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North East Derbyshire District Council named as finalists in UK Housing awards for work on homelessness

North East Derbyshire District Council have been announced as finalists at the UK Housing Awards for their work in preventing residents becoming homeless through collaborative working with other authorities.

They have been nominated as finalists in the Homelessness Partnership of the Year category. Dash Services and authorities across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire set up Call B4 You Serve, an initiative which is aimed at providing landlords with free advice and support for dealing with tenants in difficulties.

The awards holders recognised the contribution and success of the Call B4 You Serve Project, which has helped people stay in their homes in difficult circumstances and has prevented homelessness across the two counties in the private rented sector.

Councillor Alan Powell, portfolio holder for Communications and Housing said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the Authority. Being recognised nationally and being finalists for the work we have done on homelessness just goes to show the efforts we are making to help people in desperate need.

“The advice and support landlords have received from the Call B4 You Serve project has been pivotal in helping people stay in their homes. We are passionate about helping both the tenant and landlord, and this project has provided the perfect platform the remediate between the two.

“This award is well deserved and shows that collaborative working with other authorities has far reaching benefits for our residents, a huge well done to all involved.”

The winners of the event will be announced on 7 May 2020 at an event at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Pictured left to right: Mark Skelton (Dash Services Call B4 You Serve) / Lee Pepper (NEDDC Housing Options Manager) / Linda Cobb (Dash Services Call B4 You Serve) / Helen Scott (Dash Services Call B4 You Serve) / Sally Agyeman Dash Services Call B4 You Serve)

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home

Chesterfield FC Community Trust secures National League Trust grant

Chesterfield FC Community Trust has secured funding from the National League Trust to support delivery of sports clubs in the community.

The project is aimed at engaging parts of the community that don’t always have the capacity to access sporting opportunities.

Keith Jackson, The Trust’s head of sport and activities, said: “It’s fantastic news that we have again secured funding from the National League.”

“This will enable us to increase our offer for those in deprived areas, those with disabilities and other hard to reach groups.”

“We owe a huge thanks to the National League Trust for supporting our project again.”

The recent Chesterfield FC match against Ebbsfleet United last weekend marked the Time to Change fixture for Chesterfield FC Community Trust. Time to Change is a nationwide campaign to end the stigma and discrimination faced by people who experience mental health problems.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Winners Revealed: Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards 2020

Shining stars of the local tourism industry were announced at the prestigious Peak District & Derbyshire Tourism Awards last night (5 March).

Designed to recognise and reward excellence in the area’s valuable £2.3 billion visitor economy, the awards brought together 31 finalists in 11 categories for a glittering ceremony at Buxton’s Grade II* listed Devonshire Dome.

Some of the Peak District and Derbyshire’s finest hotels, B&Bs, holiday parks, pubs, visitor attractions and experiences were amongst those recognised at the awards evening, which was organised by Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire with support from the University of Derby and the European Regional Development Fund.

Demonstrating the quality and diversity of the area’s tourism offer, awards were hotly contested and nominees progressed through shortlisting, mystery shopping and a rigorous judging process by panels of experts to arrive at last night’s much anticipated awards ceremony.

The evening was enhanced by a sparkling drinks reception which included tastings from White Peak Distillery, the area’s first full-scale craft distillery, and a three-course meal prepared by students from the University of Derby’s Centre for Contemporary Hospitality and Tourism.

Host James Berresford, former CEO of VisitEngland, congratulated finalists as Gold, Silver and Bronze award winners were announced, shining a spotlight on the best of the area’s visitor economy.

Gold award winners were each presented with a hand-crafted plaque sponsored by Derbyshire-based C W Sellors Fine Jewellery.

In a further boost, Gold winners will now represent the Peak District and Derbyshire at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence on Tuesday 16 June in Hull.

Brendan Moffett, of sponsors the University of Derby, said: “We’re delighted to host this wonderful celebration of the area’s tourism industry at the prestigious Devonshire Dome in Buxton.”

“The University of Derby is keen to use our location at the heart of the Peak District to continue to support the growth of our excellent tourism businesses and develop the next generation of talent to meet future challenges, ensuring the industry can remain strong and competitive.”

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “It is our privilege to celebrate some of the talented businesses who offer that extra special service and experience for some of the Peak District and Derbyshire’s 42 million visitors each year.”

“All of our finalists are shining examples of quality, excellence and innovation. It is this emphasis on quality that keeps us firmly on the map as a world-class visitor destination. Congratulations to all our worthy winners and finalists!”

The Winners:

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award

  • GOLD: Hoe Grange Holidays, Brassington
  • Silver: Croft Bungalow Accessible Holiday Let, Birchover
  • Bronze: Hope Cross Cottage at Vicarage Farm, Wheston

B&B and Guest House of the Year

  • GOLD: Underleigh House, Hope
  • Silver: Grendon Bed & Breakfast, Buxton

Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year

  • GOLD: Landal Darwin Forest, Matlock
  • Silver: Hoe Grange Holidays, Brassington
  • Bronze: Hayfield Camping and Caravanning Club Site

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award

  • GOLD: Hoe Grange Holidays, Brassington
  • Silver: The Devonshire Arms, Pilsley

Experience of the Year

  • GOLD: Pure Outdoor Ltd
  • Silver: Acclimbatize Ltd
  • Bronze: Live for the Hills Ltd

Hotel of the Year

  • GOLD: The Peacock at Rowsley
  • Silver: CASA Hotel, Chesterfield
  • Bronze: Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa, Chesterfield

New Tourism Business Award

  • GOLD: White Peak Distillery, Ambergate
  • Silver: myGuidedWalks Ltd
  • Bronze: Tagg Lane Dairy Ltd, Monyash

Pub of the Year

  • GOLD: The Prince of Wales Village Pub & Restaurant, Baslow
  • Silver: The Devonshire Arms, Beeley
  • Bronze: The Royal Oak, Hurdlow

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year

  • GOLD: Ashford Mill, Ashford-in-the-Water
  • Silver: Peak District Holidays Ltd, Matlock Bath
  • Bronze: Peak Venues – Redhurst Barn, Wetton

Taste of the Peak District & Derbyshire

  • GOLD: Fischer’s Baslow Hall
  • Silver: The Cavendish Hotel, Baslow
  • Bronze: The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop

Visitor Attraction of the Year

  • GOLD: Chatsworth
  • Silver: Matlock Farm Park
  • Bronze: Haddon Hall

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Summer, Visiting

Leading Chesterfield SMEs boost workforce skills – for free

Three prominent Chesterfield businesses are upskilling their management teams with free training thanks to a government scheme.

The Skills Support for the Workforce Programme supports SMEs to flourish with free courses to boost workforce skills. Delivered by leading provider The Source Skills Academy, with Chesterfield business coach and author Anne Burton at the helm, the training is worth up to £600 per person.

Peak Pipe Systems, one of the UK’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of polyethylene pipe, jumped at the opportunity of boosting its workers’ potential. Along with sister company ControlPoint Ltd, creators of quality assurance systems, it put nine team leaders forward for accredited Team Leading and Management courses.

ControlPoint opened its doors to other businesses and hosted the workshops at its Chesterfield Trading Estate site, including local company Weightron Bilanciai, one of Europe’s leading suppliers of weighbridges and industrial weighing products, software and automation. Five team leaders from Sheepbridge-based MSK Ingredients are also upskilling.

Sammy Hodgkiss, Service Team Leader at Weightron Bilanciai, said: “I want to progress to management at Weightron and this course will improve my leadership skills and give clarity on how to deal with HR issues should they arise.”

Laura Chapman (right), HR Manager at Peak Pipe Systems, commented: “We didn’t know there was free government funding to help us develop our employees until we heard about Skills Support for the Workforce from The Source. We realised it was a fantastic opportunity.”

“Investing in our people is a priority but we have to keep an eye on our budgets. A number of talented staff across our shop floor, offices and warehouse had been promoted to team leaders but had not received managerial training. SSW has enabled us to support them in their roles.”

“The employee’s voice is very important to us. Upskilling our managers, enables them to provide better support to their staff.”

Laura added: “As Chesterfield Champions, we were delighted to support other local businesses by hosting the training.”

Chesterfield has been designated a priority area in the Sheffield City Region’s delivery of the Skills Support for the Workforce Programme, which is co-financed by the European Social Fund and the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

Dale Robinson, Business Development Director at The Source, said: “We are helping Chesterfield SMEs grow by enabling them to develop their people at no cost.”

“Our SSW courses support the Sheffield City Region LEP’s priority to boost the local economy and will be running regularly in different parts of the region.”

Companies who want to develop staff management skills can contact The Source’s business development officer at vernon.tolson@thesourceacademy.co.uk

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

Clarissa’s Interiors opens at Vicar Lane

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is pleased to announce the opening of a brand-new independent pop-up shop at the centre.

Clarissa’s Interiors is run by mother and daughter team Jayne and Clare. They started out in 2016, making hand crafted glass jars and lanterns with floral designs and animals as well as creating bespoke designs for customers. They sold these on a stall at Chesterfield’s Thursday market, which was followed by a gazebo at Vicar Lane on a Saturday. This worked in tandem with them working the local country show and event circuit, so the pop-up shop is the next step in their exciting venture.

The store is located opposite CEX and sells a range of home interiors / home décor collections. These include Clare’s hand-crafted items along with beautiful items for the home – from mirrors, and clocks, to wall art, cushions, lamps, occasional chairs and tables, small accessories, candles, ornaments and more.

The store is open from 9am – 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday.

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager, Vicar Lane said, “We’re very pleased to be able to support yet another young, local business spread their wings and grow, in the heart of Chesterfield and are very excited to see the range of products on offer at Clarissa’s Interiors.’’

Click here to find out more about Vicar Lane Shopping Centre

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

New exhibition to showcase people, possessions and perceptions at Chatsworth

A new exhibition will present some of the fascinating figures that have shaped Chatsworth’s past and present over the centuries, by placing their portraits alongside key objects that both illuminate their story and influence perceptions about Chatsworth.

Life Stories traces the lives of friends, artists, politicians and others associated with Chatsworth. Running from 21 March to 4 October, the exhibition pairs portraits and objects, inviting visitors to look closer and meet the many faces of Chatsworth.

Artists Lucian Freud and Angela Conner, the playwright Tom Stoppard, the poet Sir John Betjeman, and ceramicist Natasha Daintry are paired in new and unexpected ways. Objects such as the abandoned paints used by Freud on an unfinished work found in the Sabine Bathroom are used to illustrate their relationship to Chatsworth.

Famous names and objects, Devonshire family members, and staff such as cellarman Edmund Marsden invite visitors to look again at works in the Collection. Founder Bess of Hardwick’s portrait is shown with a modern reproduction of her necklace of 1000 pearls, footage recreating the moment film star Adele Astaire met her future family introduces moments of humour and humanity, while new pieces of jewellery by contemporary artist Tarka Kings are inspired by Chatsworth’s collection of portrait miniatures.

Dr Alexandra Hodby, Curator of Exhibitions & Engagement, Chatsworth said: “We wanted to make the famous faces seen all around Chatsworth more human and easier to relate to – to reduce the distance that their name or the grand setting can sometimes create. In the end, they are human beings like the rest of us and by linking them to a very personal object we make it easier to understand them as people and the impact, great or small, they have had on Chatsworth over the years,”

Click here to find out more about the Life Stories Exhibition

Skin Deep by Natasha Daintry © Natasha Daintry © The Devonshire Collections, Chatsworth. Reproduced by permission of Chatsworth Settlement Trustees.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Chesterfield FC Women appoint General Manager

Gabrielle Salomon has been named as the new general manager of Chesterfield FC Women.

