April 21 coronavirus update for businesses

By Tim Aldred

21 Apr 2020

Lancashire Business View's daily coronavirus updates are brought to you with the support of Boost, Lancashire's growth hub, and its #AskForHelp service. You're not alone in this.

Plumbs donates material for scrubs

Preston-based upholsterers and sofa cover maker Plumbs is helping to protect those at the forefront of the coronavirus pandemic by donating 600m of fabric. The recipient is a local community initiative which is utilising in-home sewers to produce essential goods such as scrubs, scrub bags, headbands and ear savers. 

The Plumbs team decided to donate £5,000 in exchange for large volumes of royal blue and green scrub fabric, which they were to digitise and cut on their machines to return to the group for sewing. A small team of staff volunteered to come into the businesses Preston factory in order to help operate the machines, with the appropriate health and safety measures in place. Members of the Plumbs production team were also inspired to help, and many have dusted off their sewing machines at home to take on batches of the essential goods. All products produced will be distributed locally to Preston based hospitals and medical facilities.

Sarah Page, managing director, said: "In challenging times like these, it is important that those who can provide help, do so. We had been on the lookout for any way the company was able to assist, and with all the calls for more PPE, this seemed like the best way to offer our help and equipment. We were incredibly proud to see such enthusiasm from our team – this really is community spirit at its finest.

Aport helps deliver vital equipment for NHS

Aport, the Chorley-based specialist laboratory relocation and storage provider, is offering free support to the NHS. The company, which works with clients throughout the world, is taking the opportunity of closed borders to help the battle against coronavirus close to home.

The team helped Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust by moving eight ventilators, anaesthetic machines and X-ray between hospital sites at short notice. Crews were on site within the hour to pack and load the machines at Wrightington Hospital and transport them to the new covid-19 intensive care ward at Wigan Infirmary.

PM+M launches service to assist employers

PM+M is launching a new service that aims to help businesses navigate the complex process of furloughing their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. The team will be headed up by Julie Mason, who will be working with the firm’s existing payroll clients, and by Jonathan Cunningham who will lead on matters for clients who use other PM+M services and for new businesses that instruct the firm.

They will offer support on the entire furlough process including preparing claims and calculations, making portal submissions and managing HMRC communications. The aim is to ensure that businesses are successful in their applications so they can focus on navigating their companies through the crisis and looking after their people over the coming months.

Jonathan said: "Whilst the employee furlough / Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is welcomed and will prove crucial for so many, the guidance can often seem confusing and is being updated on an almost daily basis. We want this new service to tackle those issues head on so businesses can access the grant quickly and easily allowing them to ensure their organisation survives and is in the strongest position possible when things return to normal."

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

Employer event to help keep region’s workers healthy Ben Harrison

Employer event to help keep region’s workers healthy

19 Jun 2025

2

Plan to get Lancashire working Lancashire Combined Authority

Plan to get Lancashire working

19 Jun 2025

3

Napthens confirms expansion into Manchester Stephen Faulkner

Napthens confirms expansion into Manchester

18 Jun 2025

4

Counting the cost of work-related illness David Dunwell and Jen Briggs

Counting the cost of work-related illness

17 Jun 2025

5

Where there's a Will there's a way to protect your legacy Olivia Holt

Where there's a Will there's a way to protect your legacy

17 Jun 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Chamber Business Lunch – June
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
20 Jun 2025 - 20 Jun 2025

Chamber Business Lunch – June

Lancaster House Hotel, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4GL

11:00 - 13:30

90 day Business Planning Workshop
LBV Event Header.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
20 Jun 2025 - 20 Jun 2025

90 day Business Planning Workshop

Bolton Arena, Arena Approach, Horwich, BL6 6LB

09:00 - 16:30

Moonlight and Memories Walk 2025
MMW.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Fundraisers
21 Jun 2025 - 21 Jun 2025

Moonlight and Memories Walk 2025

St Catherine's Hospice, Preston, PR5 5XU

18:00 - 23:00

Emergency First Aid at Work – June 2025
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
23 Jun 2025 - 23 Jun 2025

Emergency First Aid at Work – June 2025

FGH Training 3rd Floor, Storey House, White Cross Business Park,, Lancaster, LA1 4XQ

09:00 - 16:00

Business Bike Club – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
01 Jul 2025 - 01 Jul 2025

Business Bike Club – July

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Jul 2025 - 02 Jul 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July

St John's Hospice, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

08:00 - 10:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin