About Chesterfield

Chesterfield prepares for Race for Life

31st May 2017

Chesterfield Borough Council and Cancer Research UK have teamed up for the town’s ninth Race for Life on Sunday 11th June.

Women of all ages, shapes, sizes and abilities can walk, jog or run 5k to raise money to help beat cancer. All women are welcome and boys under 11 are welcome too.

Residents are also being encouraged to volunteer at the event. There are a variety or voluntary roles available to help make the event run smoothly on the day.

Event Day Volunteer – Get stuck in with anything – from pitching flags and hanging banners to handing out water and medals.
Course Marshal Volunteer – Cheer on the runners, walkers and joggers as they take on the course and lift some spirits along the way.
Enquiries Volunteer – Help ease the nerves by supporting runners and spectators with their queries

For more information about volunteering or to sign up as a volunteer click here.

Councillor Steve Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy said:-

“All of us will at some point have a personal experience with cancer and, for this reason, we are pleased to welcome women taking part in the race to Chesterfield.

“There will be some disruption for road users and people wanting to park in the town centre but we have worked to keep this to a minimum to allow us to support this worthy cause.

“The very best of luck to everyone taking part.”

The event starts from Chesterfield Town Hall on Rose Hill at 10.30am.

To enable the event to run smoothly Chesterfield Borough Council will temporarily close Queens Park North car park, Rose Hill car park and Albion Road car park.

During the race alternative parking can be found at Holywell Cross (Donut), Ashgate Road or Queen’s Park South car parks.

Soresby Street car park will also open only for participants in the event. It will reopen to the public once the race is finished.

Several roads around the town centre including around the Town Hall, Knifesmithgate, Elder Way, around the Crooked Spire church and sections of West Bars, New Beetwell Street, Boythorpe Avenue and Park Road will also be closed for periods between early morning and early afternoon while the race takes place.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Spireites agree extended pie deal with Jacksons The Bakers

31st May 2017

Chesterfield FC have agreed a new three-year deal with local firm Jacksons The Bakers Ltd for them to remain as the pie suppliers to the club.

Ashley Carson, Chesterfield director & company secretary – after shaking hands on the agreement with managing director Trevor Jackson – said:-

“I am delighted that we are continuing our relationship with Jacksons, who have supplied the pies to the club since we have been at the Proact.

“The pies they supply are excellent and very popular with our supporters. It is also good to be able to support a local company. I would like to thank the two supporters – Phil Marsden and Alan Barnett – who volunteered to look at the pie deal, speak to Trevor and provide an independent view. They will both be treated to hospitality this coming season as a gesture of thanks.”

Trevor Jackson, whose great uncle founded the company, said:-

“As a lifelong fan, I am proud of our association with the Spireites and we are delighted to be continuing to supply the club.”

Jacksons The Bakers was formed in 1944 and now operates from purpose-built premises in Danesmoor. All their products are made using their own unique recipes, some of which have been handed down through generations, each having been developed and refined to give that contemporary twist to fit into today’s modern living.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Holme Hall Unite to join The Big Lunch on the road

30th May 2017

Holme Hall Unite is set to participate in The Big Lunch again this June. The annual event encourages millions of neighbours and residents all over the UK to get to know their communities, with over 7 million people taking part in 2016 alone. This year Holme Hall Unite is going the extra mile by joining The Big Lunch on the road through hosting The Great Big Walk, to build up an appetite for the biggest community celebration the UK has ever seen.

The Great Big Walk, a project conceived by The Big Lunch and made possible by the National Lottery, is a national movement in the form of five walks starting from Batley on 29 May to London, Cornwall, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland, connecting people and communities across the UK in the lead up to The Big Lunch, the UK’s annual get-together for neighbours.

Holme Hall Unite will welcome the team walking from Batley to London in the afternoon of 1 June as they stop off in Chesterfield to shine a light on Holme Hall Unite’s new community garden. The garden itself has been designed by a Kew Gardens trained designer and features several different areas for the local community to connect and enjoy together: spaces to sit, spaces to grow, and also a wildflower meadow and a fruit orchard. The different areas are all brought together by a pergola, which features space for children at the local primary school to grow plants. Over 100 trees have been planted and 14,000 daffodils grown to brighten up the local area.