Gabrielle, who is involved with the Sport Policy Unit at Manchester Metropolitan University, will oversee the day to day running of the organisation and take the lead on all off-the-pitch matters.

She holds an MSc in Sport Management and is studying for a PhD, investigating the impacts diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives have on gender equality in football workplaces.

Commenting on her new role, Gabrielle said: “I’m excited to join Chesterfield FC Women as this club experienced a lot of great progress both on and off the pitch over recent seasons.”

“There is a strong dynamic around the club’s operations and incredible work planned for the future.”

Michael Noon, Chesterfield FC Women’s chairman and first-team manager, added: “We are delighted to have been able to attract somebody of Gabi’s calibre to come and work with us. ”

“Gabi’s knowledge and experience will be invaluable and she will play a key role in developing the women’s set up even further.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home, Leisure

Climate change summit asks Derbyshire ‘what will you do?’

More than 150 people from local businesses, housing developers, councils and other public bodies gathered at an event to explore how they can work together to help tackle climate change.

The aim of the event, held at County Hall in Matlock, was to set out the vision and ambition for the whole of Derbyshire to become a net zero carbon county by 2050 – which means cutting carbon emissions from every area of everyday life to the lowest possible level and offsetting the remaining emissions through carbon absorbing measures such as planting trees.

Council leaders who attended from across the county showed their commitment by pledging their support to helping achieve the 2050 ambition in line with Government targets.

Derbyshire County Council Leader and Climate and Sustainability Champion Councillor Barry Lewis said:
“There’s no doubt our climate is changing and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent.

“Clearly action is needed on an unprecedented scale and by 2032 the county council intends to be carbon neutral in terms of our property, street-lighting and fleet operating with net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

“But there is a far bigger challenge that faces us. The council’s own carbon footprint makes up just one per cent of emissions from Derbyshire as a whole. And this is where we intend to grab hold of the nettle and strive to make a real difference.

“By working with our district and borough council colleagues and neighbouring Derby City, we intend to be at the forefront of engagement and innovation, working alongside our communities and businesses and supporting them to bring about change.”

People attending the event were invited to test drive our new fleet of electric pool vehicles during the day. We’ve replaced some of our older diesel vehicles with eight electric cars and three electric bikes which will be used by our staff in an effort to reduce the environmental impact of making essential business journeys in their own cars.

Rounding off the day, Derbyshire Youth Councillors Alex McDermott and George Davidson set down a challenge to everyone attending the event to make changes within their own organisations to support the climate change agenda in Derbyshire.

Councillor Lewis added “We want to move further and faster than any local authority in the UK to achieve a sensible, credible, measured and cohesive plan in which every business and household feels empowered to play their part in reducing the county’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“No business, organisation or individual can halt global warming alone. But by working together, we can design a new way of living and set a strong example for others to follow.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home

Chesterfield Waterside bridge nominated for national award

The Lavers Bridge project at the £320 million Chesterfield Waterside scheme, has been nominated for a national award which recognises the contribution it has made to bringing forward the development of new homes on the site.

The 30-metre steel bridge, which crosses the River Rother and connects Brimington Road to the new Avant Homes development at Waterside Quarter, has been shortlisted in the Smeaton Award category at the annual Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) Yorkshire and Humber Awards.

Dronfield-based Henry Boot Construction put the project forward for the prestigious awards which showcase the collective and individual achievements of civil engineers and civil engineering.

The Lavers Bridge is one of nine projects shortlisted in the Smeaton Award category, which is open to projects costing between £500,000 and £5million. The winner of the award will be announced on Friday 6 March 2020 at Sheffield City Hall.

The new vehicular and pedestrian bridge was designed by HSP Consulting Engineers Limited and constructed and installed by Henry Boot Construction Limited last year. It replaced an existing bridge.

