Local people have been supported to secure jobs at the new Marks and Spencer store in Chesterfield, as part of a partnership project with Chesterfield Borough Council.
Located in Ravenside Retail Park, the store is designed with customers and local families at heart with a fresh, market-style Foodhall and a spacious Clothing, Home and Beauty Department, and over 400 car parking spaces.
At 46,000 sqft. the new store marks a big investment for M&S in Chesterfield, with over 100 new recruits joining the current team to welcome customers through the doors.
On the store’s official opening day, (Wednesday, 30th November) the M&S Chesterfield team gathered at the store entrance at 10am with Store Manager, Matt Corker, who was joined by guest of honor, Percy Pig, to cut the ribbon and declare the store officially open.
The opening day was also marked with a live broadcast from North Derbyshire Radio, who hosted the Breakfast and Daytime shows from the shop floor – interviewing colleagues and customers and getting a first-look at all the exciting new features.
Soaking up the opening day celebrations, Store Manager Matt Corker, who has worked at M&S for over 25 years, is exceptionally proud of the new store and his amazing team of of over 200 colleagues.
Matt said: “We’re thrilled to open our brand-new store in Chesterfield today. The last few weeks have been spent putting the finishing touches to our new store and I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone in the team who has worked so hard to make sure everything is ready for our big opening day.”
“The store is an exciting investment in the future of M&S in Chesterfield and I can’t wait for our customers to explore all the new features that the store has to offer. As well as bringing our existing M&S Chesterfield team across to the new store, we’re proud to introduce over 100 new recruits to M&S Chesterfield, who can’t wait to meet everyone. With an amazing new, fresh-market feel Foodhall and a Clothing, Home & Beauty department which is the perfect place to shop your M&S favourites, we really do have the best of M&S here in Chesterfield for everyone to enjoy!”
While acknowledging that it’s disappointing to lose the household name from its central location on the high street – Chesterfield Borough Council has welcomed the firm’s commitment to its future in the borough.
Local people were supported to apply for roles at the new store at a recent recruitment event led by the council.
Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The opening of this new Marks and Spencer store at Ravenside Retail Park represents a significant investment in our borough.
“Whilst we understand that the move is disappointing for our high street, the company’s decision to remain within our town demonstrates the confidence that this national retailer has in Chesterfield’s future.
“It has also created more than 100 new jobs, and we’ve been working closely with the company to support local people to benefit from these new employment opportunities.”
The council does not own the building which has now been vacated by Marks and Spencer, but is continuing to work with the landlord to explore alternative uses for this key town centre building,
Councillor Sarvent added: “While we have no direct control over the former Marks and Spencer building, we will do all we can to explore and support positive new uses for this central site in our town centre.
“We’re also making significant investments in this area to ensure we can create a modern, vibrant visitor destination which builds confidence in the town – including our ambitious ‘Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield’ town centre regeneration plans which are moving forward after we secured nearly £20m from the Government’s levelling up fund.”
