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Chair’s Blog: “It’s crucial we take full advantage of the opportunities that lay ahead in 2024 and beyond.”

2023 is ending, but there is no doubt that we go into the new year with optimism in Chesterfield. You will be aware that town centres across the UK need to adapt, and I am sure you will have heard about the projects to revitalise Chesterfield and Staveley’s high streets that are either happening behind the scenes or just beginning. Soon we will see this work taking place with our own eyes!

In Chesterfield town centre the £17 million project to refurbish the Council’s historic Stephenson Memorial Hall is underway. It will bring together an extended Pomegranate Theatre and modern Chesterfield Museum, alongside new gallery space, a café bar, and education and community facilities. By installing the latest technology and improving accessibility, we will ensure we can continue to attract the highest quality entertainment and culture to our town, adding to Chesterfield’s vibrancy as a visitor destination.

Stephenson Memorial Hall - Day

Starting in summer, the modernisation of our marketplace will begin. Plans involve creating a more defined, vibrant shopping zone with flexible space, better lighting, and digital connectivity. This will enable our town centre to host more events and activities, supporting both the market and the surrounding independent businesses. There will be new seating areas to encourage shoppers to stay longer and more trees will be planted for a greener town centre.

The connections between several key points in the town centre will also continue. You may have already seen some upgrades along Elder Way and Packers Row to make it more accessible. You will see more of this taking place in 2024, ensuring Chesterfield keeps its historic feel, but is fit for purpose going forward.

In Staveley, £6m will be spent on improved connectivity, lighting, more planting, space for an outdoor cinema and a landmark pavilion building, creating a more attractive place to visit and spend time.

Staveley town centre

These developments across our town centres are vital to ensuring their future. We all want to see our towns busy, full of people shopping, eating, drinking, and spending time with loved ones. We want to create quality jobs for local people and give businesses confidence that Chesterfield is an excellent destination to invest in.

We can all continue to play our part in this by shopping locally, using our local restaurants, cafes, leisure destinations and market stalls. There is so much happening this Christmas! It’s crucial we continue to back our town and ensure we take full advantage of the opportunities that lay ahead in 2024 and beyond.

Make the most of local shopping, events and activities taking place across Chesterfield throughout the festive period by visiting: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/christmas/

On behalf of the Destination Chesterfield board and team, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

town centre chesterfield market hall

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New community forest in North Derbyshire set to flourish

Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest has officially set down roots with the first tree being planted as part of the Government-funded initiative to improve access to nature by providing more green space in areas of the county with fewer woodlands.

Councillor Carolyn Renwick, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, planted an oak tree on a countryside site on former colliery land in Glapwell, to mark the start of the forest’s creation along the eastern and southern fringes of the county.

It follows the council’s successful bid to develop one of two new Community Forests – the other being created in Tees Valley – to join the existing network of 13 England’s Community Forests.

England’s Community Forests are located in and around large towns and cities, providing urban, economic and social regeneration, championing green infrastructure and creating high-quality environments for millions of people.

So-called because of its location at the heart of England, Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest will occupy a central position between the National Forest to the south and the Greenwood Community Forest in Nottinghamshire, providing the missing link to join up these two woodland areas.

Trees will be planted on pockets of available land stretching over a geographic area of approximately 289 square miles within communities along the eastern border of the county and areas in the south of the county including:

  • Amber Valley – Alfreton, Somercotes, Heanor, Ripley, Codnor.
  • North East Derbyshire – Aston, Clay Cross, Dronfield, Eckington and Killamarsh, Sutton, Wingerworth, Shirland.
  • Bolsover – Barlborough, Clowne, Bolsover, Shirebrook, Pleasley, South Normanton, Pinxton, Tibshelf, Glapwell.
  • Chesterfield – Birdholme, Boythorpe, Brampton, Brimington, Chesterfield, Loundsley Green and Newbold, Staveley, Whittington.
  • Erewash – Breadsall, West Hallam, Breaston, Horsley, Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Sandiacre.
  • South Derbyshire – Etwall and Repton, Hilton, Melbourne, Sawley.
  • Derby.

