Coronavirus update – the latest news from Yorkshire businesses

Energy company Drax Group is helping 27 of its small care home customers across Yorkshire & The Humber by cancelling their gas and electricity bills for two months during the COVID-19 crisis.

They are amongst 170 care homes selected to receive the free energy, which are small businesses based in communities local to Drax’s operations across England, Scotland and Wales and are already supplied by Opus Energy and Haven Power – both part of Drax Group.

Drax Group CEO, Will Gardiner, said: “We’re working hard to offer more support to our customers and communities during this crisis.

“Care homes are critically important – they do incredible work looking after some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and we know this pandemic is putting them under immense pressure.

“As a gesture of appreciation for the excellent work these businesses are doing, we’re cancelling their energy bills for a couple of months.”

As well as the support for the 27 care homes in Yorkshire & The Humber, Drax is donating £150,000 to the Money Advice Trust’s Business Debtline, a national charity helping SMEs facing financial hardship.

This is in addition to reduced and deferred payment plans for business customers adversely impacted by the lockdown, and energy rates being frozen for three months for those coming to the end of their contracts and rolling onto a monthly plan.

Gardiner added: “We know a lot of businesses are having a tough time, as the lockdown is having a major impact on many different sectors, so we’ve donated £150,000 to the Money Advice Trust’s Business Debtline.

“This will help ensure those businesses who may be struggling to pay their bills can access the advice and support they need.”

Drax’s donation to the Money Advice Trust’s Business Debtline will provide support and free advice to small businesses and self-employed people who are facing financial hardship as a result of Covid-19.

Care homes selected to receive free energy from Drax’s supply businesses, Haven Power and Opus Energy, will receive a letter notifying them that their bills have been cancelled.

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Leeds-based publishing software developer Publish Interactive has partnered with health food supplier Lean Lunch to deliver meals to 100 staff at Calderdale Royal Hospital, and a further 100 meals to We Care Leeds.

The management team at Publish Interactive, based at Marshall’s Mill on the South Bank, decided it wanted to continue to dedicate its normal weekly lunch budget to Leeds-based Lean Lunch, which has supplied Publish Interactive’s lunches for the past two years.

This initiative has meant that over 200 meals have been distributed across Calderdale NHS staff and to We Care Leeds.

The latter organisation will provide them to people who are vulnerable, isolated and without access or means for food.

As part of the same campaign, £4,000 has already been donated online via a Just Giving page.

To help continue the donations, Publish Interactive is calling on all businesses and individuals in the Leeds City Region to donate what they would spend on staff lunches during normal times.

Mitali Mookerjee, managing director of Publish Interactive, said: “We are so pleased to be able to support the amazing frontline workers across the region, and to help the most vulnerable in the city during a time when they need it most.

“It is overwhelming how generous Leeds residents and businesses have been so far, but we have currently only reached a third of our target, so we are asking everyone to help us play a part in ensuring NHS workers are provided with readily prepared healthy meals.”

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Harrogate-based company Insmartcities has provided a vital link for hospital patients with Coronavirus symptoms to stay in touch with their loved ones.

The firm has installed a super-fast WiFi service for patients at the new NHS Nightingale Hospital in the North East.

The free secure network will allow them to maintain contact with friends and family while the lockdown remains in place. It is separate from the main NHS network.

The hospital was built by local NHS organisations, the armed forces and contractors in just three weeks.

The 460-bed facility will provide backup and support for care services in the North East and Cumbria if needed.

Insmartcities chief executive Natalie Duffield said: “We know how important it is to keep in touch with loved ones during a time of crisis.

“Patients will be able to use our network to share messages with their friends and families and help lift spirits in this isolating period.

“We were happy to respond to the urgent call from the NHS and do our bit to support the national effort.”

The company’s engineers installed the network less than two days while maintaining social distancing throughout.

The Nightingale hospital is at the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing in Washington.

Dame Jackie Daniel, chief executive of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This new NHS Nightingale Hospital will provide extra, specialist capacity to care for coronavirus patients from across the North East and North Cumbria, should the NHS need it.

“Completing this facility in a matter of weeks is a huge testimony to the power of pulling together to achieve a joint goal and all partners involved – from the NHS, construction contractors and partner organisations – have worked tirelessly to achieve this. My gratitude and thanks go to everyone involved.”

NHS leaders have reminded people to stay at home to cut infections so the need to use the Nightingale hospitals is as limited as possible.