Tony Hedley, of Holme Hall Unite, says:-

“We’re delighted that The Great Big Walk is able to stop off and see how the progress of our new community garden is coming along.

“We’re hoping the space will become a place for local residents to enjoy, connect, and celebrate in, so it’s great to be part of a nationwide movement which is celebrating communities across the UK – small steps really do make a big difference. And who knows, we might even persuade some of our young people to join the walkers for a few miles and explore even more of the local area.”

Holme Hall Unite, Chesterfield, will also be hosting their second Big Lunch for the local community on 18 June at Holmebrook Valley Park, adjacent to the estate. With over 40 acres of woodland, including a lake and green open spaces, it’s an ideal setting for a “bring and share” style Big Lunch – complete with the resident café for any ice-cream needs.

Posted in About Chesterfield

From Shack to Salon

30th May 2017

A Chesterfield beauty salon has risen from a home-grown ‘garden shed’ boutique to opening their very own salon in Brampton.

The Pamper Shack, founded by Kayleigh Valeisa in 2013, began life in the back garden shed at Kayleigh’s father’s house with just a single room divided into two sections, one as a children’s waiting area and other with just enough space for a single bed.

As time went by and the shack’s reputation grew, expansions were made via an extension into the area previously reserved as a tool area.

From humble beginnings it soon became clear that demand was quickly outpacing the number of people the ‘shack’ could handle, this month the ‘Shackettes’ moved into their own premises in Brampton, Chesterfield.

Four years after the initial launch, there are now seven full-time employees working their hardest to make the town more beautiful with each new client.

Kayleigh said:-

“Space was tight in the old shed but we pushed and put our hearts into the salon, it’s brilliant to finally be in the position to stand back and look at our very own store front!”

With a new location, there are hopes for even greater business. Kayleigh says the current plan is to keep growing, bringing in more clients and maintaining a tight-knit team of beauty experts that ‘feel more like a family than staff’.

The results of the efforts of those at Pamper Shack are already on show after being named as a finalist in the Hair and Beauty Business of the Year category at this year’s Chesterfield Retail Awards.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Arvato receives special commendation at regional apprenticeship awards

30th May 2017

The Arvato apprenticeship scheme with Chesterfield Borough Council received a special commendation at the inaugural North Midlands and South Yorkshire Apprentice Awards.

The programme has trained a total of 63 local, young people across business administration, customer service and ICT since 2010, with more than half of their apprentices going on to secure full-time, permanent roles at the organisation.

The Chesterfield scheme is one of several programmes which Arvato operates across their portfolio of local government partnerships. Based on a 12 or 18 month NVQ Level 2 qualification, they are designed to ensure the right talent is developed to help their public sector partners tackle the skills challenges they will face in the years ahead.

The awards, which took place in Sheffield on Tuesday 16^th May, aimed to celebrate the best on-the-job training schemes across the region.

Damon Bruce, Head of Customer Centric Services at Chesterfield, commented:-

“Apprenticeships not only provide an important route into the workplace for young people, but they deliver a fresh source of ideas and help build the skill sets and talent local authorities will need for the future. We look forward to building on this success and expanding the opportunities we can offer our apprentices from NVQ Level 2 through to graduate development.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business

Derbyshire Paralympian backs Chesterfield wheelchair basketball hub

26th May 2017

Chesterfield based Paralympian Jonathan Hall is calling for more people in the area to try out wheelchair basketball.

A new community session in Chesterfield launched recently, helping to increase the number of places where people can take up the sport.

The session is open to all ages and abilities, whether you are a wheelchair user or not, taking place on Tuesday evenings from 7.00pm to 8.00pm at Chesterfield Tennis Club.

County Sports Partnership Derbyshire Sport has developed these sessions through their Sporting Chances, Sporting Choices project, funded by Sport England.

The project aims to get more people with a disability in Derbyshire playing sport and being physically active.

Already more than 2,000 people have taken part in wheelchair basketball as part of the project but project coordinators now want to see people taking part at the community sessions on a regular basis.

Jonathan, who played for Team GB at the 2008 and 2012 Paralympics, said:-

“The session in Chesterfield will help massively for anyone not able to travel to others clubs and also fill a gap between Sheffield and Derby.

