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Chesterfield businesses invited to have say on government Industrial Strategy before time runs out

With exactly one month left until the government closes public consultation on Invest 2035 – its Industrial Strategy – East Midlands Chamber is to hold three round table webinars for the business community to help shape and influence the consultation response ahead of the 24th November deadline.

Insight and evidence gathered at the webinars – to be held on 11th, 18th and 20th November – will provide the core elements, shaping the response East Midlands Chamber delivers to the government.

The government’s Industrial Strategy proposes to boost growth across clean energy, advanced manufacturing, creative industries, clean energy, design and technologies, defence, life sciences, financial services and professional and business services. The final Industrial Strategy will be published in spring 2025, alongside the multi-year spending review.

East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Richard Blackmore said: “This is a critical moment where, with only 4 weeks until the clock runs out on the government’s public consultation, it’s essential the voice of business in the East Midlands is heard.

“The Green Paper identifies 8 key sectors which offer the highest growth opportunities for the UK economy. It is vital the East Midlands is seen as a key delivery partner for some, or all of these to ensure the region benefits from the impact on growth this strategy is set out to deliver over the next 10 years. We’re calling on the region’s business community share their views and experiences on the 10 questions we’ve raised including ‘How should the government identify the most important subsectors and technologies’ and ‘What barriers are there to investment?’

“It’s just a case of a business choosing one of the three webinar dates that work for them and registering. Sparing a short amount of time could really make a difference.

“These opportunities to influence policy on this scale are rare. It’s seven years since the previous government released the last Industrial Strategy, so now is a key opportunity which I’d urge businesses in the East Midlands to seize and shape the response that the Chamber presents to the government.“

Register to attend one of the webinars here.

2 male and 2 female business people speaking at table at Chesterfield Enterprise Centre

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New hires and exciting collaborations for Chesterfield Champions

Our town’s network of Chesterfield Champions have made exciting announcements in recent weeks.

The latest roundup includes new hires, partnerships and even a collaborative effort on a local regeneration project.

Read the latest in our roundup below.

Champions collaborate on Peak Village improvements

Peak Village conservatory improvements

The Devonshire Group has collaborated with local businesses, including Chesterfield Champion Peak Architects, to refurbish park of North Derbyshire’s Peak Village shopping centre.

Visitors to the centre are set to enjoy a new and improved shopping experience as works to the Caffè Massarella conservatory come to an end.

The refurbishment has seen the conservatory transformed following the introduction of new glass fronting and skylights, creating a brighter, more modern space for shoppers to relax and unwind.

Peak Village’s proud Derbyshire heritage has been prioritised throughout, with Peak Architects and Sheffield-based design studio, 93ft appointed to lead the works and help to create a design that better complements the site’s existing architecture, including the Grade II listed Old Station Building opposite.

Complementing the ongoing improvement works, the team at Peak Village have also unveiled a new look across its branding, which visitors will now be able to spot on the signage at the retail destination, as well as the centre’s website. This is the latest milestone in £2 million of customer experience investments made by owners The Devonshire Group since purchasing the site three years ago.

Katayune Jacquin, centre manager at Peak Village, said: “‘We have seen how investment since the acquisition has supported the significant growth of footfall, customer spend and interest from a diverse range of tenants. This most recent round of improvements into the buildings and environment, our brand and digital presence contribute to the creation of an appealing venue for local communities and visitors to Derbyshire and the Peak District.

“The new conservatory sits in a key location of the village where visitors enjoy refreshments from an established and popular tenant. Our investment into the exterior, and Caffè Massarella’s into the interior, demonstrates working in partnership to continually improve and grow.”

Local design agency Crush welcomes new Account Director

Black and white photo of male smiling at camera

Chesterfield-based design agency Crush has welcomed new Account Director, Chris Vannozzi, to oversee the company’s growing portfolio of creative projects in branding, design, digital and marketing.

Founded in 2004, Crush works with brands both close to home, and across the globe.

