Coronavirus: National Business Response Network launched to bring business support to local needs

The National Business Response Network has been launched to identify community needs across the UK and match them to business support.

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Business in the Community (BITC) has established the support system as the impact of coronavirus on the UK’s towns and cities intensifies.

Through BITC’s regional and local connections and leaders on the ground, the National Business Response Network identifies national and local community needs from community groups, schools, local authorities, local resilience bodies, charities and alliances such as the British Red Cross Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership and small businesses.

The network then connects business resources to meet the following needs:

- Food: Ensuring people have continued access to food.

- Technology: Support to enable children to continue learning, and older people to stay connected to families.

- Social care: Support to vulnerable groups and older people to enable continued access to food, healthcare, social interaction and other essentials.

- Small businesses: Creating resources with advice and practical tools specifically for small businesses, providing business continuity and wellbeing support through mentoring for small businesses.

The business resources BITC will be matching to community needs are professional support using untapped and human resources, lending/donating resources, and transportation of goods and services.

Amanda Mackenzie, BITC’s chief executive, said: “We know the impact that businesses can have at times like these and our members tell us every day how much they want to make a difference to those most in need.

“Founded over 40 years ago by HRH The Prince of Wales, we are the oldest and largest network of our kind, bringing business together on resilience, emergency response and long-term recovery. Whether it’s floods, cyber-attacks or riots, we have always matched local needs with the enormous support businesses can and want to offer. The Covid-19 crisis is no different. Through our network, we can provide lifelines to people and communities affected by the pandemic.

“We know what local communities need as they battle the impact of Covid-19 on their towns and cities and we’re calling on businesses who want to offer support to contact us to make sure their support gets to the right place at the right time.”

Community organisations in need of help can log their requests with BITC by calling its 24-hour hotline on 0141 285 3821 or by emailing [email protected]

Companies who want to offer support and find out where their help is most needed should email BITC at [email protected]