Over the festive period we are looking back at an unprecedented year for business.
Part Two - March-April
Prior to March 2020, the biggest fear for most businesses was Brexit. Nobody would have imagined that a nasty strain of virus would bring the 海角视频 to a standstill, pushing families apart, closing shops, pubs, hotels and schools and forcing the Government to pump billions into propping up the economy and subsidising worker鈥檚 wages.
In a matter of weeks Brexit became an afterthought.
The writing was on the wall in early March, but even then no-one could really have believed how bad things would get.
鈥 On March 4 it was reported that East Midlands companies with global operations were putting in place measures they hoped would prevent the spread of coronavirus and keep them operating. Rolls-Royce, which has its civil aerospace and defence businesses in Derby, is the city鈥檚 largest private sector employer.
In an early March statement, the firm said: 鈥淲e remain in close communication with colleagues in affected areas and have taken precautionary measures, including advising them to work from home where possible.
鈥淭his is to limit risks to our employees, suppliers, partners and customers.
鈥淲e are also asking employees who have recently visited China, South Korea and Northern Italy to self-quarantine for 14 days before coming onto our sites and for all Rolls-Royce employees, we are advising against all but business critical travel to those countries.鈥
鈥 Toyota , which has its 海角视频 car manufacturing plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire, has factories in China and imports some components from the Far East.
In a statement, Toyota Motor Manufacturing 海角视频 said: 鈥淥ur first priority is the safety of our employees and we are following government guidelines for hygiene best practice and travel restrictions to the affected areas.
鈥淲e have established a daily committee and are closely monitoring the supply chain for possible impact from China and Europe.
鈥淎t this time we do not foresee any short-term impact.
鈥淟onger term, any impact will depend on how the situation develops.鈥
鈥 Derby train-maker Bombardier established a committee to monitor the coronavirus situation.
In a statement, the firm said: 鈥淏ombardier has established a coronavirus emergency committee to monitor the situation and to agree appropriate actions.
鈥淎s well as updating all 海角视频 staff with the latest government health advice, we have also implemented restrictions on travel to and from some affected areas and reminded staff of hygiene good practice.
鈥淚n addition, we are working closely with our global supply chain to monitor and mitigate any impacts.鈥
鈥 Shopping centre owner Intu 鈥 which owned Derby鈥檚 main shopping precinct 鈥 revealed it had been forced to abandon plans to raise up to 拢1.5 billion to pay down its debt.
The firm, which also owned the Trafford Centre in Manchester and Eldon Square in Newcastle amongst others in the 海角视频, said market uncertainty had deterred investors.
It was a major frustration for Intu boss Matthew Roberts, who had hoped the funds could help reduce its 拢5 billion debt.
Intu said investors were put off by the equity market and the retail property investment market.
However, Mr Roberts said 鈥渁 number of alternative options鈥 had been presented during the process and the company will explore these further.
By August the business had collapsed into administration, becoming the most significant corporate casualty of the Covid-19 crisis at that time.
鈥 Cinema chain Cineworld 鈥 which would go on to take a massive hit from lockdown 鈥 initially said the spread of coronavirus would not impact on the release dates of other movie blockbusters despite the new Bond adventure being delayed, and stressed it is still expecting to announce profits of more than $1 billion.
The company, which has 786 venues and 9,494 screens in the 海角视频, said the postponing of the Bond movie No Time to Die, was due to the closure of cinemas in the Far East, and it was not expecting to have to change the release dates of forthcoming releases.
The list of eagerly awaited movies due to hit the screens included A Quiet Place: Part 2, Mulan, Fast and Furious 9, Wonder Woman 1984, Black Widow, Minions 2 and Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
In March, Cineworld Group Plc, in a statement to the stock market, said the Covid-19 pandemic had yet to have any effect on audience numbers.
鈥 Management at a national toilet roll manufacturer urged people not to worry as the business was well placed to meet the massive surge in demand from panic buying.
The team at Leicester Tissue Company, which produces 25,000 tonnes of toilet paper every year, said they had enough to step up production.
Shoppers had been criticised for queuing around supermarket car parks to stockpile loo rolls, along with staples such as baked beans, pasta, pot noodles and tea bags as the country braced itself for a coronavirus lockdown.
Leicester Tissue Company, which is based on the outskirts of the city, had already spent millions ramping up production in recent years following growing interest from big name supermarkets.
Later in the year it would be sold in a 拢40 million deal.
鈥 In a frank interview the chief executive of Next said the high street giant was in it for the long-term 鈥 and that the huge impact of coronavirus on the 海角视频 economy will, one day, pass.
Lord Simon Wolfson spoke as the chain鈥檚 2019 trading figures 鈥 showing healthy sales of almost 拢4.4 billion and profits of more than 拢728 million 鈥 were totally overshadowed by the current crisis.
Any other time the figures would have looked more than acceptable, considering the state of retail in the last couple of years.
But in March, 2020, with the Leicestershire business鈥檚 share price almost half what it was just one month earlier, the results seemed positively nostalgic.
Summing up the state of play during a conference call to the nation鈥檚 business desks, he said the business would survive 鈥 and even invest in its systems so that Next was fit to get stronger, particularly online, when the coronavirus passed.
Despite seeing a huge drop in revenues, the business performed well during the year.
鈥 Notts online pharmacy 海角视频 Meds said it saw sales of its hygiene face masks surge 鈥 as people tried to protect themselves against the virus.
As the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Britain topped 115 鈥 remarkably low considering what we know now 鈥 and the first 海角视频 fatality was reported, the retailer said masks had become the fastest selling item on its website, up 8,000 per cent.
But it warned masks did not guarantee full protection 鈥 and urged everyone to regularly wash their hands and cover their nose and mouth when they sneeze.
Shyam Morjaria, superintendent pharmacist at 海角视频 Meds, said: 鈥淎s this strain of the virus is so new, health and medical experts are still working to understand it better.鈥
鈥 Despite the stagnating economy, there were still some positive developments, including the official opening of a new rail freight terminal on the Derbyshire/Leicestershire border which connected the region to major 海角视频 ports.
Operated by Maritime Intermodal, a sub-division of Maritime Transport, the new terminal was built at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway, near Castle Donington, which is a huge warehouse development with planning consent for up to six million sq ft of warehousing and logistics accommodation.
The terminal started operating its first route to Felixstowe, in Suffolk, which is the 海角视频鈥檚 busiest container port, earlier this year.
But to officially mark its launch, a ceremony was recently held, with Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris performing the honours.
鈥 Tributes were paid to a much-loved member of the Leicestershire business community.
Construction lawyer and architect Pam Allardice , founder of Allardice Associates in Hinckley, and chair of the ProCon Leicestershire property and construction group, died having been ill for some time.
She was a popular and highly regarded figure within the local business scene, particularly for her hard work in helping the ProCon organisation grow its work connecting property and construction professionals and celebrating the county鈥檚 best building projects with its annual awards.
Allyson Jeffrey, director at HeadStorm Marketing, had worked closely with Pam as ProCon鈥檚 project manager since 2002.
Allyson said: 鈥淧am was so passionate about all she did to make ProCon work and to deliver for its members.
鈥淪he was always there for members and always there for me. That never faltered, even when she was poorly.
鈥淪he was also a passionate advocate for the city of Leicester and the county of Leicestershire.鈥
