Business News Social media can revive high streets


With up to 74% of high street retailers not having an active social media presence, Polly Barnfield OBE, a member of the Government’s High Street Task Force, has urged Chesterfield’s shops and market traders to adopt social media and use it to deliver both improved footfall and sales on demand. Speaking at the sell-out 2019 Chesterfield


Investment Summit Ms Barnfield, who has been named as one of the top 100 most influential women in technology, believes events and localised social media activity could be the key to revitalising and growing Chesterfield’s high street. She said: “Social media is a resource


that any business can use, and retailers should use this opportunity to engage with and understand their customers. “Social media is fundamentally changing the rules of doing business. It’s not a question of a business being online or offline anymore – they must be both. There has been a huge shift in human behaviour over the last 15 years driven by social media. For the first time ever, people now spend more time on their mobile phone than watching TV.” However, she urged retailers not to just to


‘Social media is


fundamentally changing the


rules of doing business’


focus on selling themselves on social media. She said: “Engagement with the community


around you is key. You can’t just sell your own product on social media if you want to be successful. Retailers should post on social media every day and talk to their audience not just about what is happening in their business but around them.”


Celebration for milestone


Sheffield-based Zonegreen is celebrating the achievements of its Technical Director, who has been driving up safety standards within the rail industry for the last two decades. Christian Fletcher (pictured) has


recently marked 20 years with the firm, during which time he has become a leading expert in depot personnel protection. Recognised as the creator of


modern rail depot safety technology, Christian is responsible for the invention and development of Zonegreen’s flagship product, the Depot Personnel Protection System (DPPS). It has now widely replaced


traditional methods of protection and is by far the most commonly installed way to safeguard staff in maintenance facilities. Having joined Zonegreen in 1999,


Christian is now responsible for leading the firm’s technical team and overseeing research and development projects. Zonegreen Chairman Tony Hague


said: “We are thrilled to be celebrating Christian’s 20th anniversary with the firm. He has made an enormous contribution to its success and continues inspire colleagues to find new ways to make rail depots safer and more productive.”


Addressing future investment and development opportunities in Chesterfield and North East


Derbyshire, the event was organised by Derbyshire Economic Partnership,


Destination Chesterfield and Marketing Derby. Speaking at the event Huw Bowen, Chief


Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, also revealed that the town had welcomed 330 business start-ups in the last 12 months. He said: “For Chesterfield to grow and survive


it needs to be a place where people feel they can do business and do it successfully. This means ensuring we make the most of our competitive advantages in order to attract


investment as well as optimise our current development opportunities including HS2, Chesterfield Waterside, Northern Gateway and Peak Resort. Our competitive advantages underpin our recently published Growth Strategy.” Organised by Destination Chesterfield,


Derbyshire Economic Partnership and Marketing Derby and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the annual Investment Summit was held at Casa Hotel.


To keep up to date with investments and developments in Chesterfield, please visit www.chesterfield.co.uk


University evaluates youth crime projects


Sheffield Hallam University has partnered with the Youth Endowment Fund to evaluate a set of projects aimed at stopping children and young people becoming involved in crime. One of six evaluators, the university will analyse four projects across


England and Wales. The first round of 22 projects has been made possible with £16.2m in funding from the Youth Endowment Fund. Academics at the university will be evaluating the projects to understand their approach and effectiveness and to ensure that knowledge of the types of interventions and programmes that are most effective can be shared. These projects include a school-based drug use prevention programme and a multi-activity personal development programme, teaching effective communication, responsible decision making and resisting social influences. Professor Mike Coldwell, Lead for the evaluation programme at Sheffield Hallam, said: “We are really excited to begin working with the Youth Endowment Foundation evaluating this set of projects, which aim - in different ways - to help children and young people gain the skills and knowledge to improve their life chances and avoid becoming engaged in serious criminal activity.” Established with a £200m endowment fund from the Home Office


and led by Impetus, in partnership with the Early Intervention Foundation and Social Investment Business, the Youth Endowment Fund is dedicated to supporting improved outcomes for children and young people. From intensive family therapy to street-based and school mentoring


programmes, 30,000 young people between the ages of ten-14 will directly benefit from ground-breaking interventions.


Autumn 2019 CHAMBERconnect 41 Polly Barnfield


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