Whittam Cox

New hires and investment success for Chesterfield Champions

Businesses in the town’s network of Chesterfield Champions continue to share success, with several businesses marking further achievements in recent weeks.

Our latest roundup includes new hires, promotions and investment success, alongside good news for the area’s women’s cricket scene.

Find out the latest in our roundup below…

Two new hires for Superior Wellness

superior wellness new hires

Superior Wellness has announced the appointment of Richard Walker as their Global Marketing Director. He joins them with over 15 years of international experience in on and offline marketing, above and below-the-line advertising, e-commerce, social media, influencer projects and celebrity endorsements.

Richard is a multi-award-winning International Marketing Director with a proven track record. Before joining Superior Wellness, he was the Marketing Director of Wren Kitchens and the Wren brand guardian since its inception in 2009.

He drove marketing effectiveness and business expansion, contributing to double-digit growth in turnover each year. In less than five years, Wren had grown to become the UK’s leading retailer and distributor of kitchens and bedrooms and now has over 120 showrooms in the UK and US and an annual turnover in excess of £1billion.

Richard said: “I am incredibly excited to be joining the team at such a crucial point in Superior Wellness’ growth. There is a huge opportunity to play our part in the global wellness market – and great things are already happening.”

In addition, the company has expanded its International team with a new International Sales Manager. Victor Puig has over 15 years across a broad range of sectors including consultancy, communication and sales.

Víctor’s previous role was International Sales Manager at Aquavia Spa (one of Europe’s largest spa manufacturers). He spent five years at Aquavia Spa and seven years in international commerce focused on Europe and Latin-America.

Víctor previously served for 8 years (two terms) as the City Council party leader in his local constituency and as the International Officer for a mainstream party in Catalonia.  He also holds a Law Degree by the University of Barcelona, and an MBA by the Barcelona School of Management.

Víctor said: “I am thrilled to join a dynamic team with such proactive leadership and a clear vision to become a global player. The fast-paced environment at Superior Wellness, combined with our ambition to redefine the wellness industry, makes this an incredibly exciting opportunity. I am eager to contribute to our collective success and help drive innovative growth strategies forward.”

Success for Devonshire Group as Peak Shopping Village reaches full occupancy

Peak Village Summer

Visitors to Peak Village are to be treated to the arrival of two Derbyshire-based independent businesses this Summer as the centre continues to evolve its retail and leisure mix in line with a long-term investment strategy by owners, the Devonshire Group.

Now fully let, August will see the centre welcome Ashbourne-based luxury fashion boutique, Young Ideas and pottery studios, The Clayrooms. This latest milestone at Peak Village builds on a strong year at the retail destination, with footfall climbing to half a million in spite of difficult, post-pandemic trading conditions. Positive momentum is likewise being reflected in the centre’s financial performance, with turnover up by over £4m in the past three years, peaking at £8m for FY 2023-24.

Young Ideas has taken on a 1,500 sq ft unit at Peak Village following the runaway success of another of their group brands, Henmores, which itself opened at the centre in October 2023. The boutique will run as a pop-up shop for an initial six months.

The arrival of Young Ideas and The Clayrooms is the latest phase in the development of the retail and leisure outlet at Peak Village, providing greater choice for customers, increasing employment opportunities, and supporting the growth of local businesses.

Katayune Jacquin, centre manager at Peak Village, said: “Fully letting Peak Village marks an exciting milestone in our journey to transform the centre’s appeal to customers. It’s a real testament to, and show of confidence in, what our investment in the site has been able to achieve. In The Clayrooms and Young Ideas, we have two exciting businesses joining us that I know will become favourites for our visitors. With both new arrivals having Derbyshire roots, we’re also delivering on our promise to champion incredible regional brands, as well as giving visitors from farther afield a real insight into everything Derbyshire has to offer.

“The transformation of Peak Village isn’t done yet though. We have exciting updates and developments for the centre on the horizon that are set to further improve our customer proposition and support the efforts of our agents, FHP, who are working hard to ensure that Peak Village is the go-to destination for great new letting prospects.”

