Why Bionic Signed the C-19 Business Pledge

What is the C-19 Business Pledge?

The C-19 Business Pledge is a commitment by businesses to help get the country through immediate challenges of coronavirus, and help with the rebuild once we’re over the worst and looking to get back on our feet.

How is Bionic supporting the C-19 Business Pledge?

The C-19 Pledge has three elements. Here’s how Bionic has already responded in each.

1.Employees

The C-19 Pledge calls for practical support like:

- Disseminate latest NHS COVID-19 advice 

- Advice on financial security, mental health, personal wellbeing

- Advice on reintegration back into work

- Prioritising vulnerable customers

Bionic has:

- Disseminated the latest NHS COVID-19 advice

- Invested in new kit and connections so 100% of employees can work from home

- Continued to do our usual culture building activities for our sales staff eg buzz sessions, standups, 1:1 reviews, MPAs (Most Powerful Actions), and informal support and gestures

- Invested in mental fitness workshops

- Invested in training on maintaining our high performance culture while working remotely

How some of the Bionic Network have done it:

“Our amazing staff are now living and isolating together - only coming out of isolation to work.” Louise, HART restaurants in Leamington Spa.

“I told all of our staff ‘We’re not going to let any of you go, we’re just going to see what happens’. But, you know obviously they’re on reduced wages and we’ll just have to see what happens…” Sam, Hot Milk Cafe in London. 

2.Customers

The C-19 Pledge calls for member businesses to:

- Publish clear and simple advice for customers

- Have specialist teams dedicated to supporting customers

- Prioritise customers who are isolated and vulnerable with priority helplines and dedicated support

- Waiving some fees for customers and suppliers who may experience financial difficulties

Bionic has:

- Published a series of blog posts, including 'What every small business owner needs to know about coronavirus' which has been read by nearly 30,000 people.

- Increased the capacity of our insurance team that has been receiving 6x more calls than normal from business concerned about their insurance provision

- Created a new offer, helping small businesses understand their eligibility for the the Government's Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBLIS) and helping them get their applications together properly

- Worked with our energy suppliers to create or highlight products that are suited to businesses in lock-down, and to offer finance solutions to customers who may be struggling to pay their energy bills

How some of the Bionic Network have done it:

- East Coast Cured, a family charcuterie business in Edinburgh, are using Twitter and Instagram to keep customers updated on stock, only allowing one person in at a time and have set up a hand washing facility.

- New Moon Holistic Therapies, a reflexology specialist in Mansfield is launching online sleep therapy classes for children and babies, and adults who suffer from dementia.

3. Community 

The C-19 Pledge asks signatories to:

- Join the national effort by committing to help Britain through the Coronavirus epidemic

- Provide practical support such as food deliveries, collections and financial assistance for organisations that specialise in supporting vulnerable people 

- Support for community projects

Bionic has:

- Pivoted to 100% remote working, so we can continue to offer our core service, providing a way for small businesses to get fighting fit by reducing their costs, getting set-up to work remotely, and make sure their businesses are properly protected during lock-down

- Provided free advice on pivoting your business and applying for Government help

- Created a virtual community, the #BionicBusiness Network, where small business owners can come together for support and advice from each other and Bionic's experts

- Continued to support our charity, the Hornimans Youth Centre & Adventure Playground

How some of the Bionic Network have done it:

- Lost Boys Pizza, a quirky restaurant-turned- takeaway in London, have been running specials for NHS staff, posting quiz questions on Twitter, video announcements on Instagram, getting their customers to tweet food-shots and even opened a hotline for people home alone.

How can your business get involved with the C-19 Business Pledge?

The C-19 Business Pledge is open to all businesses across all sectors - BP, National Grid, Co-op Group and SSE are just some of the companies that have joined Bionic in pledging support.

To get your business involved, simply sign up at https://www.c19businesspledge.org/signthepledge