The National Business Response Network connects tech companies and businesses in the tech sector with local organisations and charities in need throughout the UK.
The scheme involves tech-associated companies that are able to help to sign up with the kind of support they are in a position to provide.
It then identifies community needs from schools, charities, local authorities and other community groups, and matches them with the appropriate support.
This can range from food and social care, to technology and support more specific to struggling small businesses, such as mentoring.
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In terms of business resources, the following are available under the National Business Response Network:
- Professional support: Using untapped resources from supporting companies to provide human resource.
- Lending/donating resources: Allowing organisations and people in need to borrow or use resources.
- Logistics: Transportation of people, goods and services.
“We know what local communities need as they battle the impact of Covid-19 on their towns and cities,” said Amanda Mackenzie OBE, chief executive of Business in the Community, “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.
“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 need 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.”
Case studies of the network in action include Burger King donating over 20,000 paper bags to Surrey County Council to aid them in distributing food to shielded families, and FareShare using the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) to distribute food that would have otherwise gone to waste to over 11,000 community groups across the UK.
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