As an independent agency, Crush’s team has grown considerably over their 21 years in the business. Starting with just one woman, Natalie Burkinshaw (Founder and Creative Director), the Crush team now encompasses an impressive, wide range of talents in brand strategy, design, website development, copywriting and marketing support.

With over 25 years experience working for London agencies in content marketing and commercial strategy, Chris’ wealth of expertise will lend a hand not only to nurturing client relationships at Crush, but also to strategy and big-picture perspective for their creative campaigns.

Chris has delivered creative projects for world-recognised brands such as Unilever, P&G, John Lewis and M&S – as well as public sector projects for King’s College London, Development Media International and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Speaking about his new role, Chris said: “What excites me about Crush is the range of creative projects we get involved in. Coming from a London agency background, it’s refreshing to be joining a team that works on big, corporate projects, as well as supporting local, smaller businesses.

“I hope that my years of experience will prove effective in bringing together more projects like this for the Crush team.”

UKATA to host mock trial event at National Justice Museum

UKATA Exhibition stand

UKATA is set to host a unique Asbestos Mock Trial event on Monday 28th October at the National Justice Museum in Nottingham. It aims to educate industry professionals about the legal intricacies of asbestos-related claims through an engaging courtroom reenactment.

The event will feature expert speakers from various fields, including legal professionals, health and safety advocates, and industry leaders, providing invaluable insights into the complexities of asbestos litigation. Attendees will benefit from a unique opportunity to observe a simulated trial, allowing for a deeper understanding of the legal processes involved.

Law students from both Nottingham Law School (Nottingham Trent University) and The School of Law at The University of Nottingham will attend the event, providing a valuable educational opportunity for future legal professionals to engage with asbestos litigation.

UKATA’s Senior Operations Manager, Debbie Nixon, added, “I am very excited to be hosting this event in collaboration with Sewell Law and PCR Global. This event will enhance awareness and promote best practices for safety in the workplace. We are honoured to have DSK as sponsors, underscoring the importance of promoting asbestos awareness within the industry and future legal professionals.”

Black Swan Cyber Security Solutions Teams Up with Chesterfield FC

Man in football kit shakes hands with man in business wear in football stadium

Black Swan Cyber Security Solutions has announced the shirt sponsorship of Chesterfield FC’s goalkeeping coach, Dave O’Hare.

In a statement, the company commented: “As the last line of defence on the pitch, Dave O’Hare trains his goalkeepers to anticipate every shot, react swiftly and neutralise threats. Similarly, Black Swan equips businesses with the tools and expertise to defend their digital assets from cybercriminals.”

Kevin Walker, owner of Black Swan, added: “Just as Dave O’Hare ensures Chesterfield FC’s goal remains untouched, we’re dedicated to safeguarding our clients’ digital assets. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to excellence and our unwavering focus on protecting what matters most.”

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National award win for Chesterfield’s RA Information Systems

RA Information Systems, a Chesterfield-based IT company has received the 2024 UKSPA Customer Service – Business Affiliates Award.

The prestigious award recognises business affiliates that go above and beyond in delivering exceptional service to support scientific and technological innovation hubs across the UK, contributing to the success of the UKSPA community.

The success of RA Information Systems is driven by a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to customer service. The company integrates incident, problem, and change management into a robust workflow system, ensuring every client interaction is meticulously tracked and managed.

This allows the firm to maintain consistently high service standards through continuous performance monitoring and review. The team works seamlessly with 2nd/3rd line support, product managers, and external IT partners to resolve issues swiftly and efficiently. From product implementation to ongoing support, RA Information Systems says it is committed to delivering excellence at every stage, ensuring client satisfaction and enhancing the overall experience.

Having attended the event, Helen Hadfield, Financial Director at RA Information Systems, shared her reflections on this important milestone.

She commented: “This is a very proud moment for our company, as this prestigious award celebrates Business Affiliates that consistently go above and beyond in delivering exceptional service to support scientific and technological innovation hubs across the UK, and myself and Richard Fowler were truly honoured to accept the award on behalf of our incredible team!

