Helping local businesses survive to thrive with free COVID-19 guides
The impacts of COVID-19 hit Newcastle small to medium businesses hard, so we hit back fast with HelpHunter.com.au
Social distancing and lockdowns can easily devastate a small business. Financial assistance from the government is certainly welcome. But advice and planning is needed to make sure businesses remain viable during the restrictions and can think ahead to be in a good position to scale back up quickly when the time is right.
Local knowledge crucial for helping local business
The best people to help Hunter businesses are other locals, so we coordinated a ‘care collective’ of passionate Newcastle businesses – HelpHunter. Each has a specific area of expertise (click to learn more):
- Skildare – human resources
- Life Matters Psychologists – mental health and wellbeing
- Monica Claire Recruitment – recruitment
- Purser Corporate Communications – communications and PR
- Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors – legal services
- Lambourne Partners – business and wealth advice
- Out of the Square – creative and marketing
These longstanding businesses are each run by well-respected locals. They’d demonstrated their passion for the region and it’s success long before this all went down. By pooling their knowledge, their goal is to make life easier for all and ensure as many businesses as possible stay afloat.
We designed, developed and built the HelpHunter website in record time to host all this information. We also produced awareness and explainer videos, online and press advertisements, social posts and media releases to boost its profile.
Supporting the supporters
Getting the word out that the HelpHunter site and resources are available is just as important. Again, locals to the rescue. The Newcastle Herald and Hunter Business Review both supported the initiative with feature articles and advertisements. The Newcastle Business Club and Hunter Business Chamber came on board, providing further advice and reference links and raising awareness with their members.
Social media, particularly Facebook and LinkedIn, also played a strong role, with links to the site and articles shared hundreds of times. Comments of support flow in from relieved business owners, business customers and well-wishers.
COVID-19 business support remains ongoing as the situation develops. The latest information indicates there will be no sudden snap-back to old ways. New regulations and protocols mean businesses need to reassess and adapt constantly. Unfortunately, HelpHunter is going to be a necessary resource for a while.
Do you need assistance? Don’t be afraid to reach out: