Business

Manchester business launches game-changing COVID management software

Manchester businesses are desperately trying to get back on their feet. HELIIX by REVIV is designed to help them do exactly that.

The Manc The Manc - 14th December 2020
Sarah Lomas, Hellix by Reviv

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. 

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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. 

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.

Learn more about the brand new system online.

Business

Everything you need to know about Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget 2022

Danny Jones Danny Jones Chancellor mini-budget summary

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng, has delivered his 2022 mini-budget in an attempt to address concerns surrounding the ongoing cost of living crisis.

While significant tax cuts were already predicted ahead of the crucial economic update, many people across the country may have been surprised by the sheer extent of measures announced by the chancellor across the board.

Energy

Addressing the subjects on everyone’s mind early on, Kwarteng stated that the annual price of energy for UK households will now be limited to £2,500, resulting in savings of around £1,000 against the projected figures following the most recent energy cap.

He also confirmed that the £400 energy discount is still in place, with the most vulnerable homes receiving even more in government support. Some are less than convinced that any real ‘savings’ will be made.

Earlier this week, the government announced that they would be halving energy bills for businesses over the next six months. Today he confirmed that a relief scheme will be put in place, as well as an “energy market finance scheme” which will offer liquidity to traders.

Similar relief will be afforded to schools and charities.

Lending and inflation

The hope is that this overall energy plan will reduce inflation, which currently sits at 9.9% based on August’s figures, to 5% and see the trending rate of annual financial growth to 2.5%.

Not only does the government believes this will lower the wider cost of living pressures but also free up finances to help better fund public services.

The overall energy relief package is said to be costing approximately £60 billion, meaning a significant amount will have to be borrowed from the Bank of England.

Bankers’ bonuses cap and corporation tax hike scrapped

On the subject of banks, one of the most controversial parts of the Kwasi Kwarteng’s update was the announcement that the cap on bankers’ bonuses will be scrapped entirely, arguing that previous measures only led to higher wages and people paying tax in other countries outside of the UK.

Next year’s scheduled corporation tax increase from 19% to 25% is also going to be scrapped, the rationale being that “low tax encourages investment” both domestically and from overseas.

Once again, people are less than impressed that the nation’s highest-earners appear to be the ones benefiting the most from government policy.

Removing red tape

The chancellor also said that the government are committed to removing further enterprise barriers caused by EU regulation, hoping to streamline “planning restrictions” across childcare, immigration, agricultural productivity, and digital infrastructure.

He sighted energy, telecoms and travel as key problem areas hamstrung by red tape.

However, he conversely criticised the ongoing strike action across the country and said that they plan to imitate other countries by introducing legislation to ensure minimum level service resumes.

Tax cuts

Elsewhere, businesses in nearly 40 different ‘designated zones’ have been promised tax cuts for the next 10 years and no stamp duty on new premises. Speaking of which, as of today, no payment will be required on the first £250,000 of a property’s value, with first-time buyers paying zero on the first £425,000.

In fact, it looks as though the overall tax system is set to be reviewed once again. Not only are previous corporation tax and stamp duty plans being scrapped but income tax, alcohol duty and more are all being reexamined as part of the not-so mini-budget.

Alcohol duty is set to be frozen in February, meaning that Brits can expect to save around 7p per pint, 38p per bottle of wine and £1.35 on spirits. VAT-free shopping is also due to be introduced for overseas visitors, with aim of increasing revenue from tourism.

Kwarteng also confirmed that the basic rate of income tax will be cut by 1p to 19p from April 2023, with the 45p tax rate for those earning over £150,000 will be abolished from the same time next year.

This is said to be the biggest series of tax cuts in 50 years.

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A wary winter

Despite the ‘real’ living wage being increased by 10% in an attempt to try and curb rising costs in almost every other walk of life, it goes without saying that the UK faces an extremely difficult period ahead as energy costs continue to rise, post-Brexit prices keep rising and we approach the ever expensive winter months.

The shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves told the Financial Times that regardless of the measures announced today, both the mini-budget and Liz Truss’ appointment as Prime Minister represents “another zigzag on a path of policy failure” rather than any real sign of change.

Featured Image – Flickr @ Policy Exchange

Business

Bolton Wanderers to rename the University of Bolton Stadium

Danny Jones Danny Jones Bolton Wanderers to rename UniBol Stadium

Bolton Wanderers have announced that they are poised to change the name of their stadium for the third time in eight years with the help of consultants, Sporting Group International.

The Trotters will be enlisting the help of the Birmingham-based commercial partnerships and recruitment specialist to search for a new naming rights deal as the University of Bolton‘s contract is set to expire.

Colloquially known as the UniBol Stadium since 2018, Bolton’s home had previously been under the moniker of Italian sports brand and current kit sponsor Macron. However, for many, the Greater Manchester ground has always been synonymous with the Reebok Stadium despite their deal ending in 2014.

Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Credit: Flickr @Reading Tom
Bolton’s previous stadium partners

Nevertheless, Sporting Group International (SGI) is being charged with finding a new stadium partner to whack their name on the front of the 28,732-seater stadium, as reported by Bolton News.

Bolton moved from their original Burnden Park home back in 1997, where they had played their home games since 1895. The ground was the site of the infamous 1946 crush and was also featured in a famous Lowry painting now due to be sold next month.

The club nearly disappeared entirely when it fell into insolvency along with Bury FC back in 2019 and has been looking to find stability ever since.

While the latter was ultimately expelled from the EFL in 2019 and the supporters’ trust had to purchase their Gigg Lane stadium and trading rights to bring it out of administration – with phoenix club Bury AFC also sprouting from the historic team – Bolton was saved in the eleventh hour by outside investment.

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Purchased by Football Ventures just before the deadline, Bolton Wanderers look like they might be starting to find their feet again, having gone from fielding a team featuring 14 and 15-year-olds to sitting fifth in League Two after nine games.

The club’s chief executive Neil Hart said in a statement: “[SGI] has worked with multiple global brands and we see this as an excellent opportunity to work together on the new naming rights agreement for the stadium and securing an excellent new partnership for the club.”

As for SGI themselves, the organisation said they are excited to be working with “one of the finest UK football venues outside of the Premier League”, which hosted everything from Elton John, Coldplay and Oasis concerts to England’s upcoming Rugby World Cup fixtures in October.

Featured Image – Bolton Wanderers FC

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