Work is currently nearing completion on a project to transform the site’s central courtyard and redesign the Massarella conservatory to provide a modernised and more welcoming areas for customers.

Derbyshire County Cricket Club successful in Women’s Tier 2 bid

Festival of Cricket 873x466 2

Derbyshire Women will play in Tier Two of the restructured domestic pyramid from 2025 onwards, after the Club’s bid to the England & Wales Cricket Board was successful.

Derbyshire’s senior Women’s team, as well as Girls’ Talent Pathway, will run alongside the current Men’s professional and junior development setup, as part of the new women’s domestic structure, which will see all first-class and national counties represented within the three-tier pyramid.

Derbyshire’s bid, which was presented as part of the process to determine which counties would be placed in each tier, was selected by the ECB, after showcasing the Club’s and Derbyshire Cricket Foundation’s commitment to growing the women’s game within the region.

As a host venue attracting record crowds for several England internationals, as well as the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup, Derbyshire continues to be one of the biggest supporters of women’s cricket in the country and in June hosted the groundbreaking Charlotte Edwards Cup Finals Day.

The Derbyshire Cricket Foundation has delivered significant growth in the Women and Girls game across the county and in 2023, Derbyshire clubs featured in more than a quarter of all women’s cricket played across the Midlands, while the likes of Danni Wyatt, Sarah Glenn and Bess Heath, have all been involved in the Women and Girls Pathway and gone on to make multiple appearances for the national side.

Further details regarding players and coaching staff for the Derbyshire Women’s team will be announced in due course.

Derbyshire Chief Executive, Ryan Duckett, said: “The restructuring of women’s domestic cricket is a huge moment for the game, not just in Derbyshire, but across the country.

“With our successful tier two bid, we now have the opportunity to build on the fantastic work that the Derbyshire Cricket Foundation have done over many years to further grow the women and girls’ game in the county.

“We look forward to competing within tier two, where we want to be one of the standard bearers, and make a push to break into tier one, but also to inspire generations of women and girls across Derbyshire to truly believe that cricket is a game for them.

“Throughout this development of our tier two programme, we will also maintain our strong links with The Blaze, to support the growth of women’s cricket within the East Midlands with double header fixtures alongside our senior men’s team featuring both the Blaze and our Women’s team where possible across the season.”

Whittam Cox Architects shortlisted for three regional awards

Whittam Cox architects team

Chesterfield’s Whittam Cox been shortlisted for three prestigious awards at this year’s forthcoming Yorkshire Property Industry Awards.

Firstly, the practice has been nominated for the Architectural Practice of the Year award. With a dedicated team of over 120 individuals at its headquarters, the company has been a vital part of the region’s architectural landscape for over 50 years. Whittam Cox’s portfolio includes long-standing retail collaborations with nationwide retailers rooted in Yorkshire, as well as landmark urban regeneration projects like Sheffield’s Park Hill, the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park (SOLP) and London’s Brent Cross Town.

In addition, the Kangaroo Works project in Sheffield has been shortlisted for both Residential Development Over 100 Units and Design Excellence of the Year. Part of Sheffield City Council’s ‘Heart of the City II’ regeneration masterplan, Kangaroo Works has provided 365 new BtR homes in the City Centre. This project has revitalised an underused area into a vibrant urban hub, showcasing high-quality, sustainable design aimed at fostering community and enhancing city life.

Ian Lowson, Director, commented, “Being shortlisted for these awards means a lot to us. It’s a testament to the hard work and passion of our entire team. We’re proud of our achievements and look forward to continuing our work in creating fantastic places for people to live, work, and enjoy. This recognition also reflects our continual pursuit of being progressive by design, always pushing boundaries and striving for excellence in everything we do.”

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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Whittam Cox Architects secures place in prestigious top 100 list

Chesterfield-based Whittam Cox has secured a place in a prestigious listing, which highlights the UK’s top 100 architectural practices.

The firm says its placing in the AJ100 list is a testament to the team’s hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence in design and innovation.

Over the past year, Whittam Cox has continued to make significant progress as a practice contributing to its position in the rankings.

Nick Riley, Board Director at Whittam Cox, commented: “We are incredibly pleased to see our progress reflected in the AJ100 rankings. This recognition is a testament to our dedicated team and the collaborative efforts with our clients and partners.

“We are particularly proud of our continued work across all sectors, from large-scale urban regenerations to nationwide retail rollouts. The launch of our new business plan and our ongoing focus on creating the best environment for our employees, along with the introduction of our ‘Progressive by Design’ initiative, underscore our commitment to forward-thinking and sustainable design.”

The AJ100, compiled by the Architect’s Journal, is the definitive list of the top architectural practices in the UK. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the market and highlights emerging trends within the industry.

Whilst the work of Whittam Cox takes the company and its staff around the entire UK, its focus and impact in Chesterfield are of equal importance to the organisation. Supporting local communities, economy and built environment is something the company is passionate about. Whittam Cox has been involved in recent projects such as the Chesterfield Station Masterplan, Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, Chesterfield Waterside and many others.

The company is also a member of the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group, which Whittam Cox Director Andy Dabbs currently chairs.

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

Whittam Cox architects team

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Chesterfield’s Whittam Cox appointed to lead revamp of well-known Sheffield hotel

A Chesterfield architectural practice has been appointed to lead the refurbishment of Sheffield United Football Club Hotel, located at Bramall Lane.

With 155 rooms, a rejuvenated restaurant, bar, fitness centre, ballroom and guest suites, Whittam Cox’s vision for the new DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield City hotel encompasses modern design elements infused with nods to Sheffield’s industrial past.

Helen Davis, Head of Interior Design at Whittam Cox, shared her enthusiasm for the project, saying: “As a locally based firm, we are passionate about this opportunity to reimagine this landmark hotel. Our goal is to provide a cohesive design throughout that seamlessly integrates modern interiors with nods to Sheffield’s unique culture and heritage, recognising the city’s resilience and innovation.”

tv to door Whittam Cox Bramall Lane hotel plan

Drawing inspiration from the city, we aim to infuse the hotel’s design with subtle yet impactful references to Sheffield’s industrial legacy. Contrasting this, with a colour palette, influenced by the natural beauty of the Peak District and Sheffield’s status as ‘The Outdoor City’, a warm and welcoming atmosphere for guests will be created.”

Richard Farrar, Managing Director of Leaf Hospitality, expressed his excitement, stating: “We are delighted to embark on this exciting project at Bramall Lane on behalf of the club. The DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield City conversion will elevate the hospitality experience for visitors and fans alike. This is a really special project, and we’re delighted to kick off.”

Whilst the work of Whittam Cox takes the company and its staff around the entire UK, its focus and impact in Chesterfield are of equal importance to the organisation. Supporting local communities, economy and built environment is something the company is passionate about. Whittam Cox has been involved in recent projects such as the Chesterfield Station Masterplan, Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, Chesterfield Waterside and many others.

Lounge-&-Bar_cropped Whittam Cox Bramall Lane

The company is also a member of the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group, which Whittam Cox Director Andy Dabbs currently chairs.

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

Andy Dabbs

Andy Dabbs, Whittam Cox Architects

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Chesterfield businesses continue support for local community

A number of Chesterfield businesses have been showing their support for community initiatives in the town.

From supporting charities to giving up their time to help those in need, the town’s network of Chesterfield Champions regularly go above and beyond to support worthy causes locally.

Find out about how organisations are helping to support people in our local area below:

Woodall Homes Names its Charity of The Year

woodall pathways

Local housebuilder Woodall Homes has named Pathways of Chesterfield as its chosen charity for the next 12 months.

Pathways of Chesterfield, located in Saltergate, is a service offering support to the homeless and those at risk of homelessness. Covering Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire and Bolsover, the charity offers a range of services including housing support, tenancy support, drop-in sessions and much more.

Helen Day, HR manager at Woodall Homes said: “We are very proud to be supporting Pathways of Chesterfield for the next year.  Earlier this month, our team held the first fundraising activity in support of Pathways, raising over £100 through an in-office coffee morning.

