Business

New Support Service Launched for Businesses Across the Sheffield City Region

A new service to help businesses access the best possible advice to help them grow has been officially launched by the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.

The Sheffield City Region (SCR) Growth Hub is designed to be a single point of contact for all businesses across the nine local authority areas, from Thorne in the north to Ashbourne in the south, Penistone in the west to Retford in the east and anywhere in between.

The Growth Hub, which has core funding of £4.82m, acts as a ‘gateway’ for businesses to access specialist support in a number of key areas to enable growth, including innovation, exporting, accessing finance and training. Businesses can contact the Growth Hub via phone or online.

The launch follows a successful pilot project, which has already helped more than 300 businesses, and is part of a national roll out of 39 Growth Hubs across the country, funded by central Government.

Head of the SCR Growth Hub, David Grimes, said: “The Growth Hub means that wherever you are in the Sheffield City Region you will have the same access to the same level of support, as we are working with a wide range of partners.

“Whether your business is large or small, new or well-established, you will have just one place to go to find out about, and access, the best possible advice that suits your needs.”

The Growth hub is working with, and will be signposting to, industry experts, including successful companies, consultancies, universities, Chambers of Commerce and local authorities, and national provision such as Innovate UK, UK Trade and Investment and a wide range of other business support partners.

Businesses may also be offered direct support and guidance from one of the Growth Hub’s own business growth advisors; all of whom have extensive experience of running businesses.

As well as the core funding, the SCR Growth Hub includes a £22m Business Investment Fund, a Skills Bank fund of more than £17m and access to the Sheffield City Region European Structural Funds of approximately £90m.

The Growth Hub is overseen by the Business Growth Board, which is made up of representatives from the public and private sector, and reports directly to the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership Board.

The overall ambition of the Sheffield City Region LEP is to help create 6,000 new businesses and 70,000 new jobs by 2025, by encouraging innovation, investment and collaboration.

Paul Houghton, chair of the Business Growth Board and managing partner of Grant Thornton in Sheffield, said: “The official launch of the Growth Hub is great news for businesses across our region. It is all part of the LEP’s ambitions to grow the city region economy by working together to create a stronger and bigger private sector that can compete in national and global markets.

“Whether you are a creative technology start-up looking for financial advice or business training, a manufacturer looking to export your product to a new overseas market, or any other business looking to grow and expand, then the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub can help you access the support that you need.”

Diana Terris, chief executive of Barnsley Council, one of the nine local authorities within the Sheffield City Region, said: “We welcome this new support service, because we know that the public sector and private sector working together will make our region stronger. We have shown that in Barnsley with our own ‘Enterprising Barnsley’ business support programme, which will now form part of the overall Growth Hub offer.

“To compete on a national and international stage we know we need the best support for our businesses and this is what the Growth Hub will give us.”

The Growth Hub can be contacted on 03330 00 00 39, emailing growthhub@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk  or visit www.scrgrowthhub.co.uk

Sheffield City Region

Posted in Business, Development

Nurses train for the future

A celebration took place at Chesterfield Royal Hospital to signal the end of a cadetship programme which gave Chesterfield College students the chance to gain vital hands-on nursing experience.

The 13 specially-selected health and social care students were given the opportunity to work with health care assistants to learn core skills like personal care and communication skills. They worked in many areas of the hospital from maternity to palliative care; getting a real insight into the different facets of nursing.

Student Hannah Birks, age 19 said: “The cadetship has given me unique experiences that I really believe have helped me to secure my place on a midwifery course at Sheffield Hallam University next year.

“I spent part of my cadetship in the maternity ward working alongside experienced midwives who helped me to see exactly what the role involved. It has made me even more determined to get the qualifications I need for a career in this field of nursing.”

Liz Claridge, Clinical Education and Training Sister said: “The cadetship gives us an opportunity to excite students about nursing as well as ensure they get a realistic impression of what the role involves.

“The cadets don’t just come in and watch what happens – they get involved, with patients consent, and do tasks that they would do working in a ward environment under the watchful eye of our qualified team. On any one day students could be assisting with personal care, monitoring patients’ condition, observing in theatre, or helping to care for new-borns.”

Stuart Allen, Director of Learning for Health, Wellbeing and Society said “I would like to congratulate all of the cadets and thank all of the team at Chesterfield College and at Chesterfield Royal Hospital for supporting our students.

“This type of meaningful and challenging work experience is vital to engage students and inspire them for the future. It helps them to develop and use their knowledge, skills and experiences in industry related settings whilst also preparing them for life.”

(Image shows Chesterfield College cadets celebrating with Liz Claridge from Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Rebecca Croydon, Work Placement Supervisor from Chesterfield College.)

Chesterfield college nursing cadets 2016

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield

Brampton Brewery Joins EU Debate With Two Special Beers

Brampton Brewery in Chesterfield has brewed two special beers for the EU referendum.

Chris Radford, Brampton Brewery said: “There generally seems to be a lack of any real facts available to support either camp – I believe people are engaged with the idea of the referendum, maybe more so than some other elections, but deciding quite which way to vote seems to be proving a difficult decision for many people with the lack of “real” information.”

“We came up with the idea of brewing a beer to represent each camp.  The only stipulation was that both beers had to be the same strength – 4.4%.  We’ve then left it to two of our brewers to come up with a recipe reflecting each side of the debate. ”

The two beers Brampton Brewery have created are “Brexit” which is quintessentially a British bitter – using only home-grown ingredients from North Yorkshire malt varieties to a range of hops grown in the hop fields of Hereford, Worcestershire and Kent.  Finally the yeast strain originated from a traditional British regional family brewer.   “Stronger In”  is thoroughly influenced by Europe – continental malts, a wide range of hops grown across Europe and a yeast strain more suited to a continental-style lager than a British ale.

Brampton Brewery will be encouraging pubs to take a cask of each beer and to hold their own vote and feed them in to the brewer’s own poll on the run up to the referendum.

Brampton Brewery EU Referendum Beer

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Cathelco Winning Customers Worldwide

Cathelco’s desalination division is continuing to win orders worldwide in the commercial and military sectors for their range of space saving watermakers.

One of the latest orders has come from Norwegian based Havyard Ship Technology who are building a Hvyard 832 SOV wind turbine service vessel for the Danish shipping company ESVAGT. It will be used to service the Dudgeon wind farm operated by Statoil off the coast of Norfolk in the UK.
Cathelco are supplying Havyard with a T30 desalinator which has the capacity to produce up to 30 tonnes of fresh water per day for a full range of washing and cleaning requirements. The units provide a high output for their size and are ideal for installation where space is limited, whilst allowing good access for routine maintenance.

Another order has come from Reederei Nord, the Dutch ship managers who have purchased desalinators for two oil/chemical tankers, the Nord Isle (12,810 dwt) built in 2009 and a sister ship Nord Ocean which entered service a year later.

Both vessels will be installed with Cathelco H2016 desalinators which can produce up to 6.5 tonnes of potable water per day. Compactly designed, the units are ideal for retrofitting and have diagnostic systems to continually monitor the quality of the water.

In Australia, defence prime contractors Austal are building a further two Cape Class Patrol vessels. The 58 metre ships under construction for the Australian Commonwealth are each being installed with two Cathelco H2012 desalinators. These will provide 10 tonnes of fresh water daily for up to 18 crew members on the vessels which have a top speed of 26 knots and a range of 4,000 nautical miles.

For the first time, Cathelco have supplied desalinators to the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command. These have been installed on the MV Capt David.I.Lyon, a container ship which supports US Air Force missions and the MV LTC John U.D Page which provides ocean transport to sustain U.S. Army operations.

The ships are being equipped with Cathelco T35 desalinators which can produce up to 35 tonnes of freshwater per day for a wide range of domestic uses.

One of the most distinctive vessels in the history of Remontowa Shipbuilding will be installed with two Cathelco desalinators. This is the El-Mellah, a three masted frigate which is being built as a sail training vessel for Algerian Navy cadets. With a length of 110 metres and a main mast 54 metres high the ship can accommodate more than 200 people.

In addition to providing two desalinators, each with the capacity of producing 16 tonnes of freshwater per day, Cathelco is supplying an impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system to safeguard the steel hull against corrosion.

“Cathelco offers a portfolio of products to the marine industry and we are delighted to have supplied two types of systems for this very impressive vessel”, said Chris Bell, general manager of the company’s desalination division.

