By Alex Baddley –
Chesterfield Borough Council and its partners are celebrating the lasting impact of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which has brought £3.793 million of investment into projects supporting communities, businesses and residents across our borough since 2022.
Working with organisations from the public, private, business, community and voluntary sectors, the council secured an initial £2.693 million through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in spring 2022 to deliver priority projects between December 2022 and March 2025. The programme was later extended to March 2026, with a further £1.1 million awarded.
As the lead authority for delivery, Chesterfield Borough Council established a UKSPF Partnership Board, bringing together organisations from across our borough to help shape and deliver projects that respond to local needs.
The funding has supported projects under the programme’s three priorities: communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
Investing in communities, businesses and people
Across Chesterfield, the funding has helped strengthen neighbourhoods, support local organisations and create opportunities for residents of all ages.
Community projects have improved local spaces, encouraged people to become more involved in their neighbourhoods and supported some of our borough’s most deprived communities, helping to build pride, resilience and stronger local connections.
The programme has also helped entrepreneurs and established businesses to start, grow and innovate, creating new opportunities for investment, employment and skills development across the area.
Through people and skills projects, residents have received tailored support to overcome barriers to employment, build confidence and develop the skills needed for future careers.
Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Chair of the UKSPF Partnership Board, said:
“The UK Shared Prosperity Fund has made a real difference across Chesterfield, helping us to support local businesses, invest in our communities and create new opportunities for residents.
“What has made this programme particularly valuable is the strength of the partnerships behind it, with organisations coming together to deliver practical support and long-term benefits for the borough.
“It was a great privilege to act as Chair of the UKSPF Partnership Board. The power of the partnerships we formed will make a lasting impact on the borough.”
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said:
“One of the best things about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Chesterfield has been seeing what people can achieve when they work together. Councils, businesses, community organisations and volunteers have turned this investment into practical support and lasting improvements for communities across the borough.
“The funding has helped local businesses grow, supported people to develop new skills, strengthened neighbourhoods and given residents the support they need to move towards work. Behind every project are people who care about their communities and have worked hard to make a positive difference.
“As Mayor, I want to see that spirit of partnership continue. The confidence, relationships and momentum built through this programme has given Chesterfield a strong foundation for the future.”
Since the programme began in 2022, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund has enabled organisations across Chesterfield to deliver projects that support economic growth, strengthen communities and improve opportunities for local people. The partnerships established through the programme are expected to continue creating benefits for the borough long after the funding has come to an end.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund was provided by the UK Government to improve pride in place and increase life chances by investing in communities and place, supporting local businesses, and developing people and skills.
To discover more about investment and regeneration taking place across Chesterfield, visit: www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/
For more information about the projects delivered through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, visit Chesterfield Borough Council’s UKSPF webpages.