“This award not only highlights the hard work our team puts in every day, but is also a reflection of our collective commitment to excellence and our focus on supporting our clients and driving innovation. I am excited to see where our innovation leads us next and how we can continue to provide the excellent service we offer our clients.”

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

 

RA information Systems award

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New canal bridge installed at Staveley

Staveley has gained a new impressive landmark, following the installation of the new Trans Pennine Bridge over the Chesterfield Canal.

The structure was lowered into place on Monday, October 21st. It spans 38 meters in length and weighs around 40 tons.

It replaces a brick bridge on what was originally the Great Central Railway. The old bridge was knocked down about thirty years ago and since then users of the Trail have had to go on a ‘zig-zag up and down’ route. They will now be able to go straight over the new bridge.

The project has been managed by the Chesterfield Canal Trust. It is the first phase of a £6 million canal restoration scheme. Most of the money will come from the Staveley Town Deal, a £25.2 million investment in Staveley through the Government’s Towns Fund, covering ten projects in all.

O’Brien Contractors readied the site and installed the massive bearing structures. CTS Bridges delivered the two halves of the bridge on 8th October. These were welded together and painted before the final lift took place. The rest of the earthworks and finishing works will now be completed ready for the bridge to be opened to the public before the end of October.

Trans pennine bridge chesterfield canal

O’Brien Contractors Director, Tony Mitchell commented: “The installation of the bridge marks the continuing works towards the reinstatement of the Chesterfield Canal and O’Brien Contractors are proud that we have been able to contribute to this.”

Ivan Fomin, Chair of the Staveley Town Deal, said: “This is not only a huge milestone for the Chesterfield Canal Trust but also for the Staveley Town Deal. Work to restore the Canal is one of our key projects and will help attract more visitors and improve outdoor facilities for residents. There has a been a lot of hard work to get to this point and I want to thank all the staff and volunteers at the Trust for their efforts.”

Next year, a length of canal will be reinstated under the bridge along with a new lock and another accommodation bridge at the bottom of Bellhouse Lane. There will also be a pumping system and Bellhouse Basin will be restored. The towpath will be upgraded to a multi-user trail, stretching over two kilometres all the way across the Doe Lea Valley to Renishaw.

Finally, the whole area will be planted with wildlife friendly vegetation and a seating area will be installed for people to enjoy the tranquillity of the newly restored canal. You will be able to follow the progress of the works as they happen by going to the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s website.

Rod Auton, Publicity Officer for the Chesterfield Canal Trust, said: “This is an incredibly important achievement for the Trust. It proves to our supporters and to potential funders that we can take on huge engineering challenges and bring them to fruition. We owe a great debt of thanks to our Development Manager, George Rogers, who has been working on the whole project for four years, and to Jon Lindley of Beyond consultants who has managed the bridge project with O’Brien’s.”

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

 

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Hundreds of kids take part in superhero walk for hospice

More than 1,300 children and adults got their capes on for Ashgate Hospice’s Superhero Night Walk in Chesterfield.

The walk, sponsored by Motan Colortronic, saw fundraisers descend on Queen’s Park for the event on Saturday 19 October.

Participants took on one and three-mile routes from 5.30pm to help raise funds towards the hospice’s care for families across North Derbyshire.

Sponsorship for the event is still rolling in, but the charity hopes to raise more than £50,000 to help fund its crucial palliative and end of life care.

Children taking part donned their favourite superhero costumes, with many families walking in memory of loved ones who had received care at the hospice.

Every child who registered for the event received a free superhero cape and a glow in the dark mask to wear as they walked the route with family members.

There was a host of entertainment on display including stilt walkers, big bubble displays, live singers and dancers, and more.

Dozens of volunteers gave up their time to support the hospice’s fundraising team to ensure everyone taking part was safe and had fun throughout.

Charlotte Butterworth, Head of Fundraising at Ashgate Hospice said: “After holding our first ever Superhero Night Walk last year we were thrilled to bring it back for a second year.

“Thank you to all of the little superheroes that raised sponsorship money and took part, they all looked absolutely fantastic in their costumes as they made their way around Queen’s Park.

“Everyone at the hospice is so incredibly grateful to all our volunteers, main sponsors Motan Colortronic and many other local businesses for their generosity and support – without them we couldn’t put on events like this.

“The support helps us raise the £11 million we need each year in order to fund our care for families across North Derbyshire.”

Ashgate Hospice’s Superhero Night Walk will be returning again next year with details set to be announced in the near future.

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

Kathryn and Logan superhero walk

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Regional tourism awards to be celebrated next spring

Shining stars of the East Midlands’ vibrant tourism industry will be celebrated at a prestigious joint awards ceremony hosted by Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, next spring.

It has been announced that the winners of the Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards and the Nottinghamshire Tourism Awards will be revealed at a glittering joint awards ceremony held at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham on 20 March 2025.

The region’s two Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) – Visit Nottinghamshire and Visit Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby – are joining forces to deliver the awards ceremony in partnership for the first time, to celebrate excellence and outstanding achievement across the tourism sector and give local businesses an opportunity to share their success stories, generate valuable publicity and reach new customers.

From B&Bs and visitor attractions to hotels, campsites and unique experiences, the diverse award categories reflect the breadth of the region’s tourism landscape.

The awards are held in partnership with VisitEngland and Gold winners will have the opportunity to progress onto the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025, which represent the highest accolades in English tourism.

The awards ceremony is supported by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) to celebrate the success of local tourism businesses whilst highlighting the sector’s vital £5.25BN of economic impact contribution to the East Midlands’ economy.

The evening will bring together 500 guests from across the region’s tourism, leisure, culture and hospitality industries, including shortlisted businesses from 30 overall awards categories plus local MPs, partners and stakeholders.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “One of my priorities is to boost tourism and celebrate our region’s heritage, vibrancy, culture and natural beauty through my Visit East Midlands campaign. This joint awards ceremony is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate excellence in all aspects of tourism across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, and I’m delighted to host and support these awards.”

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “We’re excited to be joining forces with our LVEP partners in Nottinghamshire to deliver a glittering joint awards ceremony celebrating the very best of tourism in the East Midlands next spring.

“The Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards are a celebration of the passionate, hardworking and innovative businesses who continually raise the bar of our world-class tourism offer. Not only do these awards showcase the sheer quality of our tourism products, but they also highlight the value of our visitor economy and the important role the industry plays in driving growth, creating jobs, and making the region such a great place to live, work and visit.

“The visitor economy is a vital yet often underappreciated asset of the East Midlands, and this event will help us harness the industry’s full potential so we can truly start to punch above our weight”.

VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: “It’s great to see these two amazing Awards come together, ramping up the impact and value of entering for tourism businesses in Nottinghamshire, Peak District and Derbyshire.  These areas have truly outstanding national winners, and we look forward to welcoming the regional award winners to the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in 2025. I wish all of those who enter the very best of luck.”

The 2025 Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards are sponsored by EV charging specialists VoltShare and Derbyshire-based C W Sellors Fine Jewellery & Luxury Watches, who will be designing and handcrafting luxury bespoke awards for all Gold winners. The Awards Ceremony is sponsored by Nottingham Venues.

For more details on the Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards please visit: www.visitpeakdistrict.com/industry/events/category/tourism-awards.

Derbyshire and Derby tourism awards

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Shorts advisors support businesses to grow

Chesterfield-based accountancy practice Shorts continues to support businesses with financial advice, assisting in business acquisitions and helping one company transition to employee ownership.

The company recently advised Sheffield-based Abbeydale Brewery Ltd as it moved towards becoming an Employee Ownership Trust, strengthening the commitment to its talented team, safeguarding its long-standing values and securing the legacy of the business.

Shorts acted as lead advisors on the transaction, including valuation, fundraising, tax advice and project management.

