Coronavirus update – the latest news from Yorkshire businesses

The managing director of a Huddersfield-based incident management and specialist recovery business has had a “baptism of fire” following her appointment at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Claire Owens was appointed to the role at FMG in March.

The company moved over 95% of its business to home working within her first month at the helm.

Her appointment followed the most successful year in the firm’s history, with further business wins and retention of clients.

During the pandemic the business has taken on a new Highways England contract following a successful tender in December last year.

FMG also reported a growth in its fleet book of nearly 30% during the last financial year, along with two new major contracts with large insurers.

Owens said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to lead FMG in the next stage of our evolution.

“The acceleration of our digital capabilities has proved astonishing, so too has the positivity in which colleagues have embraced our new ways of working.

“Change is a constant, and I must accept where we’re at. My job today is firmly focused on successfully leading the business through the seismic impact of COVID-19, ensuring the business continues to deliver the high level of service our partners expect.”

She joined FMG in 2017 as finance director, prior to which she had held a number of senior finance positions across multiple sectors, more recently with the multinational corporation, Sodexo.

Owens succeeds Harvey Stead, who saw a recent promotion to the newly created role of managing director, Redde Limited.

Stead joins the Redde-Northgate Management Board to take responsibility for the performance of a number of businesses within the newly formed Group, which still includes FMG.

Stead said: “I’m really pleased that Claire has been appointed as my successor.

“The appointment reflects the influence Claire has had in accelerating business growth over the last three years and is in recognition of her key contribution.

“Claire’s appointment as managing director provides continuity for the business, our customers, supplier partners and our people.”

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Rotherham-based loan broker Norton Finance has donated supplies, including a 3D printer and face covers, to help support a local family who are creating personal protective equipment (PPE).

Graham and Janet Truman have turned their home into a PPE production line to help frontline workers fight COVID-19.

The family are making 160 visors a day using 3D printers, which have been approved by Rotherham Hospital and a professor in Northern General Hospital.

The contribution from Norton Finance included the 3D printer, PLA filament, travel container bottles, hand sanitiser and disposable face covers.

The Trumans have set up a fundraising page to help raise money to go towards the materials required for making the PPE equipment, along with other essential items.

Their original target was £350 but they have far surpassed that target and raised £6,001 so far.

Mark Stringer, director of Norton Finance, said: “After seeing the challenges the NHS and care homes are having in sourcing PPE we wanted to help out and contribute in some way.

“When we heard about the selfless work the Truman family were doing to help frontline workers, we knew we wanted to support their amazing efforts and help a vital cause.

“We thought what the Truman’s were doing was a true act of kindness and we spoke to them to talk about how we could help, and together we came up with a list of supplies to donate.”

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A Huddersfield business has expanded to cope with a huge spike in demand during lockdown.

Lamb2Ewe launched only last year with the aim of getting good quality, sustainable meat, delivered direct from selected Yorkshire farmers, to customers’ tables across the UK.

Since the Coronavirus crisis began, demand for the company’s online service has skyrocketed.

Orders in the first two weeks of April surpassed orders taken throughout the whole of 2019.

As well as taking on two temporary butchers, a new customer service team member and increasing the size of the packing team, the company has extended its premises at its shop in Honley.

This has provided additional butchery and freezer space, and trebled its fridge capacity.

Owner Tom Kitchen-Dunn said: “The increase in demand has been phenomenal and lockdown has proved a transformational time for Lamb2Ewe.

“As well as taking on new staff and increasing workspace, we had to alter our range to make the volume of orders more manageable. To meet the demand, we had to reconfigure our business almost overnight.

“The fact that we only use local, independent farmers has meant that these smaller suppliers are also seeing their businesses grow in a way they have never experienced.

“It has been challenging on all sides to fulfil the growth in orders, but it is essential that all of us working in the food industry pull out all the stops to ensure people staying at home can continue to access the products they need.

“Whilst many people are shifting from supermarkets to independent suppliers for safety, convenience and availability at the moment, the positive feedback we are receiving from our new customers gives us every confidence that we could be seeing a permanent shift in the way people buy their food.”

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