“If there had been a club closer to me when I was growing up, it would have helped get me playing earlier and made mine and my family’s life a lot easier.”

“Playing wheelchair basketball helped to change my life and give me so many opportunities. I would love to be able to find the next sporting star at these sessions.”

Rachael Dyer, Sport Development Officer at Derbyshire Sport, added:-

“It is brilliant to have Jon involved as a local ambassador of these wheelchair basketball sessions. His enthusiasm to see more people playing the sport is fantastic.

“With Jon’s help we want to raise awareness of the playing opportunities that we have in Derbyshire so that more people can play. Whether someone has a physical impairment or has reduced mobility due to a knee or ankle injury, we want to see them trying the sport out.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

Northern Tea Merchants named as Chesterfield’s Retailer of the Year

25th May 2017

Chatsworth Road’s Northern Tea Merchants has been crowned Retailer of the Year at the 2017 Chesterfield Retail Awards, organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with Addooco.

The awards recognise the very best shops, stores and market stalls in and around Chesterfield and the winners are nominated by shoppers. More than 800 people nominated in the awards this year.

Retailer of the Year was just one of 17 awards presented to 14 businesses at the fourth annual Retail Awards ceremony, which was hosted by Peak FM’s breakfast show presenters Cat and Ricky.

James Pogson, managing director of Northern Tea Merchants, was presented with the accolade at the sell-out award ceremony which was held at the Winding Wheel and attended by more than 200 people on Wednesday 24 May.

As well as having a shop and café on Chatsworth Road Northern Tea Merchants, which has been trading in the town since 1936, produces 100 million tea and sources, packs and supplies 200 tonnes of coffee each year as well as training many front line staff in prestigious hotels in London.

In addition to scooping the top title, Northern Tea Merchants was also named as Food and Drink Retailer of the Year. Other multiple award winners at the awards included Adorn Jewellers and Marks and Spencer.

Adorn Jewellers, which is based in The Shambles in the town centre, retained its title of Excellence in Customer Service for the third consecutive year, while fellow multiple award winner Marks and Spencer, was a first time nominee in the annual awards.

James Pogson said:-

“I am absolutely delighted to win the awards. They recognise the hard work and dedication of the staff and business partners. To receive these awards after the brilliant year we have had is absolutely amazing.”

Dom Stevens, Manager of Destination Chesterfield, added:-

“It’s fair to say that this year’s Retail Awards were the best ever. From the sheer number of nominations we received, to the breadth of businesses nominated, it showed the strength of support in the town for the retail sector.

“It was wonderful to see so many businesses – old and new, recognised and celebrated once again. They are an integral and important part to Chesterfield’s economy and play a very important role and should continue to be supported.”

As well as Northern Tea Merchants, the winning businesses in the 2017 Chesterfield Retail Awards. A full list of winners from the evening can be found here.

As well as Addooco and category sponsors, other supporters of the 2017 Chesterfield Retail Awards include Temple Safety, City Taxis, R.A. Information Systems, eBusiness Works and the Derbyshire Times.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Retail Awards

Starfish Group to expand premises in bid to develop local economy

25th May 2017

New build and housing retrofit company Starfish Group have expanded into an additional office space at Dunston House in Chesterfield this month.

The main office for the business is located at the nearby Bridge Business Centre where the socially responsible business are keen to develop the local economy through job creation and developing strong relationships with local businesses.

The business are dedicated to working closely with clients, local councils and residents, to achieve the best practice under the code of considerate construction in accordance with the Social Value Act 2012. It is the Starfish mission to build high quality new homes that environmentally improve, economically develop and socially enhance any area they do business in.

Starfish recently had a scheme feature in Inside Housing as Development of the Week and hope to continue this success in the coming year.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Survey to offer last pre-election glimpse of business confidence

25th May 2017

Businesses are being urged to take part in a survey that will provide a last look at their main concerns ahead of the General Election.

The results will provide a snapshot of confidence levels in the fourth quarter since the EU-Referendum last June and set a benchmark against which the success of the new Government can be judged.

The East Midlands Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) for the second three months of 2017 asks businesses how they have fared in the three months to the end of May and expect to fare in the three months from the start of June, including whether they expect their prices to rise and are considering increasing wages.

