Coronavirus update: the latest from West Midlands businesses

Birmingham-based digital agency, Tribera, is using online communities to boost morale and goodwill throughout the Coronavirus crisis.

With half of its workforce made up of working parents, Michelle Ivins – one of the agency’s managing partners – took the decision to set up a Facebook group to support Mums and Dads at this difficult time.

The group – called Our Mini Tribe Adventurers – features tons of recommendations on activities to keep kids occupied, home-schooling tips and general positive news stories to boost goodwill and lift parents’ sprits.

With users posting updates and sharing advice multiple times a day, the Facebook group has grown to almost 2,500 members in a matter of days.

With health and wellbeing a cause for concern for many in isolation at the moment, Tribera is also running daily HIIT workouts from another Facebook group – Home Workouts with #TribeOut.

Run by creative director and part-time fitness instructor, Dan Osadciw, the workouts are streamed live each day at 8:45am and are open for anyone to join.

Fran Nolan, managing director at Tribera, said: “When you’ve put a lot of effort into building your team and culture, it can feel like a shock to the system when that’s suddenly taken away from you and you’re confined to your own four walls.

“And like many businesses across the UK, we’ve been faced with a new challenge of having to juggle childcare whilst still supporting clients.

“These two Facebook groups are our way of bringing people together online, building communities, and providing some temporary relief for those needing support.”

Secure Trust Bank has announced that the publication of full year results for the period ended 31 December 2019 will be delayed beyond 26 March, the date on which the results had been expected to be announced.

This decision was made following a request by the Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA) that, in the light of the ongoing COVID-19 developments, companies delay making preliminary announcements that were due in the week commencing 23 March 2020.

Law firm Gateley has 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.”

A statement from the firm said: “The Group entered 2020 aspiring to deliver double digit percentage growth in profit before tax. After the first two months performance was ahead of management expectations.

“In recent weeks the UK and global economies have become exposed to unprecedented levels of uncertainty due to COVID-19. The Group is implementing plans which seek to limit the operational and economic impact.

“Whilst there has been no change in business performance to date, save for reduced demand for the Group’s Retail Finance and Motor Finance products, it is impossible to quantify potential COVID-19 impacts with any certainty and the Group is not providing forward guidance for 2020 at this time. For the same reason the Board is not recommending a final dividend for 2019.”

Heart of England Community Foundation has received almost £80,000 to support local communities across the region.

The charity opens its Coronavirus Resilience Fund today, which local community groups and projects can apply for, in order to help ease financial concerns during the current pandemic.

So far, £79,900 has been donated towards the fund but the charity is hoping to triple this. Having opened an online funding page, Heart of England Community Foundation is eager to receive support from companies and individuals across the West Midlands and Warwickshire.

Tina Costello, chief executive at Heart of England Community Foundation, said: “The support for our Coronavirus Resilience Fund has been incredible, with almost £80,000 donated in just a few days, but we need more. It’s crucial that we’re able to ensure no local organisations are forgotten and that their work in the community can continue, even more so in times of need like we’re experiencing now.”

Wesleyan, Coventry Building Society, Harry Payne Fund, Youell Family Fund and Orbit Group are a few of the businesses that have already contributed.