“As a housebuilder, we are very conscious of the issues surrounding housing in the local community and we feel as though it is our responsibility to give back in any way we can to the fantastic services that are supporting some the most vulnerable people across Chesterfield and beyond.

“We can’t wait to get started planning our next fundraising event, which will hopefully raise even more for this fantastic cause.”

Woodall Homes is currently working on three developments within Chesterfield, offering sustainable bungalows, ideal first-time properties and family homes.

For more information on Woodall Homes and their work within North Derbyshire, visit their website at https://www.woodallhomes.co.uk/

Vicar Lane puts a smile of shoppers faces for ‘Random Acts of Kindness Day’

vicar lane kindness day

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Day on Friday 17th February. Shoppers were surprised, with the help of the onsite centre team, who handed out FREE goody bags.

In the goody bags, shoppers were delighted to find gift cards ranging from £5 – £15 from stores including; H&M, River Island, Bon Marche, JD, The Works, Waterstones, New Look, Holland & Barrett, Deichmann, Yours Clothing, Iceland, F Hinds, CEX and Superdrug. Vicar Lane’s independent businesses also participated with shoppers receiving vouchers for Vintage Tea Rooms, Ministry of Design, Clarissa’s Interiors and Shop Indie.

Other goodies came in the form of sweet treats! A favourite from the day were beautiful handmade cupcakes, individually boxed and topped with a positive message to perk up shoppers’ moods as they went about their shopping day. This seemed to have gone down a storm with many people who visited (and also from those who didn’t), turning to social media to applaud Vicar Lane on their efforts to lift the mood.

Sarah Bowler, Tenant & Community Liaison Manager at Vicar Lane says, “With the continued coverage on the economic situation and a constant need for us to find ways to acknowledge and be kind to one another, it seemed ever more fitting that we put a smile on the face our shoppers this Random Acts of Kindness Day”.

Whittam Cox Architects supports ‘sleep out’ for the homeless

Team members from Chesterfield’s Whittam Cox Architects took part in LandAid’s Sleep Out 2023, raising money to help support young people who are homeless.

LandAid brings the property industry together to support charities delivering life-changing services for young people who are or have been homeless, or who are at risk of homelessness in the future.

City Couriers Direct to host black tie dinner in Chesterfield for brain tumour research

city-couriers-brain-tumour-research.

A special dinner is being hosted by Chesterfield’s City Couriers Direct to raise awareness and funds for Brain Tumour Research on 20th May 2023.

The event, taking place at the Technique Stadium will bring together local people and businesses to highlight the funding required to help tackle the illness.

It will further support the wide range of initiatives taking place to raise funds for the charity, such as the landmark ‘Tour De Football’ bike ride, which will see riders travel the length of the country visiting each of the 20 Premier League football grounds.

Darryl Claypole, Managing Director of City Couriers Direct has joined together with a number of other charitable organisations including the Dellaglio Foundation, Police Benevolent Fund, and Mango Football to give an opportunity for other charities to join Brain Tumour Research in the challenge.

Find out more about the event here.

Woodall Homes, Vicar Lane, Whittam Cox and City Couriers Direct 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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Whittam Cox retains place in UK’s top 50 architects list

Chesterfield’s Whittam Cox Architects has secured a place in the Top 50 UK Architects and Top 150 UK Consultants rankings for the seventh consecutive year.

Over 300 firms took part in the annual consultant survey by leading industry publication ‘Building Magazine’. The publication has ranked the practice as 80 out of all the firms who made the top 150, which includes Architects, Surveyors, Project Managers, and Engineers.

The firm has also secured a spot at number 40 in the UK’s Top Architects, reinforcing the fact that Whittam Cox Architects is one of UK’s largest practices, servicing clients and projects nationwide.

Whilst the report raises concerns about key issues such as the impact of Brexit, Ukraine and recruitment and what this could mean for the industry, the company remains positive as it continues to work with high profile clients on significant urban residential schemes, particularly Build-to-Rent projects across the UK as well as continued growth with retail frameworks and in the logistics sector.

Commenting on the milestone Board Director Nick Riley said: “We are delighted to be recognised again by Building for the seventh consecutive year; we see this as an endorsement of our employees’ commitment to delivering tangible value and the very best outcomes for our clients.

