Business

Free workshop for first-time employers

14th April 2016

Entrepreneurs in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire who are ready to grow their business are invited to attend a free workshop for advice on first-time employment.

The free workshop – Becoming An Employer For The First Time – is organised by Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council’s Innovation Support Project and is being delivered by BRM Solicitors.

The workshop is being held on Thursday 5 May at BRM Solicitors based on Saltergate in Chesterfield. The free workshop is one of a number organised by Chesterfield Borough Council and Destination Chesterfield to provide advice and practical help to businesses.

As well as gaining advice on how to find the best candidates, businesses will also learn what to consider when taking on new employees, hiring and recruitment, basic employment law, writing job adverts, holding job interviews and financial considerations when taking on employees.

Dominic Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager explained: “It can be a big step for a business to start employing people as it represents a step change in processes and procedures. The workshop will help employers to show them that they are the ones in control and have nothing to fear.”

The workshop is open for any businesses in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire, however there is a maximum of one delegate per organisation as places are limited.

Book a place on the workshop

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

New Development at Markham Vale to Create 400 Jobs

12th April 2016

Another major deal bringing up to 400 new jobs at Derbyshire County Council’s flagship regeneration site has been signed with car industry giants Ferdinand Bilstein UK.

Ferdinand Bilstein UK will be moving its current distribution operations in Kent and Pontefract to a new purpose-built distribution centre to benefit from better transport links to the site located just off junction 29A of the M1.

Established in Germany in 1844, the company operates worldwide producing, marketing and distributing car parts for a range of vehicle makes and models including Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Land Rover and Ford.

Paul Dodgson, Operations Director at Ferdinand Bilstein UK said: “We made the decision to move to Markham Vale as the development offers excellent transport links to the main motorway network, which was a key requirement of ours.

“We also required a bespoke and high-quality building to fit with the company brand and ethos, and we were confident Henry Boot Developments and Derbyshire County Council could deliver this.

“Our relocation to Markham Vale was mainly due to how close we can be to some of our biggest UK customers. We are excited to become a part of this high-profile development.”

The building of the firm’s new 224,966 square feet distribution centre is set to be completed by December this year creating around 150 jobs initially and a further 250 to follow.

Leader of Derbyshire County Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Policy, Economic Development and Budget Councillor Anne Western said: “This is more fantastic news for Markham especially following the announcement of Great Bear Distribution’s move to the site, which is also set to create up to 400 new jobs.

“We’re committed to building a strong economy in Derbyshire and Ferdinand Bilstein UK’s move to Markham will bring more business into the county.

“Markham is one of the jewels in our crown and we’re proud of its success and how it continues to grow.”

The firm’s new base will be built by the county council’s private sector property partner, Henry Boot Developments.

Ben Ward, Director at Henry Boot Developments said: “We are extremely pleased that a deal has been agreed with Ferdinand Bilstein UK. The company has a fantastic track record and is a world leader in the automotive parts industry.

“We will be developing a high specification, bespoke distribution centre to fit with the company’s profile.

“This is the first deal we have agreed on Markham Vale North, which has a further 55 acres of land available for immediate development. We also have remaining plots available on the West and East sites.”

A series of drop-in events have been organised to update residents on the latest developments at Markham Vale – especially on the north site – which is currently being developed and where the new distribution operation for Ferdinand Bilstein UK will be.

Residents will be able to speak to representatives from the firm about the jobs available and staff from the county council and from Henry Boot will also be on hand at the events being held on:

Wednesday 13 April, 3pm-7pm at the Albert Inn, Woodthorpe Road, Woodthorpe
Wednesday 20 April, 3pm-7pm at Duckmanton Methodist Church, Duckmanton Road, Duckmanton
Wednesday 27 April, 1.30pm-5.30pm at Poolsbrook Miners Welfare, Cottage Close, Poolsbrook

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

New funding to help young people into work

12th April 2016

Young people in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire are being offered a boost to their employability skills and being helped onto a fulfilling career path thanks to new funding.

A total of four projects have received a total of £141,000 after successfully bidding from the Careers and Enterprise Fund, which is administered through the Government–backed Careers and Enterprise Company and works to build closer links between schools and employers.

The projects will help schools and students and work alongside the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – the private-sector led group of businesses, local authorities, skills and training providers, community and social groups, which promotes economic growth across the two counties.

The two projects running in Chesterfield include:

*IntoUniversity Careers Programmes – This will develop students’ awareness of high quality careers through contact with employers; increasing their knowledge of the career paths and opportunities available to them through contact with employers on Business in FOCUS days, Careers in FOCUS programmes, the Corporate Mentoring scheme, and through internships and work experience. It is aimed at students in the D2N2 area and the Solent, Oxfordshire, Leeds City Region, Coast to Capital, the West of England and London areas.

*Founders4Schools – This nationwide scheme aims to provide teacher training workshops to teachers of Year 9 and 10 students in all schools across the LEP’s area; to help increase the number of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) graduates, to close the skills gap. Workshops will provide materials and deliver training to three teachers per school, on how to get local business leaders to visit the teacher’s classroom as role models to help bring subjects to life.

Ian Greenaway, Employability champion for D2N2’s Skills and Employment Commission, said: “It’s great news that D2N2 area schools will benefit from Careers and Enterprise Company support around careers, enterprise and employability.

“It means young people across the D2N2 area of Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire getting help on developing skills, gaining knowledge and becoming ‘work ready’ at the beginning of their careers. D2N2 and its stakeholders will work with the organisations offering employability training to schools, to provide a joined up solution.”

Mike Hughes, Executive Director at Twenty Twenty, added: “Too many 15 to 18-year-olds in the D2N2 area are struggling to thrive in mainstream education, feel stranded without the qualifications for college or the skills and experience employers require, and don’t know what to do next.

“Our motto is that all young people are resources to be developed not problems to be solved. So we’re really looking forward to working closely with the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, along with the Enterprise Adviser Network, to target support where it’s needed most and make a measurable difference.

Claudia Harris, Chief Executive of the Careers & Enterprise Company, said: “We were delighted to award funding to Think Forward, TwentyTwenty, Into University Careers, and Founders4Schools, as part of our Careers & Enterprise Investment Fund.”

She added: “We believe these outstanding programmes will use our funding to help ensure every young person across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire can transition successfully from education to work.”

The D2N2 LEP is already working with the Careers & Enterprise Company on a £300,000 Enterprise Adviser Network project to match up to 80 schools across its area with a volunteer business advisor in order to champion employability and careers at schools.

For more information about the Careers & Enterprise Company visit www.careersandenterprise.co.uk

To learn more about D2N2’s work on skills see its website at www.d2n2lep.org/skills

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield

New director appointed at Shorts

11th April 2016

Chesterfield Champion Shorts Chartered Accountants is delighted to announce the appointment of Brian Gooch as the most recent member of its rapidly expanding tax planning team.

Brian brings with him over 22 years of experience working within large independent and national accountancy firms locally. He is a chartered tax adviser and chartered accountant who joins as Tax Technical Director specialising in business taxation and VAT advice.

Welcoming Brian, Tax Partner Scott Burkinshaw commented: “Brian is another top quality appointment for us. Over recent years we have continually strengthened our tax planning team to meet the demand created by our sustained growth and we now have in my view the pre-eminent tax team in the region.”

“We continue to attract high calibre recruits across the firm and have appointed almost 40 additional members of staff within the last two years alone who were attracted by being part of a quality growing firm. Our Partner group is unrivalled within the local marketplace and the senior team that we have assembled around the partner group is similarly impressive: Brian represents another important addition to this expanding team. With a large number of our partners and staff having Big 4/large national firm experience our clients can be confident when dealing with senior personnel from Shorts that they are working with some of the finest accountancy and tax professionals in the region.”

“There has been a need in the Sheffield City Region for many years for a firm to provide proper proactive tax advice. At Shorts we recognised this gap in the market and we have therefore been focussed on building the capacity and capability of our tax team. We now have more Chartered Tax Advisers than any other independent firm in the region and this has been key in allowing us to be able to consistently bring leading edge tax solutions to our clients as a matter of course.”

Brian added “I am thrilled to be joining such an impressive team and look forward to supporting the continuing exciting growth of the firm. Shorts is a highly regarded within the local professional and business communities and they are clearly focused on providing their clients with the very best service and advice”.

Image: Scott Burkinshaw Tax Partner, welcoming Brian Gooch to Shorts

Posted in Business

Derbyshire companies scoop major contracts at Markham Vale

8th April 2016

Six local companies are flying the flag for Derbyshire after winning contracts to help build the latest development at Markham Vale.

Heage-based construction firm Bowmer & Kirkland was awarded a £16.2m contract to build a new distribution centre at Markham Vale business park for national warehousing and distribution firm Great Bear Distribution.

And now as part of the deal, Bowmer & Kirkland has appointed a number of sub-contractors to work on the project. This includes five other Derbyshire businesses providing services ranging from construction and engineering to drainage, scaffolding and fire prevention.

They include:

• All Foundations (UK) Ltd − Specialist Civil Engineering Contractors − Blackwell
• CRS Fire Protection Ltd − Fire protection services − Chesterfield
• High Peak Scaffolding Ltd − Scaffolding – Buxton
• J. Pugh-Lewis Ltd − Fencing − Pilsley
• Melfort Construction Services Ltd − Groundworks − Alfreton

Live images of Great Bear – external

Live images of Great Bear – internal

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

“It’s fantastic to see Derbyshire-based companies being brought in to work on Great Bear’s new distribution centre which is great for the local economy.

“Markham Vale continues to play a key role in achieving the council’s long-term vision of building a strong economy in Derbyshire, creating new jobs and supporting local businesses.

“Great Bear is a shining example of how Markham is helping us to achieve this vision by awarding contracts to local businesses within Derbyshire and nearby areas as well as creating more than 400 new jobs over the next few years.

“We look forward to welcoming even more new businesses to Markham’s growing network this year as the site continues to move from strength to strength.”

Great Bear’s 480,000sq.ft distribution centre − which is set to be completed this summer − will be the biggest development to date at Markham Vale, located just off M1 junction 29a.

Bowmer & Kirkland was appointed to oversee the project by Henry Boot Developments − Derbyshire County Council’s private sector property partner.

Ben Ward, Director at Henry Boot Developments said:

“We are delighted Bowmer & Kirkland have looked to Derbyshire and the surrounding area for their supply chain, ensuring the construction of the Great Bear facility has a positive impact on the local economy surrounding Markham Vale.

“Our commitment to the local businesses and labour force is a major focus of our joint venture with Derbyshire County Council and it’s fantastic to see the efforts made in the conception stages of Markham Vale coming to fruition.”

John Clarke, Regional Director at Bowmer & Kirkland said:

“We have worked closely with Henry Boot Developments to make sure the supply chain process takes into account local contractors, and ensure the construction of Great Bear creates high-value opportunities for these local businesses.

“We still have a further £240,000 of construction contracts to award before completion and we hope these will result in further local appointments.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development

Growing Chesterfield Company to Hold Recruitment Day

7th April 2016

One of Chesterfield’s fastest growing companies, Evolution Funding, is holding a recruitment open day on Thursday 21^st April, from 10am until 2pm, at its headquarters on Thompson Close.

Evolution Funding boasts multiple arms to its operation, including a motor finance brokerage, vehicle rentals, vehicle loans, and a car dealership and body shop.

There are currently vacancies for various roles across the business, including sales, sales support, finance underwriters, administrators, customer service, IT, developers, car technicians and mechanics.

The open day will be an informal opportunity for attendees to meet some of the Evolution team, chat with reps from the various departments about the roles on offer, ask any questions and find out where to submit their CV.

This is an exciting time to be joining a company that consistently gains both industry and wider recognition, being named ‘F&I Broker of the Year 2015’, listed in the Investec Mid-Market 100, a ranking of the UK’s fastest-growing private companies, and identified as one of London Stock Exchange’s ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ in both 2015 and 2016.

The firm recently caught the eye of Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins when it was recognised as the tenth best performing SME in Chesterfield by the Derbyshire Times in their recent listing of top local firms.

Mr Perkins commended Evolution Funding on their success. He said: “Firms like Evolution create the jobs and growth that are vital to Chesterfield’s economy.

“It is great news that Evolution are looking to employ more people here and that some of the current workforce have been promoted from apprenticeships and junior positions to managerial roles.”

