Cathelco in Chesterfield has received three orders to supply its specialist hull corrosion protection systems to Brazil, Japan and Singapore.
To protect against vessel corrosion, the business will supply Brazil with an impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system which will safeguard FPSO Cidade de Campos dos Goyatacazes over an operational life of 20 years.
The vessel will be installed with the latest control panels which provide comprehensive data about performance. This simplifies monitoring for the crew and enables data to be downloaded to a USB stick and sent to Cathelco for detailed analysis.
Cathelco will also supply a protection system for the FPSO Catcher which is being built by the IHI Corporation’s yard at Aichi, Japan.
After the integration of the topside modules and completion in Singapore, the floating system will be deployed in Premier Oil’s Catcher field in the North Sea. It will be capable of processing up to 60,000 barrels of crude per day and have a storage capacity of 650,000 barrels.
A third order for specialist corrosion protection has come from Sembcorp Marine’s Jurong yard in Singapore where a shuttle tanker is to be converted into FPSO Libra.
Scheduled for completion in 2016, the system will have the capacity to produce 50,000 barrels of oil and 4 million cubic metres of natural gas, per day.
The benefits of devolution for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire have been revealed in detail, as the region’s draft deal is published for the first time today.
The deal document, which sets out the final negotiating position of the council and business leaders behind the bid, was sent to Chancellor George Osborne and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Greg Clark just before Christmas.
It was accompanied by a strong message to ministers that “now is the time to do the deal”.
The agreement, as it stands, has been developed following months of negotiations. The majority of the deal has broad agreement, with only a small number of issues now requiring final discussion and sign off.
The deal sets out ten key benefits devolution would deliver for the residents and businesses of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire:
55,000 new private sector jobs
77,000 extra homes
An Investment Fund over 30 years to provide infrastructure such as roads and bridges
Adult skills provision that better meets the needs of businesses
A joint transport fund to spend on key transport improvements
A better co-ordinated public transport system with ‘Oyster’ style smart ticketing
More responsive and co-ordinated business support for growth
The creation of substantially more apprenticeship opportunities
More people entering employment through better targeted local programmes
Journey times to London of less than 90 minutes by train
19 councils across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire together with business leaders from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, which covers the two counties, are seeking to create a single Combined Authority for the region by March 2016 − the first of its kind featuring district, borough, city and county councils.
The Combined Authority and a new mayor, elected by the people of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, would be granted powers and resources currently held in London and gain responsibility for delivering a raft of new measures to boost economic growth, create jobs, build new homes and improve the quality of life for people living in the area.
Councillor Anne Western, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said:
“We can’t stress enough the size of the prize on offer for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and the benefits devolution would bring for local people. So we’ve taken the decision to publish the draft agreement so people can get a better understanding of what it will mean for the area.
“Following a request from Government, we have renamed our bid as North Midlands, which more accurately reflects the geographical area covered and will be able to align with the same name for the Combined Authority.
“We’ve been working with the Government to finalise a deal for some time now and discussions have been extremely positive. Both sides are clearly committed to an agreement and there’s no reason to delay any further.”
Chesterfield-based smart meter supplier Meter Provida has become the latest business to get the keys to new premises at a Chesterfield regeneration site.
Up to 20 jobs are being created now that the firm’s new 40,000 sq. ft. unit just off junction 29A of the M1 motorway is complete.
Meter Provida supplies gas, water and electric metering products and services for home, commercial and industrial use nationwide for suppliers such as British Gas.
Stephen Burr, Director at Meter Provida Ltd said
“Our company is growing rapidly and now we have our new premises at Markham Vale we can increase our product range and expand our workforce.”We wanted to stay within Derbyshire but be closer to the motorway for better transport links, making Markham the perfect choice for us.
“We are delighted with our new facility and we look forward to our future at the site.”
Meter Provida moved to Markham Vale from Broombank Business Park in Chesterfield.
Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Policy, Economic Development and Budget, Councillor Anne Western said:
“I’m pleased Meter Provida have chosen to join the ever-growing business community at Markham, bringing 20 new jobs to the area.”It’s great that Chesterfield-based companies continue to choose Markham Vale to relocate to instead of moving outside Derbyshire.
