Business

Fifth Annual Celebrate Chesterfield is a sell-out

The fifth annual Celebrate Chesterfield event is set to see 300 business people, 50 more than at last year, attend The Winding Wheel on Wednesday 22 March.

Organised by Destination Chesterfield, in association with the University of Derby, Rupert Carr, Director of Birchall Properties, the company behind the £400m Peak Resort, will update the room on developments at the UK’s largest leisure resort.

In addition to Carr other keynote speakers taking to the stage at the sell-out event include, Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, Dr Peter Dewhurst from the University of Derby, and Traci Limb and Paul Dodgson from the latest company to invest in Markham Vale, Ferdinand Bilstein.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield manager commented: “Once again, the Celebrate Chesterfield event is fully subscribed, proving the town’s business community is actively involved with all that is happening in Chesterfield. With so many regionally and nationally high profile developments happening in Chesterfield, it really is the town investors are starting to look at. It is a very exciting time.”

This year Celebrate Chesterfield is sponsored by the University of Derby, Markham Vale and Central Technology.

To keep-up-to-date with the announcements as they happen at Celebrate Chesterfield 2017, follow Destination Chesterfield on Twitter (@DesChes) using #Celebrate17. For more information about Chesterfield’s developments visit: http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/

Celebrate Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development

NGS Macmillan Cancer Unit taking shape

The Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Macmillan Cancer Support has released a new video taking us inside the new NGS Macmillan Unit as it begins to take shape. The new video provides a sense of the geography of the building and the space the unit will allow.

The £9million development will bring all of the Trust’s cancer services together under one roof to revolutionise the way cancer care is delivered in the hospital. Work started in November 2015 and it’s expected that the building will open soon.

The structure is virtually complete and many of the rooms have been sectioned off as work continues on the building’s internal aspects. The video, which you can watch below, follows some of the Royal Hopsital staff from the Cavendish Suite, where chemotherapy treatments currently take place, around the new unit to get their views along with the project lead and some of those who have helped raise money for the Macmillan appeal.

CHESTERFIELD ROYAL MACMILLAN CANCER CENTRE

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Chamber welcomes first proper Midlands Engine Strategy

Reacting to the Midlands Engine Strategy announced this morning, Chris Hobson, Director of Policy at East Midlands Chamber, said:-

“We welcome this first proper strategy for what the Midlands Engine – a concept launched almost two years ago – will do. It would seem at first glance that Government has been listening to business across the region, and that’s very positive.

“The headings chosen by Government reflect the concerns raised by us on behalf of our members and other businesses in recent years and appear to support a consensus that the Midlands is the heart of the UK economy, and not merely by its position. They also reflect work that partners and the Chamber are already progressing and it is essential that, as this strategy is further developed, it adds to, as opposed to replicates, this activity.

“The East Midlands, in particular, is the home of many large international manufacturers such as Rolls-Royce, Bombardier, Toyota, JCB, Caterpillar and Walgreen Boots Alliance, each of which has established supply chains and an existing business support ecosystem that the Midlands Engine Strategy must support.”

The Government’s announcement today states:-

“Stretching from Shropshire to Lincolnshire, with the M1, M6, and most of our major railway lines running through it, the Midlands sits at the very heart of the UK economy.

“Building on our modern Industrial Strategy, the Midlands Engine Strategy sets out the actions we are taking to address productivity barriers across the Midlands, enabling businesses to create more jobs, export more goods and services, and grow their productivity.”

It adds:-

“The Midlands is essential to our national economic success. The region is responsible for over a fifth of the UK’s total manufacturing capability. The services sector in the Midlands accounts for over four million jobs and is worth around £158bn a year. This is a dynamic region: there are now 427,610 more people in employment in the Midlands than there were in 2010 and the size of the Midlands economy has increased by £32.9bn.”

