Coronavirus update: the latest news from East Midlands businesses

SEGRO, the developer of warehousing and industrial space, has launched a new £10m Centenary Fund.

The majority of the first year’s funding of more than £1m will be allocated to projects which provide emergency relief and which will help address the longer-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SEGRO is partnering with Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation, an independent charity which enables local philanthropy by giving grants to “unsung unseen” charitable and voluntary groups that keep cities and counties healthy, safe and thriving. The Community Foundation also helps to identify charity partners which will make immediate and meaningful interventions within Leicestershire communities. Charities which provide support to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and are interested in applying for funding should contact grants@llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk.

David Sleath, chief executive of SEGRO, said: “The SEGRO Centenary Fund is one way of recognising the vital role our communities have played in our success over the last 100 years and making sure we give something back by helping thousands of people now and over the next decade.

“Many of the areas where we invest are characterised by high levels of unemployment and social deprivation. We understand the long term need to ensure people from all backgrounds have the skills, training and opportunities to secure meaningful employment. These are the areas where we are focusing the SEGRO Centenary Fund and where we feel we can make a significant difference to people’s lives.”

Katy Green, chief executive, Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation said: “The SEGRO Centenary Fund is a welcome and exciting fund, and Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation is deeply appreciative that SEGRO has diverted the Fund for this first year to those hardest hit by COVID-19 in the North West Leicestershire area. This is an area that already faces challenges in terms of employment and related issues and SEGRO’s much needed support for the charitable and voluntary groups working with and in local communities will have real impact.”

Leicester-based BS Handling Systems has invested over £100,000 in specialist equipment, cleaning solution and training for an electrostatic sanitisation system.

The move enables the company to offer a service designed to combat COVID-19 and other bacterial threats.

Known as the Infection Control Preventative Measures Programme, the service supports in-house cleaning routines to dramatically reduce the risk posed to businesses by bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19.

The procedure BS Handling Systems has invested in is scientifically validated and uses a revolutionary application technology, innovative chemistry and proven disinfection protocols. The biocides used are completely safe to humans, but devastating to microbes, instantly killing 99.999% of germs.

Robert Brand-Smith, BS Handling System’s managing director, said: “Since launching the service we have treated over 160 sites. These include warehouses, offices, hotels, banks, retail premises and nurseries. Looking ahead, we currently have almost 100 additional sites booked in so the demand is clearly out there.

“This programme is operated by our Facilities Division and complements the other services we offer such as crisis management and preventative measures for infection spread. It also provides an ideal solution for clients of our core business, providing first-class warehouse storage, conveying and materials handling systems across a broad range of industries.”

Elaine Penhaul

Locked in with… Elaine Penhaul, Lemon & Lime Interiors

Who are you locked in with?

My partner Rob and my youngest daughter Poppy who is 20. Poppy has cystic fibrosis and is on the government’s ‘extremely vulnerable’ list.

How has the lockdown and working from home been for you so far?

Moving my team to working from home was pretty straight forward. We started a week before most businesses because Poppy came home from university and I could no longer go out if we were to protect her. This meant that by the time everyone else was setting themselves up and working out how to move to home working, we were well into the swing of it.

I have a team of seven people and we have a team meeting every day on Zoom to check in. Seeing everyone not only keeps us up to date with the business but also allows me to make sure everyone is staying healthy and sane – we even have a team pilates session once a week that we now do online.

My biggest challenge has been getting food into the house safely. Food is a big challenge for many cystic fibrosis sufferers, including Poppy, as the condition impacts the digestive system as well as the respiratory organs.  No supermarket will deliver and my other daughter, who can go shopping for us, is struggling with her own challenges of moving her business online. The local farm shop has been amazing and is now delivering weekly for us.

What has been the best thing about staying in?

Feeling that I can get on top of work tasks, I usually spend a lot of time in the car and meeting with clients. I am gradually getting admin tasks completed that have been on my desk for months and I am doing the last review of my book before it goes to the publishers, which is exciting.

And what have you missed the most?

I miss not being able to see my other three children. Protecting Poppy means that I can only communicate with the others via phone or video calls. I do have chats with my daughter who lives close by when she brings us a delivery – we stand at opposite ends of the drive and shout to each other.

What previously essential thing have you realised is not actually essential?

Driving to see clients. As a business we kind of knew that was true previously, but it was hard to persuade clients we could do an equally good job on the phone. Now I think that will be easier.

What are the changes you’ve made that you plan on continuing when restrictions are lifted?

I would love to make my role in the business more office based. I am sure we can develop our remote service and virtually staging houses. This will give us all more time to focus and we will only spend essential time travelling to help the motivated vendors who understand the value in what we do.

Have you made progress on any of your bucket list items?

We have lived with the kind of fear that many people are now experiencing for the first time ever since Poppy was born, which gives us a huge advantage now. We decided to focus as a family 20 years ago on our bucket list. Now we can get together on video calls and laugh about all the great memories we have created so far and look forward to making lots more when this is over.

What is the first thing you will do when isolation ends?

Arrange to get together with all four of my kids, hopefully  at my older daughter’s wedding in the summer.