“A steady stream of enquiries are also coming in for the new offices available in our new Environment Centre and we’d encourage more small businesses that are looking to start-up, relocate or expand to get in touch.”
The firm’s new premises have been designed and built by the county council’s private sector property partner, Henry Boot Developments.
Ben Ward, Henry Boot’s Regional Director, said:
“The Meter Provida unit was one of the fastest units to be completed at Markham Vale.”We have had a huge amount of interest in Markham Vale over the past 12 months with some major announcements such as Great Bear, Gould Alloys, inspirepac, Meter Provida and many others.
“We expect more interest is now likely to follow with our Phase 3, Markham Vale North, now in development and due for completion summer 2016. This will deliver a further 70 acres in addition to the current available eastern and western development plots.”
Meter Provida is the latest in a line of companies to acquire premises on the regeneration site off junction 29A of the M1. Existing occupiers include inspirepac, Gould Alloys, AW Repair Group, MSE Hiller, Squadron Medical, Industrial Ancillaries, Andrew Page, Holdsworth Foods, Ready Egg Products and Euro Garages.
A new shared work space for digital start-ups and social enterprises has opened in Chesterfield.
Based on Chester Street in Brampton, the first tenants at Monkey Park Works include specialist technology PR agency, Roaring Mouse, digital innovation and design consultancy, Systems Makers and cycle training company, Wheely Fun Wheels.
The facility currently offers shared office space for up to 16 people and is set to expand to accommodate up to 50 micro-businesses, freelancers and entrepreneurs once the second phase of building work is completed in the Spring.
Developed on the site of a former tile warehouse, Monkey Park started trading in October 2015 and is home to a thriving cafe, community bakery and bicycle workshop.
A not-for-profit social enterprise, cash brought in by Monkey Park will be reinvested to support local community projects. The team will also work with local residents and businesses to create a plan for enhancing the local area and boosting its economy.
Simon Redding, co-founder and director of Monkey Park, comments: “Digital and social entrepreneurs in Chesterfield have been crying out for the kind of flexible and affordable co-working space we are now offering at Monkey Park Works. We hope to foster the kind of start-ups and social enterprises that will go on to create new employment opportunities and help contribute to Brampton’s community-led economic renaissance.”
Businesses in Chesterfield are being urged to help revolutionise the lunch break by encouraging their workforce to get active – and reap the business benefits as a result.
A new eight-week Derbyshire Workplace Challenge launches today and businesses are invited to sign up and encourage staff to step away from their desks at lunchtime and take time out to take part in sport or physical activity.
Organisers say that by encouraging employees to get active on their lunch break businesses could save one sick day per employee per year – equating to an average saving of £10,225 for a business with 100 staff.
The Derbyshire Workplace Challenge is an online activity log challenge which allows colleagues to track how much sport and activity they are doing, and work together to earn activity points and work their way up the online leaderboard.
Anyone can sign up to the challenge and it is completely free for individuals and workplaces to join.
Rachael Dyer, Sport Development Officer at Derbyshire Sport, which runs the Workplace Challenge in Derbyshire, said that businesses which encouraged staff to get active could reap the rewards of a healthier and happier workforce.
She said: “Busy workloads can mean that employees sometimes feel under pressure to work through lunch, and time is often cited as a barrier to participation in sport and physical activity. But this can mean that many workers often spend eight or nine hours sat at a desk, and during winter the lack of daylight hours often provides many workers with a ready-made excuse to avoid exercising outside of work hours.
“We are inviting employers to think differently and offer their employees the opportunity for a flexible lunch break so they can participate in sport and physical activity – and come back to work feeling re-energized.”
Across England workers take on average 5.31 sick days per year. However NHS research has shown that those who are physically active are 20% less likely to take a sick day and, if they do, they are 27% more likely to return to work more quickly.
Based on the average earnings for Derbyshire, by saving one sick day per year per employee, Derbyshire businesses could collectively save £50,692,994 per year.
A number of prizes will be on offer throughout the challenge, both to teams and individuals. This includes four free places in the 2016 Derby 10k Business Team Challenge, which will be awarded to the workplace at the top of the leaderboard at the end of the eight-week challenge. In addition, anyone who successfully completes and logs 150 minutes of activity each week for the first four weeks of the challenge will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win two tickets to the NBL Team Derby home game on Monday 8th February.
