May 4 coronavirus update for businesses

By Tim Aldred

04 May 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.

Government launches discretionary fund

The government has created a new £617m discretionary fund for small businesses that have previously been outside the scope of the business grant funds scheme. 

There will be three levels of grant payments: The maximum will be £25,000, there will also be grants of £10,000, and local authorities will have discretion to make payments of any amount under £10,000.

Dr Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "We have been calling for additional support for businesses and entrepreneurs who have fallen between the cracks, so it is welcome to see additional funding allocated to support some of these hard-pressed firms. Clarity and speed are of the essence. Many of the companies that have been unable to use existing support schemes are already on borrowed time – and will need these grants paid out swiftly if they are to survive."

Weru adapting to new challenges

Weru UK, the Blackpool-based family business which distributes windows and doors from Germany's Weru Group, has found new ways to do business during the lockdown.

Despite the showroom being temporarily closed until recently, the business has been working resourcefully to assist customers who have construction or renovation projects on the go. The team has been conducting remote surveys of projects by connecting with builders or home owners via Skype and Facetime, and putting into play a series of additional checks to ensure measurement accuracy.

This process has been working well for Weru UK, to the extent that a number of high value projects throughout the UK are now being fulfilled at the production site in Germany. 

Graham Lindsay, MD of Weru UK said: "The fact that we are operating so effectively would have seemed unimaginable a few weeks ago, however through honing the remote surveying process, we have maintained a steady flow of production orders through to Germany on this basis.

"It does mean far more cross checks and in fairness we are prepared to share risk provided the client checks and double checks the detailed size check drawings and data we prepare for them. However, the system is working very well and there are some surprising positives."

Lancaster University hosts coronavirus conference

Lancaster University brought together some of the world’s leading economists, including two Nobel Laureates, at a special online event to discuss behavioural insights into the Covid-19 crisis.

Nobel Prize-winning economists Professor Vernon Smith and Professor Robert Aumann joined more than 350 people from around the world for the Lancaster University 2020 Behavioural and Experimental Conference.

They were among economists from the UK, Israel and the USA to make presentations to an online audience including guests from India, China, Columbia, France and South Korea around the subject of ‘Behavioural Insights on the Corona Crisis’.

The presentations were followed by a panel discussion on the Covid-19 crisis, with questions and comments from the audience. The importance of transparency and clear guidelines from authorities during the crisis was one of the issues discussed.

A full recording of the Lancaster University 2020 Behavioural and Experimental Conference is available online here.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

£350m Blackpool Talbot Gateway nears full occupancy with NHS move 300 NHS Staff Have Moved Into No 1 Bickerstaffe Square

£350m Blackpool Talbot Gateway nears full occupancy with NHS move

04 Feb 2026

2

Group of eight community pharmacies sold to Cohens Chemist Smithsons Pharmacy

Group of eight community pharmacies sold to Cohens Chemist

04 Feb 2026

3

Northstone appoints James Hargreaves Plumbing Supplies as nominated supplier across the North West Northstone and James Hargreaves

Northstone appoints James Hargreaves Plumbing Supplies as nominated supplier across the North West

04 Feb 2026

4

The Principal that counts - Lisa O'Loughlin big interview Lisa O'Loughlin

The Principal that counts - Lisa O'Loughlin big interview

03 Feb 2026

5

Guy's Thatched Hamlet shuts after 'difficult decision' Guy's Thatched Hamlet (Pic Guy's Thatched Hamlet)

Guy's Thatched Hamlet shuts after 'difficult decision'

03 Feb 2026

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
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

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

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

09:30 - 15:30

E-commerce in 2026: From stores to systems
PTC banner Feb 26.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
10 Feb 2026 - 10 Feb 2026

E-commerce in 2026: From stores to systems

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Degree apprenticeship information sessions for businesses
student centre entrance.jfif.jpg
LBV Hub Webinar
10 Feb 2026 - 13 Feb 2026

Degree apprenticeship information sessions for businesses

University of Lancashire, Virtual event, -

10:00 - 09:30

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire
LBV Header (29).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
11 Feb 2026 - 11 Feb 2026

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

The Ultimate Network – February
Logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
19 Feb 2026 - 19 Feb 2026

The Ultimate Network – February

Brockholes Nature Reserve, Samlesbury, PR5 0AG

16:00 - 18:00

Future Forward Business and Skills Summit
Future Forward Business & Skills Summit
LBV Hub Networking
20 Feb 2026

Future Forward Business and Skills Summit

Lancashire Energy HQ , Blackpool, FY4 2QS

08:00 - 11:00

Armed Forces Covenant Business Engagement
Logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
24 Feb 2026 - 24 Feb 2026

Armed Forces Covenant Business Engagement

Morecambe Football Club, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: February
LBV Hub Networking
26 Feb 2026 - 26 Feb 2026

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: February

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 12:00

Your marketing measurement is useless
Event header.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Mar 2026 - 04 Mar 2026

Your marketing measurement is useless

Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston, PR5 0AG

09:00 - 12:00

Tech without the turmoil: How Finance Leaders can drive smarter digital decisions
MHA-BTI Logo_black (002).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
05 Mar 2026 - 27 Dec 2025

Tech without the turmoil: How Finance Leaders can drive smarter digital decisions

Farington Lodge Hotel, Stanifield Lane, Farington, Preston, PR25 4QR

08:00 - 10:00

Payroll Update 2026 Samlesbury Hall
payroll.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
06 Mar 2026 - 06 Mar 2026

Payroll Update 2026 Samlesbury Hall

Samlesbury Hall, Preston, PR5 0UP

08:00 - 10:00

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