The project aims to plant 300,000 trees on publicly accessible land by March 2025, supporting Derbyshire County Council’s ambition to help facilitate the planting of a million trees by 2030.

Councillor Renwick said: “Derbyshire is well-known for being home to the rural villages and rolling hills of the Peak District, but our county is also characterised by communities in former coalfields and industrial heartlands.

“Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest will bring together these urban areas, where more than three-quarters of the county’s population of 797,000 people live, helping to provide more green space for residents on their doorstep, boosting biodiversity, improving air quality and access to nature – which we know boosts people’s health and wellbeing.

“We’re very pleased that Derbyshire has been chosen to create a Community Forest, which will also add value to Derbyshire’s tourism and visitor economy and bring the potential for the growth of new businesses and jobs in the area through nature-led regeneration of industrial landscapes.

“The next stage is to link up with local landowners to look at where we can start planting and encourage groups and individuals to take ownership and get involved in creating woodland havens in their communities to create a positive legacy for generations to come.”

 

Tree planting in Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest will be supported by the England’s Community Forests Trees for Climate fund, part of the Government’s Nature for Climate programme. £50,000 has been awarded to fund initial development work for the new Community Forest.

The forest will be established in three phases with the third phase centred around establishing a new Community Forest Charitable Trust from April 2025 onwards to manage and maintain the Community Forest in the future.

Forestry Minister Rebecca Pow said: “Derbyshire Heartwood Community Forest promises to be a tremendous community asset for the county. Woodlands and trees are the beating heart of so many communities – absolutely essential to supporting our health and wellbeing, alongside being home to some our most unique wildlife.

“The nation’s network of Community Forests play a really important role in contributing to our ambitions to increase tree planting across the country to meeting net zero ambitions, as well as increasing biodiversity. I look forward to seeing the progress as Derbyshire Heartwood Community Forest starts to take shape and become a woodland for generations to enjoy long into the future.”

 

Paul Nolan, Chair, England’s Community Forests, says:  “It’s fantastic that we have two new Community Forests joining our growing partnership, bringing the total number of Community Forests up to 15. Both Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest and Trees on Tees will receive key support from the Government’s Nature for Climate fund through the Trees for Climate programme, helping to introduce more trees to areas most in need.

“Communities in both areas will be both part of the transformation and benefit from the creation of the forests, improving the local environment and connecting more people to nature.”

 

If you are a local landowner with land available to plant trees in Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest area then the county council would like to hear from you, email heartwood@derbyshire.gov.uk for more information.

Heartwood community forest

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Junction Arts celebrates 30 years of the Bolsover Lantern Parade

Junction Arts has celebrated hosting the 30th Bolsover Lantern Parade, an event that continues to bring light, people, and a strong community spirit to the town.

Hundreds of people joined the parade last weekend with their lanterns and thousands more lined the streets to see one of the UK’s biggest and longest-running light processions.

Following a month of lantern-making workshops in the community and local schools, just under 400 lanterns were made for the parade.

Among the hundreds of creations, there was a giant gingerbread man, Buddy the Elf, an astronaut, Father Christmas, a dragon, an aeroplane, and a huge Buzz Lightyear.

Several smaller lanterns reflected the history of the parade, with traditional miner’s lamps and stars, that were used in the very first parade.

The parade marked the finale of the Bolsover Winter Festival, a weekend of festive fun, which included a new light show at Bolsover Castle and a traditional Christmas market, that contained 130 stalls.

The event is organised by Chesterfield-based charity, Junction Arts, in partnership with Old Bolsover Town Council, English Heritage and other community partners.  It has become a much-loved, cultural tradition for generations of people.

Junction Arts Managing Director, Emily Bowman said: “Lantern Parades are a symbol of creativity, celebration, and community. Reaching 30 years of the Bolsover Lantern Parade is a wonderful achievement for the town.