For more information and to take part visit www.workplacechallenge.org.uk/derbyshire
Chesterfield residents will benefit from a range of sport and physical activities for all ages and abilities when the new £11.25 million Queen’s Park Sports Centre opens for the first time.
The Chesterfield Borough Council-run centre will open its doors from Tuesday 5 January and will open from 6.30am Monday to Friday and from 8am on Saturday and Sunday
The official opening will take place on Thursday 7 January, ahead of a community open day for residents at the centre on Saturday 9 January that will feature Coronation Street star Kym Marsh, who plays Michelle McDonald in the ITV soap.
Kym will lead a fitness class and meet fans from 10am to 1.30pm before having lunch with some competition winners. Residents will also be able to try out a range of different activities, see demonstrations by local sports groups, try out the new facilities for themselves and sign up for memberships of the new centre.
The centre has been made possible by funding of £6.725 million from Chesterfield Borough Council, £2.5 million from Chesterfield College, as part of a partnership agreement, £2 million of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Strategic Facilities Fund and £25,000 from England Squash.
Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centre and visitor economy said: “I am proud that we have made this investment in a new state-of-the-art sports centre at a time when many councils are having to make difficult decisions about reducing funding for leisure activities or closing facilities.
“Investment in the health and well-being of residents is a priority for the council because national statistics show the number of people in Chesterfield living healthy and active lifestyles is significantly below the national average.
“Having a brand new town centre sports centre will help us to encourage people of all ages and abilities to take part in sports activities but also to take advantage of the associated facilities, such as the services being provided at the midwifery base.”
Charles Johnston, Sport England’s property director, added: “Having the right sports facilities in the right areas are fundamental in offering more people to take part in sport and leisure activities.
“This is why we have invested National Lottery money in the new Queen’s Park Sports Centre to provide outstanding facilities which will encourage more people to take up sport and ensure they receive a quality experience”
Students of the Chesterfield College Sport and Wellbeing Academy will have use of state of the art training rooms in the centre during the day in term time and will continue to use the sports facilities alongside members of the public as at the previous Queen’s Park Sports Centre.
Stuart Cutforth, Chesterfield College principal said: “We’re delighted that we could invest in this exciting modern health and leisure facility. The partnership approach benefits both local residents and students.
“Our Sport and Wellbeing Academy located in the sports centre means that we can ensure students are able to train in the best facilities. It is wonderful to know that students will be getting this experience in a fully functioning public facility.
“We are training the next generation of sports and leisure experts who will be the ones providing services for local residents in the future.”
The centre will house the only pay and play squash facility in the borough.
Mark Williams, director of participation at England Squash said: “At England Squash, we are really looking forward to working closely with Chesterfield Borough Council to make sure the fantastic new courts are well used.
“It is an exciting time for sport in the town and we are delighted that squash is part of the new Queen’s Park Sports Centre”.
Facilities in the new centre include:
An eight lane main swimming pool with spectator seating
A learner pool with moveable floor and children’s fun water features
An eight court sports hall a viewing area and moveable spectator seating for events
80 station gym
Activity studio with latest features in active technology
Two glass back squash courts with moveable wall for other activity use
Three training rooms
Freedom climbing for fitness and fun
Village changing facilities individual and family cubicles for swimmers and modesty showers
Changing facilities for fitness and dry sports or activities
Café service, vending machines and social space including healthy eating options
Midwifery centre
Free car parking for users of the centre with space for more than 150 cars
Cycle access, and storage shelter
Access to outdoor Games area on Queen’s Park and existing outdoor tennis and bowling facilities.
Care has been taken to make the new centre accessible for all residents including with physical disabilities, including:
Lifts for access between floors
Assisted changing rooms
Group changing
Pool access lift
Graduated steps to the main pool.
There is a range of membership options available at the new sports centre, visit www.queensparksportscentre.co.uk for more details.
The project also features a piece of public art as part of the council’s Percent for Art scheme.
Jump is a sculpture of a time lapse motion of the human figure jumping. The design, manufactured from copper, represents the beauty of movement and the joy of life itself.
