Property and Construction

We Are Spaces attains prestigious CIOB accreditation

A Chesterfield business specialising in commercial interior design and workspace transformation has received prestigious accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Building.

CIOB is the leading international professional body for those working in and leading the construction industry. Established in 1834, it offers a range of services including membership, professional development, qualifications, and resources to support individuals and organisations in shaping the future of the built environment, driving innovation, sustainability, and ethical practices.

The accreditation is the latest in a string of successes for We Are Spaces, having recently expanded into larger office premises at the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre.

Amy Revell, Co-Founder and Director at We Are Spaces explained the importance of the firm’s latest achievement: “We are one of the few fit out contractors to achieve this prestigious accreditation in the UK. Being awarded CIOB accreditation shows that as an organisation, we have demonstrated high levels of competence, commitment and excellence, whilst fostering a collaborative culture where ideas and expertise are shared to achieve the best outcomes.”.

“Our CIOB accreditation gives our clients confidence our standards are high, and our ability to successfully deliver is robust. Our accreditation also helps to attract likeminded and highly skilled individuals to join our growing team.

In terms of the company’s further growth, Amy added: “We’ve got a firm business plan for the next 5 years and sustainable growth is a key goal, ensuring we grow at an appropriate rate, with the best people in our industry.

“We’re looking to nationally grow our three key businesses within the group. They are We Are Spaces, our interior fit-out business, We Are FM which specialises in facilities management, and We Are Interiors which focuses on commercial interior and external decorating and specialist finishes.”

Andy Dabbs, Destination Chesterfield Board Member and Chair of the town’s Property and Construction Group added: “It’s so pleasing to see We Are Spaces achieving CIOB accreditation and continuing to grow and thrive in our town.

“The property and construction sector plays a huge role in creating jobs and improving the built environment in Chesterfield. The continued growth of our businesses will enable the town to attract further investment and create more opportunities in our local economy.”

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

Amy We Are Spaces COIB Certificate

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Housing boost for the East Midlands with 1,500 homes to be built on brownfield sites

Nearly 1500 homes are set to be built on brownfield sites across the region following a cash boost from East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).

A dozen schemes in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire have been identified for grants to support housing development on brownfield land through the government’s Brownfield Housing Fund, which has allocated nearly £17million to EMCCA to deliver the developments.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, who called for more homes to be built on brownfield sites during her campaign to be elected as the East Midlands’ first Mayor said: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to kickstart a housing revolution across the region so quickly and begin the challenges of delivering the homes people here need.

“These housing developments will see under-used sites brought back into life in our cities and communities with work starting on some sites. This is a significant stride toward unleashing the potential of brownfield regeneration across our region.”

EMCCA received 50 expressions of interest in bidding for funding for schemes across the region. Independent experts Cushman and Wakefield assessed the applications based on criteria including the ability to get schemes underway quickly.

Now the schemes will undergo further due diligence exercises ahead of business cases for each development being submitted to EMCCA’s Board for final approval.

“It’s really encouraging that applications for this funding were oversubscribed and I’m now working with Government to develop more opportunities for new homes on brownfield land and seeking support for extra funding to get more schemes underway.

“We’re also talking to Homes England about other ways to kickstart housebuilding across the region.”

Ben Pretty, Partner in Cushman & Wakefield’s national land, development and planning team said: “We received a high number of quality expressions of interest and have been through a rigorous sifting process to identify those most aligned to the EMCCA and MHCLG criteria. We look forward to working with EMCCA and scheme promoters to progress the 12 shortlisted schemes through to delivery on site to unlock around 1,500 new homes across the region.”

Jo Nugent, MPP Midlands Director at Homes England said: “Transforming brownfield sites into new communities with much needed new homes should benefit residents across the East Midlands. We’ve been working in partnership with EMCCA to bring these brownfield sites forward, and we now look forward to continuing to support these developments, providing expertise for the due diligence stage, and, ultimately, deliver high-quality homes, and thriving places in the East Midlands.”

If you’re looking for a perfect location and quality of life for you and your family, look no further than Chesterfield. Find out more about the fantastic quality of life in our town at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/about-chesterfield/living/

Stancliffe homes construction building

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Chamber teams up with University of Derby to deliver upcoming Sustainability Summit

The transition to net zero and getting over ‘climate fatigue’ are among issues taking centre stage at the East Midlands Sustainability Summit at the University of Derby on 12th September.