For further information or an informal chat, contact Carrie Rowlandson, HR Officer, on 07785 619 985 or email carrierowlandson@evolutionfunding.com.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Councillors confirm support for Sheffield City Region devolution deal

7th April 2016

At a special meeting held yesterday evening, councillors again voted in support of Chesterfield Borough Council applying to be part of a devolution deal which will see the borough benefit from a share of £900 million in funding over a 30 year period.

In applying to be a full member of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, powers and funding relating to issues such as transport, skills and training and business support will be controlled locally rather than by ministers and civil servants in London.

A letter from the Government to the Sheffield City Region was provided to councillors at the meeting, confirming the powers to be devolved to local councils and the allocation of a single pot of flexible funding amounting to at least £484 million over the next five years, as a direct result of the devolution deal.

This will not affect the services that the council currently provides to residents in Chesterfield.

The meeting was called following the threat of a legal challenge by Derbyshire County Council.

The report which was considered by councillors when they made their original decision to apply for full membership of the Sheffield City Region on 3 March did not contain a full Equality Impact Assessment, which looks at how the decision will affect groups protected by anti-discrimination legislation.

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We held this second meeting to look again at the options open to us in terms of devolution deals rather than spending public money on legal battles.

“As councillors elected to represent Chesterfield residents, we have looked again at all of the evidence presented to us, including the full Equality Impact Assessment and the decisions of other councils in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

“We feel strongly that the Sheffield City Region devolution deal is the best deal for Chesterfield people and I want to reassure all that this does not mean that Chesterfield will become part of Yorkshire; Chesterfield is and will remain a Derbyshire town – that is not up for negotiation.”

Residents will have another opportunity to have their say on the issue in a further round of public consultation to be held in the late spring and early summer before a final decision is made by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in the autumn.

For the latest on the issue, visit: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/devolution

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Leisure

New High Sheriff for Derbyshire

7th April 2016

Liz Fothergill CBE, Immediate Past President of East Midlands Chamber and Chairman of Derby-based Pennine Healthcare, will be appointment as High Sheriff of Derbyshire today.

Liz started her working life as a librarian but in 1977 found herself between jobs and started helping out in the family company, founded by and named after her father, Ivor Shaw.

The business evolved from engineering, filling stations and car sales and by the end of the 70s was manufacturing a small range of plastic medical disposable products from a new site on Pontefract Street, Derby.

Decades later, Liz still has the manufacturing bug and today the business, now known as Pennine Healthcare, turns over in excess of £30m a year, has 380 employees and produces 250,000 items a day, of which 70% are exported to 70 countries worldwide.

As a keen exporter, Liz is a Catalyst member, a global network of business leaders promoting UK excellence internationally under UK Trade and Investment.

Away from work, Liz gives a lot back to the city and communities of Derby. She is passionate about the positive influence business can have in education and community development.

She was HRH the Prince of Wales’ Ambassador for Business in the Community in the East Midlands from 2012 to 2014. She is Derby City business representative for D2N2 – the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Local Economic Partnership – and a member of Derby Renaissance Board.

Liz was Deputy Chair of the University of Derby from 2003-2013, is Chair of Derwent Stepping Stones (a neighbourhood nursery and training academy). She is a business champion of YMCA Derbyshire and a governor of Landau Forte Moorhead Academy and was formerly Chair of Derbyshire Dales Careline.

She is also Chairman of the Derby Book Festival, which had its very successful first event in 2015 and will stage an even more inclusive and exciting festival in June this year.

Liz said: “I am honoured to have been invited to be High Sheriff for Derbyshire and I hope I will make the most of the opportunity this office presents.

“During my tenure, I would like to really fly the flag for all that is great and good about Derby and Derbyshire, including its businesses, and ensure that the East Midlands remains a flag-bearer for the rest of the UK.”

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “The chamber would like to congratulate Liz on her appointment as High Sheriff for Derbyshire.

“Liz has been the driving force behind Pennine Healthcare, in Derby, and is a very active member of the local community. She is the immediate Past President of the Chamber and remains a very influential member of our Board of Directors.

“I’m sure Liz will take her enthusiasm for business and for Derby and Derbyshire into her new role and we wish her every success.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield

Town’s manufacturing businesses called on to make their voice heard at free event

5th April 2016

Representatives from manufacturing and engineering businesses in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire are being invited to have their voice heard at the Chesterfield Manufacturing Forum on 28 April.

The free event, which is organised by Destination Chesterfield with support from United Cast Bar and NatWest, is being held at the Casa Hotel from 12.30 – 2.30pm. It is designed to give companies currently operating in the sector the opportunity to learn about the latest news and developments.

Sheffield’s 377th Master Cutler Craig McKay, who himself is CEO of Sheffield engineering firm Evenort Ltd, is speaking at the Forum. Mr KcKay will also be joined by Andy Tuscher from EEF Ltd, an organisation that supports and champions manufacturing and engineering in the UK and Europe.

The Forum, which was established by Destination Chesterfield in 2012, brings together key representatives in the town’s manufacturing and engineering sector and feeds into Growth, Skills and Funding plans in Sheffield City Region and D2N2 LEPs. The Forum has also led a programme of activity of awareness raising of jobs and careers within the sector amongst young people,

James Brand, Managing Director of United Cast Bar and Chair of the Forum said: “We want to ensure that the views of Chesterfield’s manufacturing and engineering sector are properly presented at a regional level and the Forum plays an important role in this. The more businesses that get involved, then the louder voice we have.

“The Forum is a great opportunity for firms to get together, share success and access information and advice to grow and prosper further.”

There will be a two course lunch as well as a chance to discuss business with colleagues in the sector.

Places are strictly limited and are only available to manufacturing and engineering businesses. To reserve your place visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chesterfield-manufacturing-forum-tickets-23084479299

Posted in Business, Made in Chesterfield

Chesterfield firm to speak at major new European exhibition

5th April 2016

Chesterfield-based UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) has been unveiled as the official media partner for a major new European exhibition.

The Contamination EXPO Series, taking place in London this autumn, will offer the latest knowledge, products and innovations to manage all aspects of contamination, from land remediation, spill response to air pollution and hazardous materials.

UKATA will exhibit at the event, while a representative from the UKATA board is also set to address delegates.

“UKATA is proud to be one of the official media partner for the Contamination EXPO this year,” said UKATA Marketing Officer, Victoria Castelluccio. “The event will have a major focus on asbestos, which is perfect as part of our overall awareness campaign strategy, and we are looking forward to both exhibiting and to putting forward one of our directors to address this important EXPO.”

The exhibition will feature over 120 hours of CPD accredited, free-to-attend seminar conference content, networking and the exhibition show floor will be filled with companies and associations like UKATA offering the most innovative products, solutions and expertise in cleaning up, or preventing contamination.

UKATA exists to set and verify standards and to emphasise the importance of best practice in training when it comes to the safe handling, removal and disposal of asbestos. Tasked by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in 2008 for taking-on, managing and developing the list of training providers for licensed asbestos work in the UK, UKATA is now the leading authority in all levels of asbestos training in the UK.

Posted in Business

Expansion at Markham Vale company

4th April 2016

Chesterfield distributor Industrial Ancillaries has unveiled its new, larger headquarters at Markham Vale.

After just under 4 months, Caddick Construction has completed a new extension across the front of the building, which has added 3500 sq ft of office space for the growing firm.

In line with the company’s continuous efforts to be energy efficient, the new build features rainwater harvesting and solar photo-voltaic panels; ensuring the firm keeps up with its low CO2 emission rate and company ethos.

The development also boasts an array of new facilities including:-

• Industrial Ancillaries’ brand new training academy – for the company to focus on delivering it’s BFPA Accredited courses;
• A re-vamped trade counter to offer customers a welcoming and more widely-stocked store;
• A re-vamped workshop;
• New canteen and welfare areas for staff;
• New meeting room facilities furnished with modern equipment, created for both staff and customer use;
• Additional car parking space to add to the already ample parking available on-site;
• Additional Kardex Remstar© vertical lift machines to provide enhanced storage facilities and increase product lines.

Jamie Dennis, managing director at Industrial Ancillaries comments:-

“The new ultra-modern facility undoubtedly brings more value to the company and an enhanced capability to provide more improved service to customers. Industrial Ancillaries looks forward to welcoming visitors to the new premises and continuing to build the business from strength to strength.”

Posted in Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development