chesterfield news

New international scale tourism destination, PEAK, selects Green Biofuels as construction fuel partner

PEAK, a phased development of an all year leisure, education, wellness, and entertainment destination based on 300 acres of reclaimed parkland at the edge of the Peak District National Park and Chesterfield, has selected the UK’s leading provider of HVO fuel, Green Biofuels, as the sole provider of fuel for the construction of the site in order to fulfil its journey to sustainability from the outset.

The multi-million-pound development will include the UK’s first fully-serviced national park gateway linked to a resort and educational campus. With the principles of sustainable tourism at its core, PEAK will offer domestic and international tourists experiences based around nature, culture, heritage, and activity in the Peak District and its environs. Overnight and short stay accommodation will be available in hotel, hostel and lodge formats.

The first development at PEAK, the Summit is underway and will open 2021. In line with Summit Resort and Development’s sustainability agenda, the construction compound, machines and equipment will be fuelled with Green Biofuels’ low emission high performance paraffinic alternative fuel. All vehicles delivering fuel to the site, and all construction vehicles on site will run on Green D+, which is a drop-in diesel alternative, requiring no changes to engines. Green Biofuels is supporting PEAK’s environmental commitment by supplying the site with a 35,000-litre tank to hold the fuel, in order to reduce emissions resulting from fuel deliveries to a site.

Independent tests at the Millbrook specialist vehicle testing facility have shown that compared to standard diesel emissions, Green D+ has up to an 85% reduction in particulates, and up to a 30% reduction in Nitrogen Oxides, thanks to a special additive not found in any other HVO fuel. This means that emissions contributing to climate change are reduced, as well as pollution affecting the local air quality. The emissions savings at the Summit construction site will be monitored and results announced over the duration of construction.

Gateway developer, Milligan, has appointed Cundall as its key advisor on sustainability and transport, working alongside Birchall Properties the landowner and strategic partners the Peak District National Park Authority, Chesterfield Borough Council and the University of Derby.

Alongside its regional attractions PEAK has planning permission for up to 2000 hotel rooms and 250 chalets. The overnight and short stay accommodation will be delivered in phases and in a range of formats from 5-star hilltop hotel with lodges, to village centre hotels with hostel accommodation. The aim is to deliver the quality and scope of accommodation and hospitality more familiar with an international ski resort.

Magnus Hammick, COO of Green Biofuels, said: “Green Biofuels is hugely proud to be on the journey toward sustainability with PEAK right from the start. As one of the UK’s largest privately funded construction projects, this partnership is especially important because it proves how easy it is for large-scale sites to instantly cut their emissions and protect local air quality with small and strategic changes. Ensuring low pollution is especially important at a site like PEAK because of its proximity to the National Park, so we have introduced a super-tank of 35,000 litres to supply the site, thereby reducing emissions from multiple fuel deliveries.

“This is a major commitment to clean air from the private sector, and I sincerely hope to see the Government making green construction practices a rule, so that our other national flagship projects are also built as sustainably as possible.”

The green ambitions of the project have attracted world renowned adventurer and polar pioneer, Robert Swan OBE. Through his ambassadorship of the Summit, Robert seeks to empower and enable people from all walks of life to participate in sustainability through their leisure activities and adventures.

Robert Swan OBE, said: “After everything I have seen and experienced, I have to say I am truly impressed and excited by what Green Biofuels are doing and what they will do for the green footprint of the PEAK construction.

“Now that the journey to sustainability at PEAK has begun, it is essential to take meaningful and strategic steps to ensure every choice is considered and weighed up against its environmental impact. It is for this reason that I am very encouraged to see PEAK select Green Biofuels as its construction fuel partner.”

Mark Hutchings, COO of Summit Resorts & Developments, said: “We as a company and indeed as individuals are passionate about our environment and the world in which we live. We want our legacy to be not only to provide something truly special for the local community and visitors to the area, but to deliver that in a way we can truly say is the most environmentally friendly way we possibly could. We believe that using Green D+ in every aspect of our operation from fuelling the plant and machinery on site to providing the power for our site cabins to run is a huge step towards achieving this.

