I spent some time this week at the Destination Chesterfield ‘Celebrate Chesterfield’ event.
No big expectations walking in. Just a chance to catch up with a few familiar faces and hear what’s happening across the borough.
But I came away thinking something I’ve found myself saying more and more lately:
There’s far more going on in Chesterfield than people realise.
The Chesterfield you don’t always see
If your view of Chesterfield is shaped by social media, you’d be forgiven for thinking the town is struggling.
You’ll see the usual comments – about the high street, anti-social behaviour, the council, the football club.
But sit in a room with the people actually working on the town’s future and it paints a very different picture.
We heard about:
Investment through the Staveley Town Deal
A real push on skills and employability
Growing focus on creativity and culture
Community-led initiatives that don’t always make the headlines
Emerging ideas like the Chesterfield Tech Exchange
None of it was flashy. No big sales pitch.
Just people quietly getting on with the job.
Leadership that often goes unnoticed
Huw Bowen spoke about this being his final year as Chief Executive.
What stood out wasn’t a list of achievements.
It was the tone.
A focus on how the council has supported residents during difficult times and how much of that work happens behind the scenes without recognition.
That kind of leadership doesn’t always cut through online, but it matters locally.
Culture, events and energy across the borough
Emily Bowman brought a different kind of energy.
There are a huge number of events, activities and cultural initiatives happening across Chesterfield – the kind that make people stop, take notice and feel part of something.
It’s easy to underestimate how important that is.
Culture isn’t just “nice to have”.
It shapes how people feel about where they live, work and invest.
Why local business should care
As a business owner providing IT support, managed IT services and cyber security in Chesterfield and Sheffield, this stuff matters more than it might first appear.
Because a town that is:
Investing in skills
Supporting local organisations
Building community
Creating opportunities
…is a town where businesses can grow.
We see it first-hand working with local SMEs, schools, care providers and organisations across the area.
When the town moves forward, so do the businesses within it.
Proud to be a Chesterfield Champion
We’re proud to be a Chesterfield Champion.
Not just as a badge, but as a responsibility.
Backing the town. Supporting local initiatives. Working with organisations that are trying to make things better.
And being an ambassador for Chesterfield when we speak to businesses across Derbyshire, Sheffield and beyond.
We also fully support Chesterfield’s bid for UK Town of Culture 2028.
After hearing what’s already happening across the borough, it’s clear this isn’t just ambition – it’s already in motion.
Moving past the noise
There will always be negativity.
That’s true of any town.
But if you take your cues from that alone, you miss what’s actually happening.
Spend time with the people involved.
Talk to local business owners.
Attend events like this.
You’ll start to see a different Chesterfield.
One that’s building, improving and creating opportunities.
Why this matters to us
We’ve built our business here.
We’re raising our family here.
And we’re working with organisations across Chesterfield, Sheffield and the wider region every day.
So this isn’t just observation.
It’s personal.
We want the town to succeed because we’re part of it.
And after events like this, it’s clear there are a lot of people working hard to make sure that happens.
Final thought
Chesterfield isn’t perfect.
No town is.
But there’s real momentum here – and it deserves a bit more recognition than it gets.
If you’re a local business owner, it’s worth looking past the noise.
Because there’s more opportunity here than you might think.
If you’re a business in Chesterfield or Sheffield looking for reliable IT support, managed IT services, or cyber security that actually fits your needs, we’re always happy to have a conversation.
