Coronavirus update: the latest news from East Midlands businesses
Games Workshop, the Nottingham-based games maker, said that trading for the nine months to the end of February was in line with expectations. However, in March since the COVID-19 outbreak has spread more widely, the Group’s performance globally has been impacted.
A statement from the firm this morning said: “In response to official guidance announced today in both the UK and US, we will be temporarily closing globally all of our stores, headquarters, factory and warehouses with immediate effect. Where possible, our staff will continue to work from home. Our priority is the health and wellbeing of our staff, their families and our customers.
“As the situation develops, we will provide an update on the possible impact of these necessary actions on the Group’s performance for the year to 31 May 2020 and going forward.”
Leicestershire-based homewares giant Dunelm says it is closing all of its stores in line with Government advice and has cancelled its interim dividend to shareholders.
In an update this morning, the firm said for the first ten weeks of the third quarter (ended 7 March ), total like-for-like (LFL) sales were up 6.5%. Over the ten weeks, LFL stores were up +2.4% and Dunelm.com was up +31.9%.
However, over the past two weeks (ended 21 March 2020), Dunelm says it has seen a “progressively negative impact” on its trading as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with total LFL sales down 8.8% driven by reduced footfall to its physical stores. The firm’s online business continues to grow and in recent days, as store footfall has fallen further, it has have seen a “material increase” in online demand.
Nick Wilkinson, Dunelm’s chief executive, said: “These are unprecedented times, but Dunelm is a strong business which has been built over 40 years on the foundations of close relationships with our customers, colleagues, suppliers and shareholders. Our business principle to ‘Do the right thing’ is more important than ever in the current situation.
“We have a very strong team in place who are adaptable and committed to ensuring the long-term success of the business. We are navigating the challenges of this situation, acting in the interests of all our stakeholders, and doing the work necessary to ensure that we come through this crisis in a stronger position and with a better business for the future.”
Law firm Gateley has also suspended its dividend pay-out and has said it is “impossible to predict the Group’s likely trading performance in the short-term”.
Michael Ward, Gateley chief executive, said: “As a Board, we consider these measures to be in the best interests of all our stakeholders. Gateley is a resilient and well-balanced business and our economic and geographically diversified business model is well-placed to withstand difficult economic conditions.
“On behalf of the Board, I thank all of our people for their continued dedication and hard work under these extremely challenging circumstances and for ensuring that our clients continue to receive the outstanding level of service which they have come to expect from Gateley.”
Light Hustle – a collaboration between the Circle of Light and Hockley Hustle – was due to take place on Saturday 4 April in Nottingham as part of the Youth Music Give a Gig Week initiative.
Now the event is going ahead as a digital livestream festival with the original line up of artists playing from their own homes, and being joined by some of the established music names from the Nottingham music community including Rob Green, Nina Smith, Natalie Duncan, Daudi Matsiko, Alfie Sharp and Youth Music winner Mae Monypenny.
Originally intended as a fundraiser for Youth Music – the national charity that funds Circle of Light – the livestream gig is hoping to raise £5,000 for a newly launched fund in support of Nottinghamshire’s creative freelancers who have yet to see any significant support from the government.
As well as videos of performances from different places of isolation, many artists are planning to share new material inspired by the unusual times to show some positive ways of responding to the crisis. Hosted by comedian Mrs Green, the livestream event will start at 3pm, on both the Circle of Light and Hockley Hustle Facebook pages.
Hockley Hustle director Ben Welch said: “Our gig has been transformed into a digital live stream festival which will feature some of Nottingham’s finest talent coming together to keep the entertainment rolling and to help raise as much as possible for those in need. This is an opportunity for the city to show up and get behind Nottingham’s incredible DIY creative community.”
With the whole of the creative arts sector facing a complete loss of income, the fundraiser is aiming to provide £100 hardship funds for artists and creatives across Nottinghamshire. To register for the fund, please email hello@hockleyhustle.co.uk
Chatsworth is now closing all its public car parks at the main house and Calton Lees in an effort to discourage visitors to the parkland, supporting Government guidance on social distancing and limiting the spread of the coronavirus.
It follows the announcement over the weekend that Chatsworth Garden would be closed to visitors with immediate effect until further notice in light of the most recent government guidance.
The car parks, public toilets, house, garden and farmyard, gift shops and restaurants are now all closed until further notice.
The Chatsworth Estate Farm Shop remains open, and everyone is working hard to ensure staff and customers are protected with social distancing measures, and maintain stocks and replenish shelves, so it can best serve the community. More products are being added to the online shop, and local delivery and click and collect services are being set up to support those who are self-isolating. The café at the farm shop remains closed.
