28 years of local service.
Johnson Surfacing is a 15 strong team who specialise in tarmac surfacing, block paving and resin bound surfacing and have completed many local driveways. They also take on commercial projects; footpaths, car parks, access roads, commercial yards, housing estates, sports and school playground surfaces and have worked in and around Chesterfield for 28 years now, so I thought it was time to catch up with Director Sebastian Johnson, for a chat… over the phone of course.
You’ve hopefully spotted their advert in S40 Local and may have seen them working in the local area.
“We’re a local authority approved civil engineering and surfacing contractor. Our offices are on Ashgate Road and I live in Walton, so we are thoroughly local”. In fact, Sebastian can often be found walking with his family in Walton. Philip and Heather, Sebastian’s parents, founded the family business in 1992. Philip had spent his life in construction and decided to make the move to be his own boss.
Johnson Surfacing has a vested interest in Chesterfield, it’s where they live and work; they’re a part of, and supportive of, the local community. Spending money with Johnson Surfacing, as with any of our local businesses, means your money stays in the Chesterfield economy.
“We have a really great balance of residential and commercial work; some people think we only do large jobs, but we complete around 60 driveways a year, large and small, in addition to a number of larger commercial jobs”, says Sebastian.
The commercial work often leads to residential jobs; “we might be asked to provide a price for a driveway of the business owner or one of the staff where we are working, and it’s this mix of jobs that keeps it interesting” explains Sebastian.
“We’re also local authority approved, which means we can carry out works to drop kerbs, crossings, pavements and we’re fully insured and licenced.
“We’re committed to quality, value and customer service, much of our work is by recommendation and these values are important to us. We are approved members of Derbyshire County Council Trusted Trader scheme and have been since 2009, another sign that both quality and the customer are important to us, plus it’s a great way to attract customers.
“The majority of work is very local but we are do complete residential and commercial jobs spread further afield, Sheffield and Derby mainly."
I asked what Sebastian and the team have been up to during the lockdown? “Like all businesses we’ve been impacted significantly. We had a small number of projects in progress as lockdown started and it was necessary to complete these, where possible, and to leave sites safe.
“This involved a small amount of work at the beginning of lockdown, with PPE and careful planning, it was possible to work safely. It was important to make sure people were happy with the way jobs were left.
“Now we have returned to work we have begun a number of new projects that were lined up as lockdown began. We are getting back to those people who sent enquiries through during our lockdown period and we are contacting those customers who requested work as lockdown began to inform them when their works can now be completed.”
“During lockdown supplies were difficult to obtain, local plant hire firms and merchants closed which made sourcing supplies extremely hard. Merchants were only supplying suppliers for essential works.
“It has been important for us to support the stay home, stay safe message which is why we closed for eight weeks to make sure our staff and our clients were safe. We have now returned to work; our staff have received full training in our new COVID-19 measures and have all been provided with the relevant PPE”.
“During the lockdown we’ve updated our website, www.johnsonsurfacing.co.uk which now contains a great gallery of local jobs, and we have received a great response from new and old clients alike.
“I would just like to thank all customers, who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, we haven’t had one negative comment in any way during the lockdown. Customers have been fantastic in fully understanding what's going on and we are grateful for the continued support of the local residents and businesses of Chesterfield and for the long-lasting connections that have been formed.
“It brings us great pleasure to be involved with S40 Local and for their support for local business and for championing the local community.”
Thanks Sebastian! If you’re in need of surfacing work please give Johnson Surfacing a call, where Sebastian or Philip will be happy to talk to you about your requirements, provide a free no obligation quotation and answer any questions you may have.
Words: Paul Chapman
Images: Johnson Surfacing
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