Connor Marshall of Shorts added “It has been great to work alongside MD Law in transitioning such a well-known, acclaimed business into becoming an Employee-Owned Business. From the start the Shareholders and Senior Management Team wanted to do what was best for the employees and, with the implementation of the EOT, this solidifies the prospects of both the business and employees for the longer term. We all look forward to seeing the continued success of such a prominent Sheffield business.”

Elsewhere, Shorts has assisted in the expansion of AxFlow UK, advising on the acquisition of Moody Direct Ltd, a long-established supplier of solutions and services to the dairy, food & beverage, brewery, chemical, and pharmaceutical sectors headquartered in Retford.

Shorts’ Corporate Finance team were lead advisers to Moody Direct and Wake Smith solicitors provided legal advice to the sellers.

Andy Ryder, Corporate Finance Parner at Shorts, said: “We are delighted to have successfully concluded this transaction on behalf of the owners of Moody Direct, Ken and David. It has been a pleasure for our team of myself, Adam
Ames, Brian Gooch and Ahad Choudry to work with them on this international deal and we look forward to hearing of the continued success of this great business as it becomes part of the Swedish owned Axel Johnson AB Group, giving it access to further fantastic opportunities.”

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

Group of people working for financial advice firm and brewery smiling to camera

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Exciting news and initiatives to support Chesterfield communities, businesses and regeneration

Chesterfield Champions have once again been busy supporting our communities with charity initiatives, events, mental health support and more.

Find out the latest community news across our town in the roundup below:

Archeological Dig to take place in Staveley

Archaeological digging group

Before the next stage of canal restoration at Staveley, Chesterfield Canal Trust has engaged York Archaeology to organise an archaeological dig at Bellhouse Basin.

They will be on site from Monday 21st October to Friday 1st November.

As part of their work, they are asking for volunteers to help on Wednesday 23rd, Thursday 24th, Friday 25th and Saturday 26th October. It is possible they may also need help on Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th.

On each day they will need six volunteers.

To volunteer, you must be of at least secondary school age and reasonably physically fit – certainly able to kneel for an hour or more at a time. If you are under 18, you must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Previous experience is not essential because you will get a full briefing, but it would be helpful.

You will need to wear old, robust clothes and have a decent pair of boots. Gloves, such as gardening gloves, would be a good idea. Tools and any other necessary equipment will be provided.

You will need to report to the site at 08.30 and you will finish by 16.00 at the latest. You should bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee will be available.

If you would like to volunteer, email publicity@chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk stating on which day(s) you will be available.

Several other digs have taken place on the canal recently; to see them click here and here and here.

Boy, six, to conquer hospice’s Superhero walk for charity in memory of ‘amazing’ dad

Ashgate Hospice superhero walk

A six-year-old whose “Superman” dad died from a rare form of cancer will be taking on Ashgate Hospice’s Superhero Night Walk in tribute to the end of life care he received.

Fletcher Parkes was just 10 months old when his dad Gavin Parkes was diagnosed with a rare form of bladder cancer in August 2018.

Months later – after undergoing intense hospital treatment for the illness – doctors told him the devastating news that his cancer was incurable.

The kitchen fitter, from Sheffield, was admitted to the hospice’s Inpatient Unit in Chesterfield in March 2019, where he received round-the-clock specialist care.

Gavin and his partner Lori’s wedding had been planned for June, and they soon realised he was not going to make it to the date.

But staff and volunteers rallied together to ensure they could tie the knot at the hospice, with Fletcher by their side, just days before Gavin’s death on 4 April, aged 39.

Fletcher and Lori will join hundreds of others at the Superhero Night Walk fundraiser in Queen’s Park, Chesterfield on Saturday 19 October.

“It has been heartbreaking for us all,” said Lori, 30, from Chesterfield. “Gavin was the most amazing man and an incredible dad to Fletcher.

“I honestly can’t explain how much we appreciated everything that Ashgate did for us in those last few weeks.