Looking ahead we know we can’t be complacent; it’s essential we remain progressive by being ambitious, agile and responsive through continued times of political and market uncertainty.”

Whittam Cox Architects is also involved with Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Group, which brings together businesses working across the sector in our town.

Board Director Andy Dabbs currently chairs the group, working alongside Destination Chesterfield to host networking events, forums and drive forward further investment in the area.

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

Whittam Cox Architect of the Year

 

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Whittam Cox Architects named in AJ100 2022

Whittam Cox Architects has once again been named one of the UK’s top architectural practices in the annual AJ100.

The annual survey, which is produced by leading industry publication Architects Journal, is designed to provide a definitive record of the UK’s largest Architectural practices and recognises achievements made by these top practices each year. This year, as the firm celebrates its 50th anniversary, Whittam Cox Architects has been ranked 96th, reinforcing its position as one of the largest Architects practices based in the East Midlands and Yorkshire region.

Nick Riley, Board Director at the practice commented, “Being listed in the AJ100 again is a credit to every individual in our practice. We consider ourselves to be an ambitious and progressive practice; always striving to advance the best service and best outcomes on projects. Being recognised in the industry for the work we do is really important to us.”

The practice is currently working on a wide range of diverse projects nationwide, including;

  • Brent Cross Town with Related Argent as Executive Architects on the first phases of a 180-acre Residential and Commercial masterplan
  • The Forum, a new digital and technology campus in Gloucester for our client Reef Group.
  • A new student village masterplan with Balfour Beatty Investments for Royal Holloway University of London
  • Extensive framework projects for our major retail clients, Asda, Morrisons and Marks & Spencer.
  • The AJ listing this year, also coincides with the practice recently winning an AJ Retrofit award for our Park Hill project in Sheffield.

Closer to home, Whittam Cox has worked alongside Chesterfield Borough Council to develop the new Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, which is set to provide modern office space for start-up and medium sized businesses. The centre is expected to open in July.

The company also plays a pivotal role in the Chesterfield Property & Construction Group, with Board Director Andy Dabbs (pictured below) chairing the group.

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

Andy Dabbs

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Chesterfield’s Whittam Cox Architects recognised for redevelopment of iconic Sheffield estate

Chesterfield-based Architects Whittam Cox has won an AJ Retrofit Award in the listed buildings category £5 million and over for it’s work on Beton House in Sheffield.

The AJ Retrofit Awards, by The Architects’ Journal, celebrate the design expertise behind the vital renewal and repurposing of existing buildings, setting a precedent for ways to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint in the process.

Béton House is the third phase of the redevelopment of Sheffield’s iconic Park Hill estate. Originally completed in 1961, Park Hill is the largest listed building in Europe and is regarded as a significant brutalist building of heritage. Working with Alumno Group, Whittam Cox created a new 8-bedroom 3 storey townhouse typology that fitted into the constraints of the unique Park Hill architecture.

At this year’s AJ Retrofit Awards, the judges commended Whittam Cox’s approach to retaining as much of the original scheme as possible, which has saved a total of 577 tonnes of CO2 emissions.  As a ‘holistic scheme’, they thought the model of adaption should be celebrated and described the completed scheme as ’a lovely project that captures the spirit of the Retrofit Awards’.

Nick Riley, Board Director commented, “Winning this design award is testament to the hard work and commitment from everybody involved in delivering this incredibly special and unique project.

“Our approach to the design was about being authentic and respectful to the structure and facades. We felt it was important to retain, repair and reinstate as many original elements as we possibly could. The addition of carefully selected coloured elements, both internally and externally, adds new character and identity which is rooted in its culture and history.”

Matthew Borland, Associate Director added: “As a team, we have worked incredibly hard to understand the deep roots of the original design which is clearly unique in architectural character.

“Our designs for Béton House retain and celebrate all of the important elements of the original scheme, while respectfully adding new layers of identity, using the famous ‘streets in the sky’ to create a unique student living offering in Sheffield city centre.