Chris added:-

“It is vital now, as we are about to embark on negotiations for leaving the EU, that the Government’s words are translated into positive actions to drive growth across the Midlands and for our towns, cities and counties to work together to make sure potential global investors know and buy-in to the advantages offered by the Midlands region.

“Businesses in the East Midlands will play an integral part in ensuring the UK makes a success of the coming years, and the Chamber will continue to do all it can to ensure the voice of business continues to be heard and heeded at Westminster.”

East Midlands Chamber logo

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Work underway on £5.5m Chesterfield housing development

Rockliffe Homes Ltd has begun work on a £5.5m development that will result in 37 new homes being built in Brimington, Chesterfield.

Ringwood Meadows, which consists of a mix of two, three and four bedroom homes, has progressed thanks to financial backing from the Homes & Communities Agency by way of the new, recently announced £3 billion House Building Fund.

It is already attracting interest from buyers; with local estate agent Wilkins Vardy appointed to oversee sales.

Contractor Atkinson Construction Group is now on site building the houses, with the first phase of the scheme scheduled for completion in 2017. Available to purchase through the Government’s Help to Buy scheme, the site will address the ‘very pressing’ need for more housing in and around Chesterfield.

Anuj Joshi, Managing Director at Rockliffe Homes’ said:-

“Ringwood Meadows is ideally located close to local amenities including everything the Hollingwood Hub has to offer, whilst also bordering beautiful, open countryside.

“Furthermore, this scheme is on track to provide families and young professionals with access to well appointed, quality homes that are designed to address the shortage of properties here in Chesterfield.

“We are also delighted to be able to offer the Help to Buy scheme to purchasers which is a fantastic initiative dedicated to helping people who are looking to make their way onto the first rung of the property ladder to fulfil their ambitions.”

The company, has secured additional funding from the Homes and Communities Agency which will allow it to acquire and develop new sites in the region with a focus on bringing high quality homes to areas experiencing a housing shortage.

Craig Johns, Senior Transaction Manager at the Homes and Communities Agency, said:-

“Providing a loan to Rockliffe Homes, will not only create 37 new homes in Brimington, but will also support Rockliffe Homes in its continued expansion. It is fantastic that our investment will not only increase the number of homes available for local people but will also create skilled jobs on brownfield land.”

Dan Elliott, Managing Director of Chesterfield based estate agents Wilkins Vardy, said:-

“We have been met with superb levels of interest for this development. Phase 1 was released in September 2016, and all plots were reserved soon after. We already have names and numbers of people wanting to reserve on phase 2, which will be released in the summer.

“We know that there is real demand for quality, family housing in and around Chesterfield, and so it is not surprising that so many people are responding quickly to what promises to be a very practical yet picturesque development.”

John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council leader, on a site visit recently said:-

”It’s an exciting quality development and very welcome in Brimington. It is particularly pleasing the homes are being bought mainly by local first time buyers.”

Councillor Tricia Gilby, who is County Councillor and Leader elect in Chesterfield, added:-

”The work is proceeding at a pace and the first phase is due for occupancy in the early Autumn. This is the first development of this quality and size in our village for a long time. We want to be able to welcome the new homeowners as soon as they are settled in their new homes.”

Councillor Terry Gilby, the Deputy Leader and planning cabinet member for the Borough,  who was also on site said:-

“To see the unused Day Care centre site coming back to life in such a way is testament to how we support Brown field sites for housing development. The homes are in such demand because the buying price is assisted by the Help to Buy scheme, when complete it will be a welcome addition to the hosing available in the borough”.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Budget described as a ‘missed opportunity’ by Chesterfield business leaders

Business leaders in north east Derbyshire have described Chancellor Philip Hammond’s first budget as a ‘missed opportunity’ and ‘short-term measures for long-term problems’.

“The Chancellor missed out addressing areas that are key concerns for the local population. There was nothing about housing, Buy to Let or Brexit in the budget. In particular there was nothing about improving imports and allaying the concerns of the local business community. It was a disappointing budget. Where money has been allocated it’s not enough and a very short-term measure,” said Dominic Staniforth, Audit Partner of BHP, Chartered Accountants.