“We are proud to be part of one of the largest developments in the U.K. at the moment that is adopting such a policy, and we believe that by doing this we will hopefully set a precedent for others to follow.”

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East Midlands can be at forefront of UK’s “green industrial revolution”, says Chamber

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of a £4bn green plan to tackle climate change and create jobs in the low-carbon economy, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) chief executive Scott Knowles said: “On the face of it, today’s announcement is just the type of bold vision the UK needs in order to seriously rebuild our economy with a greener tint.

“It signals that these are the sectors where businesses need to invest in the future, while it should remove some of the financial barriers that have so far prevented many firms from switching to the low-carbon economy – although questions remain about whether the £4bn funding from Government is anywhere near sufficient to truly stimulate a green revolution.

“This news comes hot on the heels of the Chamber’s Sustainable East Midlands campaign, which was launched last week to highlight the benefits in embracing the sustainability agenda to the region’s businesses, while acting as a new hub for signposting companies to the support available to them.

“We’re excited to hear more about this from Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng, the Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, at our East Midlands Energy Summit tomorrow (Thursday 19 November), an event that will place sustainability at the top of the agenda for the region’s post-Covid economy.

“We believe the Government’s UK Net Zero 2050 vision plays into our region’s strengths as the East Midlands has all the pieces of the sustainability jigsaw – the high energy users in manufacturing, energy producers in our coalfield heritage and new hi-tech businesses coming out of our world-leading universities – putting us in a position to be at the forefront of delivering a low-carbon economy.

“In research conducted with the University of Derby that preceded the campaign, we found that engagement with this subject is quickly rising in the East Midlands but there remains a yawning gap in awareness.

“The percentage of businesses deriving turnover from low-carbon and pro-environmental goods and services has nearly doubled between 2015 and 2020 – growing from 16% to 31% – and just over a third (35%) of businesses said they were integrating clean growth into their business plan.

“On the flip side, four in 10 businesses told us they didn’t feel well-informed about support for clean growth.

“This suggests the Government still has a lot to do in order to encourage more businesses to switch to the low-carbon economy by pushing on-the-ground activity to engage and support more firms – and making sure the financial incentives involved will make a tangible difference to their bottom line.

“Only then will it be realistic to achieve the targets set by the UK Net Zero policy and bring the exciting vision for a green industrial revolution to fruition.”

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Derbyshire County Councillors rally behind Ashgate Hospicecare with £33,500 grant

Ashgate Hospicecare, which provides specialist palliative and end of life care to adults and their families across North Derbyshire, has been awarded £33,500 in grant funding as the charity seeks to plug the £2.4 million financial deficit caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Following an application to Derbyshire County Council’s Membership Community Leadership Scheme, which allocates a budget to each of their 64 county councillors to be used to support projects in their Division, the charity will receive £33,500.

The substantial grant will contribute towards the running costs of their 21 bed Inpatient Unit, which provides complex care to those living with a life-limiting illness. In addition to enhanced infection control costs and general overheads, the grant will also be used to help fund a special Christmas Day dinner with all the trimmings for patients.

Barbara-Anne Walker, Chief Executive at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the support offered to us by the members of the Community Leadership Scheme. This donation will help us to continue delivering our care over the coming winter months and allow our patients and their families to make the most of the time they have together.

“Grants such as this one will help to make a difference and are gratefully received by us all at Ashgate. The grant is even more significant as we find ourselves amid a second nationwide lockdown.

“We are anxiously awaiting the decision from NHS Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) about whether they will commit to the long-term funding we urgently need to support our existing services.”

The grant was supported by seven County Councillors who chose to allocate part of their budgets to the hospice. This included Ron Mihaly (£1000) Jean Innes (£1500) Stuart Brittain (£2000) Dave Allen (£1000) Mick Wall (£4600) and Helen Elliott (£10000) and Sharon Blank (£13400).

Councillor Mick Wall, deputy leader of Derbyshire County Council’s Labour opposition, said: “When I saw the news about the financial impact that the COVID pandemic was having on Ashgate Hospice, I quickly contacted the charity to see how we, as local Councillors, could help most quickly and effectively. We just had to help because we know how much Ashgate Hospice does to support and care for people in all of our local communities.”