“Once Gavin arrived at the hospice, I stayed there with him every night. They went above and beyond for our family.

“Ashgate set up our entire wedding for us – including a car, cake, drinks, hair and makeup. It was just fantastic and all our family and friends were there to see it.”

The family, who were living in Sheffield but moved to Chesterfield to get family support, also received care at home from Ashgate before he was admitted to the ward.

Fletcher is continuing to receive child bereavement support from the hospice’s counselling team.

He is getting set to don his favourite Superman costume, which is particularly fitting given Gavin had the theme song played at his funeral.

Lori, a teaching assistant at Tupton Hall School, added: “Fletcher is just starting to feel the impact of losing his dad at such a young age.

“He’s receiving child bereavement counselling from Emily at Ashgate which he loves so much!

“Fletcher wants to take part in the Superhero Night Walk so we can give something back to the hospice for everything they’ve done for us.

“He first did the event last year and loved it! He loves dressing up as Superman because that’s what he called his dad, and we even had the theme tune playing at the funeral.”

Since Gavin died, Lori’s family and friends have raised more than £10,000 to help fund end of life and palliative care for future families.

Tickets cost just £6 per child and adults go FREE – registrations must be made before 1pm on 17th October. The walk will start at 5:30pm, and doors will open at 4.30pm.

Every participating child will receive a fundraising pack, superhero cape, and a glow-in-the-dark mask to wear whilst taking part in the event.

Sign up or find out more about the Superhero Night Walk event on the the hospice’s website or call 01246 567 250.

Chesterfield FC Community Trust’s mental health initiative featured on TV

ChesterfieldFC (35)

Chesterfield FC Community Trust has picked up national media attention, for providing a room in the HUB at the SMH Group Stadium for the weekly Andy’s Man Club meetings.

Andy’s Man Club is a network set up to support men’s mental health The meetings take place from 7pm to 9pm every Monday. They are free to attend.

Take a look at the feature on Sky Sports, with organiser Pete Wilson and Trust chairman Mike Goodwin both interviewed.

Businesses encouraged to share their positive news with local media

Birdseye view of man sitting at a laptop

Businesses are encouraged to share their news with local media organisations to help promote their organisations.

The Derbyshire Times is urging local companies to help spread positivity around Chesterfield and beyond, by submitting their news via a new online portal.

The YourWorld portal is free to use, and provides businesses with an easy step-by-step process to share their stories.

Want to shout about your business achievements? Submit your story on the YourWorld portal here:

You can also share your news with Destination Chesterfield by emailing: info@chesterfield.co.uk

Phil Bramley, Editor of the Derbyshire Times commented: “The new portal on the DT site is a great way to let people across north Derbyshire know what’s going on with our fantastic local businesses.

“It’s simple to use and helps put our local businesses right at the heart of the community.”

The organisations featured in this article support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

 

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Immersive light show returns to Bolsover Castle

Bright Winter Nights will return to Bolsover Castle this November, illuminating the town’s iconic landmark and featuring a newly commissioned interactive digital art installation.

The immersive light experience was launched in 2023 by Junction Arts to mark the 30th anniversary of the lantern parade. This year, the event promises to be bigger and better, with three new light installations, co-created with the local community and specialist artists.

Bolsover Castle will once again come to life with live projections, images and sounds, celebrating local people, technology and art.

The centrepiece for this year’s Bright Winter Nights has been commissioned by the Bolsover Place Board and will feature a dazzling, interactive installation. It will be created in collaboration with Derbyshire storytellers Babbling Vagabonds, video projection artists Illuminos and young people in Bolsover.

The numerous light displays will feature a diverse range of voices, including an installation co-created by the LGBTQIA+ community via a national partnership with Dreamy Place, who stage festivals in Brighton and Crawley.

Participants from the PlatformThirty1 project ‘Know Your Neighbourhood’ will also see their work featured in Bright Winter Nights. The project is a creative community project designed to increase opportunities for connection for individuals and reduce loneliness. Through creative workshops in communal spaces, participants have explored a wide range of art forms, including painting, crochet, collage and embroidery.