Presented by East Midlands Chamber in partnership with the University of Derby, the summit will bring together industry specialists, academics and the region’s business community to explore how to overcome challenges in changing working practices to tackle climate change.

East Midlands Chamber President Stuart Dawkins said: “The East Midlands, like all regions, has a responsibility to think carefully what it leaves behind for what I call Generation Next-But-One, those who will inherit the world we leave behind. All businesses should play their part in adopting measures that mitigate against and significantly reduce the catastrophic impact of climate change.

“The good news is that most businesses have already taken steps toward cutting their carbon usage, cutting out working methods that are not energy efficient, but this isn’t an easy challenge with a simple out of the box solution. The East Midlands Sustainability Summit is a place to hear and share best practice from a wide range of industries and to take an informed look at how we navigate the hurdles to achieve net zero.”

University of Derby Associate Professor of Strategy and Sustainability Dr Polina Baranova, who will speak on research into Green Growth trends in the East Midlands said: “The study we carry out into Green Growth in the East Midlands is now in its 9th year and I look forward to sharing the latest findings at the Sustainability Summit. From last year’s position we’ve seen encouraging signs of green growth recovery in the region. Within the context of political uncertainty around green business support at national and local level, businesses in the East Midlands continue to commit resources and develop strategic capabilities to compete in the green market niches at home and internationally.

“The research that we’ll present at the summit also reports an increase in the number of regional businesses investing in decarbonisation and biodiversity net gain. This signals an intensifying role of regional business in tackling climate challenges. Despite these developments, more needs to be done to excel and expand on the green growth progress that’s been made thus far, and at the summit I look forward to outlining how policy and local government can put forward measures to achieve that.”

Speakers at 2024’s East Midlands Sustainability Summit:

• Professor Chris Sansom – Professor of Concentrated Solar Power and Head of Zero Carbon Theme, University of Derby
• Dr Polina Baranova – Associate Professor of Strategy and Sustainability, University of Derby
• Julie Adams – Carbon, Cost and Procurement Consultant, Auditel.
• Becky Valentine – Co-owner, Sustainability & Building Health Consultant, Spenbeck
• Andy Wright – Responsible Business Director, Samworth Brothers
• Becky Clayton – Partner, PwC
• Stuart Dawkins – President, East Midlands Chamber

Building photographed from above with solar panels on the roof

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Chesterfield businesses urged to take up free green and digital skills support

Companies across Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire are being urged to take up the offer of free training.

North East Derbyshire District Council and Chesterfield Borough Council have joined forces to offer green skills and higher digital skills courses – made possible thanks to £200,000 worth of funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The green skills courses will help construction companies access skills development that will help them comply with the Future Homes Standard (FHS) – which requires new homes built from 2025 to produce significantly less carbon emissions than under current building regulations – and will also contribute to the UK achieving its 2050 net zero target.

The higher level digital skills courses are open to businesses of any kind, interested in equipping their workforce with essential digital skills.

Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and cabinet member for economic growth, said: “We’re committed to ensuring that everyone can improve their skills and access new career opportunities. These programmes will allow people to upskill in their current roles, access promotions and ensure local businesses have access to the skills they need. The focus on green skills will also help ensure we can become a carbon neutral area and reduce the impact of climate change.”

Cllr Jayne Barry, North East Derbyshire District Council’s Cabinet member for Growth, said: “This is a great opportunity for businesses across our district to upskill their workforce as we move towards a greener and more sustainable future. Also, a future which is increasingly reliant on the use of technology, with all the rewards and threats that can bring.”

Chesterfield College will be delivering green skills courses, including the installation of wall insulation, solar panels, and heat pumps. As well as hybrid vehicle awareness and a qualification in sustainability.

While Derby-based training provider Althaus Digital will deliver a suite of higher level digital skills training, including generative AI in digital marketing, cyber security and green digital training programmes.

Courses start from 22 August 2024 and run until Feb/March 2025. Some are short one day courses, while others take place over several days.

They will be delivered face-to-face and also online – and are all free.

To find out about all the courses available at Chesterfield College and to book on a session, visit www.chesterfield.ac.uk/greenskills/ or call 01246 500500 for more information.

For more information about the Althaus courses, contact Am Seabright, Director of Transformation am@althausdigital.co.uk 07913424467.

If you can’t make any of the courses, don’t worry as there is some flexibility with dates.  Just contact Economic.Development@NE-Derbyshire.gov.uk for more information.

Looking for more support for your business? Find out more about the latest schemes available at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/business-support/

Two women wearing VR headsets and animation on big screen

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Chesterfield property and construction firms encouraged to apply for 2024 East Midlands Bricks Awards

Property and Construction businesses have just three weeks to submit their applications for a prestigious awards ceremony which celebrates the sector.

The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 will shine a light on the industry across our region, while offering an opportunity to network with business leaders.

This year’s glittering ceremony will take place on Thursday 3 October at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in Nottingham.

Hosted by East Midlands Business Link Magazine, the event is an independent awards and publicity programme recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential schemes, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools.

It’s an opportunity to celebrate successes, boost businesses’ profiles, showcase teams, reward their efforts, and bolster morale.

To nominate your (or another) business/development for one of the awards, visit this page.

Award categories include:

  • Most active agent
  • Commercial development of the year
  • Responsible business of the year
  • Residential development of the year
  • Developer of the year
  • Deal of the year
  • Architects of the year
  • Excellence in design
  • Sustainable development of the year
  • Contractor of the year
  • Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, with the winner, and recipient of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, selected from those nominated)

Nominations end Thursday 5th September.

Attendees will also hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire.

Are you a Chesterfield business looking to gain recognition for your work and promotion of your company by entering awards? Our guide will enable you to find out more about the awards available in our region. Find out more at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/business-support/promote-your-business/

A digger and construction worker on a Stancliffe Homes development

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Chesterfield Royal Hospital’s staff wellbeing hub shortlisted for prestigious award

Chesterfield Royal Hospital’s Health and Wellbeing Hub has been shortlisted for the Staff Wellbeing Award at the HSJ Awards, recognising an outstanding contribution to healthcare and securing a place at the prestigious awards ceremony later this year.

Over 1,000 entries have been received for this year’s Awards, with 234 projects and individuals reaching the final shortlist. The high volume and exceptional quality of applications showcases the impressive levels of innovation and care continually being developed within the UK’s healthcare networks.

Following the thorough judging process, the Trust was shortlisted, ahead of the official awards ceremony to be held later this year, with the Health and Wellbeing Hub standing out as a real ‘success story’ worthy of a prized place on the panel’s shortlist.

The Trust’s vision is ‘exceptional care provided by exceptional people’, we have 5,000 colleagues and following the pandemic wanted to invest in their health and wellbeing – caring for the carers.

The Health and Wellbeing Hub opened in July 2023 – and is a free on-site facility supporting both physical and mental wellbeing. The facility boasts:

  • Counselling rooms
  • A fully equipped gym
  • Two studios to host groups and exercise classes
  • Areas for group or individual reflection after traumatic incidents
  • Changing room and shower facilities
  • Bike storage facilities
  • Foyer space for colleagues to take time out, eat lunch and network

Abbie Foster, Health and Wellbeing Lead at the Trust, said: “It’s an honour to be shortlisted for the Staff Wellbeing Award at the HSJ Awards. It’s a great way to showcase all the incredible work the teams have been doing across the Trust to make improvements for our colleagues and their wellbeing. A huge thank you to everybody involved.”

Caroline Wade MBE, Executive Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, added: “The real value comes from how the Hub and support available makes our colleagues feel. We saw a 5% decrease across the burnout question on the 2023 NHS Staff Survey – with the Trust scoring 3.5% better than the national score.

“We hope that this will inspire other organisations to take further steps to support their colleagues’ wellbeing.”

Abbie Foster, Health and Wellbeing Lead at the Trust, added: “It’s an honour to be shortlisted for the Staff Wellbeing Award at the HSJ Awards. It’s a great way to showcase all the incredible work the teams have been doing across the Trust to make improvements for our colleagues and their wellbeing. A huge thank you to everybody involved.”

HSJ editor Alastair McLellan, adds; “It always gives me great pleasure to congratulate our finalists at this stage of the judging process and this year is no exception as we acknowledge Chesterfield Royal Hospital for being shortlisted in the category of Staff Wellbeing.

“However, it’s always important to remember that the HSJ Awards are not just a celebration of success stories but also a platform to shape the future of the NHS.

“We can’t wait to welcome our finalists to the awards ceremony in November and to recognise and applaud such impressive achievements across the sector. Huge thanks also go to our headline partner, Vodafone Business, who share our mission of driving the standard of healthcare excellence and creating better patient experiences.”

