Chesterfield’s
businesses were put under the national spotlight in July when BBC Radio 5 Live
came to town on the back the latest GDP figures which were up across the board.
And Chesterfield’s story wasn’t any different.
If you were
listening on 27 July you’ll have heard business reporter Colletta Smith
interview Nick Ibbotson from Ibbotson’s Fresh Produce, Stuart Downing from Casa
Hotel, James Brand from United Cast Bar and Russ Gratton from Recon Electrical
– all Chesterfield businesses. I’m delighted to say that all of them –
including the customers at Recon Electrical - had the same story to tell; that business
in the last quarter had been good.
People want to
come to Chesterfield for work and pleasure, Casa’s figures bear this out. It
has had more than 2000 bookings this year and already has people booked for
2017.
It’s a similar
story in our town, employment is the highest it has ever been for the town
since records began. However, we must keep this momentum going and not let the
uncertainty brought about by the EU referendum result derail the town’s growth
and future.
We need to be
sure we don’t talk ourselves into a recession. Chesterfield is in a strong
position with major developments, like Markham Vale, well underway and already creating
hundreds of jobs. The Great Bear distribution centre is soon to open at Markham
Vale and will create a further 400 jobs this year.
We’re a town of
entrepreneurs and time and time again we show how we can adapt, change and
overcome. Nowhere was that more evident than at the recent judging for the Food
Producer of the Year title in the 2016 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards. It
was full of surprises – a micro herb producer from Whittington Moor, a smoke
and cured meat specialist from Bolsover, a smoothie and juice producer from
Tupton and a honey producer from Clowne, to name but a few.
Without
exception every entrant was an owner managed business, many of them tucked away
in Chesterfield quietly getting on with their daily business and supplying
produce locally, regionally and nationally.
I’m delighted
that Chesterfield Borough Council is helping town’s entrepreneurs even further
with its latest plans for Northern Gateway. It has announced it will be
building a business
enterprise centre on part of the Donut car park for start-up and small and
medium sized businesses.
The Council’s Dunston and Tapton Innovation Centres
already have a great track record for incubating and nurturing business and I
for one am delighted that Chesterfield is able to look ahead and continue with
its plans for growth and prosperity even in these times of uncertainty.