Kylie North, Project Manager at Junction Arts said: “Bright Winter Nights is back, with more lights, more projections, more community involvement and more chances to engage with the artworks.

We’re excited to be working in partnership with so many great organisations to bring together one amazing event that will mark the start of the festive season. Every piece of content at Bright Winter Nights has been co-created by the community, working with professional artists – representing voices from all parts of Bolsover.”

“The concept of the event is the same as last year, but all the content is new for 2024, with more interactive elements for visitors to explore, immerse themselves in and enjoy. There’ll also be plenty of surprises, we can’t wait for people to come along and experience it.”

Nikki Waters, Bolsover Place Board member and General Manager of Hardwick Estate & Stainsby Mill said: “Bright Winter Nights is such a special and important event in the heart of Bolsover. It’s incredibly exciting that it is back for 2024, bigger and better than before. It will showcase the very best of what the district has to offer and will both attract visitors to the town and provide an important moment for local residents to come together and celebrate the place where they live and work. Bolsover is a thriving and dynamic place with so much to offer, and Bright Winter Nights celebrates and showcases the town and wider district at its very best.”

Joel Wileman from Bolsover Castle said: “At English Heritage, we’re striving to make new connections with the community through heritage and tell everyone’s story. Bright Winter Nights and Junction Arts’ wider work fits perfectly with this vision.

“Last year’s event was a sell-out, so we’re delighted to extend the ticket allocation to 1,000 for 2024, which promises to be a spectacular event. The Castle was built by William Cavendish for impressive celebrations and Bright Winter Nights will continue this trend in style.”

Junction Arts is organising the event in partnership with English Heritage and arts organisations Platform Thirty1, and videoclub. Bright Winter Nights is funded by Arts Council England and Bolsover District Council.

Tickets are the same price as last year, £2 per child and £3 for adults and are available to buy now: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/bright-winter-nights-29-nov-24/

Bright Winter Nights, The Bolsover Christmas Market and the Bolsover Lantern Parade are all part of the Bolsover Winter Festival – a weekend of festive fun that will take place on the 29th and 30th of November.

Looking for things to do with the family in Chesterfield? Check out our events page to find out more: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/events/

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

Bolsover Castle lit up in immersive colours

 

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Progress continues on multi-million-pound refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall

The multi-million pound refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall – which will create a state-of-the-art cultural venue in the heart of Chesterfield town centre – is progressing at pace.

Representatives from Chesterfield Borough Council were provided with a behind-the-scenes tour to review progress and see how work to transform the building has been progressing.

Leading Midlands construction firm, G F Tomlinson, took control of the site last year and has been working to achieve the ambitious plans which include creating a single entrance to both facilities, an expanded theatre, a reconfigured museum, community spaces and a new café bar.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The building has changed dramatically since December 2023 and the work so far is starting to show how this building will feel when it is completed. I’m excited to welcome residents and visitors back to this venue once it is completed and think it will be a truly spectacular experience that we can all be proud of.

“This is an ambitious project for our borough and there is a lot of hard work still to do, but it will create a truly unique building where residents and visitors can experience culture and learn about the history of our borough.”

Group of people wearing hard hats and high visibility clothing outside building with scaffolding on exterior

Adrian Grocock, Group Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We’re pleased with how works are progressing for the delivery of the multi-million-pound sensitive refurbishment of the Grade II Listed Stephenson Memorial Hall and you can really see the pivotal stages taking place to breathe new life into the Corporation Street site.

“Once complete, the landmark state-of-the-art facility in the town centre will be revitalised with its expanded theatre, reconfigured museum and improved community spaces, bringing many new opportunities to the local vicinity for arts and entertainment.”

In the auditorium the changes are significant – the circle has been stripped back, with the decorative panelling being safely stored ready to be reinstalled once the project is complete. and new steelwork brought into the building ready to build an enlarged seating area.