The full list of nominees for the 2024 HSJ awards can be found at www.awards.hsj.co.uk. The selected winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at Evolution London on 21st November 2024.

Find out more about the benefits of working in Chesterfield at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/about-chesterfield/working/

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

Exterior of wellbeing hub building with lawn in front

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Project provides career inspiration for Chesterfield young people

A new project has provided career insights and work experience for young people in Chesterfield.

The Careers Made in Chesterfield (CMiC) programme has had a successful first year, hosting eight workshops for 275 young people and providing work experience placements for almost 30 students.

It provides students with insights about local career opportunities and aims to create a pipeline of talent to support local businesses. In its first year, the programme has focussed on the property and construction sector but will expand to include the health and wellbeing sector and manufacturing sector over the next three years.

Industry experts have hosted interactive workshops at Ashgate Croft School, Parkside School, Springwell Community College, Netherthorpe School and the Chesterfield YES Youth Hub. As a result of these workshops, students have reported an increased interest in pursuing careers in the construction industry.

The project has been funded by Chesterfield Borough Council as part of its Skills Action Plan and delivered in schools by Direct Education Business Partnership (DEBP).

On Tuesday 2 June Gateway 1 students from Ashgate Croft School were visited by G F Tomlinson where they played ‘guess my job’ with three volunteers – Gemma Thorpe, Senior Bid and Marketing Coordinator; Dave Miller, Site Manager; and Olivia Brindley, Assistant Quantity Surveyor – to learn about the varied roles within the construction sector.

In preparation for a site visit, students were also shown the refurbishment plans for Stephenson Memorial Hall, home to Chesterfield Museum and the Pomegranate Theatre, which is currently being refurbished by G F Tomlinson on behalf of Chesterfield Borough Council.

The students then took on the challenge to come up with their own designs for a cafe, shop, or entire museum using K’Nex construction kits.

Stuart Rooker, Careers Lead at DEBP said: “Collaboration between businesses and schools is crucial to CMiC. It is a fantastic way for employers to engage directly with students and inform them about their business and industry. It also provides the young people involved with the opportunity to learn about the skills they need, which employers value, and the options available to them.”

On Thursday 18 June, the students were given a tour of the construction site. After a health and safety talk from Jack Harvey, Technical Apprentice and putting on the appropriate PPE, Jason Tromans, Site Manager for G F Tomlinson, led a fantastic tour of the building. This included how key parts of the building are being restored and the interesting things that have been found on-site such as old newspapers and messages on the walls. Students were able to see a variety of construction trades at work, including roofers, joiners, ground workers, and scaffolders.

Vicky Bridge, Gateway 1 Teacher from Ashgate Croft School said: “The students thought both the workshop and visit were really interesting. It was a great experience for them to learn all about the company and the trade, and then see it in person and in action. This fits well with our employability lesson where we look at different jobs and types of employment.”

In total 14 employers have supported the CMiC programme including, Stepnell, Fortem, Devonshire Group, Henry Boot, Elliot Mather LLP, Whittam Cox Architects, Turner and Townsend, Castle Owen, Clee Hill, Shelby Group, Frank Shaw Associates and Chesterfield College.

CMiC is a key part of Chesterfield Borough Council’s Skills Action Plan which aims to ensure that local people have the right skills to support career progression and benefit from future employment opportunities.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and cabinet member for economic growth, said: “CMiC has made a great impact in its first year, it’s helped provide young people with the information they need to make informed decisions about their future and by working with employers we can ensure that skills provision in the borough meets their future needs. I look forward to seeing how this programme progresses in future years and hearing from young people about how it has helped them.

If you’re a local business, I would encourage you to get involved in the scheme because it will help guide young people to work in industry and even your business.”

As well as construction and property, the programme will expand over the next four years to include health and social care, and engineering and manufacturing and businesses in these sectors are encouraged to get in touch to volunteer for the scheme.

If you are an employer and would like to get involved in CMiC please email enquiries@debp.org.

Looking for support to improve skills and recruitment in your business? Head over to our business support page to find out more.

DEBP and Chesterfield Borough Council support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Students wearing high viz clothing

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Staveley Waterside Development gets underway

A transformation is about to begin at Staveley town’s canal basin as part of the Staveley Town Deal, a £25 million government-funded regeneration programme for the area.

