Sporting a new look for summer at award-winning mill
| Published: 2nd March 2007 20:59 |
THERE'S plenty to celebrate for the volunteers at Strutt's North Mill in Belper as they start the summer season this week.
Mill volunteers in their new uniforms with the VAQAS award.
For the independent museum - which tells the story of cotton spinning, Belper's industrial past and the town's links to World Heritage - has received a national tourism award for providing a quality service to visitors.
And the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Service (VAQAS) award came just as visiting times were increased for the summer to 1pm to 5pm Wednesday to Sunday, and the mill volunteers received a new blue uniform to match the Strutt's North Mill colours.
"It's always a very busy time when the summer season begins," said mill manager Mary Smedley, "but this year it's doubly so, with this important award from the national tourism agency VisitBritain, the arrival of the new uniforms and a refit of our mill shop.
"We've always known we were providing a top quality service to visitors from all over the world, and now we have proof. The improved shop facilities and blue uniforms are the icing on the cake."
Mill volunteer Hilary Fender shows off the new award.
To receive the award, the mill was assessed by VisitBritain through a secret visit while the museum was open to the public. After the visit, Strutt's North Mill received a very positive assessment report and the accreditation of ‘Quality Assured Visitor Attraction'.
The North Mill Trust, which runs the museum and visitor centre, is delighted with the award, and the improvements made for 2007.
Councillor Geoff Carlile, who chairs the Trust, said: "The Strutt's North Mill success story continues.
"This award from VisitBritain tells something the Trust already knew - Mary and all the volunteers at the mill provide a top-quality service to our visitors. But it is very rewarding to have that confirmed by a nationally-recognised independent agency."
A series of six different guided walks of Belper are planned for the first Sunday of each month, from April to September. The first is on Sunday April 1 from Strutt's North Mill at 2pm.
Anyone who would like to join the first walk or help out as a mill volunteer during the busy year ahead should contact Mary Smedley at the mill on 01773 880474.
For more details about Strutt's North Mill visit the website http://www.belpernorthmill.org.uk/
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