“This year’s parade did feel extra special as we reflected on the last three decades and the positive impact that it has had on the town. Thank you to everyone who made a lantern, or came along on the night to watch, in freezing temperatures, you are what makes this event so special, see you next year!”

Find out more about the festive fun taking place across Chesterfield this Christmas.

Junction Arts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Junction Arts Bolsover Lantern Parade

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Chesterfield-based addictions charity to offer new services to residents

A Chesterfield charity which has supported local people for almost three decades has expanded its offer.

Derbyshire Alcohol Advice Service (DAAS) has been a primary source of alcohol support in Derbyshire for almost 30 years.  It began life as North Derbyshire Alcohol Advice Service, operating from a single room in Chesterfield with 3 part time counsellors.  It is now a county wide organisation with 30 staff and volunteers providing alcohol, drug and gambling support as well as running projects for our military veteran community.

The organisation has developed so dramatically over the last few years that the name is no longer fully representative of the work that they do.  Therefore, on 12th October 2023 they officially changed the name to Derbyshire Addictions Advice Service (DAAS).

Chair of Trustees John Ydlibi said: “When people hear our previous name, they assume alcohol support is all we offer, however, our scope is now so much more than that”.

DAAS, for the last 8 years been a key provider within Derbyshire Recovery Partnership, the commissioned drug and alcohol support service for adults in the county.  This service provides support for anyone affected by their own or someone else’s drug and/or alcohol use.

The organisation has been proud of its role in helping people get the support they require when they are struggling with their drug and alcohol use, supporting people to achieve a healthier, happier, and more productive future.

More recently, DAAS has begun offering support for those affected by other people’s gambling behaviour.  For every person whose gambling is a problem, there can be between 6 and 10 other people who are negatively affected… friends, children, family, colleagues.

GamCHAT will provide counselling and education to help friends and family to understand better what is happening, how they can best support the person experiencing problematic gambling and while protecting their own health and wellbeing.

To make people aware of the new name change and how the various projects offered by DAAS can support the residents of Derbyshire, the charity is holding several roadshow events across the County.

In North Derbyshire, these are in Shirebrook, Buxton and here in Chesterfield. These drop-in style events will provide the opportunity for employers, statutory and voluntary organisations, and members of the public to talk directly to staff involved and learn how we can support people struggling with drugs, alcohol or gambling as well as members of our veteran community.

John added: “We are proud to have our roots in Chesterfield and how our success here has allowed us to spread our services throughout Derbyshire.”

Roadshows

  • 12th December Shirebrook – Adult Education Centre, NG20 8PE 1.30 – 3.00pm
  • 14th December Buxton – Kents Bank Road, SK17 9HR 10.00 – 11.30am

To learn more, go to daas.uk.com/roadshows.

DAAS supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

DAAS Team Dec 2023

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East Midlands can ‘lead the way’ in energy transition, Midlands Energy Summit hears

The East Midlands has the potential to “lead the way” in the energy transition to net zero by holding some of the key ingredients – but businesses need more support to make changes right now.

These were two of the headline messages at the Midlands Energy Summit, held by East Midlands Chamber at the University of Nottingham’s Trent Building yesterday (Thursday 30 November).

Speakers from major organisations including Toyota, Uniper, National Grid and the East Midlands Freeport gave an insight into some of the clean energy activities happening in the region, including in hydrogen, nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.

A new East Midlands zero-carbon innovation centre, which aims to transform cutting-edge green research at the University of Nottingham and Loughborough University into commercial products, was announced by the Freeport’s chief executive Tom Newman-Taylor at the event – with the Freeport contributing £5m over funding towards the initiative.

East Midlands Chamber director of policy and insight Chris Hobson said: “With three of the big bases for future energy provision – hydrogen, nuclear fusion and nuclear fission – being developed here in the East Midlands, across a range of nationally-critical projects and research that is backed by public and private sector investment, we are leading the way in the energy transition.

