Author: Dom Stevens

Chamber reacts to Spending Review and Autumn Statement

25th November 2015

Reacting to the Chancellor’s Spending Review and Autumn Statement today, the Chamber’s Director of Policy, Chris Hobson, said: “This was largely a positive Autumn Statement which included a number of sensible measures that many local businesses will welcome.

“Upgraded growth predictions gave the Chancellor more room to manoeuvre than he’d had previously, which enabled him to deliver a Spending Review that will provide reassurance to businesses and consumers alike.

“Businesses will welcome the long-term focus on infrastructure, particularly when it comes to building the houses and upgrading the road networks which are so badly in need of repair, but it was frustrating that we still have no further clarity on the route or delivery timeframe for the Eastern Leg of HS2. However it is encouraging to see that funding has been allocated to develop a strategy for the proposed hub station at Toton.

“Significant enhancements to the science, capital investment and low carbon budgets will help the many hi-tech businesses, for which the East Midlands is renowned, continue to innovate and drive advancements in technology.

“The one big disappointment was the lack of acknowledgement for the Midlands Engine for Growth and the role it will play in complementing the Northern Powerhouse to rebalance the economy away from London and the south.

“The challenge for Government now is to ensure it can translate this rhetoric into reality, to deliver the improvements to housing, energy, infrastructure, skills and productivity and provide the certainty required by business to enable it to deliver the balanced and sustainable growth the country needs to remain globally competitive.”

Posted in Business

Work Begins on Latest Markham Vale Development

24th November 2015

Work to build the largest premises to date at a Chesterfield regeneration site has now started, paving the way to create 400 new jobs.

Chester-based firm Great Bear Distribution is set to move into its new office and distribution centre at Markham Vale which is located off junction 29A of the M1 motorway in July next year.

Established in 1994, the firm operates in 30 locations nationwide providing warehousing and distribution for clients such as PZ Cussons, BMW, and Unilever.

Glenn Lindfield, Chief Executive of Great Bear Distribution said:

“Markham Vale was a firm choice for our company in terms of location and the potential we saw in the site.

“We’ll be bringing many jobs to Markham and we look forward to working with the local community.

“Location was a big factor when we decided to expand. We operate in 30 locations nationwide so with the site being just off the M1 motorway, it was the perfect location for us and this is a great step forward for our company.”

The premises will be built by Derbyshire County Council’s private sector property partner, Henry Boot Developments.

Derbyshire County Council’s Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Policy, Economic Development and Budget, Councillor Anne Western said:

“Great Bear is the site’s biggest deal to date bringing the largest number of jobs in a single development. Creating more jobs at Markham is one of the council’s key priorities.

“It’s been a good year for the site so far − we’ve welcomed inspirepac, AW Repair Group, Meter Provida, Gould Alloys and we’ve got more deals in the pipeline.”

Existing occupiers at Markham Vale include, inspirepac, Gould Alloys, AW Repair Group, MSE Hiller, Squadron Medical, Industrial Ancillaries, Andrew Page, Holdsworth Foods and Ready Egg Products.

Ben Ward, Director at Henry Boot Developments, said:

“We are pleased that work has now kicked off for this 480,000 sq.ft unit at the Markham Vale East site, and we are expecting the completion of the unit for summer 2016. Following the deal with Great Bear, we have had 686,250 sq.ft of space agreed in the past 12 months, which is excellent and represents massive confidence in the development.

“We now have development plots on the Markham Vale North site available, alongside the last few remaining plots on the East and West sites.”

The regeneration site is one of the UK’s biggest Enterprise Zone Developments. The final phase of which is a further 100 acres currently being prepared for development using a £14.2m Government grant awarded through the Sheffield City Region’s Enterprise Zone.

Posted in Business, Development

Civic Society’s Blue Plaque reminds us that Erasmus Darwin and Sir Robert Robinson were educated in Chesterfield

12th November 2015

Following a short remembrance service at the former Chesterfield School, Old Cestrefeldian and Civic Society Treasurer, Frank Gorman unveiled a blue plaque to commemorate the former grammar school and its alumni. He thanked the Civic Society and the College for their help.

Frank Gorman said:

“On a day we remember the ultimate sacrifice paid by former Chesterfield School old boys, it is fitting that we also celebrate this great school and those former pupils whose work contributed so much to society”.

Stuart Cutforth, Principal, Chesterfield College said:.