Kevin Hanlon, Director of Finance and Resources, Chesterfield Council, said: “The Chancellor highlighted the good news around the strengths in the economy, more jobs having been created, a decrease in unemployment and higher than expected growth for the economy, the budget makes it very clear that we are still facing continued austerity and this will impact public sector budgets/services and families.”

David Pearson, Director of Partnerships and Membership Services, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) agreed, adding: “The emphasis of the Budget was about stability and not spending money in order to create long-term prosperity for young people. The Chancellor gave out little bits to schools, pubs and families to tick the right boxes.”

Steve Taylor, Director, Start Financial Planning, welcomed the Chancellor’s tame budget, saying: “It was a very safe budget and I am particularly relieved that there were no further announcements on pension changes.”

Comment on the key points

Social Care and NHS

  • 2bn over the next three years for England
  • Green paper on social care funding to be published later this year
  • £325m of capital for the first of the new sustainability and transformation plans (STPs), intended to improve healthcare
  • £100m for 100 onsite GP treatment centres in A&Es in England

“The £2bn the Chancellor pledged for social care is very welcome however I suspect it won’t be enough. It plugs a short-term gap. We will have to await the green paper to address the long-term challenges facing social care and the relationships with health.”  Kevin Hanlon, Director, Financial Resources, Chesterfield Borough Council

Savers

  • The promised NS&I three-year bond paying 2.2% will be available from April on savings up to £3,000.

“The new NS&I 3 year Fixed Rate Bond paying 2.2% interest on £3,000 savings is not as competitive as it was made out to be in the Autumn Statement but the increase of the ISA allowance to £20,000 on 6 April should help savers. However, with personal debt now standing at £1.5 trillion, will some people have the money to save? The NS&I Bond feels like the government is simply ticking a box for savers to appease them.” Steve Taylor, Director, Start Financial Planning

Tax-free dividend allowance

  • Cut from £5,000 to £2,000 from April 2018

“A lot of people set up their own business because they want to be entrepreneurial. The further drop in the dividend allowance from £5,000 to £2,000 is penalising small business owners. This is a big U turn on the dividend tax announced at the last Budget. It feels like the government didn’t think it through when they first announced it.” Chris Humphreys, Tax Partner, BHP, Chartered Accountants

Self-employment

  • Treasury to raise £145m from increasing national insurance contributions of some self-employed people

“The self-employed have definitely been hit hardest in this budget with the increase in national insurance and decrease in dividend allowances. The Chancellor himself acknowledge that entrepreneurs and innovators are the lifeblood of the economy, yet he seems to have penalised them.” Glenn Jaques, Employment Solicitor, BRM Solicitors

Business rates

  • A cap so rates rise by no more than £50 a month for small businesses losing their rate relief
  • pubs to get a £1,000 discount on business rates of less than £100,000 rateable value
  • £300m fund for discretionary relief for local authorities

“The £300m fund for discretionary business rate relief will be welcome news to small businesses that may have been hit by business rate increases. Councils will be able to help some businesses with the fund. However, is it enough and does it address regional differences in business rate increases/decreases? We will have to see the detail to see what the benefits will be. It is a short-term solution and the fundamental reforms business want will happen some time before the next revaluations,” Kevin Hanlon, Director, Financial Resources, Chesterfield Borough Council

Education

  • Introduction of T-levels – technical qualifications, an alternative to A-levels – for 16 to 19-year-olds
  • Funding of £320m for 110 new free schools to take the total to 500
  • Free school transport extended to children receiving free school meals at selective schools
  • £216m invested in school maintenance

“The Chancellor announced spending that will make a real difference to education and young people, particularly the introduction of T Levels and the accompanying high quality three-month work placements for every technical student. Is the infrastructure in place to deliver this? There, is already a reluctance amongst companies to provide work experience as it is disruptive to business and can the education system cope with yet another change?” David Pearson, Director of Partnerships and Membership Services, East Midlands Chamber.

