Coronavirus business update: Latest news across the North West

Four digital healthcare projects supporting the COVID-19 response have been awarded a share of £200,000 through the Health Innovation Manchester Momentum Fund.

The fund was established to support the introduction and adoption of needs-led, evidence-based innovations into the healthcare system within Greater Manchester.

Projects applied for up to £75,000 to support the development of their healthcare innovations within Greater Manchester and East Cheshire.

Four solutions addressing priority areas for the COVID-19 pandemic response have received funding to accelerate their innovation.

Richard Deed, associate director for industry at Health Innovation Manchester, said: “This year we received more high-quality applications than ever before for our Momentum funding call.

“We began the process before the current COVID-19 pandemic began, but we have been impressed by how these innovative digital tools will be able to support the response to the crisis by keeping people healthy at home to reduce hospital admissions or improving care pathways within emergency care.”

The winners were: Cambio CDS T-MACS awarded £50,000; Doc Abode awarded £50,000; Gendius diabetes AI development awarded £50,000; Howz for Health awarded £50,000.

Two further successful projects in this year’s Momentum fund have been temporarily paused during COVID-19 and the projects will be revisited at a later date.

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Liverpool’s Royal Liver Building visitor attraction is offering free tickets for all NHS staff on its reopening weekend.

The tour of the city’s iconic Royal Liver Building, RLB360, which includes a digital experience inside the historic clock tower and amazing views of the city from the 15th floor, will celebrate its reopening with a special day for NHS staff and their families.

The attraction, popular with visitors from across the globe, is offering free tickets to all Merseyside-based NHS workers on Sunday, July 5.

Earlier this month RLB360 was the first tourist attraction to announce its reopening in Liverpool after the Government relaxed social distancing measures put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team behind the tour have been busy implementing new measures – including hand sanitising stations and reduced tour numbers – to ensure they can safely reopen.

RLB360’s Chris Devaney said: “Sunday 5 July will be a day for our NHS heroes at RLB360.

“We will never be able to thank NHS workers for all they have done and continue to do during this pandemic, they have been phenomenal and deserve all the recognition they get.

“We wanted to do something to show our thanks and decided that our first weekend open will have a day dedicated to them.

“All NHS workers will be eligible for free tickets to the tour, on a first come first serve basis and following this we will be offering discounted slots for the NHS to continue to show our support and gratitude to them.

“NHS workers just need to email us in advance of Sunday, 5 July, to book their tours. We’re looking forward to welcoming them.”

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Family-owned Lowton Motor Company has secured a £150,000 CBILS Loan to drive the business through the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.

Incorporated in 2012, Lowton has spent the past eight years serving its clients from its sites in Cheshire and Lancashire.

Having delivered strong financial results annually, the firm reported an eight-figure turnover in 2019 and had predicted ambitious growth for 2020.

With the pandemic causing the motor finance industry to come to a standstill, the firm was unable to source and deliver vehicles to its customers, which led to an immediate disruption in sales and cashflow.

Facing an inevitable shortfall in income, the business required a cash injection.

Lowton was introduced to 1pm, the independent specialist provider of finance facilities, by broker Sedulo Funding Solutions.

Paul Southern, Lowton director, said: “The support from 1pm has been invaluable. Like most businesses, we had to adapt quickly to changes in operations and a reduction in cashflow when lockdown was enforced. 1pm understood the challenges we were facing and worked quickly to help us secure funding.”

Alun Winter, head of loans at 1pm, said: “It’s a pleasure to support this fantastic family business. As government restrictions now begin to lift, we are delighted that Lowton Motor Company have a funding solution in place that will support the firm in kick-starting their operations and driving the business forward.”

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Adrian Ellis

Manchester Hoteliers’ Association (MHA) chair and GM at The Lowry Hotel, Adrian Ellis, has welcomed the decision from the UK Government announcing the reopening of leisure and hospitality venues and the relaxation of social distancing rules from July 4.

He said: “We are looking forward to welcoming guests back to hotels across the region and working with our hotel teams who are now working to prepare hotels for a safe return.

“We are still incredibly mindful of social distancing and creating a safe environment for all staff and guests whilst adhering to the guidelines.

“We are, however, aware that the successful reopening of the industry hinges on consumer confidence in the region and the potential announcement of air bridges which will allow the restart of the tourism industry. We are confident that things can now start slowly returning to normal in the coming months.”

Adrian – who has been in the post for five years – also hailed the 1m-plus rule.

He said: “This relaxation makes it much easier for venues and hoteliers to start planning the re-opening of restaurants and bars as well as looking at their event calendar which was put on hold in March.

“Although I don’t believe conferences and banqueting will return until early 2021, this gradual recovery is a step in the right direction for hoteliers across the region and means event teams can begin revitalising their schedule.”