“We are very proud to have the old grammar school building as part of the college campus. The blue plaque reminds everyone of Chesterfield School’s history. The renovated school building as part of our improved campus will continue to contribute to education in Chesterfield”

Civic Society Executive Committee member Hugh Quigley said:

“We plan a few more blue plaques to help raise public awareness of Chesterfield’s great cultural heritage.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

Hundreds flock to inspiring Careers Fair event

12th November 2015

More than 500 students and parents flocked to Tupton Hall Careers Fair to discover the wide range of career paths open to them.

The second event of its kind saw employers, training providers, support services, voluntary organisations, colleges and universities gather under one roof to inspire and inform students.

The event was open to students from right across the school from Years 7 – 13 and it was extremely well attended, with students showing a clear interest in their own futures.

Big names such as Barclays, Tesco, Aldi, the NHS, and Lafarge Tarmac were talent scouting alongside local firms like MSE Hiller, Millbrook Precision Engineering, Rykneld Homes, KH Hair and Cheetham Jackson financial planners.

Training providers included Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), NLT Training and CITB. There were also colleges and universities represented from places as diverse as Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield to Leeds and Birmingham. Not forgetting Tupton Hall’s own Sixth Form college.

The Army, RAF, St John Ambulance, Derbyshire Police were also present to inspire young minds.

Careers Fair organiser Mrs Lisa Savino said: “The students had an exciting evening packed full of useful information about their future career choices.”

“The main purpose of the Careers Fair was to raise aspirations amongst our students and to open their eyes to the many different opportunities available to them.”

“The feedback from students, parents and staff has all been really positive and the event was a great success. We must say a very big thank you to everyone who attended for their inspiring presence.”

Several Tupton Hall alumni – or former students – came back for the evening to share their experiences with current students. They included Jade Ashmore who is a world class competitive boxer, Sammi-Jo Wright who owns her own flourishing hair salon in Clay Cross, Alex Bramley a university graduate and primary school teacher and Mark Heardman who worked in Royal Mail’s IT department but is now a creative mural artist.

Each student who attended the event was entered into a prize draw to win a top-of-the-range laser printer and scanner which was generously donated by event sponsor Frugal IT. The winner, Year 9 student Holly Wright, said the Careers Fair had inspired her to pursue her dream career as a doctor.

She said: “I got the chance to meet universities about which courses would be best for me. I would recommend the Careers Fair to any other Tupton Hall students and I will probably be there myself next year!”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield

More positive job figures for Chesterfield

11th November 2015

The number of people out of work and claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) in Chesterfield continues to fall according to figures released today by the Office for National Statistics. In October, there were 922 JSA claimants , 60 fewer than in September (980) and 505 fewer than in October 2014 (1485). The current percentage of people claiming the benefit remains below the national average for a third month (1.4% for Chesterfield compared with 1.6% for the UK and 1.5% for the East Midlands).

The figures across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire continues also to fall, In October, there were 31,550 JSA claimants across the three counties, 1,490 fewer than in September (33,040) and 9,680 fewer than in October 2014 (41,230).

The number of unemployed people in the East Midlands fell by 7,980 to 103,109 over the three months to the end of September, meaning that the region’s unemployment rate now stands at 4.5%. Over the same period, the number of people in work decreased slightly, by 747, to 2,168,138.

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber said: “The employment figures released today are positive and, while taking into account the usual spike in seasonal employment we normally see at this time of year, once again show that the region continues to lead when it comes to creating jobs.

“Although the figures remain robust, there are underlying issues in the economy which still need to be addressed. Chamber members continue to report problems recruiting people with the skills they need, while the region still lags behind the UK average when it comes to productivity.

“It’s important that the jobs being created by East Midlands businesses are sustainable, which means they must be created alongside improvements in productivity.

“To keep the momentum going, we need to continue to invest in the skills and experience of our workforce and focus on attracting and retaining the best talent.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Chiquito recruiting for December launch

11th November 2015

Chiquito are recruiting for their new Chesterfield restaurant which is planned to open this December. The new restaurant is creating around 80 jobs for the town.

The restaurant is currently recruiting for team members, cocktail bar tenders and door hosts. A recruitment week starts on Monday 16th November. To apply send your CV to careers@chiquito.co.uk or chesterfield@chiquito.co.uk before Sunday 15th November.

The popular mexican eatery is coming to Alma Leisure Park at the site of the former Wacky Warehouse.

Jody Millward, Regional Marketing Coordinator at Chiquito said:-

“We’re thrilled to announce that Chiquito is to join Chesterfield’s growing food and drink offering and hope to be open to the public in December.

“The combination of our quality food, quality drinks and cocktails, soaked up in our authentic and fun surroundings will take you to places you haven’t been before! Fresh, vibrant and colourful!

“Our team is the heartbeat of our restaurant and we look forward to meeting local candidates who are as passionate as we are about food, drink and all things Tex Mex.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Visiting

Two of the top ten East Midlands hotels are in Chesterfield

10th November 2015

Hotel search website trivago.co.uk have revealed the results of their inaugural Top Hotel Awards and the Casa Hotel in Chesterfield has been named the top-rated hotel in the East Midlands.

trivago.co.uk have used aggregated online user ratings in order to recognise the best rated hotels, both regionally and nationally

The majority of the top-rated hotels are clustered towards the centre of the East Midlands region, with easy access to the Peak District. Two hotels are located in Chesterfield, alongside first place Casa Hotel is the Peak Edge Hotel which was named equal 5th in the survey.

To view the full results, please visit: checkin.trivago.co.uk/2015/11/04/trivago-uk-top-hotel-awards- 2015/#EastMid

Stuart Downham, Operations Director, Casa Hotel: “We are thrilled to be named as the number one hotel in the East Midlands for trivago’s 2015 Top Hotel Awards, the team at Casa work tirelessly to ensure the best stay for our guests. Being an independent hotel we are able to really tailor our service to the needs of our guests and every decision we make is made with the guest as our number one priority. We value all of the feedback we receive, we use it to get a little bit better every single day and recognition for our consistently high levels of service will give us all even more motivation to exceed our guests’ expectations.”

Denise Bartlett, UK Public Relations at trivago.co.uk said “With their attention to detail and attentiveness towards their guests, it is easy to see why Casa is our top-rated hotel in the East Midlands this year. Given the high number of independent hotels and guest houses in the top 20 for this region, it is only fitting that an independent hotel should take this title.

The trivago Top Hotel Awards aim to judge all accommodation fairly, whether they are chain hotel in Lincoln, a guest house in the Peak District, or a luxury independent hotel. It is really encouraging to see such a range of accommodation, both in terms of price and geographical location, in our top 20.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Christmas, Development, Leisure, Visiting

Chesterfield College Student Wins National Motor Industry Outstanding Achievers Award

10th November 2015

The award winning apprentice James Grayson scooped another prestigious award last week at an Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) ceremony held at Silverstone. He was crowned outstanding achiever of the year in the Paint Apprentice category. HRH Prince Michael of Kent and the Head of the IMI Steve Nash presented James with his award.

James was up against some strong competition from all over the UK but was recognised for his excellent attitude towards learning at college, his IMI Skill Auto Gold medal win and his involvement in the UK World Skills team.

James has now completed his apprenticeship and is working for Wheeler Dealers TV Presenter Mike Brewer, at Mike Brewer Motors on Bramall Lane in Sheffield.

His tutor at Chesterfield College, Paul Sewell said:

“Congratulations to James. We know he has a promising future ahead and the IMI have obviously recognised that too. It is fantastic to see how students develop during their time with us and over the process of their apprenticeships. What a fantastic way to end his apprenticeship!”

Mike Brewer said:

“We knew James had something special when he applied. It is important that we have only the very best in the industry in our team, and we’re pleased to say that he is. This national award is a well-deserved recognition of his skills. We are proud to have him as part of our team. Congratulations James!”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

George Stephenson launches Made in Chesterfield 2015

10th November 2015

Month long manufacturing festival aims to reach thousands of young people

Chesterfield Museum’s very own George Stephenson officially launched Made in Chesterfield 2015 at a special event on Tuesday 3 November.

The month long Made in Chesterfield festival aims to raise awareness of the town’s manufacturing and engineering sector to young people and schools in the hope they will consider a career in it. Last year more than 400 young people were introduced to the sector in just a week and this year organisers Destination Chesterfield are hoping to reach thousands during Made 2015.

As part of the celebrations schools from throughout North East Derbyshire, including Tupton Hall, The Bolsover School, Shirebrook Academy and Parkside School, will be visiting companies and training providers in the sector to gain hands-on experience.

At the launch Councillor Amanda Serjeant, vice chair of Destination Chesterfield and cabinet member for town centre and visitor economy at Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Engineering has always played a major part in Chesterfield’s economy and these events show that this heritage is continuing today.

“Engineering companies are also at the forefront of work in the town to create apprentices to give young people high quality job opportunities.

“This festival is an opportunity to showcase all they do and raise awareness of the many different types of products being manufactured in the town.”

The museum is also hosting a special Made in Chesterfield Exhibition, celebrating the wide range of amazing and sometimes quirky products being made in Chesterfield both today and bygone days, including George Stephenson’s cucumber straightener.

As well as George Stephenson, Chesterfield is welcoming a number of high profile names from manufacturing and engineering during the festival, including Mantra – AMRC’s travelling showcase for advanced engineering, which pupils from across the county will be visiting at MSE Hiller.

A life size replica of Bloodhound, the vehicle which is Britain’s latest attempt to break the world land speed record, travelling at a speed of 1,000mph, will also be rolling into Chesterfield College for the festival.

The arrival of Bloodhound in Chesterfield has special significance for the town as local industrial weighing specialists Weightron Bilanciai Ltd, has supplied the weighing systems that have been use throughout the build of the project. The company is also supplying a system to measure the weight distribution through the wheels of the car, to allow the balancing of the vehicle.

Ivan Fomin, managing director of MSE Hiller and Destination Chesterfield board member responsible for manufacturing and engineering, said: “The support of companies in the sector is vital to the success of Made in Chesterfield. Manufacturing is the lifeblood of the economy, feeding other sectors such as retail and leisure, and its continuing success relies on today’s students considering it for a future career. Made in Chesterfield is designed to open their eyes to this and show them the varied job roles available and also how the sector has changed. However, we can only do this of companies come forward and actively get involved.”

Made in Chesterfield is organised by Destination Chesterfield in partnership with MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd, Natwest, Derbyshire Education Business Partnership, Chesterfield College, Derbyshire County Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, Placing Futures, NLT Training, UKTI, East Midlands Chamber, Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Positive 4 Young People.

To find out more about any of the Made in Chesterfield business events and to register to attend, please visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/made

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Made in Chesterfield

Chesterfield accountants appoints grants and finance specialist

10th November 2015

Chesterfield-based Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers has appointed FCCA Qualified Accountant Hari Mehta.

Hari (33), from Nottingham, joins from a leading Derby firm of accountants. His appointment further strengthens Mitchells’ Corporate and Care Home team which has reported more than 300% of growth in transactional financial due diligence assignments in 2015.
Amongst his considerable experience, he specialises in accessing government grants and corporate finance, having secured more than £1m of Regional Growth Fund funding for clients in the last 12 months. In addition to grants and finance, Hari also has extensive experience with Auto Enrolment and his appointment further secures Mitchells as being one of only a few accountants in the UK to provide specialist auto enrolment services.

Mitchells has enjoyed a period of impressive growth since the beginning of the year. Earlier this year the firm appointed two new partners and committed to creating five new jobs, which includes three qualified accountants within the firm before the end of the year, one of which is Hari’s appointment.

Explaining what attracted to him to the new role at Mitchells, Hari said: “Mitchells is an ethical company which is long established with ambitious growth plans. The enthusiasm, honesty and integrity shown by the team in dealing with their clients attracted me to both the role and firm.”
Hari, who is married, enjoys boxing and playing golf outside work. He is also a keen traveller, having family based all over the world.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Construction of the Great Bear development to begin

4th November 2015

Construction of the 480,000 sq. ft. building will commence on 9^th November after planning permission had been secured for the Great Bear development on Plot 1 at Markham Vale.

Following the completion of all legal agreements, Derbyshire County Council’s development partner Henry Boot Developments Ltd has appointed a building contractor.

At 480,000 sq. ft. the building will be the largest to date on Markham Vale. When fully operational, the facility will employ 400 people across a variety of roles and disciplines within the logistics sector.

Markham Vale is an 80 hectare business park offering direct access to the M1 Motorway via a dedicated new junction, J29A. This prime development site offers industrial, warehouse and office accommodation in a range of unit sizes from 3,000 sq ft (279 sq m) up to one million sq ft (92,900 sq m). Markham Vale occupies a high profile location in the M1 Corridor and is available for immediate development.

There has been fantastic progress at Markham Vale over the past six years with more than 732 jobs created on site so far and 700 more in the pipeline.

Key recent investment includes:

National distribution and warehousing company Great Bear signing a deal to move on site in 2016 creating 400 new jobs;
The build new premises for gas, water and electric meter supplier Meter Provida, creating 40 jobs on site in January next year;
Packaging firm Inspirepac moving on-site with a view to creating up to 100 jobs as the company grows over the next two years;
Around 50 jobs created at Gould Alloys which moved on site in June;
Beginning of work to expand the site and turn the former Seymour Colliery site into prime economic land with the potential to create more than 2,000 more jobs in the area

Find out more about Markham Vale

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development