Business News
Support for members: Katrina Cooke
Chamber goes digital to support businesses
By Jessica Brookes
Views and clicks on a range of Greater Birmingham Chamber’s Covid-19 digital material, designed to direct businesses to coronavirus-related support, have rocketed. In March and April, Covid-19-related web pages on the
Chamber of Commerce’s website had more than 15,000 views. The Chamber’s dedicated Covid-19 advice and guidance page has had more than 3,500 views. Some of the website’s most popular pages includes the
Chamber’s Covid-19 grid, which summarises Government support for businesses and charities, and the Mind the Gap report, an analysis of coronavirus-related business support and gaps which need to be addressed. In order to further aid businesses, the Chamber’s Keep Business Moving campaign has received more than 170 inquiries from businesses which are looking to contact or support other businesses. Swathes of new subscribers have opted in to receive
the Chamber’s daily newsletter, ChamberlinkDaily, which houses the latest Covid-19 news, views and opinion from across the region. Alongside digital support, Greater Birmingham
Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) staff have made 3,500 calls to local businesses and have provided 381 hours of phone support. The Chamber has also shaken up its events schedule by providing a range of webinars with business experts and leaders, replacing physical events due to mandated social distancing measures.
So far, the Chamber
has hosted 20 webinars to more than 700 digital attendees. Katrina Cooke,
director of marketing and communications at the Chamber, said: “The Covid-19 crisis has meant that we have had to adapt our content and resources for members and businesses quickly and efficiently. The Chamber is determined to further aid businesses through these unprecedented times, and we will continue to provide support through our membership team and update our guidance with the most relevant information for businesses. I would urge any organisation looking for advice to contact the Chamber to garner further support.” To receive the latest news and views, subscribe to
Chamberlink Daily today, go to the Chamber website (
www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com) The Chamber has a number of newsletter advertising
banner slots available throughout June and July on our regional newsletters and Chamberlink Daily newsletter.
To find out more please contact Russell Ashman on
R.Ashman@
birmingham-chamber.com
Turn to page 62 for Chamberlink’s new Technology feature
Estate agents back to business
Sydney Mitchell Estate Agents has resumed business following the Government’s announcement that estate agencies can reopen their doors. Viewings have started but will
need to follow sensible guidelines, said manager Phil Light. He added: “We are of course
mindful of the additional complications involved and will be consulting closely with our clients on how they wish to proceed. We have clear guidelines in place for dealing with viewings and valuations to ensure our clients and suppliers are safe. “We are pleased to be able to
offer a comprehensive service and ensure that clients can complete their sale and purchase and move into their new homes. This announcement is very good news
for the housing market and the economy and we are keen to make a contribution to getting things moving again.” Health Protection (Coronavirus,
Restrictions) regulations in England have been extended relating to the purchase and sale of residential properties to include:
• Visiting estate or letting agents, developer sales offices or show homes
• Viewing residential properties to look for a property to buy or rent
• Preparing a residential property to move in
• Moving home • Visiting a residential property to undertake any activities required for the rental or sale of that property
Mindful: Phil Light Zoopla report that there over
350,000 transactions across the UK that have been on hold due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
Proud: Phil Arkinstall
Video firm aids lockdown learning
Video production company Ark Media has been filming with Little Sutton Primary School in Sutton Coldfield to develop a suite of videos to help educate children across the country during lockdown. Little Sutton Primary school
is one of only 34 schools chosen nationally to be an English Hub. They are funded by the Department of Education (DFE) to promote a love of reading, early language development and phonics to schools. During lockdown the DFE
wanted to produce online video lessons to ensure children and parents had access to useful learning materials in an accessible format to support them when they are home schooling. The school knew they needed to communicate with children in an engaging way and utilised video content to achieve this. They commissioned Sutton
Coldfield-based video production company, Ark Media, to produce 90 lessons. The daily lesson videos help
help children continue to develop their phonics skills and ensure their learning is maintained during lockdown. Rachel Davis, headteacher at
Little Sutton Primary School, said: “Reading is fundamental to children’s learning at school. With the enforced closure of schools, it was important to find a way of helping children to continue learning to read. It has been great to work with Ark Media to develop this suite of videos that children across the country can benefit from. We are grateful for their filming and quick turnaround times.” Phil Arkinstall, managing
director at Ark Media, said: “We are really proud to have been involved in this project which will help parents and children during lockdown.” Within 24 hours the launch
they were viewed over 80,000 times and amassed 17,000 subscribers.
June/July 2020 CHAMBERLINK 15
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