Mick Thacker, the artist responsible said: “The theme and form of the piece is inspired by the human body in motion a simple and poetic form reflecting the power, grace and elegance of movement in a static, sculptural form.
“My wish is for the work to inspire and motivate, to stimulate debate and contemplation and to generate interest from all site users now and into the future”.
The existing Queen’s Park Sports Centre in Boythorpe Road will be demolished during 2016 once work to decommission the building is complete.
A public consultation will be held to look at long term options for the future of the site that is in keeping with the neighbouring grade two star listed Queen’s Park.
Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Chairman James Newman has written to local business leaders to encourage them to support the Sheffield City Region proposed Devolution Deal and take part in the online consultation which opened earlier this month.
James Newman, Chairman of the Sheffield City Region LEP, said: “I’m encouraging local businesses from across the City Region to take this opportunity to go online and show their support for the devolution deal. This deal will enable our local political and business leaders to take decision-making to the next level, making bigger and better local decisions over skills, business growth and infrastructure. Anyone interested in future business growth in our City Region should go online and take part before the consultation closes next month.”
The proposed deal, which will mean £900m of additional funding and more power to make important economic decisions locally, has been welcomed by a number of local business leaders from across the Sheffield City Region. In October 2015, local politicians and business leaders secured the in-principle deal with the Chancellor George Osborne to transfer national powers and control over funding from national Government departments to the Sheffield City Region – as well as securing a massive £900 million additional cash boost over the next thirty years to deliver major regeneration, infrastructure and business growth schemes.
Peter Swallow, chair of Destination Chesterfield, the town’s business marketing campaign, said: “I would urge all local businesses to take part in the consultation.
“Chesterfield’s position within the Sheffield City Region means we do a lot of business with neighbouring towns and cities in the region. Devolution will give the town a seat at a more influential ‘local’ table not to mention more control over our own financial affairs.
“It could also help bring potential funding to the area further boosting our ambitious plans for growth and development in the area over the next 10 years.”
Local Leaders will be negotiating details of the deal over the coming months but are now consulting on the proposed deal so that they have the views of the people in the Sheffield City Region before finalising any deal. It is recognised that further work needs to continue to clarify issues in relation to the powers of any elected mayor and any potential statutory amendments needed to achieve our preferred geography for the City Region, which means seeking maximum flexibility for all types of authorities to be part of the Combined Authority.
The deal needs to be formally approved by each of the local Councils within the Sheffield City Region and is also dependent upon the Government delivering on the promises it has made in this and previous deals, and the City Region agreeing to the creation of a directly-elected Mayor.
The consultation will be open until Friday 15 January 2016 and local residents and businesses are being invited to comment on the deal by visiting www.sheffieldcityregiondevolution.org.uk.
Visit Peak District & Derbyshire is expanding its leading role in supporting accessible tourism by announcing its support for a Derbyshire charity.
Accessible Derbyshire – which was set up to make life easier for people with disabilities, their families and carers – is to be the tourist board’s first-ever chosen charity throughout 2016.
The charity, set up by Gillian Scotford and Jane Carver, who between them have six children, three of whom have disabilities, will receive support thanks to a link on Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’s website to invite donations, a series of sponsored events organised by the tourist board team and efforts to encourage tourist board members to adopt it as their chosen cause.
“This is the first time we have ever selected a charity to support, and we thought Accessible Derbyshire was a highly appropriate choice,” said Jo Dilley, Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire.
“Not only have we worked with Gillian and Jane on a variety of projects in the past, we were recently only one of just seven destinations to secure a share in national tourist board VisitEngland’s ‘Access for All’ project, aimed at promoting England as a leading destination for accessible tourism.
“Eight of our businesses took part, and are setting a shining example to their peers in making their facilities and services more accessible. We know Gillian and Jane are passionate about their cause, and we share their enthusiasm for improving access across the area for everyone, so we have decided to support their work by raising money for them throughout next year.”
Gillian Scotford and Jane Carver of Accessible Derbyshire added: “We are absolutely thrilled that Visit Peak District & Derbyshire has chosen us as its first-ever charity of the year.