“Our aim was to be able to express Béton House as a coherent piece within the Park Hill estate as a whole that formed a framework for other collaborators to work within so that all new interventions could be well considered with a consistent and timeless feel.”

Whittam Cox 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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Whittam Cox take top regional award for project in nearby Sheffield

Chesterfield-based Whittam Cox has won the ‘Refurbishment/Fit out of the year’ award at this year’s Yorkshire Insider Property Industry Awards, for work carried out on the Beton House development in Sheffield.

The annual dinner is a highlight in the property industry calendar that celebrates major achievements across the sector in the region. In this category, the judges were looking for evidence of standout projects that demonstrated fresh thinking, new design standards and a positive response from the local community.

Beton House is the third phase of the redevelopment of Sheffield’s iconic Park Hill estate and provides student accommodation in a unique three-storey townhouse format, with entrances accessed from the famous ‘streets in the sky’.

Originally completed in 1961, Park Hill is the largest listed building in Europe and is regarded as a significant brutalist building of heritage. Working with Alumno Group, Historic England, Urban Splash and Sheffield City Council, Whittam Cox developed a refurbishment strategy seeking to restore and enrich the successful elements of the original design whilst also adding new elements to the fabric to provide character and identity to the building.

The retention of most of the original fabric also makes this a very sustainable student living building in terms of embodied carbon.

Matthew Borland, Associate Director at Whittam Cox commented: “As a team, we have worked incredibly hard to understand the deep roots of the original design which is clearly unique in architectural character.

“Our designs for Béton House retain and celebrate all of the important elements of the original scheme, while respectfully adding new layers of identity, using the famous ‘streets in the sky’ to create a unique student living offering in Sheffield city centre.

The completion of Beton House as part of the regeneration of Park Hill has created a thriving community for the City – not only in the physical concrete structure that has been transformed but the life that has been reimagined into it.”

Nick Riley, Whittam Cox Board Director commented: “Park Hill is captivating and infectious; its original design has timeless value and integrity architecturally.

“Our team have delivered a design response which ensures a long-term future for the fabric of this historically important asset, whilst also seeking to promote a sustainable and diverse community. Being part of the Park Hill story has been a genuine privilege for us, especially as so many of our team and their families live in the city. Winning this prestigious title is a testament to what the entire project team have achieved”.

Whittam Cox supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Chesterfield school pupils create artwork for highly anticipated Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

Pupils at a Chesterfield school have created an artwork for display in the new Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre that celebrates the history of the site.

The year five and six pupils from Abercrombie Primary School visited the site on Monday (5 July) where they presented their artwork to representatives from Chesterfield Borough Council, Robert Woodhead Ltd and Whittam Cox Architects.

Whilst visiting the site the pupils also got to learn more about how the building has been constructed and the different types of jobs involved in the process.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “It was fantastic to receive this artwork for our new enterprise centre and it will be proudly displayed in one of the meeting rooms. I want to thank all the children for their incredible effort in creating this piece of art.

“This project has also been a positive opportunity for the young people to learn more about construction industry and introduce them to the possibility of a future career in this sector. I hope they all had an enjoyable visit and learned more about the building.”

As part of the council’s planning permission the development is subject to a Local Labour Clause which has created 135 local jobs, three apprenticeships and generated over £1.7m of contracts across the local supply chain. It also commits the contractor to supporting skills development and both Robert Woodhead Group and Whittam Cox Architects have engaged in this through initiatives such as My Future, Women in Construction Mentoring Programme, virtual workplace tours and this project.

Matt Bust, of contractors Robert Woodhead Ltd said: “We are so pleased to have been able to work with Abercrombie Primary School. I would like to thank the students for their creative efforts to produce such a great piece of artwork. I am looking forward to seeing it in the new Enterprise Centre.”

Andy Dabbs, Board Director at Whittam Cox Architects and Chair of Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Forum commented: “It is wonderful to be engaged on such projects where corporate and social responsibility goes beyond words and is evidenced through our actions. Now more than ever our industry needs to work harder together to support developing an accessible platform for the next generation and when you see the quality of work produced by Abercrombie Primary School why would you not want to capture that talent!