Cathelco desalinators are now exported throughout the world, a growth in sales that has benefitted from the ability to create packages of equipment that can include marine growth prevention systems, ICCP hull corrosion protection and ballast water treatment systems. The division stems from the acquisition of Seafresh Desalinators in 2010 and has flourished as the result of product development.

In 2015, the scope of Cathelco’s activities in the desalinator market were strengthened and extended by the acquisition of HEM, the well known manufacturers of water treatment systems for the luxury yacht market, based in the South of France.

A Cathelco 'Ton' desalinator

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

£2.8m of funding on offer for green projects

£2.8m of funding is to be invested in projects across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire which will preserve and protect the environment and promote more efficient use of resources (water, energy, land).

D2N2 – the private sector led partnership promoting economic growth and jobs creation across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – has announced calls for project bids, from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), part of its €250million European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). The deadline for applications is Friday May 27.

The two key activities under this call will be to encourage businesses to use resources more efficiently and improve the means by which land is protected environmentally. This would include measures to protect and restore biodiversity, soil quality and ecosystems, and to promote innovative technologies to improve environmental protection and efficient use of resources.

Organisations bidding for funding will need to provide at least half the costs of their projects, meaning a £2million project would receive £1million from the successful bidder and £1million from the D2N2 funding pot. Organisations’ matched funding must be from a source other than the European Union.

The minimum single bid which can be made to the D2N2 fund is £500,000, meaning projects costing less than a million pounds in total would not be considered. The project funding is designed to last for up to three years.

Free information sessions for potential bidders – which will cover ESIF’s strategic priorities in the D2N2 LEP area and an overview of the kinds of projects it is looking for – will be held in May on:

• Wednesday May 11, from 10am to 2.30pm – At the Enterprise Centre, University of Derby, Bridge Street, Derby

• Thursday May 12, from 10am to 2.30pm – At the Mansfield i-Centre, Oakham Business Park, Hamilton Way, Mansfield,

There will be a maximum of 25 spaces available at each session, with places allocated on a first come, first served basis.

David Ralph, Chief Executive of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Part of D2N2’s mission is to move its area’s economy towards operating in a more sustainable way, so that future generations can enjoy a strong economy and healthy environment.

“These latest major calls are for projects to tackle climate change’s effects, protect the environment and support business growth. D2N2 is looking for large scale projects which will have a lasting impact.”

Queries about the two funding ‘calls’ should be directed to Richard Kirkland, ESIF Co-ordinator for D2N2, on email: richard.kirkland@d2n2lep.org

More information about the criteria which applicants will need to meet is available by clicking here.

Further information on how D2N2 is investing its European Structural and Investment Funds can be found at www.d2n2lep.org/EUFunding.

Growth Sculpture Horns bridge Roundabout

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

More positive job figures announced

The number of people in work in the East Midlands has increased by 13,339 and the number of people out of work has fallen by 9,620 over the past year, according to figures released this morning.

The latest regional employment bulletin from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that between December 2015 and February 2016, there were 2.25 million people in jobs and 106,146 people unemployed across the region.

It means the East Midlands’ employment rate currently stands at 59.9%, while the region’s unemployment rate of 4.5% remains well below the national 5.1% and is the fourth lowest of all UK regions.

In terms of out of work claimants, there was a monthly decrease of 630, to 31,990 across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire between January and February, and there were 6,005 fewer claimants across the three counties than there were in March 2015.

In Chesterfield there were 1,140 out of work claimants in March, a slight increase from the figure reported in February (1,130), however 265 lower than the same month last year (1,405). The current percentage of the population claiming the benefit now stands at 1.7% and is below the national average of 1.9%.

Chris Hobson, Director of Policy at East Midlands Chamber, said: “The local labour market has stabilised following the usual seasonal spike in unemployment as temporary contracts came to an end after the Christmas period and these figures are once again positive and further demonstrate just how robust the East Midlands is when it comes to creating jobs and driving the economy.

“However, we need to be mindful of future uncertainties which may affect business confidence and prompt employers to put their investment recruitment plans on hold until stability returns.

“Changes to apprenticeships funding, the introduction of a National Living Wage and the continued rollout of auto-enrolment mean that employers are also facing increasing up-front costs.

“It’s vital that business policy continues to provide the right support and environment to facilitate job creation, particularly in the production sectors, where the East Midlands’ real strength lies.”

Growth Sculpture Horns bridge Roundabout

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield

Raise the profile of your business with Aviva Women’s Tour

Derbyshire businesses are being offered a unique opportunity to raise their profile by sponsoring the Aviva Women’s Tour − the world’s most prestigious women’s cycling event.

The Aviva Women’s Tour takes place in June, and Stage 3 heads for Derbyshire on Friday 17 June 2016 when the world’s top female cyclists will race from Ashbourne to Chesterfield. This is being billed as the toughest part of the race.

The stage will race through the heart of the Peak District National Park including Buxton, Chatsworth, Youlgreave and Matlock, before the finish in Chesterfield.

There are a variety of sponsorship packages on offer to enable businesses to get their name in front of thousands of people watching the race.

Organisations will be able to have their logo displayed at the start and finish of the event and VIP hospitality. Global TV coverage of the event is planned, and companies will be able to meet some of the competitors. Businesses will also be offered a track session at Derby Velodrome.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, Councillor Dean Collins, said:

“We’re delighted to be welcoming the Women’s Tour to Derbyshire for the first time, and are keen to hear from any local business who want to make the most of this opportunity.

“Hosting this prestigious sporting event will put Derbyshire on the cycling tourism map, and we hope it will also give local businesses a chance to enhance their profile at the same time.”

More information on sponsorship packages are available from Stephanie Walsh tel: 01629 538464 or email stephanie.walsh@derbyshire.gov.uk

Aviva Womans Tour

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Chesterfield Retail Awards 2016 Finalists Revealed

Eight retailers are set to defend nine titles at this year’s 2016 Chesterfield Retail Awards. They join a total of 36 of the town’s retailers who have been shortlisted across 17 categories in the prestigious awards organised by Destination Chesterfield.

Last year’s winner of the coveted Retailer of the Year title, Ibbotson’s Fresh Quality Produce, has been shortlisted for the second year running in the Market Trader of the Year category, which it also won last year. Fellow double award winner last year, Adorn Jewellers, which is based in The Shambles, is also hoping to retain its titles of Jewellery and Accessories Retailer of the Year and Excellence in Customer Service in 2016.

As well as the eight returning finalists, 18  retailers have been shortlisted for the first time ever in their Retail Awards categories. The Awards return for the third year running and recognise the very best independent and high street retailers and market traders in Chesterfield. Three businesses have been shortlisted in each category but only one can win.

Organised in association with Chesterfield College, the winners will be announced on Wednesday 25 May by the new Peak FM breakfast duo Stu and Cat at a special award ceremony held at Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel.

The breakfast duo commented: “It’s a real honour for us to present the awards. We love the fact that all the shortlisted businesses have been nominated by shoppers. We’re both really new to the area and are working and living in Chesterfield so have seen for ourselves what a great retail scene the town has and a supportive community behind it.”

The winners of each category will also fight it out for the prestigious Retailer of the Year Award, sponsored by East Midlands Chamber. A further two award winners will also be announced at the ceremony; winners of The Pavements Shopping Centre and Vicar Lane Shopping Centre Retailer of the Year Awards.

Discover the full list of finalists for the Chesterfield Retail Awards 2016

Chesterfield Retail Awards Ceremony

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Visiting

Celebrating years of service at Chesterfield Royal Hospital

Almost 650 years of service with the NHS has been clocked up by staff at Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

The trust held its first celebratory event last month to recognise colleagues who have been employed by the NHS for 20, 30 and 40 years.

Joyce Allen, Senior II Physiotherapist and Stephen Bacon, Mechanical Team Leader both celebrated four decades of service.

Stephen Bacon has the distinction of being the longest-serving person at Chesterfield Royal Hospital; a title he’s likely to hold for some time.

Eleven members of staff celebrated 30 years and eleven celebrated 20 years.

Stephen Bacon explains: “I actually started at this site in Calow in 1982, two years before it opened, to work on what was then a new build. I joined the trust in 1975 as the first of a set of apprentices, the current head of facilities, Chris Tann was in the final batch.

“I was a mechanical craftsman at the old Royal, working my way up to Mechanical Maintenance Manager and when I got offered the job of Energy Manager I couldn’t turn it down.

“People often ask me what’s kept me here but in truth I’ve been trying to leave for 30 years but great opportunities keep coming up that I couldn’t turn down. But seriously it’s the people and staff who work here, there are some real characters within the Estates team and I’ve had a very good 40 years here.”

The occasion also marked Interim Chief Executive, Tony Campbell’s first public event. Commending employees during celebrations, Tony said: “This event is for you; it’s a token of thanks for all of the effort and commitment you have shown this hospital and all of those who use and work in it for such an extraordinary length of time.

“To be in the company of 650 years of experience is incredible and it’s at times such as those within which we find ourselves that we need you to bring that level of experience to bear.”

Chesterfield Royal Hospital’s first long-service celebration took place on Friday 18th March and was organised by the trust’s Voluntary Services Co-Ordinato,r Helen Kirkwood. The full list of those recognised can be seen below.

Chesterfield Royal Hospital long serviceCelebrating 20 years of service:-

Janice Kirk – Patient Services Assistant
Claire Metcalfe – Assistant General Manager
Deborah Crofts – Newborn Hearing Screener
Suzanne Yates – Patient Records Clerk
Mary Fry – Patient Services Assistant
Deborah Farr – Adult Audiology Manager
Sarah Crockett – Theatre Storekeeper
Tina McCall – Hearing Screener
Catherine Smith – Senior Physiotherapist
Karen Gibbons – Assistant Practitioner
Vicky Glossop – Support Worker

 

Celebrating 30 years of service:-

Kirsten Grafton – Microbiology Assistant
Denise Penney – Sister
Sally Burr – Staff Nurse
Sarah Adams – Nurse Practitioner
Michael Boulton – Pathology Van Driver
Patricia Eland – Senior Midwifery Sister
Yvonne Hawkins – Midwife
Wendy Hill – Management Accountant
Nicky Payne – Senior Staff Nurse
Florence Powell – Sister
Philip Raynor – Consultant Anaesthetist

 

Celebrating 40 years of service:-

Joyce Allen – Senior II Physiotherapist
Stephen Bacon – Mechanical Team Leader

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield

Hosts for Chesterfield Retail Awards 2016 Announced

Peak FM breakfast show presenters, Stu Haycock and Catherine Kilvington have been confirmed as the hosts of the 2016 Chesterfield Retail Awards.

The  pair will host the glittering award ceremony, which will honour the town’s very best jewellers, independent stores, food and drink retailers, and multiple retailers at Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel on Wednesday 25th May 2016.

The awards are organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with the Chesterfield College Group.

More than 170 businesses have been nominated across 14 award categories, and the shortlist will be announced by the pair on the Peak FM Breakfast Show on Wednesday 20th April 2016.

Destination Chesterfield Manager Dominic Stevens said: “We’re delighted Stu and Cat have agreed to host the awards ceremony and I’m sure they will make the 2016 Chesterfield Retail Awards ceremony a memorable event.”

For more information about the 2016 Chesterfield Retail Awards visit http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards or follow on Twitter using the hashtag #retailawards16.

peak fm

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Leisure

Historic Hotel in Chesterfield Sold

Ringwood Hall Hotel, a 19th century grade 11 listed Georgian Manor House in Brimington, Chesterfield is now under new ownership.

The management team and the day to day operations under Rona Davies, General Manager for 18 years, will remain the same, providing and maintaining outstanding facilities and service to all Ringwood Hall Hotel`s customers.

The property has undergone significant refurbishment over the last 20 years under the stewardship of Lyric Hotels Ltd, and now provides 74 bedrooms, bar facilities, conference and banqueting suites, as well as the onsite Parklands Health & Fitness Club, with indoor pool, sauna, steamroom and well equipped gymnasium.

David Seton, owner of Lyric Hotels, took over Ringwood in 1999 when it was a partly derelict 21 bedroom hotel. Since then some £4.5m has been invested in the venue and the workforce has increased from 16 to 180.

Seton added “ You never actually own a place like Ringwood, you just look after it until the next person comes along. It has been an honour to have been custodian of Ringwood Hall for such a short time in its history, and I`m delighted to be leaving the hotel in a much better state than we found it in.

Rona Davies commented “Following the retirement of the previous owners, the whole team at Ringwood are looking forward to a new era in the hotel`s history, and I am delighted to reassure our customers that its business as usual going forward.”

Ringwood Hall

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Leisure, Visiting