Chesterfield is a town of around 88,000 in north Derbyshire, known for the twisted spire of St Mary and All Saints church and, for anyone job-hunting, for sitting close to the M1 between Sheffield and the East Midlands. Its economy leans on healthcare, logistics, manufacturing and distribution, with a steady undercurrent of retail and care work. A large share of working residents commute the short distance north to Sheffield, so the local labour market is effectively shared with South Yorkshire.
The single biggest employer is Chesterfield Royal Hospital, the NHS foundation trust at Calow (S44) on the eastern edge of town, which employs more than 4,500 staff across clinical, nursing, technical and support roles and recruits more or less continuously. The other main source of hiring is Markham Vale, the business park built on the former Markham Colliery site at M1 Junction 29A, off the A632 towards Bolsover. It runs heavily to warehousing, distribution and manufacturing — Great Bear, Smurfit Westrock's packaging plant and Ferdinand Bilstein's automotive parts operation among the occupiers — so warehouse, HGV, picking and shift work is a constant. In the town itself, Robinson plc, a packaging manufacturer founded in Chesterfield in 1839, keeps its head office and paperboard operation at Wheatbridge (S40), and there are older industrial pockets at Sheepbridge, Dunston, Whittington and Staveley. Derbyshire County Council and Chesterfield Borough Council are both sizeable public-sector employers.
Logistics agencies make up much of the temp market here, feeding the Markham Vale and Barlborough sheds; driving, warehouse and production agency work accounts for a good share of the live vacancies. Transport is one of the town's stronger points: Chesterfield is on the Midland Main Line, with East Midlands Railway to Sheffield in about 13 minutes, Derby in around 18, Nottingham in roughly 30, and London St Pancras in a little under two hours. The M1 is close by at Junctions 29 and 29A. Postcodes: S40 covers the centre, west and Brampton; S41 the north and Whittington; S43 runs out to Staveley and Barlborough; S44 covers Calow and Bolsover.
Jobs in Chesterfield
Production Operative
Senior Unified Communications & AV Engineer
Pitch Specialist (5.00pm - 1:30am)
Roadside Rescue Mechanic
Roadside Vehicle Technician
Roadside Vehicle Mechanic
Roadside Technician - West Midlands
Roadside Mechanic
Roadside Technician
Sales Order Processor
Injection Moulding Setter
Counterbalance and Reach FLT Driver
Customer Service Executive
Fleet support Drivers
Delivery Driver (Long Distance)
Delivery Driver (Multi-Drop)
Facilities Manager
Public Affairs Senior Account Manager – Sheffield or Manchester
Live in Support Worker
Frequently asked questions
Who is the biggest employer in Chesterfield?
Chesterfield Royal Hospital, the NHS foundation trust at Calow on the east side of town (S44), is the largest single employer, with more than 4,500 staff and near-constant recruitment across clinical and support roles. After that, the main concentration of jobs is at Markham Vale, the business park at M1 Junction 29A, where Great Bear, Smurfit Westrock and Ferdinand Bilstein run large warehousing, packaging and manufacturing operations. Robinson plc, a packaging manufacturer based at Wheatbridge (S40), is a long-standing town-centre employer.
Is Chesterfield good for commuting to Sheffield or beyond?
Yes. Chesterfield is on the Midland Main Line, and East Midlands Railway runs trains to Sheffield in about 13 minutes, which is why many residents work in South Yorkshire. The same line reaches Derby in around 18 minutes, Nottingham in roughly 30, and London St Pancras in a little under two hours. By road the M1 is close at Junctions 29 and 29A, so Markham Vale and the Barlborough estates are an easy drive.
What kind of jobs come up most often in Chesterfield?
Warehouse, HGV driving, picking and production shift work are common, driven by the distribution sheds at Markham Vale and out towards Staveley and Barlborough (S43). Healthcare and care roles are the other large category, anchored by Chesterfield Royal Hospital. Many of the warehouse and driving vacancies come through logistics agencies on a temp or temp-to-perm basis rather than direct, so it is worth registering with a couple of them alongside applying direct.