The completion of the bridge will now enable 300 family homes to be delivered, the first of which are already underway at the Avant Homes’ Waterside Quarter development on the site.

Henry Boot and HSP Consulting Engineers brought innovative thinking to the project, choosing to manufacture much of the new bridge off-site in order to maintain access to site during its construction phase.

Chesterfield Borough Council granted planning permission to create the new access bridge and road to The Park area of Chesterfield Waterside in 2018. The granting of permission enabled developer Bolsterstone Group Plc to progress proposals to develop new homes. Avant Homes subsequently announced it would construct 173 new two, three and four bedroom houses in the Waterside Quarter neighbourhood. Construction of the new homes is now under way and the homes went on sale last month,

Peter Swallow, Managing Director of Bolsterstone Group Plc commented on the importance of the bridge: “I am delighted that both Henry Boot Construction and HSP Consulting Engineers are receiving recognition for the impact the Laver Bridge project has made at Chesterfield Waterside. The bridge was essential to enable us to continue developing The Park neighbourhood and bring forward hundreds of new homes.”

Ian Gresser, Operations Manager, Henry Boot Construction, commented: “With so many worthy schemes out there, it is great news Lavers Bridge has been shortlisted for the Smeaton Award.”

To learn more about the Chesterfield Waterside development and the investment opportunities available

Chesterfield Waterside bridge nominated for national award

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

Chesterfield Festival of Cricket Vitality Blast tickets now on sale

Tickets for the Chesterfield Festival of Cricket Vitality Blast fixture in June are now on sale.

The Derbyshire Falcons return to Queen’s Park on Saturday 20 June to face the Yorkshire Vikings as part of the Chesterfield Festival of Cricket.

The fixture was a complete sell out in both 2018 and 2019, with similar demand expected for 2020.

Prior to the visit of the Vikings, Derbyshire will face Worcestershire in a County Championship match at the picturesque Queen’s Park to begin the week-long Chesterfield Festival of Cricket, in association with Chesterfield Borough Council.

Derbyshire will face the Yorkshire Vikings in the newly-structured Royal London Cup at Queen’s Park in Chesterfield on Sunday 26th July. The List A visit by Yorkshire will be the sixth day of cricket in Chesterfield next summer.

Derbyshire County Cricket Club celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2020 and will play 17 days of home weekend and Bank Holiday cricket in 2020, with all but one home County Championship match spanning a weekend.

Click here to find out more about the Chesterfield Festival of Cricket

Chesterfield Festival of Cricket Image David Griffin

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Chesterfield’s Liam Pitchford is double national champion again

Liam Pitchford is the national Men’s Singles Champion for the sixth time after successfully defending his title at the Mark Bates Ltd National Championships.

The Chesterfield star beat fellow Olympian and second seed Paul Drinkhall in the final, recovering from 2-0 down to fight back and win 4-2.

The title moved him joint second on the all-time list, level with Drinkhall, Alan Cooke (also from Chesterfield) and Denis Neale, though still five behind the legendary Desmond Douglas.

Top seed Pitchford said: “It feels amazing. I’m on the same amount as plenty of good players, so the next step is to keep winning.”

“At the start I don’t think I played that bad. He was playing really well. Even throughout the whole match I think we both kept a good level. I had a bit of luck at the end of the fifth set and it can change matches. It was a few points here or there today and it went my way.”

Pitchford had earlier defeated another Rio Olympian, third seed Sam Walker, 4-1 in the semi-finals.

He was given a tough match by Junior national champion Ethan Walsh in the last 16, twice trailing before coming back to win 4-2, while his quarter-final was a more straightforward 4-0 margin over seventh seed Helshan Weerasinghe.

In the Men’s Doubles, Commonwealth Games gold medallists Pitchford & Drinkhall won the title for the seventh time, missing a match point in the third game but eventually getting past Walker & Tom Jarvis 3-2.

Pitchford has little time to enjoy his triumph, however, as he is competing at the Qatar Open this week.

Photo credit: Alan Man

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure