who took part in a seven-week Supported Insight Scheme, through the Direct Education Business Partnership and part funded by the Careers Hub,  shadowing core areas of the business, visiting sites being developed by the Woodhead Group and spending time in their head office, in Edwinstowe, Mansfield where they were involved in real-life work place tasks such as keeping the building site safe and even brick laying.

Sarah Cutler is programme manager for Direct Education Business Partnership’s special educational needs programmes, supporting various SEND schools in the Derbyshire North Careers Hub. She worked closely with Alfreton Park Community Special School and Woodhead Group.

“Jamie has been a pupil at Alfreton Park since the age of four and, by his own admission, 14 years later, he feels that he needs a change to help with his personal development and wellbeing,” said Sarah.

“He flourished under the guidance of Matt Bust at Woodhead Group, who are one of our Cornerstone group employers and huge supporters of the project. The work experience helped him to gain the confidence he needed to gain a place on an internship at Chesterfield Royal Hospital which, hopefully, can be transferred into paid employment in 12 months’ time.

“On average, the percentage of young people with a Learning Disability in the D2N2 area that is in employment is 1.8%. We need to increase this figure by providing opportunities for these people and working together.

“This figure will increase – it won’t happen overnight – if we continue to do what we are doing.”

As well as being Business Support Manager at Woodhead Group, Matt Bust is enterprise advisor for The Bolsover School – who provided musical entertainment at the event. He said: “We structured each session for the students, and they took part in various tasks that are all relevant to our business.

“We noticed how they had grown and developed throughout the programme. It was a pilot programme, so we had no idea how it would be received, and we had to have flexibility when delivering the project to overcome issues such as covid and transport.

“But it was a huge success and we learned so much from the programme.”

As well as construction, other industries represented in the Careers Hub include healthcare and engineering. Projects that have been funded include Future Makers, Creators, Designers and Builders which brings together a local group of companies from those sectors. Students are given the opportunity to learn about the careers in these industries, plus the pathways into them.

Emma Dando, careers lead at St Mary’s Catholic High School, in Chesterfield, praised the Future Makers scheme, which has played a key role in launching the career of pupil Millie Liversedge.

Millie was mentored by Katie Burnham, who works for construction and property development company Henry Boot.

“I am absolutely delighted for Millie,” she said, “she will leave St Mary’s at the end of Year 12 to take up and apprenticeship with Western Power which, for Millie, is a dream job.

“The Future Makers project gave her the confidence to interview for the apprenticeship and this is definitely the right career path for her.”

The Derbyshire North Careers Hub is part of a national network of hubs, driven by the Careers & Enterprise Company. Evidence published by the company in October last year showed Career Hubs had accelerated overall careers education progress and performance by 56% in 12 months.

When it launched, the Hub worked with 21 schools and colleges but has expanded and now supports 35 schools and colleges. During lockdown, employers found innovative ways to continue working with schools, holding virtual events and sessions so that students could be supported in choosing their next step after education.

One of those employers, Fortem, delivered an interactive workshop during this time to Ashgate Croft – the first time that the property solutions experts have worked with a special school.

Marie Cooper, Group CEO of CBE+, explained the impact of the Cornerstone group of employers; a group of flagship businesses – including Fortem – carrying out exemplary work to support schools and colleges develop careers programmes and then sharing their best practice with others.

She said: “If we don’t engage as businesses in educating and inspiring the young people in Derbyshire, then who is going to be running these businesses in the future?

“The only way we can do that powerfully is to collaborate; collaborate as companies, education partners, schools and colleges.

“There are some businesses, responsible businesses in Derbyshire, but there are some that need educating. I hear that they haven’t got the resources or they’re too busy to do this; but there is so much support out there for those of all levels.”

Lana Jay, Strategic Careers Hub Lead at D2N2, added: “It was great to celebrate the amazing work that is happening across the Derbyshire North Careers Hub.

“Since our launch, we have developed stronger relationships with schools and colleges we support, and we have increased engagement with businesses in the local area and strengthened our local authority and partner relationships.

“This event was a chance to celebrate the successes and showcase some of those fantastic projects that have taken place.”

Derbyshire North Careers Hub, Woodhead Group. CBE+, Fortem, Chesterfield Royal Hospital, DEBP and Mortgage 1st support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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

Businesses called on to get involved with Made in Chesterfield 2022

Made in Chesterfield, the campaign designed to bring engineering, manufacturing, property and construction businesses together with schools and training providers, is returning in November and Destination Chesterfield is urging businesses to get involved.

The annual campaign, which will run from 7 November – 2 December now in its eighth year. It has already introduced thousands of young people across North East Derbyshire to the wide range of careers available in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) sector.

With the skills shortage in the STEM sector becoming an even bigger issue for businesses, Made in Chesterfield 2022 aims to inspire a new generation of employees to join the sector.

Since the campaign’s inception, more than 3,500 young people from schools have spent time in the area’s manufacturing and engineering businesses and Chesterfield College has seen an increase in the number of students getting involved in STEM related subjects. Now, following its success, the campaign is welcoming businesses in the property and construction sector to take part.

Sponsored by The Chesterfield College Group, Made in Chesterfield is coordinated by Destination Chesterfield in partnership with Direct Education Business Partnership (DEBP), supported by Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire North Careers Hub, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd and NatWest.

The organisation of Made in Chesterfield is financially supported by the D2N2 Derbyshire North Careers Hub as part of their regional Open Doors programme.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield commented: “There’s a huge skills gap and an ageing workforce issue within the engineering, manufacturing, property and construction sectors. Made in Chesterfield is helping local businesses take those all-important steps needed to inspire the next generation and build a strong recruitment pipeline for future growth and stability.

“The workplace tours, which are organised as part of Made in Chesterfield, are a fantastic way to introduce your business to young people who are at school and college now, showing them the number of high-quality career opportunities available on their doorstep.”

Julie Richards, Principle and CEO of Chesterfield College Group commented: “’We’re delighted to continue our support for the Made in Chesterfield initiative. The growth of engineering, science, technology and manufacturing locally is something we have mirrored in our curriculum and facilities with investment in the latest technologies, such as 3D printing and augmented reality, all with a focus on sustainability.

“Our commitment to the next generation of local workforce is to inspire them and equip them with the skills and experience that sets them up for a successful career in industry. A large part of that relies on the involvement of local employers to provide vital opportunities such as industry placements, work experience, site visits, guest lectures and apprenticeships to help a young person experience an industry. As such, we certainly encourage those businesses not already engaged with Made in Chesterfield to get involved and help to generate the next generation of local workforce.”

Clare Talati, CEO of Direct Education Business Partnership (DEBP) added: “DEBP looks forward to continuing in our role with Made in Chesterfield. We will be delighted to support businesses in providing fantastic visits for learners; enabling young people to engage with inspirational employers and learn about the amazing employment opportunities on offer locally.”

As well as the workplace tours during Made in Chesterfield, schools can access a range of careers videos and tours of Chesterfield businesses to allow young people to experience the tours, activities and careers information they would receive in person, virtually. Alongside this, young people can access the Myfuture Virtual Careers Exhibition, where they can meet local employers, learn about exciting employment opportunities and much more.

James Brand, Managing Director of United Cast Bar, commented on the importance of developing the workforce of the future: “With an eye on future workforce needs, regularly inviting school children to the foundry through the Made in Chesterfield initiative plays an important part in our recruitment.

Destination Chesterfield is hosting a Made in Chesterfield business drop-in session for those businesses that wish to learn more about the campaign, with a representative from United Cast Bar attending to discuss their experiences and answer any questions. The session will be taking place at United Cast Bar in Chesterfield and will run from 2:00pm – 4:00pm on Thursday 14 July.

If you’re a local manufacturing, engineering, property or construction business that would like to find out more about Made in Chesterfield, please visit the website and register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/made-in-chesterfield-business-drop-in-session-tickets-366705314467

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

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