April 6 coronavirus update for businesses

By Tim Aldred

06 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. 

Community Clothing produces scrubs for the NHS

Blackburn-based Community Clothing is using its facilities to produce 2,500 pairs of scrubs for the NHS, setting up facilities in just three days.

The process, from receiving technical specifications, delivery of bulk fabric, and inspection and approval by the NHS supplier, began at 10 Tuesday and the first 700 pairs were complete by 4pm Friday.

Company founder Patrick Grant said: "I am incredibly proud of all the staff involved in what has been a monumental effort: Three days for a process that would normally take about three months, and all achieved under incredibly strict new working practices, at a great time of personal anxiety to many. 

"This crisis is terrible, but if any good comes of it perhaps it might be that it brings home to us, in a way that perhaps nothing else could have, that people who know how to make things are of vital importance, that they deserve our absolute respect, and they deserve to be valued."

CoreRFID helps in construction of new hospitals

Skelmersdale-based software specialist CoreRFID is helping a firm constructing temporary hospitals track vital equipment. The firm's RFID tags and readers to enable construction workers locate the large number of items used to build and fit out new medical facilities.

The tags, which are attached to the items, can be read by scanners from up to two meters away and without needing a line of site to the assets. The items' locations and description are then automatically uploaded to the contractors' database, which enables fast stock checks to ensure kit is in the right place when it's needed.

Technical director Munzi Ali said: "Our staff are working remotely but everyone readily volunteered to come to the distribution centre to ensure the equipment got to the NHS and the care homes as fast as possible. We've had unprecedented demand in the past month across the UK from councils, care homes and contractors and while every request is and will be fulfilled quickly, we naturally looking forward to the situation returning to normal."

Reach to build free online shops for food suppliers

Preston-based design firm Reach is offering to build online shops, for free, for Lancashire businesses to help them maintain contact with their customers during the coronavirus lockdown.

Ashley Wright said: "Many of us feel scared and completely helpless, in most cases the only thing we can do to help is 'Stay At Home'. Being Lancashire lads with a Lancashire based web design business, we thought of a way we can help the Lancashire food suppliers. 

"As the government closed all bars, restaurants and cafe’s, the food suppliers lost their clients over night. Many have started to supply to the residential market instead, but none of them had systems in place to sell to the local customer. We’re offering to build them an online shop for free."

The online shop can be online and trading in as little as 24 hours and will also be featured in Reach's directory of Lancashire foods suppliers.

Harrison Drury helps firms access emergency loans

Harrison Drury has established up a dedicated team to help businesses secure emergency loans quicker during the coronavirus crisis. The firm rapid response team has been created following reports that some businesses have been unable to access loans from the government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) scheme quickly enough.

Harrison Drury says it can help businesses get their hands on the emergency loans faster, delivering advice on the loan agreement and completing any necessary documentation in a matter of days. The firm’s working capabilities have been unaffected by the lockdown due to its investment in a cloud-based IT network which allows its team to work remotely.

John Chesworth, executive chairman of Harrison Drury, said: "We already have strong relationships with the banks and the other funders approved to provide loans under CBILS and other channels. We can help businesses streamline the legal formalities associated with the loan process, allowing the work to be completed in a matter of days, even when there are property charges to secure, where banks are willing to accept ‘no search’ insurance which speeds up the process."

Farnworth Rose creates wills 'at a distance' service

Farnworth Rose Solicitors of Nelson has launched a new service which allows Wills to be correctly executed at a distance during the Coronavirus.

The Clear View service involves the testator signing the Will in eyesight of two witnesses through a window. The two witnesses remain two meters apart from each other outside of the home at all times. The Will is passed back to the witnesses who then sign using their own pens wearing disposable gloves.

Solicitor Amanda Coates said: "We have already seen a significant increase in the demand for wills, inheritance tax planning and Lasting Powers of Attorney over the last three weeks, however there have been challenges to ensure we remain compliant and all Wills are valid whilst still following social distancing rules."

Prince's Trust makes £5m available for young businesses

The Prince’s Trust and NatWest have announced the launch of a £5m fund to help young entrepreneurs across Lancashire and the UK to keep their businesses afloat during the coronavirus crisis.

The Prince’s Trust and NatWest Enterprise Relief Fund is available to entrepreneurs aged 18-30, who can apply for grants and tailored support. Grants can be used to maintain core business operations during the crisis, as well as meet any existing financial commitments, such as paying for essential equipment or settling invoices from suppliers. In conjunction with these grants, the initiative will also offer one-to-one support and guidance to applicants who need it.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

Post Office future secured as council explores new options Abington Street Post Office

Post Office future secured as council explores new options

17 Sep 2025

2

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent Jerrod Hartley

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent

17 Sep 2025

3

Fox Group makes second acquisition since Stellex Capital backing Roger Thistlethwaite, managing director NMS Civil Engineering Limited. Paul Fox, CEO Fox Group. John Flood, Executive Director Fox Group

Fox Group makes second acquisition since Stellex Capital backing

17 Sep 2025

4

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family The Villa Wrea Green courtesy of The Villa Wrea Green

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family

16 Sep 2025

5

Fourth Lancashire Bodycare store to shut Nick Holloway of administrators Interpath

Fourth Lancashire Bodycare store to shut

16 Sep 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
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

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

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Business Breakfast Networking Event
business workshop photo.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

Business Breakfast Networking Event

Media Factory, University of Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 10:30

Ladies Lunch
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
18 Sep 2025 - 18 Sep 2025

Ladies Lunch

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

12:00 - 16:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

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 LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin