Chesterfield celebration

The Annual Celebrate Chesterfield conference, in association with Bondholder the University of Derby, commended the opportunity for innovation and employment in the town.

The conference on 11th March, organised by Destination Chesterfield, is one of the most hotly anticipated business events in the local area. This year it attracted nearly 300 delegates who heard from speakers including Elizabeth Fagan CBE, Chair of Bondholder D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, Jon Veitch, Managing Director of Talgo UK and Rupert Carr, Director of Birchall Properties, the company behind PEAK resort.

At the conference, it was announced that Chesterfield is at the forefront of Spanish rail company Talgo’s All Britain Strategy. The company has established its head office in Chesterfield and now has plans to open a research and development centre, co-located with Barrow Hill Roundhouse, with recruitment due to begin shortly. The company is currently bidding to supply trains to HS2.

Speaking at the conference, Elizabeth Fagan CBE said: “HS2 is a once in a generation opportunity for the town, enabling employment opportunities to be unlocked. We must ensure we take this moment in time to deliver our carbon neutral ambition to improve the skills of the people who work in this region and ensure that Chesterfield, D2N2 and Midlands region is at the forefront of leading this UK-wide ambition.”

It was announced at the event that construction on the David Lloyd Adrenaline World has begun at PEAK. It represents the beginning of the phase one delivery of the resort which, when completed will be an integrated leisure, health, sport and education destination on the edge of the Peak District National Park; set on the 300-acre Birchall Estate in Chesterfield.

At the event, Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, praised the Destination Chesterfield campaign recognising the difference it has made to investment in the borough. There is more than £1 billion of development currently happening in Chesterfield, with key developments Chesterfield Waterside, PEAK and an innovation centre at Northern Gateway all set to come out of the ground in 2020.