Coronavirus update – the latest news from Yorkshire businesses

Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) is urging town centre traders to back a campaign calling on the Government to increase the rateable value threshold to £150,000.

This would enable more businesses to access much-needed emergency grants.

Under current rules aimed at supporting businesses during the Coronavirus pandemic, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced those with rateable values up to, and including, £51,000 would be eligible for a £25,000 “survival” grant.

However, those who are even a few hundred pounds outside this figure are not able to benefit from this lifeline.

Harrogate BID chairman, Robert Kennedy, who owns two town centre clothing businesses – Porters and G23 – said: “Whilst the Government’s rates grants have benefitted many businesses, there are plenty more that it hasn’t.

“Harrogate town centre is a classic example of this, and that’s why Harrogate BID is backing the Raise the Bar campaign.

“The retail, hospitality and leisure sector is vital to Harrogate’s economy and must be protected at all costs.

“All of Harrogate’s town centre hotels fall outside of the £51,000 threshold and so do a large number of shops, restaurants and bars.

“Whilst raising it to £150,000 will help many, but not all of our town centre businesses. A grant of this size could also be the difference between reopening their doors or closing for good.”

People can support the campaign by visiting: www.raisethebarcampaign.co.uk

:::

York-based SpeedQuizzing has seen a 108% increase in demand for its quizzes in April, with 10,000 virtual SpeedQuizzing events hosted over the last four weeks.

Prior to the lockdown beginning, the company’s online quiz platform and app was used by hosts to run an average of 1,200 fast-paced, interactive quizzes every week, typically in pubs not just in the UK, but all over the world.

When the lockdown was announced, the company adapted its technology to enable its quizzes to be hosted and played remotely.

The result of its endeavours, a new app and online platform called SpeedQuizzing Live, has already proved popular, with an average of 2,500 virtual quizzes now hosted and played every week, with some events attracting as many as 200 quizzers, often from all over the world.

Their technology is also benefiting teachers and schools, who are using it to stage virtual quizzes for pupils in order to further their learning and keep them engaged, relieving some of the home-schooling pressures parents and guardians are currently facing.

Business co-founder John Leach said: “We knew there would be demand for SpeedQuizzing Live, but what we’ve seen over the course of the last four weeks has surpassed all of our expectations.

“These are difficult times for everyone, so to help quiz hosts, whether that’s entertainment professionals wanting to earn a living or simply members of the general public wanting to run a quiz for friends and family, we’ve made it free to use for anyone who is hosting a quiz with less than 40 players, which is the majority of people.

“It’s still a work in progress in many ways and it’s only going to get even better as we’re constantly improving its capabilities and functionality, with the SpeedQuizzing Live app now compatible with both Apple and Android devices.”

:::

A laboratory based at the University of Huddersfield’s premises has been playing a key role in the national effort to step up production of hand sanitising gel.

It was used to initiate a production line which is now turning out 30,000 litres of hand gel daily for frontline workers.

The product is being widely distributed in locations such as hospitals, care homes, hospices and pharmacies.

Large quantities have also been donated to schools, and the gel is also being distributed among key workers, such as Royal Mail personnel.

The university is home to the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre (3M BIC), where the company Surfachem has a laboratory.

As soon as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, the team began to investigate the formulations for hand sanitising gel that the lab had on file.

Within days, the gel was being supplied to the NHS and police forces. Meanwhile, 2M employees were urged to suggest people and organisations in pressing need.