“The Chesterfield Construction and Property Group was established with a clear purpose to support our local community, through collaboration and engagement, and if anyone from the sector would like to get involved, please do get in touch.”

The pupils were asked to create the artwork by Chesterfield Borough Council, Robert Woodhead Ltd and Whittam Cox Architects earlier this year. They were given some information about the history of the site to help inspire them to create this work. It will be displayed in one of the meeting rooms in the new centre.

The new Enterprise Centre will include 32 high quality office suites in a range of sizes (26 to 120 square metres) and state of the art meeting facilities. It will have 24/7 access, an IT fibre connection which offers maximum speed multi bandwidth capability, Wi-Fi and air conditioning throughout. With its town centre location, the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre is easily accessible by car, train, bus and cycle users.

Together these features will ensure it appeals to any company looking to become established in Chesterfield.

The project builds on the success of the council’s Dunston and Tapton Innovation Centres which for many years have offered excellent support and accommodation to innovative and growing businesses.

The centre is well connected in a town centre location and is classed as ‘grade A’ office accommodation – a mark of the highest quality. Prospective tenants can find out more on the Enterprise Centre webpage, by emailing economic.development@chesterfield.gov.uk, or by calling 01246 345255.

For property and construction professionals who wish to find out more about getting involved with the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group, please email PropertyGroup@chesterfield.co.uk or visit https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/propertygroup/

 

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Conference hears how Chesterfield’s resilience has set the town on a path of swift pandemic recovery

Chesterfield’s resilience in the face of adversity has been borne out by figures shared at today’s (31 March) Celebrate Chesterfield event organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with Addooco IT.

At the virtual conference it was revealed that SMEs are reporting growth in turnover and staff numbers during the pandemic, while estate agents in the borough are achieving up to 103 per cent on asking price with up to eight buyers per property.

Despite the pandemic, more than £1bn of regeneration projects are currently underway in the borough, including the multi-million pound Chesterfield Waterside, Glass Yard, Northern Gateway and PEAK schemes.

Speaking at the conference Dr Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council praised the sector’s can-do attitude during the pandemic.

He said: “There is a fantastic landscape of development happening in the town in the middle of the pandemic. I think it says everything about Chesterfield in terms of the ambition of the place and the fact we are not going to just bunker down but actually get on and invest in quality developments right across the town and borough.”

Work has also begun on a McDonalds restaurant and drive-thru on the site of a long-derelict former multi-storey car park at West Bars. Sixty-five jobs will be created when the fast-food giant opens at the location later this year.

Most recently, Staveley received £25.2million from the Government’s Town Deal programme. It is being billed as one of the largest economic programmes in the borough in recent history.

Speaking at the conference Ivan Fomin, Chair of Staveley Town Deal Board, said: “We want Staveley to become a place to start, to stay and grow to deliver inclusive growth opportunities for the people of Staveley over the next five years.”

While 1,100 Chesterfield businesses temporarily closed during the latest lockdown, Dr Bowen is optimistic they will re-open and access the support and grants the Council has put in place to enable them to re-start. Nearly £60million in business rates relief and grants has been distributed by Chesterfield Borough Council to businesses during the pandemic.

“Our first priority is to support existing businesses to survive and restart,” added Dr Bowen.

Marketing the town, he said, was critical to the council’s Economic Recovery Plan post pandemic and praised the work of Destination Chesterfield in its work to attract inward investment.

He added: “We want people to relocate and start up in business here, so we are working closely with other Derbyshire councils and the East Midlands Chamber to make available start-up funding to encourage entrepreneurs to the town and borough.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield welcomed Dr Bowen’s comments saying: “Chesterfield has proved time and time again that it is a resilient and strong town which consistently performs well in the face of adversity.

“During the pandemic we have seen major projects start to come out of the ground which is testimony to our forward-thinking council and a key reason why investors from outside the area are keen to do business with us on major projects like PEAK, Waterside and HS2.

“Twelve months ago our annual Celebrate Chesterfield event looked to be anything but a celebration. However, we have attracted investment, jobs have been created and a plan is in place to ensure not only that we recover quickly from the pandemic but that we are stronger because of it. There is much to celebrate now and for the future of Chesterfield.”

