The Covid-19 pandemic is being felt across the whole world. Businesses of all shapes and sizes are facing crazy times, with many struggling to survive and access key resources during the shutdown period.
However, there are some great businesses actively providing help by offering advice for companies who are adapting to the changes and also free (or reduced charge) services across the North West.
Stephen Hobson, Head of Customer Engagement at Datacentreplus, wanted to share how some companies in the North are coming together to provide this kind of support and help at a time when it is needed the most:
“The challenge we have is to get our economy moving. We have to get our people working and we have to adapt our homes to be offices (obviously, where it is possible to do so) and set our working environment in this new world. Getting your staff and business online with the correct tools and equipment is a key challenge and selling your service or business online is now very important”.
“There are lots of great businesses and organisations out there that are willing to help and I can only mention a few.”
Business Support
‘Pay It Forward’ is a scheme which has been set up to assist those bars and restaurants across Manchester that we are all missing massively at this time! Details of how to get involved can be found here: – https://pay-it-forward.co.uk/
Bulletproof are as helpful as can be, I would suggest them for any agency owners who are in need of advice on financial and legal issues. They also run a free online get together. http://bulletproofagencynetwork.com/founders/
JEKBEE are offering free digital marketing strategy sessions to help clients who are looking to enter, set up or totally up their game online. Places on this are very limited so be quick: https://jekbee.co.uk/digital-marketing-strategy
BEETA are offering assistance for businesses with WordPress issues and also offering advice on optiimising applications; they can often provide rescue options if all else has failed. https://beeta.co/
Embryo Digital are offering free SEO audits for clients who are trying to bring in more business online: https://www.embryodigital.co.uk/seo-manchester/
There are hundreds of digital agencies which are able to assist with the online issues companies might be facing.
Our Agency Tram Map is a great place to look for companies who can help. https://www.datacentreplus.co.uk/agency-tram-map-2020/
We will do our best to get a full list together of people and agencies that can help with all the different challenges we’re all facing at this moment. As soon as we have this, it will be published online.
Away from digital, the amazing Michael Frackowiak has sent facemasks to all of his clients (available here). He continues to offer support and advice to all those in the retail sector via online support sessions.
Cloud 53 have been able to send out equipment and assist in setup for companies needing staff to work from home at short notice. They also provide great technical support. https://www.cloud53.co.uk.
The team at Datacentreplus have set up additional offerings such as remote desktop solutions, alongside extended VPS offerings for those looking to get their staff and business online in a secure and safe environment. We are contactable by phone or email anytime and will always help where we can.
Prolific North have documented a large amount of resources open to the business community, again many are free. More information can be found here.
I love Manchester have a news feed covering inspiring stories from the region, vouchers are also available to buy for ‘the pay it forward’ scheme – https://ilovemanchester.com/covid-19/
Lightbulb Media are providing free social media audits to help businesses stay present and keep customers engaged over this period.
Save a Small Business (SASB), created by Tao Digital enables businesses to select a town (Manchester, Bolton, Preston & Bury) to see how you can support a small business business through these tough times.
Attain Digital are offering free marketing advice/marketing reviews.
Chufd are offering a free one-hour consultation on how to reposition and differentiate your business in Q2/Q3 to make the most of the upturn in Q4 and into 2021.
Reward Agency are offering 25% of our agency time for the next few months to those in need through COVID-19. By donating time and skills we hope to help those affected by the crisis.
Dispense Digital are providing free SEO strategies and top-level audits for any businesses looking to focus on their organic growth during this period.
Sandyx are offering free advice to existing customers regarding additional Salesforce solutions and services. With the whole team contactable online or via mobile, they’re eager to help you decide how you can optimise your CRM.’
Hayes Associates Limited are offering to assist with Data Protection and Cyber Security issues and provide awareness.
Pole Star Digital are offering a FREE Facebook Ads Account Audit to any businesses/individuals that have been effected by Covid-19. These will be personally conducted by Ned Poulter (CEO & Founder).
Tasker Insurance Brokers Ltd are providing a free review of insurance policy to see if any cover is in force due to closure of the business during the pandemic.
The Design Grove are assisting businesses refocus their internal culture through communication guidance, training and action. They are also helping businesses regain their foothold in terms of marketing and connecting with their customers.
It is made very clear that this is a strange time when Greggs bakers are giving out recipes for delicious snacks to bake at home: https://themanc.com/homepage/greggs-release-chicken-bake-recipe-and-baking-method-online/
If your business is offering any help, guidance or advice please let us know by submitting the information here and we’ll do our best to keep this up to date.
Finally, let’s all pull together and stay strong.
Stephen Hobson
