CHAMBER BUSINESS MATTERS Proudly sponsored by our patrons Business Heroes are celebrated for their contribution to the community BY CHARLOTTE WATSON In June Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and TED East Lindsey launched an initiative to celebrate and recognise the unsung business heroes across Lincolnshire. Receiving an overwhelming number of nominations for businesses of all kinds across Lincolnshire that have gone that extra mile during the current crisis, the Chamber is delighted to recognise a number of those business heroes in this feature story. A stand-out business, receiving 59 individual nominations was Skegness- based gym, Phoenix Fitness. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Phoenix Fitness found new ways of adapting their offering following the Government guidance to close gyms, they took their services to the great outdoors, as well as online workouts, advice and support, not just for its members but for the wider community as well. Deserving of the recognition, a client of the gym said: “They encourage and inspire so many people in this town, they have changed the lives of so many and continue to do so. Their support for locals of the hub and for putting together an unsung hero is Sutton Pet Supplies. “Coronavirus has been a real challenge is phenomenal.” amazing team of volunteers who were Sutton Pet Supplies based in Sutton for all businesses, our location is in a tourist Our next unsung business hero is as passionate about protecting the on Sea remained open throughout area and has seen a huge downturn in Chester and George, an upcycle furniture community as I am” added Lynette. the lockdown period, doing deliveries, footfall, this however enabled us to help store in Alford, and following the As well as the Alford Hub, Lynette assisting with the local food bank many of our regular customers by offering closure of non-essential retail, the owner Pryke launched a free online newspaper, collection. an expanded delivery service to people Lynette Pryke wanted to find a way to a be-friending service and a local Owners, Malcolm and Paul are so self-isolating. keep people connected and support the prescription delivery service. pleased with their nomination said: “We “We pride ourselves on great customer vulnerable in a practical way. Recognising the part animals play are so chuffed because our customers service and really enjoy customer In the critical, most vulnerable shielding in providing comfort in times of crisis, have taken the time out to nominate us interaction and I believe this is a reason group herself, Lynnette started The Alford particularly to those shielding, our next which is really special. customers want to shop with us.” Hub, saying: “I knew that people would Our final Business Heroes recognition need support and so I couldn’t sit around in this feature is West Ashby Arms, a local and do nothing, which is why I launched pub right at the heart of the village of the Hub.” West Ashby. The Alford Hub was launched as a As Government closed pub and Covid-19 Information Group on Facebook restaurants, West Ashby Arms adapted to support each other and the local their services to offer a first-class takeaway community. and delivery service. “I put together a team of admins who A happy customer commented: “Being answered questions, this was so important a very small community the West Ashby in early days, people just didn’t know who Arms plays a huge role in supporting to turn to” explained Lynette. activities within West Ashby and since “It was our commitment to keep lockdown began the family run business people engaged, so we ensure that every have provided an excellent takeaway comment was replied to, we have had service, not just to our village, but other 27,000 comments in the 18 weeks with around 1,400 members. I am so proud Turn to Page 6 www.lincs-chamber.co.uk @Lincscham 16286 CHAMBER MATTERS CHAMBER MATTERS 29177 Community Business Bransby Horses reopens to after Lincolnshire - Booming in new keeping spirits up during lockdown Heroes celebrated business and aspiring start-ups From Page 5 Lincolnshire-based equine charity, New statistics released by Begbies fledging company owners. Business is Bransby Horses, is delighted they were surrounding villages too. Traynor Group, exclusively for booming and support measures are well able to reopen their doors to the public “It has been so uplifting; it would have been a very different Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, placed to promote business continuity on 8th July. The site is still free entry and and lonely lockdown for us if this family hadn’t provided this illustrates that the number of company during the most vulnerable and volatile is currently running at reduced days and service.” incorporations in Lincolnshire was at its year for any new business. hours, open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am Charlotte Watson, Head of PR, Marketing and highest