Large and small firms deserve applause for how they have responded
THE Covid-19 pandemic has engulfed the UK, with tragic consequences for thousands of families and enormous disruption to the lives of millions.
But our communities have also shown incredible strength in adversity – from the NHS staff and carers, to shop assistants, delivery drivers and community volunteers.
Playing an absolute key role has been the business community of North Wales.
While the crisis has placed many under immense financial stress a huge number of business owners have responded by helping others.
From answering pleas for help for protective equipment and hand sanitiser to supplying food to the vulnerable and delivering people and prescriptions businesses have truly stepped up to the challenge.
The efforts have come from every corner of North Wales, from Corris to Broughton, and the companies ranged from sole traders to global giants like Airbus.
Kirsty Thomson, from NHS fundraising group Awyr Las, said: “People across North Wales are being so incredibly generous, we’ve been overwhelmed with the community spirit that people have shown at this challenging time.
The North Wales NHS Charity, Awyr Las, has established a Covid-19 Appeal Fund, to support extras that go over and above what the NHS provides.
“To date we’ve have hundreds of voluntary offers of support, from businesses offering personnel and transport, voluntary groups offering to make clothing, schools making visors and restaurants offering food.
“For example, Transform Window Films in Wrexham have voluntarily offered materials and personnel to make visors, vans to help with transporting PPE between hospitals and help with constructing field hospitals, should the Health Board need that kind of support.
“On behalf of all my BCUHB colleagues, particularly those working on the frontline, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you for all the gestures of support.”
Protecting frontline staff has been a critical issue since the crisis started and this is one area where businesses, communities and individuals have shown true ingenuity and selflessness – giving time and resources for free.
When medics at Ysbyty Gwynedd made an appeal for visors, there was an immediate response – with a small collective embarking on a project to design, print, assemble and provide them, using M-SParc as their hub.
A design was created, approved by frontline doctors and distributed for production in a day and companies with 3D printers then involved to help produce them.
Partners have included North Wales Tech, Bangor University, Grwp Llandrillo Menai, schools in Gwynedd and Anglesey, and private sector companies such as Creo Medical, Faun Trackway, r3 Design, and social enterprise Menter Mon.
Optical and photonics business Qioptiq in St Asaph donated 5,000 face masks to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and aerospace giant Airbus has brought 1.4m protective masks from China to the UK for distribution to the NHS.
They are also part of the consortium manufacturing life-saving ventilators at the AMRC centre in Broughton.
Jake Morgan, who runs 3D printing business PrintMyRoute in Colwyn Bay, turned his attention to the PPE crisis, using his machines to print headshield visors for frontline staff, backed by cash raised through Gofundme.
A lack of hand sanitiser has been another problem but again companies have rallied round, with Dyfi Distillery in Corris and Anglesey’s Llanfairpwll Distillery among those who have switched from gin to alcohol hand rub.
Medipure Ltd in Denbigh is manufacturing its Suprox(TM) biocide and hand sanitiser products and sending them out to those who need them most in care settings, local shops, local councils (Gywnedd, Denbighshire, Flintshire) with some small donations to local charities.
Hospitality has been badly hit by the crisis but that hasn’t stopped businesses in that sector helping others.
Lyons Holiday Parks has donated hundreds of Creme Eggs, 4,000 bottles of water, chocolate bars and bedding to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd as part of the effort to support the NHS. They are also providing a number of accommodation units for key workers in the area.
Director Geoffrey Lyons-Mound said: “They advised us that staff in full PPE struggle with tap water and glassware, so bottled water would be very helpful.
“We are all so proud and thankful for everything the NHS staff and other front line workers are doing for us all.”
Dylan’s and Menter Môn, with the support of other agencies, have established a food delivery service on Anglesey and in Gwynedd to ensure vulnerable people are fed as well as workers at Ysbyty Gwynedd and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
Dylan’s are providing the their Llangefni production and staff at zero cost.
Social enterprise Maen Alaw in Penmaenmawr is cooking and delivering cooked meals to elderly and vulnerable residents. use of facility