Coronavirus update – the latest news from Yorkshire businesses

“At least 1,000” eligible businesses in Sheffield have still to apply for support grants, available to help them face the challenges of the pandemic.

Over the past six weeks Sheffield City Council has paid out grants to over 6,700 businesses, totalling £80m.

But Councillor Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for Business and Investment at the council, said: “We know that these support grants have been a lifeline for many businesses during this pandemic, and I’m pleased to say we’ve now paid 93% of eligible applications we’ve received.

“However, we know there are still at least 1,000 businesses out there who could benefit from this help.

“We’re working hard to contact these businesses this week, but I’d also like to encourage people to be proactive in applying.

“There is specific Government criteria about who qualifies for the grant, but these are one off payments that businesses don’t need to pay back, so it’s really worth finding out if you are eligible.

“If you are eligible, you can easily submit an application via the council website – you’ll just need to have your business rate account number to hand.

“We don’t want anyone to struggle during this time and we’re working hard to provide advice to businesses and to process applications as quickly as possible.”

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Sean Noonan

Businesses in the region are set to participate in a virtual food and drink festival this weekend.

East Yorkshire companies Soanes Poultry and Wold Top Brewery will join their North Yorkshire neighbours Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery and Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil at the Northern Food and Drink Virtual Festival, which has been organised by furloughed Lancashire chef, Sean Noonan.

The festival will run as a Facebook event on 24 and 25 May and will feature a series of cookery demonstrations on a virtual stage and themed tents with producers telling their stories and promoting their goods.

Soanes Poultry and Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil will be in the Food and Drink tent, Wold Top in the Beer tent and Spirit of Yorkshire in the Spirits tent.

Visitors to the festival can enter each tent by joining the respective Facebook group. The event will also have talks and master classes from leading industry professionals.

Noonan is arranging the festival with Jacky Moss from Creative Agenda and Craig Sherrington, National Finalist in the 2018 Great British Menu.

He said: “The Northern Food and Drink Virtual Festival is a brand new event  to support and showcase northern producers, distributors and some of the great chefs within the region in these difficult times.

“There is obviously no charge for virtual admission, but we would encourage visitors to make a small donation to Hospitality Action to help facilitate the great work that they do.”

To follow the event, visit www.facebook.com/northernfoodanddrinkvirtualfestival and e-mail northernfoodanddrink@gmail.com with any enquiries.

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Sheffield-based Panache Lingerie has received support from Barclays through the Government-backed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) to maintain its ability to trade through the crisis.

Panache Lingerie was established in 1980 and is headquartered at Drake House Crescent, Sheffield. The business is a leading designer and manufacturer of D plus lingerie, swimwear and sports bras.

It trades globally in 53 countries with distribution sites in both the UK and North America.

John Power, managing director of Panache Lingerie, said: “We’ve banked with Barclays for nearly 20 years and Barclays has not only supported a very recent share buy-back transaction but also provided funding to see us through these challenging times.”

The business successfully negotiated a seven-figure CBIL facility. The company employs over 100 staff and turnover for the current year is expected to be over £20m.

Matthew Chenery, Barclays relationship director, put together the funding packages.

He said: “Barclays has proudly supported Panache for many years and the latest financial arrangements we have put in place strengthens our relationship with this ambitious and forward-thinking client.

“We are very much looking forward to continuing to support John and his team in the future to bring their ambitions to fruition.”