Coronavirus business update: Latest news across Yorkshire

A Hull businessman has played a crucial role in the rallying call to get hundreds of military veterans back to the front line as part of the UK’s battle with Coronavirus.

Teams of former armed forces personnel are playing a pivotal role staffing the Government’s COVID-19 drive-through testing centres, mobile testing units and walk-in test centres after being recruited by specialist security firm SSGC, whose managing director, David Stubbs, grew up and still lives in Hessle.

Stubbs, who also owns Ciao restaurant in Boothferry Road, Hull, which has just re-opened for business after the lockdown, was a key driver in the management buy-out of SSGC, which has seen the business turnover grow to over £70m this year.

The business has mobilised over 1,000 security offers, traffic marshals and operations staff in a matter of weeks to provide services to 45 testing centres and 53 mobile testing units as a supplier to both Serco and Sodexo, which are managing the centres on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Stubbs, himself a former military police officer, is behind the drive to provide veterans with a second chance to serve their country, after signing the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC), an undertaking to support the welfare and wellbeing of uniformed personnel who have served their country.

He said: “The business signed up to the AFC and we take that commitment very seriously.

“We are a specialist security business which has invested heavily in wrap-around technology to support our business proposition and vision of delivering the best service.

“As a result, SSGC has been able to use our automated vetting capability, which allows the rapid scaling of personnel, to place more than 1,000 new employees across the country – many of whom are distinguished military veterans.

“It’s hugely important to us to support veterans, many of whom have lost jobs or positions they have worked hard to achieve since leaving the forces.

“They are doing a truly excellent job as part of this huge national effort and we’re delighted to be able to provide such trusted and experienced personnel.”

As well as its commitment to the AFC, SSGC worked with the Yorkshire Regiment Association to help recruit veterans to work at the testing centres.

Major Pat Ralph, chairman of the Yorkshire Regiment Association, said: “Our call to arms went out across the three Yorkshire regiments – The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire, The Green Howards and the Duke of Wellington’s, veteran NHS fundraiser Col Sir Tom Moore’s former regiment.

“The response was overwhelming. For our veterans, this is an opportunity to give something back to their communities, to get involved with like-minded people and, for many, new qualifications are also in the offing.”

Kate Davies, Director of Health and Justice and Armed Forces, said: “It’s fantastic that veterans are stepping up to support the country once again in the fight against COVID-19.

“We at NHS England and NHS Improvement are hugely grateful to them for providing their expertise and skillset at testing centres across England in this time of need.”

Jonathan Brasher, operations director for the Serco-managed testing centres, said: “Serco has more than 50 years of proud history working with the Armed Forces in the UK and elsewhere.

“When Serco was asked by the DHSC to manage a number of the Covid-19 drive-through testing centres, we reached out to organisations such as SSGC to support us.”

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The organisers of Leeds’s German Christmas market on Millennium Square have confirmed the event will not take place this year due to ongoing uncertainty around COVID-19.

Leeds City Council’s partners at Frankfurt City Council have this week taken the decision to cancel this year’s event in the interests of public safety.

The council will now be looking at alternative ways to celebrate the festive season safely in Leeds, in line with social distancing and the latest Government guidance around evens and social gatherings.

Kurt Stroscher, Frankfurt City Council’s director of festivals and events, said: “After bringing the first German Christmas market to Leeds many years ago, we have worked with Leeds City Council, the stallholders and other partners to make it the popular event that it is today.

“Because of its importance to the public, traders and local economy, the arguments as to whether the Christmas Market should go ahead were considered very carefully.

“However, the health and safety of visitors have to be the top priority.

“Christmas markets are very much a place for socialising in a warm and cosy atmosphere, with Millennium Square the perfect setting for this.

“This fundamental part of the Leeds Christmas Market’s identity cannot be achieved in a pandemic. Under no circumstances should the Christmas Market contribute in any way to worsening the pandemic.

“The organisers knew it would not be right to offer a version of the market that was very different from the familiar product and therefore failed to satisfy visitors’ expectations.”

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, added: “We’re obviously extremely disappointed that the German market won’t be taking place this year and we know it’s been an incredibly difficult decision for our long-time friends in Frankfurt to have to make.

“Whilst we know people will be similarly disappointed, we fully understand the safety of the public, traders and the city as a whole has to come first while we are still fighting this pandemic.

“Rest assured though, we will still be celebrating Christmas in Leeds and we’ll be exploring some new and different ways for people to be able to do that safely and responsibly this festive season.”

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Ambitious businesses across Yorkshire which have been set back by the pandemic are being given the chance to receive £3,000 worth of business support thanks to an initiative launched by Wizu Workspace.

Space to Elevate has been developed by the Yorkshire-based flexible workspace provider to support individuals taking the first step into self-employment and other businesses of all sizes.

Businesses from Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield are invited to put themselves forward for the chance to be one of five selected to benefit from either of the initiative’s support packages.

Those eligible can apply for either the scale up package – designed to help those with already established businesses who are looking to scale up their activity, or the start-up package – to help individuals and businesses which have newly launched or pivoted their business as a result of the pandemic.

Both packages include access to co-working space for employees for a year and a virtual address with mail handling.

The start-up package also offers expert business mentoring and marketing support, and the scale up package includes a place on BHP’s leadership program.

Entrants will be required to provide an outline of why their business should win and how they will use the support to drive their business forward.

Shortlisted businesses will also be asked to provide a short pitch video, which will be reviewed by the judges ahead of the award date of 1 October.

Natasha Babar-Evans, COO at Wizu Workspace, said: “We really love to see businesses thrive and it’s been one of the most challenging and difficult times for many, so naturally we wanted to help.

“Having spent many years leading a NatWest Accelerator Hub, I’m familiar with the huge difference the right level of support can make to businesses, whatever stage they are at.

“So, we got our heads together at Wizu Workspace and developed an initiative that would provide the right level of support that businesses and entrepreneurs need as they emerge from lockdown.”

Those interested in entering the firm’s Space to Elevate competition will be required to complete an entry form here before 21 September.