Spring Budget Round Table 2017

Posted in Business

Regeneration of Basin Square moves closer

Regeneration of a key Chesterfield site has moved a step closer as works are completed to prepare the ground conditions at the former Trebor factory site, ahead of the Basin Square phase of the Chesterfield Waterside development.

Chesterfield Borough Council is a partner in the project, which is listed by Regeneration and Renewal magazine as the 47th largest regeneration project in the UK.

The project is led by Chesterfield-based Bolsterstone Group plc, with Arnold Laver Group as stakeholders in the project.

Ground works to prepare the Basin Square site have been carried out by Chesterfield-based company NT Killingley Ltd.

As part of the groundworks contract, an acoustic noise bund has also been built alongside the A61 on the former Arnold Laver site, which will pave the way for approximately 300 family homes to be built in the Park area of the Waterside development.

The first phase of residential housing on Brimington Road, comprising 19 new homes was developed for Great Places Housing Association, are now complete and fully occupied.

The site enabling works were carried out thanks to a £2.7 million grant from the Sheffield City Region Infrastructure Fund.

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader, said:-

“Chesterfield Waterside is key to transforming the borough’s economy.

“The next phase, which will create more than 300 new jobs, is happening now thanks to our place at the Sheffield City Region table and our ability to negotiate grant funding allowing the developers to bring this work forward.”

Peter Swallow, Director of the Bolsterstone Group plc, said:-

“I am delighted that the works to restore and prepare this area of the site are now complete after many months of planning and four months of site works.

“All the old buildings, related foundations, drainage, etc have been removed, leaving clear development platforms.

“Completion of this work, coupled with the recent grant of planning permission for the heights and massing of the proposed buildings, means that we are now in a position to move forward and complete negotiations with investors and occupiers for the delivery of the first phase of Basin Square at Chesterfield Waterside. It is a very exciting time.”

Sir Nigel Knowles, Chair of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said:-

“Sheffield City Region is proud to support the regeneration of Chesterfield Waterside as we work together to build a truly competitive centre of business excellence.

“Sheffield City Region Investment Fund is our major capital programme which enables local leaders to work together to leverage private and public sector investment more effectively.

“Chesterfield Waterside, which will create hundreds of jobs and boost the economy, is an excellent example of our very robust approach to prioritising and selecting the highest standard of programmes.

“We are confident that every pound invested in Chesterfield Waterside will maximise economic growth, boost business and create more and better jobs.”

When complete, the Chesterfield Waterside development will include:

  • 1,500 modern houses and apartments
  • New employment opportunities in Grade A office accommodation situated directly adjacent to Chesterfield’s railway station
  • An 84-bed hotel
  • Multi-storey car park with approximately 440 spaces
  • Shops, cafés and bars around the new canal basin and public square
  • A network of open spaces and a park along a rejuvenated Chesterfield Canal and River Rother.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

HS2 proposals welcomed

Councillors have welcomed revised proposals which would see HS2 trains stop in Chesterfield.
In their response to a Government consultation, at their meeting on Tuesday 7 March, members of Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet welcomed the proposed new route from the West Midlands to Leeds, including a stop in Chesterfield and a maintenance depot in Staveley.

