Chesterfield company founder says use any coronavirus lockdown to give your business a fresh overhaul

However, I take comfort from the fact that we are all in this together, and we will get through it.

Like every other business owner around the UK right now, I am concerned about the survival of my business.

But, I am optimistic given my experience and learning over the nine years I have run a business.

I established my PR business in 2011 after the company I was working for went bust.

I had a laptop, a phone and a kitchen table and for the first 18 months that was all I needed, and the business grew.

I view the forthcoming lockdown period as an opportunity to work in my business.

That means finally getting the new website launched, rebranding, reviewing suppliers, cleaning up the cloud and shopping around for better deals.

During this period, however, I will not be quiet and neither should any other business.

Now is the time to market your business – engage in those social media platforms that you established years ago and probably haven’t used since because you’ve been too busy.

Let people know what you do so that when the UK re-opens for business, you are ready to hit the ground running.

Hats off to the tattoo studio Pierce of Art in Chesterfield and the Smithy Pond pub in Wingerworth for giving away spare hand sanitiser for free to vulnerable people.

Well done Iceland for allowing only elderly and vulnerable people to shop in their stores between 8am and 9am each day.

My business is in a fortunate position that I and all my team can work from home with no disruption to service.

Many businesses aren’t in that position.

If you have a shop, pub or restaurant think about whether you could deliver your products or food to people.

Northern Tea Merchants is using its vans to offer free delivery of tea and coffee orders to homes and businesses in the borough.

And Santo’s Higham Farm Hotel and The Grouse Inn at Froggatt Edge are two of the many businesses taking advantage of the government’s announcement that pubs and restaurants can provide takeaways without a planning application.

Anna Melton is director of In The Works PR in Chesterfield.