“It was fascinating to hear more about some of these plans from the major players in these areas, and the new East Midlands zero-carbon innovation centre is an exciting initiative that taps into these strengths while developing new sectors that will deliver further investment and high-quality jobs for our communities.

“But while the future holds plenty of promise, we mustn’t forget about what we can do here and now to make gains in the green agenda. Toyota is a great example of a company making small adjustments to save lots of energy and while some of these learnings can be passed down through the supply chain, there is plenty more we can do.

“Small businesses tell us they want to make the necessary changes to decarbonise their operations, and many are already taking huge strides forward, but require more support.

“Our Sustainable East Midlands initiative can signpost businesses to funded programmes, events and best practice. More broadly, it’s crucial for businesses, the public sector and universities to work closer together to develop research and roll out new technologies that will help the East Midlands and UK to become a world leader in the net zero economy.”

Midlands Energy Summit - Scott Knowles

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Learning Curve Group extends offer with new courses in Chesterfield

A Chesterfield training provider which helps learners gain skills to build careers in the beauty industry has extended its offer with several new courses.

Learning Curve Group, formerly known as White Rose Beauty Colleges, has already provided courses for thousands of learners in Chesterfield since 1996. Now, the organisation has expanded, adding hairdressing and barbering courses at its Chesterfield academy.

Helen Bradshaw, Learner Recruitment Officer at Learning Curve Group commented: “With accredited courses available from January and delivered by industry-trained staff, learners can expect an excellent, professional experience in our fabulous town centre college.

“With smaller class sizes and a warm, friendly environment, we strive for excellence in both preparing and enabling our learners the opportunity to work in the industry. Our salons are designed to replicate a high street salon and we regularly invite members of the public to enjoy a treatment at a discounted price.”

  • Level 1 Diploma course in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy is aimed at learners who are under 19 years of age and offers a fantastic opportunity to learn the basic skills required to become a stylist or therapist.
  • The Level 2 Diploma in Hairdressing offers a nature progression or and is also offered to learners over 19. This course builds and develops skills such as cutting and colouring and we encourage learners to gain work experience in a salon to give them a true insight into the business.
  • Level 3 and Level 4 is most suited to those who already work in a salon who would like to build on their existing knowledge with units such as creative colouring, colour correction, and advanced cutting skills to name but a few.

Helen added: “Barbering is an exciting new addition; we feel confident that a new generation of learners will be eager to bring their new skills to our town and offer an excellent service to the local community.

“We aim to support local salons with our wonderful Apprenticeship programme, which offers a great opportunity for learners to work in a salon with the support and encouragement from our experienced staff. Trends in hairdressing are as changeable as the fashion industry and we aim to offer our learners the most current up-to-date skills in our state of the art, modern college, consistently providing a stream of skilled stylists into the workforce.”

To find out more about our courses and to arrange a college tour, please contact the academy on 01246 588773 or email Helen.bradshaw@learningcurvegroup.co.uk

Learning Curve Group supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

learning curve group

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Second round of £1.2m East Midlands Create Growth programme opens to businesses

Applications have opened for the next cohort of a £1.2 million support programme for East Midlands creative businesses.

Companies are being encouraged to apply for the second phase of Create Growth, which is funded by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).

It comes as 23 East Midlands businesses completed the first cohort of the regional business growth accelerator.

The inaugural cohort, made up of firms from across Leicester, Leicestershire, Derby and Derbyshire, and Lincoln, Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland, have benefited from a programme of focused support over the last eight weeks.

Participants ranged from marketing and design agencies to architects, theatre companies to video producers.

Businesses completed an initial business health check, attended a full-day business bootcamp, which included opportunities to network, and logged on to eight virtual masterclasses covering themes including leadership, marketing, sales, finance and business planning.

As well as the 90-minute masterclasses delivered by industry experts, all participants were also assigned a mentor offering five hours of free support.

Guy Lewis, Director at programme delivery partner CDI Alliance, said: “Our first cohort were enthusiastic, engaged and committed to the programme.