A new, 2-storey building is to be constructed adjacent to Staveley Canal, creating an attractive mixed use facility that will support 11 business units for office, retail and workshop use alongside opportunities for food and drink. In short, creating a whole new destination in Staveley for both commerce and visitors.

The project is being managed and funded by a partnership between Derbyshire County Council and the Staveley Town Deal, which is overseen by Chesterfield Borough Council. The Town Deal is providing £3.5 million of the £4.5 million cost of the project with the balance being met by the County Council.

The canal basin will be greatly enhanced by the new development and, hopefully, will encourage more visitors to make recreational use of the canal for walking, cycling and boating. Access to the site will be improved with a new road and footpath and there will be indoor and outdoor dining space. Contractors started work on phase 1 of the project at the end of July. This initial phase is scheduled for completion by the end of April 2025.

This Staveley Waterside project forms part of the wider Markham Vale programme of works, a flagship 85-hectare business park based on the site of the old Markham Colliery.

The programme is a joint venture being delivered jointly with HBD focused on attracting and assisting businesses to support net zero ambitions and helping make Derbyshire a greener and lower carbon place to live, work and visit.

staveley waterside

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, Councillor Tony King, said: “It’s great to see this highly anticipated new development get underway at Staveley.

“Not only will it bring more life and jobs to the area, it will also draw more visitors to this attractive canal-side environment and encourage greater use of the infrastructure that’s already there.

“We have drawn on our many years of experience from work at Markham Vale and brought it to the Staveley Waterside project to help regenerate the area. It will provide both high-quality business accommodation and a visitor destination that people from near and far can enjoy.”

Ivan Fomin, Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, said: “I am thrilled to see this prominent project right by the canal, start on site. This landmark development is a key part of the Town Deal programme as it will help create new jobs and encourage people to explore the historic canal, contributing to our overall goal of ensuring that Staveley is a place where everyone can start, stay, and grow.”

Staveley Waterside is one of 3 projects the county council is leading as part of the Staveley Town Deal which includes 10 projects in total.

Wheels to Work is a project we are leading to help people in Staveley access job and training opportunities by providing bicycles and e-scooters for those with limited transport options. And we are also working with partners on a project to reinstate a railway station in Barrow Hill and create better public transport connections between Staveley, Chesterfield and Sheffield for jobs and training opportunities.

Find out more about the Staveley Town Deal Projects here: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/staveley/

group of representatives holding banner wearing hard hats

 

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Successful Markham Vale Scheme turns 20 years old

From a former colliery site to a contemporary business hub housing 70 businesses supporting more than 2,700 jobs, Markham Vale is celebrating turning 20.

A joint venture in partnership with property developer HBD, part of Henry Boot, the 200-acre scheme – situated off M1 junction 29a – is centred around what was the mostly derelict Markham Colliery site and has been transformed into a prime business location over the last 2 decades.

The successful partnership has resulted in the creation of bespoke spaces for businesses of all sizes. From local start-ups such as a car body repair shop to large occupiers such as Great Bear logistics, and medium-sized marketing agencies such as Noonah, the site has become a hub of diverse economic activity bringing employment opportunities for the local community.

Plans for further expansion and green initiatives include the installation of 30 electric vehicle charging points in collaboration with Gridserve and the improvement of cycle areas to promote sustainable transport.

Markham Vale has also fostered a sense of community and remembrance through the ‘Walking Together’ memorial as a lasting tribute to men who lost their lives in mining disasters at the site in 1937, 1938 and 1973.

Weaving through the site from the former pithead to the village of Duckmanton, the memorial features 106 individual steel statues – one for each of the men who died down the pit and acts as a permanent reminder of the site’s significant mining heritage.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, Councillor Tony King, said: “Markham Vale is a real success story and travelling around the site today you really get the chance to reflect on its phenomenal transformation over 2 decades.

“From a deserted, overgrown landscape, home to an industry of the past, to a state-of-the-art, dynamic hub attracting business and industry for the future, Markham Vale has gone from strength to strength through uncharted waters including global economic crises and not to mention a pandemic.

“Today Markham Vale continues to attract local, national, and international businesses to Derbyshire and plays a key role in helping to deliver on our commitment to building a strong, diverse, and green economy by creating jobs for local people.”

Vivienne Clements, Executive Director at HBD added: “Our partnership with Derbyshire County Council has been fantastic. HBD is incredibly proud of our close collaboration with the local community and our support in helping occupiers grow and expand their businesses. We look forward to many more successful years ahead.”