Following the financial crisis caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, Ashgate Hospicecare have launched an urgent Winter Crisis Appeal, encouraging their local community to help them care for patients through their most difficult winter yet.

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Pupils get creative to design a new logo for ambitious town project

Pupils at Springwell Community College were challenged to create a new logo to capture the spirit of a major project which aims to regenerate their town.

Almost 70 young people submitted their designs to the Staveley Town Deal logo competition, which was launched in September for year seven pupils at the school.

Alex Atkinson was declared the overall winner for his design which incorporated some of Staveley’s most well-known landmarks.

The winning entry was picked by a judging panel which included the Chair of the Staveley Town Board, Ivan Fomin, and Staveley-based design company, Q2 Creative.

Ivan Fomin said: “The winning logo portrayed hope for Staveley with a bright sun, and blended the canal and waterways whilst retaining the history with the winding wheel.”

Alex then had the opportunity to work with Q2 Creative to turn his hand drawn design into a format that would be suitable for use on the official website and on banners and hoardings in and around Staveley.

Lynne Dawson from Q2 Creative said: “We were delighted to be able to help out with the selection and development of the Staveley Town Deal logo. The students’ work was of a really high standard, with some very thoughtful and well-conceived ideas – it was very hard to choose a winner! It was great to work with Alex in developing his idea and explaining the design process and elements that go to make a successful logo. We wish the Staveley Town Deal project every success.”

The Staveley Town Deal Board has been established to oversee the development and implementation of a long-term Town Investment Plan for the Staveley area.

It is made up of elected members and senior officers from Chesterfield Borough Council, Staveley Town Council and Derbyshire County Council, both local members of parliament, representatives from local charitable organisations, Derbyshire Police, education leaders and representatives of the local business community.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, added: “The Staveley Town Deal will create real improvements that will benefit local people for many years to come. It’s vital that the Town Deal engages young people because it is about ensuring that Staveley is a thriving town with great opportunities where young people can build their future.

“Well done to Alex for his excellent design, and thanks to all the young people who took part.”

As well the opportunity to work with a professional design company and learn how the process works, Alex won a £50 Shopping voucher awarded by Chesterfield Borough Council.

The five runners up were also given prizes of two tickets for a weeks’ membership to the Healthy Living Centre in Staveley or Queen’s Park Sports Centre, to be used in line with government restrictions.

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Chesterfield Royal Hospital Joins Region’s Medical Image Sharing Network

Chesterfield Royal Hospital has become the latest Trust in the East Midlands to go live with a system that allows regional hospitals to share diagnostic images.

The Royal has been part of the East Midlands Radiology Network (EMRAD)for some time and will now be able to share x-ray and other scanned images in real-time through a new Picture Archive Communication System (PACS)with neighbouring Trusts. This will give patients across the region, a faster diagnosis and improved care.

This means that health experts at the Royal, Kettering General, Northampton General, Sherwood Forest, United Lincolnshire and Nottingham University can share their knowledge and experience for the benefit of patients.

Anoop Unnikrishnan is the Royal’s Divisional Director for the Integrated Care Division and oversaw the Trust’s involvement, he said: “This is a wonderful achievement for the Trust and will ensure that our radiologists and those involved in supporting diagnostic care will be able to complement each other and draw on each other’s expertise as part of a collaborative approach.

“It means that we will be able to reach clinical decisions in a more informed and timely manner, share information about patients who have perhaps visited different local hospitals for the purpose of a diagnosis more effectively which will lead to a faster diagnosis, swifter treatment plan and better outcome for the patient.

“Meanwhile for our clinicians it represents a tremendous opportunity to share learning and knowledge, benefit from adopting new skills and training that are available through EMRAD masterclasses and become part of a wider network of colleagues in terms of providing and receiving support.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the project, both clinical and technical, for making this happen. A lot of hard work has been done across the board to make sure that we now have a system in place that will of benefit to patients and colleagues across the region.”

Amy Quick is the Application Support Lead who has been responsible for the technical side of implementing the new system. She said: “The East Midlands Imaging Network is very well established and we’ve benefitted from joining the image sharing system at a very good time. The Picture Archive and Communication System and reporting tool are incredibly robust and will complement the expertise of our clinicians.

