Chesterfield Champion UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA), has been awarded a certificate of commendation for the Campaign of the Year, at the Safety and Health Excellence Awards on 11 April at VOX, Resorts World, Birmingham.

Hosted by Rory Bremner, the event saw UKATA join more than 400 of the UK’s leading specialists for an evening of networking that celebrates excellence in all things health and safety.

Train Safe, Work Safe, Keep Safe Campaign, delivered thousands of hours of free asbestos training to small business and sole traders nationwide. With asbestos still the biggest killer in the UK workplace, the campaign was conceived to offer free asbestos training to those who need it most yet are least likely to be aware of the dangers.

Victoria Castelluccio, Events & Marketing Manager at UKATA, said:-

“Our campaign to spread awareness of and combat the risk of asbestos in the Train Safe, Work Safe, Keep Safe Campaign was given recognition for the significant improvement in health and safety intended.  On a personal level, collecting the award on behalf of UKATA was a true honour, to receive official praise (outside of the organisation) for a campaign that I have been responsible for organising and managing, means a lot.”

The awards were judged by a vastly experienced panel comprising many years’ experience in health and safety including the chief executive of NEBOSH Teresa Budworth, Neal Stone – former policy and standards director of the British Safety Council and Colin Webb advisor to Oxford University.

UKATA was up against Jaguar Land Rover and Edinburgh Airport to name but a few of the competition.

UKATA is the leading authority for asbestos training provision in the United Kingdom. Tasked by the HSE in 2008 to manage the licensed asbestos training providers, UKATA has gone from strength to strength and now has over 180 member organisations from all corners of the UK. For further information visit.

J & R Self Storage will celebrate the grand opening of their newest facility in Chesterfield on Friday 20 April.

The £1.2 million purpose-built facility will be opened by the Lord Mayor of Chesterfield Borough, Maureen Davenport. More than 75 guests are expected to attend the opening including local businesses and members of the community.

The public are invited to join them between 11am to 4pm and enjoy complimentary buffet and celebratory drinks and take a tour of the facility.

Boasting over 200 storage units of varying sizes and a state-of-the-art security system with 24-hour CCTV, intruder alarms and unique PIN code entry access.

Chris Dell, Managing Director and Owner of  J & R Self Storage, said that he hoped Chesterfield could make use of the extra ‘space.’ He continues:-

“I don’t think there is ever a time when we don’t find ourselves wishing for an extra room in the house!  Almost 50% of Brits don’t think they have enough space for their worldly possessions – and that’s where we can help.”

“Whether it’s a place to hide that golfing equipment you don’t want your wife to find out about, a place to store the drum-kit you never want to see again but don’t want to sell or somewhere for the sentimental bric-a-brac.

“We have rooms ranging in size, whether you need something long or short term – consider us an extra room in your home. Every room is clean, dry and individually secured. You are the only key holder so you are able to come and go as you please.

“We provide temporary and permanent storage solutions for personal household items for when you’re de-cluttering.

Mr Dell said the facility was a total business storage solution ideal for small, medium or large organisations for archiving, bulky equipment, stock and secure destruction.

“The team and I are very excited to be part of the Chesterfield business community and we look forward to working with you in the future,” said Mr Dell.

18 year old Chesterfield motor racing ace Seb Perez is in gear for his first race of the season this weekend at Brands Hatch (7-8 April) in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship.

It will be the first outing in the championship for Perez with Team Parker Racing and his 21 year old teammate Nottinghamshire’s George Gamble in the £130,000 Amigos livered and sponsored second generation Porsche Type 991 911 GT3 cars that look absolutely stunning.

Over the past few weeks Perez has been busy testing the car at Silverstone and at local circuit Donington Park and pleased the way things have gone bearing in mind being a rookie to the car.

The first test session at Silverstone was the official media launch for the drivers and their cars and saw heavy rain conditions most of the day with very little track action during the first test session. Rains eased and saw both Perez and Gamble out still on damp tarmac in the second session of the day and both in the top 5 places and topping speeds of over 135 mph over the 1.64 mile circuit.

The later test session saw Perez complete 21 laps of the circuit and by the end of the day both drivers were in the top 10 placing of testing.

Similar weather faced them at Donington Park just over 2 weeks ago and saw Perez 3rd fastest over the 1.97 mile test with Gamble taking fastest at one stage and gain finishing in the top 10 places. Gamble finishing 4th and Perez 8th.

Both drivers have tested in Monza Italy recently, one of the circuits on the calendar later in the season

The new car and championship will be a challenge for Perez, the car is bigger and more powerful and an even more demanding championship lies ahead.

The championship has a lot to offer past Porsche Carrera Cup GB champions have progressed to such as driving for teams in the British Touring Car Championship.

For the past three seasons Perez has raced in Ginetta cars, last season saw Perez in the Michelin Ginetta GT4 SuperCup Championship where he finished tenth overhaul. During 2015 and 2016 he competed in the Simpson Race Products Ginetta Junior Championship, finishing 10th place, taking his maiden pole position, a fastest race lap and four podiums, a first and three third places.