“We’ve had some really encouraging feedback about the bootcamp session, masterclasses, and support offered throughout the programme, and look forward to seeing what’s next for the businesses who took part in Cohort One.”

All of the participating businesses now have the option to complete a fully funded 12-hour investment readiness workshop, helping to prepare their firms for growth.

To be eligible for Cohort 2 of the East Midlands Create Growth programme, businesses must:

  • Have turnover growth of 10% year-on-year over approximately 3 years (including either prior to or during the Pandemic)
  • Employ a minimum of 2 people over the last two years (full-time, part-time or freelance)
  • Have created a revenue generating product, launched a new platform or service, or reached a market of scale
  • Generated sales revenue in the last 2 years.
  • Be trading or registered within Leicester, Leicestershire, Derby, Derbyshire, Greater Lincolnshire, or Rutland.

Create Growth was launched in 2022 by DCMS, in partnership with Innovate UK. It is designed to support the development of creative industries with high-growth potential across England, outside of London.

The East Midlands programme is led by East Midlands Creative Consortium (EMC²), which aims to help creative businesses get investment ready. Its members include local authorities, universities, local enterprise partnerships, and many other organisations in the private, public and voluntary sector.

EMC² aims to support 100 creative businesses across three years through four cohort groups. The coalition came together through its successful £1.2m bid for the Government’s Create Growth Programme, led by the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP).

Applications for the second cohort are now open – any eligible businesses interested in applying can find out more here.

CentralTechnology office

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Chesterfield Champions to support those in need this Christmas

Several organisations in Chesterfield are playing their part in supporting our community this Christmas.

Businesses in the town will be helping those in need, with a number of different initiatives being offered which people can support.

If you’re looking to help and support those less fortunate in our area over the festive period, check out how you can get involved by viewing some of the initiatives below from our town’s network of Chesterfield Champions.

Rosewood Wealth Management supports Lifehouse Church Appeal

Rosewood Wealth Management One Waterside Place

Chesterfield’s Rosewood Wealth Management is supporting an appeal hosted by Lifehouse Church, and is inviting people across the area to donate food items to help those less fortunate.

The church is building food hampers for vulnerable people in the community, and is asking for people to donate specific food and drink items, as displayed below.

Those wishing to donate can drop off products at Rosewood Wealth Management’s new office on the 4th floor at One Waterside Place, Basin Square, Brimington Road, Chesterfield, S41 7FH.

Chester’s Toy Appeal returns at Chesterfield FC

cfc toy appeal 23

 

 

Chester’s Toy Appeal, sponsored by Brett Martin Ltd, is now underway. New, unwrapped toys, donated as part of the appeal, will be handed out to families in need so that children who would otherwise go without receive a present on Christmas Day.

Donations can be taken to the main reception at John Pye Ltd on Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, every Wednesday and Thursday, until December 13 (between 11am and 3pm).

Donations can also be taken to the main reception at the SMH Group Stadium, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (except on matchdays).

Paperclip supports Christmas lunch for vulnerable people in Chesterfield

Anne - paperclip Brochure - Landscape

Chesterfield-based Paperclip Ltd. is supporting an appeal to provide a Christmas Lunch for disadvantaged people across Chesterfield.

The lunch will be held at Whittington Moor Methodist Church, Scarsdale Road, S41 8NA on Christmas Day from 1pm-5:30pm.

Those wishing to volunteer or donate to the event can ring the Paperclip Christmas Dinner Hotline on 01246 948 401. A full list of donations being accepted can be found on the Paperclip Linkedin page

Leverton UK to support Chesterfield FC Community Trust Food Box Appeal

Molly Jowitt, Leverton UK

Chesterfield property and construction company, Leverton UK has set up a Just Giving page to support a food box appeal being supported by Chesterfield FC Community Trust.

The fundraiser will also give the chance for a deserving family to win the Harrods bear, Ethan. They will also invite the winners to the Leverton UK Hospitality box at Chesterfield Football Club for a match.

