growth Archives - Destination Chesterfield

Polar Windows secures more than £1 million in commercial contracts despite covid-19 pandemic

3rd February 2021

Chesterfield’s Polar Windows has managed to secure more than £1 million worth of commercial contracts recently, despite the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The company, which has now been trading in the town for more than 32 years has secured several projects both locally and nationally, which has enabled it to increase production and turnover.

Three more staff have been taken on in the factory; a new commercial admin apprentice and a commercial Project Manager have also been added to the team, taking the total number of employees at Polar Windows to 35.

Once a small family business, Polar has grown into an ever-evolving company with seven fully skilled fitting teams and a reliable portfolio of carefully selected quality tradesmen. The domestic business spans a 30-mile radius across three counties – Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.

It is also chesterfield’s leading and only commercial manufacturer of UPVC Energy Rated windows & doors, as well as being suppliers & installers of a whole host of other high-quality enhancements for the home. This ranges from Conservatories, soffits and fascia’s, porches, Roof Lanterns, rubber flat roofs to solid warm roofs, extensions, and conversions.

Some of the recent commercial contracts secured by the company include:

172 New Builds in Homewood ,Chesterfield. This is a 3-year contract . This contract involves installing A-Rated Energy Efficient upvc windows and doors along with GRP Composite Entrance doors.
175 New Builds in Goole- This is a 3 year contract – This contract involves installing A-Rated Energy Efficient UPVC windows and doors along with GRP Composite Entrance doors.
21 New Builds in Brockwell, Chesterfield, – This contract involves installing A-Rated Energy Efficient UPVC windows and doors along with GRP Composite Entrance doors.
Manufacture and Installation of over 200 High specification windows and doors to a number of wards /Departments at Leighton Hospital in Crewe.
32 New Builds in Pilsley, Chesterfield- This contract involves installing A-Rated Energy Efficient UPVC windows and doors along with GRP Composite Entrance doors.
12 New Builds in Brimington Chesterfield. This contract involves installing A-Rated Energy Efficient UPVC windows and doors along with GRP Composite Entrance doors.

Group Sales Manager, Richard Crowe said: “Whilst it is easy to sum up 2020 as a year of challenge and global crisis, the last 12 months have spurred a great deal of reflection, resilience , spirit and togetherness within our business. From initiatives such as the introduction of remote selling & quoting software, to the switch from paper invoices to paperless digital invoicing, our staff have shown what hard work and determination really can create, especially when combined with good old community spirit.

“As a result, we are now reaping the rewards. Bearing in mind we had 3 months of not trading with the national lockdown. In 2020 we have seen an increase in global turnover of over 11%, and our production output has increased by 10%.

“We also invested in a brand new purpose built window & conservatory village show site on Chesterfield Road in Duckmanton just off of junction 29A. This incorporates two fully furnished on site conservatories with a plan for two further conservatories to be added in late 2021.

“The show site also boasts an indoor window and doors showroom for our customers. We also took delivery of a fleet of seven brand new vans for our installers. I would never have thought back in March 2020 that all of this would be achievable.

“In summary, 2020 has been the most difficult but rewarding year in my working life to date. To achieve what we have achieved under the circumstances has proved to me the sky really is the limit for us. 2021, Bring it on!”

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

Work to begin on Elder Way improvements

4th January 2021

A multimillion-pound project to revitalise the heart of Chesterfield and improve the public space is set to begin.

The works, which will cost £3.25 million, will begin this week (w/c 4 January 2021) and will include a series of improvements to the footpaths and the public space around Elder Way – creating a more inviting pedestrian route from the Northern Gateway development to the retail centre of the town.

During the week commencing 4 January a works yard will be established in the lower Devonshire Road car park which will reduce disruption in the town centre. All works should be complete by Summer 2021.

It is a key part of Chesterfield Borough Council’s Northern Gateway project which over the past 18 months has seen the opening of the new town centre Premier Inn and the new Saltergate multi-storey car park, as well as the start of building works on the new Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre located on part of the Holywell Cross (Donut) car park.

The project aims to create a more attractive environment for users and businesses looking for opportunities to invest in the town centre.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “This ambitious project will breathe new life into the town centre and improve the quality of the area by making it a more attractive place to visit. These changes will also lead to increased space for businesses to have outdoor seating which should further guarantee this area’s role in the town’s visitor economy.

“This work will cause some inevitable disruption in the short term, but we’re working with the contractors to limit this as far as possible. We have attempted to contact those businesses affected and will continue to provide updates as the works progress on the council’s website.

“Improving the town centre in this way should help set a vision for the future of Chesterfield and further demonstrates how important our high street is to the future economic success of the borough.”

Danaher & Walsh Civil Engineering has been appointed by Chesterfield Borough Council to undertake the public space improvement works.

A spokesperson from Danaher & Walsh, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract and look forward to working with Chesterfield Borough Council to deliver this exciting programme of improvements to Chesterfield’s town centre.

“Our site team is committed to working with stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of the works whilst mitigating any potential disruption. We are confident that the delivered scheme will be a source of pride for the people and businesses of Chesterfield.”

Improvements in this phase of the project will focus around Elder Way and should be complete by Summer 2021. The works planned include:

• The reconstruction of existing footways and paved areas with a mix of high-quality paving
• Pavement widening
• Taxi rank improvements on Knifesmithgate
• A range of formal and informal pedestrian crossing improvements.
• The de-cluttering of the street scene by removing obstacles to pedestrian movement
• The introduction of trees into the street
• Introduction / improved design of loading bays
• New bus shelters and re-positioned bus stops on Elder Way
• New street furniture
• Carriageway resurfacing

Funding for the project has been provided by the Sheffield City Region Investment Fund and D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

Due to the nature of these works and the location there is the possibility of some inconvenience for businesses and visitors. Regular updates will be provided directly to affected businesses, and further updates on progress and impacts on the area will be published on the Council’s website (https://www.chesterfield.gov.uk/elder_way_public_realm_improvements).