Cut outs have also been made in the walls to create a new access point to the circle from the upper floor of the new café bar. New entrances to the auditorium on the ground floor have been created and a new concrete slab has been laid on the auditorium floor which will allow for the installation of a new air conditioning system that provides heating and cooling for theatre guests.

A new accessible lift shaft has been built that will ensure all guests can access every floor of the building including the circle which will include new accessible seating and the basement where a Changing Places toilet will be created.

On the Corporation Street side, part of the roof has been removed ready for a new Link Gallery to be installed. This will house rooms that can be used for events, school trips, and community activities, and as extra space during performance intervals.

As well as upgrading the facilities, much of the work is also about improving the fabric of the historic building to protect it for generations to come, and ensure it is more energy efficient. This has included improvements to the roof, where the existing roof tiles have been lifted, and upgrades to the structure, lining and insulation have been installed to help improve the thermal efficiency of the building and ensure the roof is watertight for many years to come.

Works have also included the cleaning of external brickwork and some re-pointing to restore the building its original splendour.

On Station Back Lane a new extension is being built which will house dressing rooms and a new backstage area to provide performers with modern accessible facilities. A new foundation has been laid and the blockwork in this area is progressing well.

In Autumn 2021 Chesterfield Borough Council received almost £20 million from the Government’s Levelling Up fund.

A portion is being used to improve connections across the town centre and create attractive public spaces to support a range of events and markets. Work began on the Market Place earlier this year.

Around £11 million of the Levelling Up Fund grant funding will be used to fund the renovation and remodelling of Stephenson Memorial Hall.

The project received a further funding boost with £695,000 from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme which will be used to install a ventilation system in the auditorium and create a new Changing Places toilet.

Find out more about the project and sign up for updates about the project by visiting: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/revitalise

Auditorium being refurbished with machinery and building materials

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New sports shop opens at Chesterfield Market Hall

A brand-new shop has opened in Chesterfield’s historic Market Hall, selling sports equipment, clothing and health products.

Fearless Sports started off selling boxing equipment, before expanding into selling all sports goods including trainers, t-shirts, hoodies, sports and health supplements.

The business started off as an online enterprise, but has since moved into the Market Hall to expand its footprint.

Neil Siddall, Co-Founder of Fearless explained how the idea for the business came about: ” I started boxing at the age of 10 with Pat Bogle at his Barrowhill boxing club, I then joined the Army at the age of 17 again getting involved with boxing, sailing, scuba diving, rock climbing and Mai Thai to name a few.

“After 29 years in the Regular Army ( still do it part-time) I found myself working in Kenya and got involved with a local Kenyan boxing team and decided to help them develop. To help the young boxers mentally prepare for fights, I came up with the concept of fighting fearlessly.

“After a while, business partner Kieran and I decided it would be a good name for a sports brand. We talked the idea through and decided to give it a go and make our own boxing equipment and clothing, spread the word about how to be fearless in sports and hopefully keep helping young people to develop in sport.

Speaking about why he chose Chesterfield as the town to launch the business, Neil added: “Both myself and Kieran grew up in Brimington, sons to miners so it fits that the first fearless sports shop should open in Chesterfield.

“The area is growing fast, especially in sports with new gyms opening all the time – and also with the peak district on our doorstep and sports tourism increasing year on year, we’re optimistic about the business and its future in Chesterfield.”

Ryan Wilkes, Destination Chesterfield Board Member said: “It’s great to see Fearless Sports adding yet another great shopping option to Chesterfield Market Hall.

“The Market Hall has seen several new independent traders opening their businesses in recent months, which shows continuing business confidence in our high streets.

“On behalf of Destination Chesterfield, I’d like to wish Fearless Sports plenty of growth and success in the coming months and years.”

For more information, visit the Fearless Sports website at: www.fearless-sports.co.uk

Looking to launch your retail business here in Chesterfield? Find out more at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

Fearless Sports market hall stall showcasing sportswear, accessories and supplements

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