Everything changed for Manchester businesses in 2020. Unequivocally and permanently.
Since the arrival of the pandemic, the local corporate landscape has found itself in an unrecognisable, uncertain and frustratingly fluid state, with companies scrambling to find new ways to cope with ever-changing regulations.
Even as a vaccine is administered across the region, there’s a growing sense of acceptance that it will still be some time before things are ‘normal’ again.
COVID has forced businesses to change the way they think, behave and operate for the foreseeable future – and one firm is doing its bit to help Manchester companies comfortably navigate the choppy waters ahead.
REVIV – the global preventative health company with a HQ in St Ann’s Square – has today launched HELIIX: An innovative, game-changing piece of management software designed to put business owners back in the driving seat.
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A product unlike anything else on the market, HELIIX is being called the ‘most robust and effective’ COVID business tool – functioning as an essential support system to keep firms afloat in 2021.
Risk profiling, robust tracking and case management, sick pay forecasting, vaccine tracking, and user isolation alerts are all embedded within the system – with every feature packaged into a single app that can be downloaded by staff and updated in real-time.
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Aside from offering benefits to employers, staff can also enjoy peace of mind with HELIIX in that their health is being taken seriously.
REVIV owner Sarah Lomas, whose rags-to-riches success story was featured on BBC TV series Manctopia, has previously expressed her concerns for the wellbeing of local businesses – and HELIIX aims to change the trajectory; minimising the number of firms going bump due to factors formerly out of their control.
Sarah stated: “REVIV had already shifted into technology investments and as COVID-19 hit I saw the opportunity to accelerate our corporate preventative health software HELIIX.
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“I’m a great believer in fixing a problem that exists in the world today.
“I’m proud that we have a software system that can not only manage COVID in the workplace but it can track vaccination rollouts in the working community as well as having the potential to reduce risk and litigation.”
REVIV has also launched not-for-profit PCR and antibody testing for just £89 – one of the lowest prices currently available on the market.
Wellbeing is the business’ bread and butter, and with HELIIX, REVIV is hoping to get more staff back into workplaces safely – boosting the local economy as a result.
Non-Executive Board Director Max Johnson stated: “All employers need a COVID-19 management software to make their companies run smoothly and safely.
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“We think HELIIX is just the software to enable them to do that.”
Professional functionality of HELIIX is charged at £1.40 per user a month, with subscriptions free to cancel at any time.
Manchester Marathon found fresh community fund following milestone charitable efforts
Danny Jones
The Manchester Marathon has begun a new community fund following more than a decade of incredible charity efforts.
Known as the Trafford Active Fund for the last 10 years or so, the initiative covers not only the city and its wider boroughs’ annual 26.2-mile long race, but various other sports and activity-based schemes across the region.
Now, though, the fresh Manc Marathon Fund is evolving in partnership with the existing Trafford Moving Fund and MCRactive arm of Manchester City Council by expanding its vital charity work further afield than ever before.
Launching ahead of the 2026 event this spring, runners will once again be behind crucial funding across the Greater Manchester region and beyond.
The new Manchester Marathon Community Fund logo (Credit: Supplied)
For context, back in 2024, the MCR Marathon raised nearly £30 million for the local economy and roughly £3.7m for charities like the Alzheimer’s Society; last April, that figure surpassed more than £4m, and the fundraising numbers only continue to increase with every year.
With that in mind, more than £60k is distributed to various partner programmes that “inspire movement, improve wellbeing, and create meaningful change for local people”.
Moving forward, not only will £1 from every paid entry into the Manchester Marathon and Manchester Half continue to go directly into the Manchester Marathon Community Fund (MMCF).
Andrew Smith, Chief Executive of A.S.O. UK – organisers of the MCR Marathon and Half – said: “We’re incredibly proud of the positive impact the Trafford Active Fund has delivered locally over the years, and we’re excited to extend that impact across both Trafford and Manchester City [Centre].
“By broadening our reach, the MMCF will help even more people to get active and contribute to a legacy of movement and wellbeing. Our relationship with Trafford remains as strong as ever, and we look forward to continuing to support the brilliant community projects that make a real difference there.”
Community groups and projects in Trafford or the City of Manchester can apply for funding via the Trafford Moving Fund and MCR Active (dependent on their location).
A panel from each organisation reviews applications and selects projects that best demonstrate lasting impact.
We share stories from funded projects throughout the year, so you can see the difference your event entry makes.
We love how much the North West regularly dedicates its charitable efforts, both socially and physically, towards important causes throughout the year.
Featured Images — Press shots (supplied via Manchester Marathon/ASO UK)
Business
Deansgate bar Simmons closes just over a year after opening
Danny Jones
London-born bar brand Simmons has closed their Manchester site just over a year after opening their first Northern location.
They’ve lasted roughly 15 months on one of our busiest nightlife strips.
Opening on Deansgate back in October 2024, Simmons Manchester wasn’t just their first foray here up in this half of the country but their only other venue outside of the capital.
An otherwise well-established and popular chain down south, they have a total of 15 different bars in central London, but things clearly haven’t quite taken off as planned here in Manchester.
Placing a poster in the unit’s shopfront besides the likes of Be At One, Yours, The Moon Under The Water Spoons and the Deansgate branch of Slug and Lettuce, as you can see, the fellow franchise founded over a decade ago said: “After much consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our doors.
“It’s never easy to say goodbye”, they add, “We’re incredibly proud of what the team built here and so grateful to them, as well as everyone who joined us over the past year.
“We’ve had some unforgettable nights. We love Manchester, and we hope to be back under the right conditions.”
They go on to thank everyone for being “part of the journey”, but for now, it looks like the room has closed effective immediately.
Simmons started back in 2012 when founder Nick Campbell opened the first bar below his flat in Kings Cross, and their presence has grown hugely since then. The closing sign was spotted and shared on social media earlier this week.
Offering everything from stylish cocktails to New York-style pizza, live music and even private karaoke booths, the place had plenty going on.
With rising business rates, energy bills and more dovetailing with the continuing cost of living crisis that is still hampering both hospitality and the nightime economy, they are just one of many to unfortunately close their doors of late.
For instance, it was only earlier this month that we saw multiple well-known names shut up shop here in the city centre or elsewhere in Greater Manchester, including another long-standing late-night favourite, Revolution.
It’s a shame for any business to close, and we certainly hope they’ll return someday with a model that can be sustained in the current climate.
The Manc -
14th December 2020 