In addition to Dr Bowen, speakers at the annual free event also included Andy Dabbs and Jillian Mitchell the Chair and Vice Chair respectively of the newly formed Property and Construction Group, which is organised by Destination Chesterfield and was launched at Celebrate Chesterfield 21

The group brings together leaders from the area’s property and construction sectors to shape and drive forward collaboration, investment, sustainability and skills within Chesterfield.

Celebrate Chesterfield 2021 was sponsored by University of Derby, Whittam Cox Architects and Markham Vale – Derbyshire’s flagship regeneration scheme, who joined headline sponsor Addooco IT.

Richard Walters, owner of Chesterfield technology specialist Addooco IT Ltd, commented: “The concept of ‘Celebrating Chesterfield’ really resonates with me as there is such a rich history of innovation here. Having identified early in 2020 how challenging the next 12 months and beyond would likely become we accelerated our investment plans to help minimise the impact of the situation, whilst creating four new job roles to help cope with demand. This ensured ample capacity and performance for our existing clients and those who we’ve welcomed to Addooco over the last year.”

If you were unable to attend the live Celebrate Chesterfield 2021 event, the presentations are available to watch via the online platform until 14 April. For free access to the platform please contact mollie.brown@chesterfield.co.uk.

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Chesterfield’s first Property and Construction Group launched

A pioneering Chesterfield Property and Construction Group has been launched at the annual Celebrate Chesterfield event held on 31 March 2021.

The new group, which is organised by Destination Chesterfield, brings together leaders from the area’s property and construction sectors to shape and drive forward collaboration, investment, sustainability and skills within Chesterfield.

It is chaired by Andy Dabbs, Architect and Board Director at Chesterfield-based Whittam Cox Architects which is behind the town’s £19.9 million Northern Gateway Development project.

He explained: “Within the new group there’s a diverse range of talent- architects, construction specialists, landowners and developers; a true collective who have joined forces for the good of the town and to benefit everyone living here.

“We’re all passionate about Chesterfield and what it has to offer everyone living and working here. It’s full of potential, it’s perfectly located, and offers a plethora of independent shops and hotels and collectively we shall be flying the flag for the town not only locally but regionally and nationally through our individual networks.”

The new Chesterfield Property and Construction Group is one of a number of sector-specific Destination Chesterfield groups, including the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Manufacturing Forum, which share a vision to make the town an attractive place to live, work and invest in.

The action-focused Chesterfield Property and Construction Group meets quarterly. The next meeting, which is free to attend, will be held virtually on Wednesday 16 June.

The group has already identified four key themes that will be led by members of the group, specifically the skills agenda, business support, promote investment in Chesterfield and sustainability and wellbeing.

Vice chair, architect and founding director of Markham Vale-based Lomas and Mitchell Architects, Jillian Mitchell will lead the sustainability and wellbeing theme within the group.

She explained “Sustainability is at the heart of our practice. We specialise in designing low energy, healthy and beautiful buildings so I was keen to lead this theme. In doing so it enables me to engage directly with bigger businesses and gain a wider perspective. It also gives me the opportunity to find out what’s happening within other areas and to learn from each other.”

Andy, who has lived in Dronfield all of his life and feels strongly about Chesterfield’s potential, added: “Chesterfield has held its own during the pandemic, with continuous investment and development taking place. The Glass Yard, Chesterfield Waterside and

Peak Resort developments are perfect examples of investors believing in our town and we want to keep driving this forward.”

“The group aims to provide a platform for professionals in the property and construction sector that can be used to help market Chesterfield as an area of interest to a wide range of investors.”

Appealing for the sector to come together and join the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group, Jillian added: “It is very much a case of together we are stronger so we hope more organisations and individuals from both the public and private sector will join the group.

“It is an opportunity for us all to pool our varied and extensive expertise, using the collective to support others in helping shape the built environment of Chesterfield both now and for future generations.”

To find out more about become a member of the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group contact Propertygroup@chesterfield.co.uk or visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/chesterfield-property-and-construction-group

 

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