Perez said at the end of last season  “My last three seasons with Ginetta, have been fantastic. Last year was a super tough season but of course all part of the learning process,”

A winning combination is hoped, George Gamble from Southwell Nottinghamshire is no newcomer to Perez they were teammates last season as well that saw him finish third in the Ginetta standings and was a GT5 Champion back in 2014.

Team Parker Racing have been in motorsport for many years now, they have an incredibly experienced team with lots of years in Porsche cars under their belt this should help both drivers during their first season, they are doing a great job with the cars and drivers.

Motorsport is no stranger to the Perez family, he is son of 2014 BTRDA Gold Star Rally Champion and Chesterfield businessman Steve Perez, Chairman of Chesterfield based drinks brand development business Global Brands Ltd and owner of Amigos Tequila Flavoured Beer and Kick Energy Drink Brands.

Seb has competed in many motorsports including rallying, at the wheel of a Nissan Micra rally car in the Kick Energy Junior 1000 Rally Championship. Recently over the past few weeks has been rallying in a Mk2 Ford Escort on the Rally Clásico Isla de Mallorca where he took a podium place finishing third and Father Steve piped him at the post to take second in his epic Lancia Stratos rally car

When asked about his racing career to date Perez said

“The Ginetta GT4 Supercup was a great progression from the Juniors as it offered a similar weight distribution but obviously the power increase and the slick tyres were what made the jump significant, enabling me to learn about handling additional power and getting the most out of the tyres in a qualifying run.”

He added “Porsche Carrera Cup GB offers a fantastic playing field for drivers to progress throughout their career and has turned out some of the best. I feel it is important to always progress within your career, and we all felt like Porsche was the next logical step as I also have age on my side!”

When asked about his new car he said ” The Porsche is a unique car to drive with near enough all the weight over the rear, where on paper the Ginetta is a lot more of a balanced car. The speed difference is something that just comes with time and getting the power in at the right time, but the handling aspects of the car are something more unique. You almost drive the car as if you are in the wet. Stop it, turn it, go. As it won’t carry the corner speed like the Ginetta so to extract the time out of the car over a lap is going to be interesting.”

He added “ I am in the Pro-Am class of the series, as I can have a true season of learning but still get some trophies on the way. My main goal will be to win Pro-Am class.”

The Championship is ran over 8 race weekends  and is a support to the ever popular Dunlop British Touring Car Championship. After the action this weekend, its followed by the local round at Donington Park on 28th and 29th April.

Chesterfield Champion Shorts Chartered Accountants, have teamed up with hlw Keeble Hawson to act as lead advisors and legal representatives to F1 logistics specialists, Delivered on Time Limited, on its sale to Global logistics business DHL, for an undisclosed sum.

DHL is a global business forming part of the DPDHL Group, with revenues of 60 Billion Euros.  The acquisition will build on DHL’s existing offering, providing market leading logistics to high end motoring and motorsport events, including F1 and Gumball Rally.  Paul Fowler, shareholder and Managing Director of Delivered on Time Limited, will stay on as Head of Motorsport for DHL as part of the deal and will be responsible for the combined business.

Andy Ryder, Corporate Finance partner with Shorts and lead advisor on the transaction commented:-

“We are delighted to have advised Paul on the successful completion of the sale to DHL.  This was a complex transaction which required key support on tax (David Robinson) as well as corporate finance (Adam Ames). We look forward to seeing Paul continue to grow the business as part of DHL.”

Matt Ainsworth, Partner of hlw Keeble Hawson, said:-

“Delivered on Time has built a strong track record as F1 logistics specialists. This milestone development provides enormous potential for the business to achieve its growth vision as part of DHL. We wish Paul and the team continued success.”

Paul Fowler commented that the deal will help to accelerate the company’s growth and open up new markets, adding:-

“I will continue to manage the business and as far as existing clients are concerned, it will be business as usual.  I am excited for the next phase of what promises to be an exciting period for the company.”

Famous Cherry Blossom shoe polish manufacturers, Grangers International, is set to open a new base at Derbyshire County Council flagship regeneration site Markham Vale.

One of Chesterfield’s oldest firms, Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, is celebrating its 150th anniversary.

To mark the major milestone Mitchells plans to give something back to the business community, which it has been at the heart of since 1868 and has teamed up with the Derbyshire Times to offer a special prize in the newspaper’s 10th annual Business Awards.

Mitchells will be selecting one of the entrants in this year’s awards to win a free year of mentoring and support from its team of expert staff.

The 150th anniversary celebrations will continue with a party behind its Saltergate-based offices on Friday 11 May, where staff will welcome past and present clients.

Andrew McDaid, partner at Mitchells, said:-

“We are delighted to be celebrating 150 years.

“Very few firms have been around for as long as we have. Over the last century and a half, we have helped so many local businesses to accelerate their growth.

“We wanted to mark such a momentous occasion by thanking the local business community which we have been proud to work with by offering a free mentoring package and helping another local business to realise its full potential.

“Chesterfield is a thriving town and we look forward to another 150 years of working hard for our clients and seeing the area and its businesses grow and prosper.”

Based on Saltergate in the town centre, Mitchells is one of the leading firms of Chartered Accountants in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire, providing accountancy services and business advice businesses throughout Chesterfield, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire-based businesses.