They agreed that:

• The council welcomes the proposed stop in Chesterfield, which will bring reduced journey times to London and Birmingham and encourage growth in the borough’s economy

• The council will continue to call for more frequent services rather than the current plans for one train per hour to maximise these benefits

• The latest plans to realign the main HS2 route further east north of M1 J29, closer to Bolsover would reduce the impact on residential properties in Woodthorpe and Netherthorpe and on the Markham Vale development

• The revised layout of the Staveley depot fits better with existing plans to develop the Chesterfield-Staveley Regeneration Route; the new plans reduce the impact on the Chesterfield Canal restoration project by crossing the canal route only once

• Government should take early decisions about the route and accelerate construction from the north in order that jobs and opportunities for the borough come as soon as possible.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “HS2 is a once in a generation opportunity to improve transport links and we want to make sure that Chesterfield people benefit from this.
“There are strong economic reasons for the project and having a stop on the route in Chesterfield as well as a maintenance depot in Staveley will offer great opportunities for our residents in terms of journey times and to grow our economy.
“We are pleased that the revised plans for access to the depot have taken into account our previous concerns but we acknowledge that further work is needed to mitigate the concerns of residents living next to the proposed line and we will continue to support them in this.”

Residents had the opportunity to comment on the proposals for the route in a consultation event run by HS2 Ltd held in Staveley last month.

In developing its reply to the consultation, the council has used networks created through its HS2 board chaired by the council leader which brings together a wide range of partners, including Derbyshire County Council, to maximise opportunities for the route across north Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Recruitment drive begins at state of the art distribution centre

The recruitment process at Ferdinand Bilstein UK Ltd’s state of the art distribution centre has officially begun.

The first three positions being advertised are for DC Team Managers, and applications are now open. The team manager positions are some of the first full-time opportunities the company has offered at Markham Vale, and the successful applicants will be part of the first group of people to start working at the new state of the art facility, getting the benefits of a brand new, high quality environment and workspace, with the latest technology to assist with tasks.

With up to 200 new jobs being created on the site at Markham Vale, there will be plenty of opportunities to join the company as it continues to gear towards its grand opening. The next recruitment stage will focus on filling roles within various areas of the business, including in the quality inspection department.

Ferdinand Bilstein UK Ltd are organising a huge recruitment open day in September as part of their recruitment drive, allowing people from the local area to have a first look at the new building and facilities. This will offer a sneak peek for those interested in working for the company to see what their day to day environment would look like.

For more information about jobs available within the company click here.

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Survey reveals parent power can unlock the potential of apprenticeships for young people in Derbyshire

Learning Unlimited say parents could hold the power to help their children make the right career and study choices. They have pledged to help them get the right information after the findings of their survey highlighted that misconceptions about modern apprenticeships could mean young people aren’t getting the right advice.

A recent survey commissioned by the apprenticeship provider indicates that almost a third of parents of secondary school age children surveyed in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire aren’t aware that apprenticeships are available in their area and almost two-thirds don’t know what industries apprenticeships are available in.

The survey highlighted that although parents are broadly supportive of apprenticeships, they might not know how far earning and learning in this way can take their child or what apprenticeship roles are available.

Learning Unlimited say it is time for apprenticeship providers and employers to work much closer with parents to help them understand the opportunities that modern apprenticeships can offer their children. They are launching initiatives during National Apprenticeship Week (6 -10 March) to help parents get the information they need.

Julie Richards, Principal and Chief Executive of Learning Unlimited, part of the Chesterfield College Group said:

“We believe that by working more closely with parents we can help young people find out if an apprenticeship is the best way to get the experience and qualifications they need for a successful career.”

“Apprenticeships have changed so much in the last few years and keeping up with the changes can be a challenge. We want to work closer with parents to help them understand the changes so they are better equipped to consider apprenticeships as an option. We are providing a range of ways for parents to get the latest facts and information to assist them when it comes to helping their children make the right choice for the future.”

The survey also revealed that there is still some way to go to convince parents that apprenticeships can offer a good way for their children to gain qualifications. Only just over half of parents of secondary school children across the country and 64% in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire agree that apprenticeships offer the same opportunities as full time study. Similarly, almost half of the parents surveyed either didn’t know or believed that apprenticeships were for ‘non-academic’ learners.