in recent years in 2019. “Covid-19 will likely take a toll until 3pm. Communications at Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “It’s The data provided by Red Flag Alert on business performance in 2020; In line with the UK Government so heart warming to hear positive stories during such a terrible indicates that Lincolnshire is attracting however, it’s promising to see that 2,700 response to the coronavirus, the charity time, people, businesses and communities have really come new businesses to its coastline and new businesses have already been is asking visitors to ensure they adhere to together to help one another, adapt their business services and encouraging entrepreneurs to start incorporated in Lincolnshire to date, with social distancing regulations and plan for provide advice and support to anyone who needs it. shop in the heart of the East Midlands, two financial quarters yet to go.” their visit by visiting their website. “We are so proud of our business community, which is why more than ever, as 6,082 businesses were Bolstering its standing as an incubator As well as a newly refurbished gift shop we launched this initiative, it shines a light on those unsung incorporated in 2019. for start-ups, there are several support and donated goods shop and additional business heroes who have really kept that community spirit Lincolnshire is proving an aspirational networks and initiatives which can help picnic fields, visitors can now pre-book a alive during lockdown.” place to do business as the statistics guide businesses through their early days packed lunch or breakfast, through the Aiming to recognise all businesses that have been show a 17 per cent increase in the in Lincolnshire. new click and collect cafe service. nominated we will also be doing a feature in our September number of new businesses incorporated The Lincolnshire Business Support The site in Bransby, which welcomes edition, so check back again next month to hear more in 2019 than in 2016, translating into Network (LINBIS) offers support to thousands of visitors each year, closed to inspirational stories from businesses across our county. 400 more businesses being established businesses trading in their first year, the public on 20th March 2020. During Businesses will also be featured across the Lincolnshire last year. connecting them with professional lockdown the charity has been busy Chamber of Commerce website visit www.lincs-chamber.co.uk Gareth Rusling, partner at Begbies mentors. The Lincolnshire Chamber of keeping the hundreds of horses, ponies, updates to be read out by care employees, Traynor, Midlands, said, “It’s evident Commerce also provides access to funding donkeys and mules that live at the Bransby as well as virtual video tours as part of from the Red Flag data that Lincolnshire such as revenue and capital grants for and Barlings sites, safe and well. their Keep on Keeping on campaign, one Travel and post has great potential in maintaining high micro, small and medium businesses, in Jo Snell, CEO at Bransby Horses says: particular donkey has given and received rates of employability and attracting addition to workspace support. “We’ve been working hard to ensure that a lot of hope and joy during the nation’s office on the move LNAA’s Great Big Staycation the new hygiene and social distancing challenging period. Celebrate the British summer and don’t you recreate your favourite measures are implemented in a way that Raising spirits every day, a social donkey A popular Gainsborough travel branch take part in the Lincs & Notts Air holiday image? Tag them in will still allow our supporters to enjoy a resident named Nipper (pictured) has and busy post office are heading to new Ambulance’s Great Big Staycation your social media pics with UTC returns to full-time education fun and memorable visit to our Bransby been visiting many horse, pony, donkey destinations as they relocate to brand-new and be in with a chance of #GreatBigStaycation and they will site. We’re all very excited to see all the and mule friends and sharing his tales to sites in the town. winning a visit to their new HQ to pick a winner, who will be invited smiling faces we’ve missed for so long.” nearly 30,000 followers! Both Lincolnshire Co-op outlets will meet the crew. to the new HQ, meet the crew Bransby Horses’ teams have also been The response from their supporters be moving to Market Street, just a few As holiday plans may not be and see the #ambucopter for real. dedicated to keeping their supporters has been incredible, so much so, that the hundred metres away from their current panning out the way we’d hoped, Fundraising Director Jason entertained during lockdown. Local care Charity is now creating a set of collectible location in the Lindsey Centre, which is the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance Cater said: “The impact of homes have received regular hand written postcard stories, ready for Christmas 2020.