“As we both have children with severe disabilities, we understand at first hand the importance of a friendly and inclusive welcome. If we can all pull together, we can make Derbyshire an even more accessible destination, for the benefit of both visitors and the tourism industry.”
Chatsworth is one of the eight businesses across the Peak District and Derbyshire which took part in ‘Access for All’ earlier this year to maximise the potential of the so-called ‘Purple Pound’, now worth more than £12 billion to the national economy.
VisitEngland research reveals that the overnight accessible tourism market is now worth £3 billion per annum to the English economy, with day visits boosting the figure to £12.1 billion. Over the past few years, overnight trips by disabled tourists and their companions have increased by 19 per cent, and their spending is up by a third.
Derbyshire County Council’s youth services brand, YOUTHINC celebrates its first birthday this month.
Designed by young people, for young people, with a website offering advice and information on all areas of life from something to do, to someone to talk to, YOUTHINC has got a lot to show for its first year. Some of the achievements from the past 12 months include:-
Youth workers putting on 4,194 youth group sessions which involved 65,048 young people;
More than 11,000 young people finding out about learning and career options at Derbyshire Skills Festival events in Chesterfield and Derby;
Careers advisors helping 6,488 young people with their career options;
Chesterfest – Chesterfield’s music festival – being enjoyed by more than 2,000 people.
Derbyshire Youth Council and members of the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) also had the opportunity to speak in parliament to decide the two most important issues facing young people in the UKYP’s Make your Mark campaign.
Councillor Damien Greenhalgh said:
“Since we launched YOUTHINC we’ve provided thousands of young people with information, advice and guidance as well as safe and fun places to meet with one another. We’ve provided careers advice and helped people develop their skills for employment, listened to and supported our youth councillors with their campaigns and arranged work experience placements for young people in care.
“We want young people to have every chance to be happy and fulfil their potential in learning, employment and life.
Derbyshire’s Royal London One-Day Cup fixture versus Yorkshire Vikings on Sunday 12 June will now take place at Queen’s Park, Chesterfield.
The move means there will be even more cricket at the picturesque out-ground in 2016, with the popular week-long Chesterfield Festival of Cricket to follow in July.
In total, there will be seven days of county action at Queen’s Park next summer, beginning with the 50-over fixture with neighbours Yorkshire in June.
The annual cricketing festival follows, beginning on Sunday 3 July, which will once again include a traditional first-class fixture and two NatWest T20 Blast fixtures in the space of seven days.
The festival concludes on Sunday 10 July with a second local clash versus Yorkshire Vikings, this time in the NatWest T20 Blast – a fixture that sold out in advance in 2015.
Chief Executive, Simon Storey said: “It was a record year at Chesterfield in 2015 and we’re delighted to now be able to offer even more cricket at the picturesque ground next summer.
“The support has always been great at Queen’s Park, especially for the local fixtures against Yorkshire. A lot of away supporters travel down from north of the county border creating a unique atmosphere and a special event for Members and supporters.
“The NatWest T20 Blast fixture in 2015 was a complete sell out and we’re expected similarly high-interest for both matches in 2016.
Youth groups and projects in Chesterfield will soon be able to apply for a share of £50,000 from Derbyshire County Council.
The new grants scheme will launch in January to coincide with the first anniversary of YOUTHINC – the council’s new youth offer combining all services for young people.
Members of the Derbyshire Youth Council have named the scheme ‘YOUTHINC − We Grant’ and it will also be these young people who will decide how the money is spent.
Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Derbyshire County Council’s Deputy Cabinet Member of Children’s Services, said:
“We made promises to our young people and we’re acting on them. This new grant scheme is by young people, for young people.
“We value their involvement in the decisions and services that affect them and our youth councillors have been involved throughout this process.”
Cabinet has agreed that groups supporting the development of youth activities throughout Derbyshire will be able to apply for grants of up to £1,500.
Before decisions are made on where money is spent, members of the youth forums and youth council will consider:
If the project or campaign is accessible to all young people
How many young people will benefit
How long the project will run
Whether it is value for money
The long-term impact of the funding
And what the money will be spent on
Councillor Greenhalgh added:
“The youth forum and youth council will make well-informed decisions about where money should be spent and will be asking for regular updates to ensure it continues to benefit young people across Derbyshire.”