Claire Wood, Co-owner of Stephensons coffee shop in Chesterfield, an ex-teacher who now employs apprentices and is a parent of an apprentice has a unique insight into how valuable apprenticeships are and where they can lead. She told us:

“As a business owner, I believe apprentices are vital to give the organisation the skills it needs. Apprenticeships are also good for the local economy and help me to employ local people. As a parent, I have seen how apprenticeships have enabled my son to develop a passion for something he loves at the same time as getting the qualifications that will help his career to develop in the future. He is now a co-owner of the business, managing a team of staff including other apprentices and is ahead of peers who chose the university route.”

A helpful parent’s guide to apprenticeships is available at  www.learningunlimiteduk.com/parents-guide

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Chamber welcomes £500m pledge to improve vocational and technical training

Chancellor Philip Hammond’s pledge at the weekend of an additional £500m to boost vocational and technical skills has been welcomed by East Midlands Chamber.

Mr Hammond described the “shake-up” to education that will come from the additional funding as “the biggest since the introduction of A-levels 70 years ago”.

Chris Hobson, the Chamber’s Director of Policy, said: “For many years we have been striving for closer integration between employers and education.

“The lack of skills demonstrated by young people looking for their first job is a recurrent issue in our quarterly economic surveys, but so is the paucity of available workers with enhanced and specialist skills, particularly in the engineering sector.

“For too long, apprenticeships were seen as the poor relation to a degree-level education, but this is far from being true as on-the-job training is the only real way to acquire the hands-on skills and experience employers need.

“With the potential scenario of not being able to recruit from a pan-European pool of trained workers once Britain has left the EU, now more than ever it is essential that young people leaving education in the UK have the skills to fill the void.

“The £500m pledged by the Chancellor for courses starting in the 2019/20 academic year will go some way towards helping to close the skills gap but that means it could be 2022 – five years from now and three years after we, potentially, lose the available pool of skilled workers – before employers begin to feel any appreciable benefit.

“We would urge Chancellor Hammond and Education Secretary Justine Greening to work together now to find funding and devise programmes to begin closing the skills gap much earlier than five years from now.”

East Midlands Chamber logo

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Free advice to encourage digital growth

Two exciting digital support programmes are being rolled out by East Midlands Chamber.

The D2N2 Digital Growth Programme and the LLEP Digital Growth Programme will offer bespoke and structured digital business support and advice across the whole of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

Diane Simpson, the Chamber’s Deputy Chief Executive, said:-

“Knowing the true value of digital technology and understanding what is right for your business can be a daunting challenge, making it all too easy to miss out on opportunities for improvement.

“The two programmes we’re delivering seek to encourage enterprises with growth aspirations to explore and introduce new and emerging ICT products to improve their competitiveness and productivity.”

Over the next two years the programmes will together deliver 580 action-planning workshops, annual digital conferences, dedicated digital business advice, workforce development skills advice and a technology grant scheme worth £3.8m – to be 60% matched by participating SMEs.

The programmes, which are open to businesses, charities and other organisations, will engage with at least 3,662 enterprises through dedicated marketing and activities, resulting in 1,534 enterprises receiving intensive support, the creation of 170 new businesses and 1,278 SMEs introducing new digital processes.

Both programmes will be delivered through the Chamber’s dedicated and specialist eBusiness Club team.

The D2N2 programme is part-funded by East Midlands Chamber, Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, The Creative Quarter Company, Rushcliffe Borough Council, Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council and the European Regional Development Fund.

Businesses attending the free launches will learn about the participation criteria and hear from specially appointed advisers before being given an opportunity to register for the programme and the available technology grants.

The programme will be launching in Chesterfield on 23rd March at the Proact Stadium.

The launch events provide delegates with opportunities to:

  • discover how businesses can benefit from this new and exciting opportunity
  • officially register with the programme (demand is already proving to be high)
  • secure a place on future strategic action-planning workshops
  • register an interest in applying for technology grant funding
  • meet with a dedicated Digital Business Adviser to discuss business needs or technology investment in more detail.

 

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business