Find out more about why Chesterfield is a perfect location to base your business: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

HBD supports 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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Town centre regeneration work starts on site

Work on the next phase of the multi-million pound regeneration of Chesterfield town centre has officially started on site.

Councillors Tricia Gilby and Kate Sarvent met with Louise Bruynseels a regular market trader and John Allen the Construction Director at contractor Thomas Bow, to see how works had been progressing to the upper section of Market Place during the first week of construction.

The works will see the creation of a new market layout with new stalls and enhancements to paving, seating and lighting. Work will then move on to New Square – to create an attractive and flexible space that will complement the main market and speciality markets, but can also be used to host festivals, events, cultural celebrations, and community gatherings.

New layout for Chesterfield Market with contemporary stalls, heritage colours, Market Hall in the background, town pump a feature

Market Square Chesterfield – artist’s impression

The town’s historic cobbles will be lifted, and re-laid and some new paving will also be installed – together this will maintain the historic look but will provide a more level surface throughout the Market Place, making it easier for people with accessibility issues such as wheelchair and mobility scooter users or parents with pushchairs to navigate the market.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We’re all immensely proud of our town centre and historic market, and we’re investing in its future to help it thrive for generations to come.

“It’s fantastic to see work begin on site, and we all look forward to seeing the improvements take shape over the summer. The town centre is very much open for business, although inevitably there will be some short-term disruption and we thank people for their patience.

“We’re working closely to support our market traders and town centre businesses and will keep people up to date as the project progresses – please sign up to our regular monthly email newsletter and also keep an eye on the council’s social media channels.”

View 01 - New Square (Ground) copy

Artists impression of New Square development in Chesterfield

All town centre businesses and market stalls will be open as usual during the regeneration work. Some market traders have temporarily re-located to either the lower half of Market Place, New Square, or other areas of the town centre nearby – but the market will run as usual on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (and speciality markets as usual on Sundays).

Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield is an 18-month scheme to improve the look, feel and flow of key public spaces, and revitalise the historic market.

Further phases of works include Rykneld Square which will be transformed to create a green and welcoming space from which to enjoy our much-loved Crooked Spire.

Separately, G F Tomlinson will carry out improvements to Corporation Street to create a new gateway to the refurbished Stephenson Memorial Hall, which houses the Pomegranate Theatre and Chesterfield Museum.

Questions about Revitalisng the Heart of Chesterfield can be submitted to the project team by emailing: RHOCEnquiries@chesterfield.gov.uk

For more information or to sign up for project updates by email, please visit: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/revitalise

Group of people stood beside construction site at Chesterfield Market

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Office occupancy success continues across Chesterfield

Chesterfield is fast emerging as a prime destination for office space. With its strategic location and proactive community, combined with modern commercial developments, our town is becoming a beacon for businesses looking to establish a strong presence in the region.

The success story of office developments in Chesterfield is a reflection of the town’s adaptability and forward-thinking approach, as businesses adapt to hybrid working models.

In recent years, Chesterfield has seen a remarkable transformation. Its skyline has evolved with state-of-the-art office spaces that blend modern amenities with the town’s historic charm.

One Waterside Place, The Glass Yard and the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre have all opened in the last couple of years, whilst quality refurbishments such as The HQ and The Quad have added to the availability of highly-demanded grade A space.

Interest in Chesterfield is fueled by a combination of factors: excellent transport links, competitive prices, and a council committed to supporting business innovation and development.

Chesterfield’s strategic position, offering easy access to major cities like Sheffield and Nottingham, makes it an ideal location for businesses seeking connectivity without the hefty price tags of larger urban centers. Moreover, the town’s investment in infrastructure and sustainable development is attracting a diverse range of companies.

PIB, Nuzest and Varley are just some of the companies opening new offices in Chesterfield recently, whilst businesses such as BHP, Rosewood Wealth Management, We Are Spaces and Vines Legal have thrived in the town, culminating in moves to larger offices.

We’ve spoken to the people involved in these transformational office projects, which are setting Chesterfield apart as a leading hub for enterprise and innovation.

With new stock continuing to come to the market, including the recently completed York House, there are plenty of opportunities to invest in Chesterfield.

