We’ve completed our first full month of Covid-induced lockdown. A strange and often tough time for many of us but there’s a lot to be grateful for, and positive about.
Each week since lockdown, I’ve sourced the net, news pages and tapped into my contacts to find the most positive news stories from businesses in and around Yorkshire.
Here are my top 5 positive news stories from this week:
- Described by a journalist we introduced him to as ‘the boss behind the coolest business in Leeds’ we’re delighted to see the legend that is Mr Chris Black return to the famous family-run jukebox firm, Sound Leisure. Having battled coronavirus, MD Chris (one of the fittest, busiest and loveliest men you could ever meet) became bed-bound with the virus for the past five weeks. This week he returned to the Crossgates, Leeds factory and we know we’re not alone in welcoming him back. With so much extra time at home, we’d be lost without music (or an arcade game which they manufacture and sell too!) deliveries are back up and running so if you’d like to add a jukebox or games machine to your wishlist, head over to www.soundleisure.com/classic-jukeboxes and choose yours. It’s never been more vital to support local businesses.
- My old pal from the youngest rotary group formed in Leeds in 2018, Sam Tasker-Grindley has formed a new venture to support furloughed staff in finding voluntary roles. Named Furlonteer, the platform has been created in partnership with Hello Fresh’s co-founder Hamish Shephard and Rosie Shephard, founder of Luxury Communications Council. Furlonteer allows those furloughed from work to become a ‘Furlonteer’ as well as providing charities and causes with a platform to promote the roles they need filling. If you’re wondering how to fill your time and want to help others, head to www.furlonteer.com to learn more and sign up.
- The beautiful Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby (where I was lucky to spend my birthday early March just before lockdown commenced) has come together to launch a Thank You weekend for our NHS workers. Businesses in the town are offering a free weekend break to front-line NHS staff to thank them for their efforts fighting the coronavirus pandemic. NHS staff can apply at http://www.welcome2whitby.co.uk.
- Martin Soroka of LinkedIn4morebiz is giving away £500 worth of LinkedIn lead generation services completely free to 10 businesses on a first-come, first-serve basis. Promising a genuine free offer designed to help small businesses who now find themselves temporarily time-rich yet cash poor because of the unprecedented circumstances we are all in, you can contact Martin by emailing martin@linkedin4more.biz.
- The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has joined forces with The Association of Business Mentors, to provide free business coaching to SMEs across the region throughout the pandemic. Mark Rasche has joined as a mentor able to help businesses in sport, health, fitness, leisure, play, kids activities, education, franchising or those marketing to parents or schools/nurseries. Mark comments: “There’s an initial ‘Triage’ call to diagnose and help with the main problems, contingency plan and then if they’re through that to help plan for what the future may bring and how to adapt, pivot, survive and eventually rebuild and thrive when they’re able to. It might just be a soundboard to make sure that everything you’ve done is the best that you can, sometimes it just helps to talk things through with someone who can listen and then help.” There’s other support on offer too, visit www.the-lep.com to see how your business can benefit.
As we enter our second month in lockdown, we’d love to hear your positive news stories and offers of support to help our business community to keep fighting. We’re publishing them here completely free of charge throughout the pandemic in a bid to keep everyone’s spirits up. Send your news to info@maccomms.net.
Stay safe and stay positive folks,
Ellie x