There are additional questions this quarter to determine relationships between growth and recruitment, planned investment in staff training and what factors might influence investment in training.

Whether employers believe they will get good value from the apprenticeship levy also features.

Data collated from the East Midlands Chamber QES will update the regional State of the Economy Index – which last quarter was at its highest since Q2 2105 – and is fed into the British Chambers of Commerce QES, which builds a national picture of business confidence and shapes the BCC’s interactions with Government.

Chris Hobson, the Director of Policy at East Midlands Chamber, said:-

“It takes only a few minutes to complete the survey and the information it gives us is vital to driving our policies and the issues on which we will campaign on behalf of businesses.

“You don’t have to be a Chamber member to take part, the important thing is that we get as many businesses as possible to complete the survey so that we build the most accurate picture possible and can make sure our lobbying activities properly reflect the concerns of regional businesses.”

To take part in the survey click here. The closing date is 12 June.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Put your hand up for Volunteers’ Week

25th May 2017

Chesterfield residents are being urged to devote some of their free time to the national Volunteers’ Week campaign.

Derbyshire Sport are asking people of all ages to make a difference by helping out at events, clubs or organisations involved in physical activity.

The plea coincides with the start of #volunteersweek, which runs from Thursday June 1 to Wednesday June 7.

The 2015-16 Community Life Survey showed that 41% of people questioned said they had volunteered at least once in the previous year.

But there remains a high demand for volunteer assistance, without which so many activities would not take place.

Isobella Cottrell, student at Lady Manners School and netball coach from Chesterfield, comments:-

“I volunteer because I love seeing how I can inspire other people to become interested in sport and help them develop their techniques and skills.

“I also love to give back to my local community so volunteering at school and within my community really makes me feel proud and thankful for the opportunities I have been given.

“Volunteering helps you to grow and develop as a person, improving your decision making and communicational skills, and you can have an impact upon young people’s lives by providing them with something positive to do.”

Some of the event volunteer opportunities currently available include The Chesterfield Race for Life and the VitalityMove Run at Chatsworth, which is being backed by London 2012 Olympic champion Jessica-Ennis Hill.

Many clubs, organisations and groups across the area are also in need of help. You can find out more, and search for opportunities here.

Posted in About Chesterfield

NLT Training Services appoints new Chief Executive

25th May 2017

Simon Marsden has been appointed to lead NLT Training Services. The training provider, which has offices in Chesterfield and Scunthorpe, has appointed Simon as Chief Executive.

Simon has been involved with NLT since 2014 as the vice chairman of the training organisation’s board. He has since resigned the position to take up the role of Chief Executive.

Simon comes from a chemical engineering background and has had managing director roles with Oilgear in Leeds, KM Furniture in Chesterfield and, most recently, DarenthMJS in Sheffield.

He joins NLT at an exciting time in the charity’s 40-year history. Most recently it has rebranded, launching a new website which boasts online booking for NLT’s Health & Safety courses.

Simon, delighted to join NLT as Chief Executive, said:-

“The support, training and mentoring I had in the early years of my career enabled me to become a managing director of a multi-million-pound company at the age of 29. Having been the beneficiary of training and support I have always wanted to put something back. Becoming a board member with NLT allowed me to do this, however, taking up the Chief Executive role is where I hope to make a significant difference both in the organisation and with our young people and employers.”

He is a passionate believer in training and development to enhance workforce skills. His key priorities in his new role include strengthening the delivery of engineering training, developing the popular pre Apprenticeship programme, Evolve, and reviewing NLT’s commercial courses delivered at NLT’s Chesterfield and Scunthorpe sites as well as in the workplace.

Simon explained:-

“The experience we give learners and employers is of paramount importance and I want to ensure that NLT earns the strongest possible reputation for helping the next generation acquire the skills, knowledge and qualifications that local businesses need. There is a real opportunity to build on our existing successes and long history. NLT has a committed and supportive team who are all focused on delivering the best possible outcome for individuals.”

He added:-

“I am hugely excited for the challenge ahead. Together, I know we can make NLT the go-to provider in north Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.”

Outside work Simon, who has two children in post 16 education, enjoys badminton and travelling. He has visited most parts of the world including recent trips to Vietnam, Australia, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. Later this year, he plans to return to Barcelona and cruise to the Azores and Madeira.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business