Join hundreds of businesses benefitting from Chesterfield’s ideal location, affordability and work-life balance. Find out more about office spaces available in our town at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/office/

Chesterfield Innovation Centres

2 female business people at white desks talking at Chesterfield Enterprise Centre, Crooked Spire visible through window

Northern Gateway Chesterfield Enterprise Centre

Chesterfield’s three innovations centres continue to report impressive occupancy rates. The recently-developed Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre in the heart of the town has an occupancy of 85% currently. Occupancy at Dunston Innovation Centre sits at a whopping 95%, and Tapton is currently 83% full.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and cabinet member for economic growth, said: “Our Enterprise and Innovation Centres provide businesses with the space and support they need to grow and thrive in our borough and there has been lots of demand for space in all three of our centres over the last year.

“Our investment in these centres has been a key element of our plan to grow the local economy and create new employment opportunities and we’ve seen the success of this investment through businesses growing and expanding their presence in our borough.  New businesses receive a warm welcome into our centres, and our dedicated team are always happy to help businesses find the right space for them. If you’re looking for new office space in Chesterfield, please get in touch with our team who will be pleased to help you in your search.”

One Waterside Place

Group of business people at table listening to young male presenting in front of a screen with PowerPoint at BHP, 1 Waterside Place, Chesterfield

BHP, 1 Waterside Place, Chesterfield

All floors of the flagship One Waterside Place building, situated just a few yards from Chesterfield Railway Station have now been taken.

The seven-storey development is home to BHP Chartered Accountants, Rosewood Wealth Management and Wesco Anixter. Meanwhile one of the first businesses to move into the building, Varley, has taken a second floor of space to take the occupancy to 100%.

Peter Swallow, Managing Director of Bolsterstone Group and Chair of Destination Chesterfield, said: “We’re delighted that Varley has expanded their office space within One Waterside Place. Together with BHP, Rosewood Wealth Management and Wesco Anixter, the building is now fully occupied.

“One Waterside Place has been a huge success for both Bolsterstone and Chesterfield Borough Council; it has been instrumental in setting new headline rents for office space in the town.  Whether it’s a private or public partnership, our aim is to create places people want to live, work and invest throughout the UK. It’s certainly been the case with Chesterfield Waterside. The success of One Waterside Place and Waterside Quarter is helping us attract substantial interest in the next delivery phase of the regeneration scheme.”

“We are now progressing well with our plans to bring forward the next stages of Basin Square. There has been significant interest shown and we envisage being able to take some elements to the next stage later this year.”

The Quad and The HQ

The HQ 873

Two recently-refurbished buildings, situated near Queen’s Park and Chesterfield town Centre, have both seen huge demand.

The Quad and The HQ underwent major improvements, carried out by FI Real Estate Management.

With 56,000 sq ft of floor space, The Quad is now at full occupancy with DHU Healthcare moving into the building. Investment at the HQ has created over 100,000 sq ft of modern open-plan office space, with the majority now snapped up.

Dom Knowles, Head of Offices FI Real Estate Management, commented: “The way businesses use office space is fundamentally different to just a few years ago. As developers, it’s our responsibility to provide workspaces that respond not only to the needs of the current market but to set the trends for future ways of working.

“Our space at The HQ and The Quad is flexible and customisable, allowing our tenants to maximise their workspace without compromising on convenience. Elevating spaces with the highest standard of amenities creates spaces where people love to come to work and will ultimately thrive, which benefits the business. We’ve had a large volume of interest in this development throughout the refurbishment and I expect we will be fully let in the coming months.”

An Agents View

Destination Chesterfield team working in the office

The first half of 2024 has pleasingly been a busy period for FHP Property Consultants.  The company was involved in the letting of space at One Waterside Place, as well as several other sites across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Darran Severn, Director at FHP Property Consultants commented: “It’s been hard work but pleasing we are seeing some of the deals we agreed earlier in the year completing.  We are finding that enquiry levels are consistent and in some of these locations and it’s a matter of unearthing the right occupier for the building.

“Quality is key, and many of the businesses we are speaking with are looking for refurbished space that is immediately available for occupation.  Both capital and rental values remain at existing levels, with typical lease lengths being between 5 and 10 years with breaks in year 3.  Whilst there is an element of uncertainty in the air due to political and world events, we do require more stock across Chesterfield and Derbyshire to satisfy ongoing requirements.”

Join hundreds of businesses benefitting from Chesterfield’s ideal location, affordability and work-life balance. Find out more about office spaces available in our town at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/office/

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