Every £1 raised will enter a child into the draw, with the winner being announced 20th December by official Chesterfield FC mascot, Chester The Field Mouse.

Snowflakes appear on Chesterfield building to support The Children’s Hospital Charity

sheff childrens snowflakes

Several snowflakes have been lit up on the prominent Homes by Holmes building on Saltergate in Chesterfield, to support the charity’s annual appeal.

Each snowflake has been sponsored by a local resident or business, helping the hospital to continue its vital work in funding life-saving equipment, new facilities, a comfortable environment and vital research, which changes paediatric care for thousands of children from across the world.

Find out more about the 2023 Snowflakes appeal. 

Greatest Hits Radio supports Mission Christmas Appeal

Greatest Hits Radio is supporting the Mission Christmas fundraiser by the Cash For Kids Charity. Presenter, Ken Bruce explained how people can get involved:

Rosewood Wealth Management, Chesterfield FC, Leverton UK, Paperclip, The Children’s Hospital Charity, and Greatest Hits Radio support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Funding scheme for green innovation scoops national award

A programme that supports organisations to develop green energy and carbon reduction schemes in Derbyshire has won a category at this year’s Innovation Awards.

The Green Entrepreneurs Programme, a partnership between the University of Derby and Derbyshire County Council, is a £2 million grant fund open to individuals and organisations based in the county looking to invest in and develop projects that support the drive towards the UK’s target of net zero carbon by 2050.

The programme team picked up the Sustainability Innovation Champion – Organisation category at the Innovation Awards, organised by the Technology Supply Chain, a membership organisation that connects UK innovative manufacturing, engineering and technology companies to grants, funded support and new opportunities. The awards recognise, reward and celebrate the companies, individuals and organisations dedicated to innovation. The national awards ceremonies attract thousands of entries from across the UK and beyond in four main categories: innovators, individual innovators, innovation champions and innovation thought leaders.

Mark Wheddon, Head of Delivery, Innovation and Research at the University of Derby, said: “We are delighted to win this award in recognition of our partnership with Derbyshire County Council that supports so many innovative projects in the county as we move towards net zero carbon. It is inspiring to see the resourcefulness and creativity of individuals and organisations here in Derbyshire, and it is rewarding to be able to contribute towards initiatives that are making a real difference to our sustainable future.”

Councillor Tony King, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, said: “We recognise the contribution our business community can make towards meeting our target of becoming a net zero county by 2050.

“We’re proud that through the Green Entrepreneurs Programme and our partnership with the University of Derby, we’ve been able to support local firms to develop green energy and cut carbon emissions as part of our net-zero ambitions.”

Dr Richard Fallon, CEO of the Technology Supply Chain, added: “The Innovation Awards recognise, celebrate and reward innovation across the UK and internationally. Our winners are considered best-in-class and it is a pleasure to celebrate their achievements. This is a great win for the work done by the University of Derby in supporting SMEs in their region with much needed green innovation.”

Find out more about the Green Entrepreneurs Programme. To find out about the latest support for businesses in Chesterfield, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/business-support/

The University of Derby supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

eco busines green recycle suatinability

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Hospital celebrates National Tree Week

To celebrate National Tree Week – which runs from 27 November to 3 December – Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is planting 230 trees across the hospital site.

The trees, which are from more than 20 varieties, are the result of a successful application to NHS Forest – an initiative which started in 2009 and has since seen more than 100,000 trees planted on or near to NHS property.

Thirty of the new saplings will be planted close to the Trust’s £2m Health and Wellbeing Hub – which opened in the summer and offers colleagues access to the latest gym and counselling break-out facilities, thanks to the Chesterfield Royal Charity’s fundraising appeal.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield and senior officials will be joined by 15 members of staff who were nominated by their colleagues – some due to their commitment to the environment, some who have gone the extra mile and were nominated to mark their hard work and dedication.

Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive of the Trust, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to receive the 230 trees from NHS Forest. It’s great news for the Trust and our surrounding community as we recognise the importance of a cleaner and greener environment – linking directly to our Green Strategy.

“I think it’s incredibly symbolic that we have 30 colleagues and guests standing shoulder-to-shoulder to plant the final 30 trees, marking this occasion – especially since it is the 75th birthday year of the NHS. It’s a great legacy for us all to have.”

The initial 200 trees are also being planted during National Tree Week. It’s expected to only take four hours for these saplings to be planted.

Dr Jon Cort, Chief Digital Officer, added: “We already have a huge commitment to our green spaces and trees across the Trust site. I personally believe this makes a great difference in improving the hospital environment. These 230 trees, of such variety, will stand the test of time and hopefully add to people’s health and wellbeing.”

royal hospital aerial shot

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Collaboration is key to unleashing the potential of the region’s visitor economy

“Collaboration is key to unleashing the vast potential of the region’s visitor economy” – that’s the overriding message from the annual Visit Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Conference.

The conference was the first major business-to-business event hosted by Visit Peak District & Derbyshire in collaboration with Visit Derby as the area’s official Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP).

The event brought together over 120 industry leaders to discuss tourism insights, emerging trends and new opportunities for growth and collaboration. It also highlighted the importance of accessibility and sustainability in strengthening the area’s tourism offer and attracting new visitors to the destination.

As new research from the 2022 Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor, commonly known as STEAM, revealed the challenges facing the sector, the conference also highlighted issues including rising costs, high inflation and post-pandemic changes in consumer behaviour.

Opening the conference, Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, announced the area’s tourism sector is now worth £2.59 billion to the local economy – an increase of 4% since 2019.

However, against the backdrop of high inflation, the figures reveal that although the total revenue generated across the Peak District and Derbyshire by the sector was up on pre-pandemic levels, overall visitor numbers in 2022 were 7% down.

The data also shows that whilst stays in non-serviced accommodation were 10.5% up on 2019 levels, jobs supported by the visitor economy were 12.5% down (against a national decline of 20%). Stays in serviced accommodation and the number of serviced bed spaces in the destination continue to remain below 2019 levels, providing an insight into changing visitor behaviour.

Visit Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby’s status as an LVEP – a new national portfolio of accredited tourism organisations, administered by VisitEngland – was a key focus of the conference and delegates heard how the organisation will drive tourism strategy for the region, working in partnership with local, regional and national stakeholders to deliver visitor economy priorities.

As an LVEP, Visit Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby will be eligible to bid for Government funding streams to support the growth of the visitor economy, and the organisation will also be able to access additional support from VisitEngland including dedicated toolkits and training.

The keynote speech was delivered by VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes OBE, who said: “I was delighted to attend the Visit Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Conference and see first-hand the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) in action providing expert support and guidance to tourism businesses and hearing about the exciting and ambitious plans for growth.

“LVEPs are at the heart of transforming the visitor economy landscape in England, and we are delighted to be working with the Visit Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby LVEP on the national programme.”

During the conference, Visit Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby highlighted plans to support and grow the visitor economy in 2024, including:

  • Developing an ambitious new Destination Development Plan for the Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby to drive visitor economy growth in a sustainable and accessible way, with a focus on community and place.
  • Delivering a new programme of sector-specific business support events and workshops for tourism-related businesses, including a Season Opener & Leaflet Swap event that will be held on 20 March 2024, during English Tourism Week.
  • Running innovative marketing campaigns to increase visitor spend, boost overnight stays and extend the traditional tourism season.
  • Positioning the area as the destination of choice for accessible and sustainable breaks – working with partners, members and content creators to promote inclusive experiences and the use of public transport.
  • Harnessing the return of international travel by working closely with inbound tourism operators to attract overseas visitors and reach new markets.

An inspiring line-up of speakers covered topics including investment, regeneration, green tourism and the latest support and funding available for local businesses.

Crooked Spire at night

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