“Our teams will also have access to additional training, not just in the new systems and imaging network but also new specialties in the form of masterclasses and course run by EMRAD. As we move towards a time when digital transformation means that collaborative working across regions becomes seamless, this can only be a positive move for patients and clinicians alike.”

Dr James Thomas, Medical Director of EMRAD said: “We’re delighted to welcome Chesterfield Royal Hospital onto our region-wide image sharing system. It’s fantastic news for patients, especially in the north Midlands, as their medical images and scans will now be instantly available to clinicians across the region. From next week, if a patient from the Chesterfield area needs to be brought to the QMC, their scans and images can arrive in Nottingham before they do, allowing clinicians to get a head start on assessing their condition and planning their care.

“We know that the image sharing portal is already speeding up and improving clinical decision-making, which will improve patient care. It is also helping to avoid delays to patient treatment caused by unnecessary transfers between hospitals, and preventing patients having repeat scans to examine the same issue if transferred to a different hospital trust”

Chesterfield Royal Hospital

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East Midlands Chamber and Chesterfield Borough Council join forces to help businesses create jobs for young people via Kickstart scheme

East Midlands Chamber has teamed up with Chesterfield Borough Council to encourage businesses to get more young people into work by taking advantage of the new Kickstart scheme.

The Government programme covers the cost of a six-month work placement for 16 to 24-year-olds who are on Universal Credit or at risk of long-term unemployment.

Employers that want to create at least 30 placements can apply directly to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for a grant to cover the costs, but companies with fewer than 30 roles must apply via recognised gateway organisations, such as the Chamber.

To date, the Chamber has signed up almost 340 businesses and facilitated more than 1,000 potential placements across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. About a third of these are digital and technology roles, with other popular jobs include business and finance, as well as transport and storage.

To engage more businesses to create job opportunities for young people in their communities, and benefit from the additional resources offered by work placement students, the Chamber has collaborated with local authorities and other organisations.

As part of its latest partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council, it will hold a free virtual information session on Monday 7 December for businesses to find out what the scheme involves and giving them the opportunity to join 20 other organisations in the borough of Chesterfield – which together want to create 59 placements – in making applications.

Diane Beresford, deputy chief executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “We know young people have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and the huge amount of unemployment it has created, so the Kickstart scheme is an important mechanism for helping them to get the skills they need to prepare for the world of work.

“Businesses that take part will be playing a vital role in their communities by supporting and preparing our future workforce, but there are also many benefits for employers.

“As this is a fully-funded scheme, it allows organisations to trial new roles, and provides relevant training and mentoring to ensure the young person has the most up-to-date skills and knowledge. There is also a relatively risk-free opportunity to identify good-quality apprentices, opening a pathway for both the employer and employee to grow together.

“It’s important that the public and private sector work together, and our partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council is a great example as we want to make sure as many companies as possible take advantage of these opportunities.”

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, deputy leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, added: “We understand that Covid-19 has affected our communities in a variety of ways, but it has especially impacted on our younger workforce, with the number of 18 to 24-year-olds claiming out of work benefits nearly doubling since March 2020. We’re delighted to be working with East Midlands Chamber to help support the economy and assist both businesses and workers in mitigating the negative impacts of Covid-19.

“One of the council’s key aims is to ensure that Chesterfield is a thriving borough and the Kickstart scheme will open up much-needed opportunities for young people to develop their skills and careers for the future. There are also many benefits for our local businesses who participate in this scheme during this challenging time. Therefore, we’re encouraging businesses to engage with this fully-funded programme to offer our younger generation vital work roles that will build fundamental skills.

“The information session we are running on Monday 7 December will be a beneficial tool for businesses, helping them to gain further insight into the scheme and the support on offer to them in making applications. We encourage all businesses that are interested to attend and utilise this free resource available to them.”

The £2bn Kickstart scheme was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak as part of his Plan for Jobs to help young people into work and spur Britain’s post-Covid economic revival.

A quarter of a million people aged under 25 have claimed unemployment benefits since March, while the unemployment rate among young people is far higher than the overall rate of 4.8%, reaching 14.6%.

The Chamber has already held four online information sessions that attracted 250 attendees, many of which are among the 320 businesses that have since registered with the Chamber to recruit for placements. Some of these organisations have multiple vacancies.

Acting on their behalf, the Chamber applies to the DWP for funding, which pays 100% of the age-relevant National Minimum Wage, national insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week.

Employers can choose to top up this wage and are also eligible for a £1,500 Government grant for training people on a Kickstart placement.

The Chamber started making applications on 1 November. Once they are accepted, young people are referred into the roles via a Jobcentre Plus work coach. Application can be made until December 2021 initially.

Diane added: “The number of businesses that have already booked on to our information sessions shows there’s great appetite out there among businesses to take advantage of these opportunities.

“Businesses receive the full salary cost for six months, but we’re also educating them about the finer details, such as how they must provide employability skills to individuals so they will be well-equipped to land permanent jobs in the future.”

The Kickstart Your Business: Accessing the Kickstart Programme session being run by the Chamber in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council will be held via Zoom on Monday 7 December from 12pm to 1pm.

It is free for both members and non-members of the Chamber, and open to anyone regardless of whether they are based in the Chesterfield area.

It will feature a welcome by Cllr Amanda Serjeant, presentation by the Chamber’s deputy chief executive Diane Beresford and education and business partnership manager Pieter Eksteen, and a Q&A.

Businesses can sign up to the event here.

Other upcoming online information sessions include:

chamber video export

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Regeneration plans move forward as Chesterfield Borough Council secures key site

A key town centre site has been secured by Chesterfield Borough Council – a major step forward for ambitious regeneration plans to create a new gateway for the town.

The council has taken a part freehold, part lease hold interest in the former Chesterfield Hotel site today (Monday, 16 November) and will now work with contractors to clear out and demolish the derelict building, which has stood empty since it shut its doors in 2015.

The site is highlighted as a key development opportunity in the emerging HS2 Station Masterplan which aims to harness the opportunities presented by HS2 and revitalise the area around Chesterfield Train Station.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Chesterfield Hotel was a significant building and a venue which has served the town well over the years.

“Sadly, the costs to remodel and refurbish the building to bring it back into productive use are too high, and it is deemed an unviable option as compared with redevelopment of the site.

“The building has fallen into disrepair and is unfortunately now regarded as a safety risk and an eyesore on this key route from the train station. We must act to bring this area back to life, as part of our wider plans to revitalise this important gateway to our town.”

Making sure the site is safe and secure is the council’s immediate priority – including work to remove the remaining boundary wall at the side of the hotel on Malkin Street amidst safety concerns about the structure.

Work will start immediately to clear and strip out the inside of the building before full demolition, which is expected to start in spring next year.

It is proposed that a temporary surface car park will be created in its place while plans for the future use of the site are developed as part of the emerging HS2 Station Masterplan.

Cllr Gilby added: “This is a major step forward for our long-term plan to harness the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented to us by HS2. To make the most of it we must invest in the delivery of new housing as well as business and commercial development around Chesterfield station.

“Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, Chesterfield continues to move forward. Town centre regeneration is a key element of the council’s Economic Recovery Plan, which will put Chesterfield in the strongest position to bounce back from the far-reaching impacts of Covid-19.”

The council is currently finalising the HS2 Station Masterplan which will be subject to public consultation in the first part of next year.

The land purchase has been funded through the HS2 Strategic Sites project which was awarded £2.4m of funding from the Local Enterprise Partnership for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (D2N2 LEP) earlier in the year – the acquisition of the former Chesterfield Hotel site is just one of a range of initiatives that the council is taking forward with the benefit of the funding to develop the area and to maximise the economic benefits that will be brought to the town by HS2.

HS2 Chesterfield Station

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Chesterfield primary school introducing ‘daily mile’ track to improve health and wellbeing for pupils

St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Chesterfield is currently in the process of constructing a daily mile running track around the perimeter of its sports field. It is hoped the development will help promote health and wellbeing amongst pupils and the wider community.

Once completed, the track will run around the full perimeter of the grassed area of the field and will require 9 laps around it to complete a mile. The surface will be 1.2m wide and be made out of polyurethane bound rubber all weather material.

Rachael priest, chair of the school’s Parent-Teacher Friends Association said: “The field is a large part of the school’s outdoor space (making up almost half the outside play area available to the children) however, the British inclement weather means that it can typically only be used for a few months of the year. The nature of the material will mean that even through the winter months when the field is to muddy to utilise the children will still be able to use the track to complete their daily mile and for other activities.”

“The school is very keen to promote health, fitness and wellbeing and the introduction of the track would be a positive step in encouraging both children and staff to adopt a healthier and more active lifestyle while also improving and enhancing the Schools outdoor environment. The school is eager to adopt the mile as a daily part of the school day and hope, in time, that the completion of the daily mile by each pupil becomes as routine as maths lesson or break time.”

“We hope that the effects of the daily mile will also be felt by the wider community with our pupils becoming positive, confident individuals passing on the message that exercise is good for both body and the mind and encouraging others to embrace a happier and healthier future.”

The school has currently raised £2000 of its £10,000 target through past events and currently have collection points in the classrooms and playgrounds where children can bring in small change and deposit them in a covid secure way.

It is now looking to  affiliate with a local running club in the future and hold sponsored running events with funds raised going towards the track. Other initiatives being planned include ‘sponsor a step,’ where people can help fund the track by buying a virtual step for a fee. In return the sponsors names or nominated names will be displayed on a sign in a similar way to buying a brick projects.

John Cannon of Cannon Events, who host a number of local fun-runs to promote exercise locally, said: “To have a facility like that in the school, for children to exercise every day, will benefit their physical and also mental health enormously and it’ll have a positive effect on their schoolwork as well. It is absolutely priceless. This track is going to make a huge difference.”

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Perez Back On Track at Paul Ricard

Editorial by Paul Horton

Chesterfield’s race ace Seb Perez is back on track at Circuit Paul Ricard in France this weekend (14-15 Nov).

The 21 year old racer will compete with Swiss based R-Motorsport Team in the highly competitive GT4 European Series alongside his team mate George Gamble from Nottinghamshire.

The team pairing of Perez and Gamble as team mates is not new. The previous years have seen them in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and before that in Ginetta’s.

He has successfully raced Porsches in the last two seasons. Back in 2018, Perez won the Pro-Am title in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain. Last year the driver he claimed two victories in the Pro class of the one-make series.

Perez was also out in Italy just over three weeks ago where he came second spot in Modena Cento Ore, an historic rally that comprised of road sections and 3 race track tests.

He looks forward to his outing at the 5.8 km Le Castellet circuit near Marseille after his plans to race for the team fell by the wayside after the team pulled out of the championship earkier this year.

The Swiss motorsport outfit of R-Motorsport were to make its GT4 European Series debut this season as they confirmed the expansion of its GT racing programme with Perez and Gamble but paused its activities as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

This weekend’s spotlight will be on both Perez and Gamble bringing their talents and experience to the team behind the wheel of the #762 car.

Both drivers will race in one of R-Motorsport’s Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4s, taking their first steps in international GT racing. It is more closely based on a standard production car than the GT3 version and is regarded as its ‘little brother’.

A second car will be driven by 2018 GT4 European Series Pro-Am champion Markus Lungstrass and Denmark’s Henrik Lyngbye Pedersen in the #18 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4.
Entering into the event is a one-off in preparation to R-Motorsport Teams 2021 GT4 campaign. Knowing that SRO Motorsports Group will run their events according to a strict Covid-19 safety protocol and plans can be put into place already.

Perez commented “ I’m really looking forward to the challenge driving the GT4 Aston Martin Vantage with this vastly experienced R Motorsport team with my regular teammate George Gamble”. He added “I tested the car last week at Silverstone that proved successful”

Perez and Gamble will compete in the Silver Cup category at Paul Ricard, with Pedersen and Lungstrass running in the Am Cup this weekend.

Perez and Gamble will take to the circuit early on Thursday morning for an official test session in the Aston Martin followed by another in the afternoon.

A spectacular night race on the Circuit Paul Ricard will conclude the 2020 GT4 European Series, with the start of the final race of the season scheduled for Saturday evening at 18.45, an hour and a half after sunset.

The first race will start at 11:15 CET on Saturday. Qualifying for the two races will take place after dark on Friday evening, after two free practice sessions at 10:45 and 14:55 on Friday.

Editorial by Paul Horton – Images by R Motorsport Team – Caption: European-GT4-R-Motorsport-03-Seb-Perez

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Digitalisation Grants of up to £10,000 available for Derbyshire visitor economy businesses

Visitor economy businesses based in Derbyshire are being encouraged to apply for digitalisation grants of up to £10,000 to enable them to adapt, recover and rebuild in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire is offering business grants to support the development of valuable digital assets such as online booking systems, updated websites and cashless payment facilities to help businesses respond to changes in consumer behaviour.

The grants programme is part of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s European Regional Development Fund project, which has been updated to reflect new business needs that have emerged as a result of Covid-19.

Alongside digitalisation, grants of £1,000 to £10,000 are also available in the following areas:

  • Accessibility – e.g. accessible equipment and facilities for people with disabilities.
  • Cycling – e.g. secure cycle storage and maintenance equipment for use by visitors.
  • Internationalisation – e.g. website translation or the implementation of online booking/cashless payment systems to encourage international visitors.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, the area’s official tourist board, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer these valuable business grants through our European Regional Development Fund project. Derbyshire’s tourism industry is facing some of its biggest-ever challenges and this funding will play a key role in helping businesses to adapt and diversify in response to new consumer trends.

“Digital assets such as cashless payment systems and online booking facilities are going to be vital in driving the sector’s recovery and helping businesses to get back on their feet. We’ve already received a huge amount of interest and we’re urging eligible businesses to get their applications in as soon as possible.”

Businesses applying for the funding must meet the following criteria:

  • Be part of the visitor economy, including sole traders, partnerships and limited companies.
  • Be located in Derbyshire.
  • Have less than 250 employees.
  • Have been trading for more than 12 months.
  • Have a business bank account.

Successful applicants will receive a 50% grant towards the cost of the overall project, with a minimum 50% grant contribution being £1,000 and the maximum £10,000.
To find out more and to register interest for a grant visit: https://mpddbusinessgrantscheme.eventbrite.co.uk.

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High street expert to speak at 2020 Chesterfield Investment summit

Town centre expert Ojay McDonald will headline the speaker line-up at the fourth Chesterfield Investment Summit.

The free-to-attend event is being held virtually on Wednesday 25 November from 8.30am – 10am.

As Chief Executive of the Association of Town & City Management, Mr McDonald is considered one of the country’s foremost experts on the high street, working with Government Ministers, parliamentarians, economic development professionals, business leaders and place-makers across the UK and Ireland to support town and city centres.

At the event he will address the challenges the high street faces following its second lockdown, and how it can be helped to survive and thrive in the face of adversity.

Mr McDonald will also be joined by a number of other speakers at the virtual event including Elaine Clark, Chief Executive of the Rail Forum Midlands, who will talk about the post pandemic opportunities for Chesterfield within the rail sector.

Darren Mansfield, Partner at Global Real Estate Consultants Knight Frank, will also speak at the event to address Chesterfield’s office proposition. Knight Frank has recently been appointed to find tenants for the office space which is under construction at Chesterfield Waterside.

Additional speakers include Dr. Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, Cllr Tony King, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, Derbyshire County Council and Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield which is one of the event’s organisers, commented: “The annual Investment Summit is always a popular event in the business community’s calendar, and I am delighted that we have been able to make it happen again despite the challenging circumstances.

“It’s very easy to feel doom and gloom but the Investment Summit will show that despite the pandemic, Chesterfield has continued to move forward with developments and plans, opening up investment opportunities which will make a significant difference to the recovery of the area.”

The event is organised by Derbyshire Economic Partnership, Destination Chesterfield and Marketing Derby and is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund

Always a sell-out, the organisers anticipate high demand for this year’s virtual event. To find out more about the event and book your free place, please visit: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/chesterfield-investment-summit/

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , ,

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