Like all cities, the businesses of Coventry were hit hard when lockdown was imposed.
Trish Willetts heads up Coventry Business Improvement District (BID) aiming to promote, develop and boost the city and the businesses that are based there. In such uncertain times - Trish explains what help and encouragement is available, and how she's fighting hard for her city ahead of next year when it's the UK City of Culture for 2021.
You can contact Trish through coventry BID at coventrycitycentre.co.uk/about-the-bid

When lockdown was announced, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, unveiled a series of measures to help the economy - leaving accountants all over the country to take a series of panicked calls from their clients.
Daniel Edwards who runs D&K Accounting talks to Mark Ryes about the packages on offer, and how lockdown has affected his business.
You can contact Daniel via www.dkaccs.co.uk

Kevin Pierce is an independent whole-of-market mortgage advisor running his own business Mortgage Base. When lockdown hit, and the mortgage companies were busy dealing with mortgage holidays for existing clients, organising loans for new customers and first time buyers became increasingly difficult - not to mention people can't go and view houses! Kevin joins Mark Ryes to talk about how the mortgage business has been affected, and shares his thoughts on the housing market going forward.
You can contact Kevin via www.mortgagebase.co.uk

If you're a business owner who'd like to appear on Surviving Lockdown just email [email protected]

For the last 4 years Louise Bell has owned and managed Bell4Business, a company specialising in outsourced tasks like Social Media Management, Book-keeping, Debtor chasing and telephone answering. She's also just launched a brand new business too - but with lockdown hitting - Louise tells Mark Ryes how it's affected her expansion plan.
You can contact Louise at www.bell4business.co.uk

Phill Xavier, a former murder detective, runs Xscape Health and Fitness in Manchester with his husband. Before lockdown they were based mostly in gyms along with some personal fitness training in clients' homes. As Phill tells Mark Ryes, when covid-19 hit China, his ability to sense what was coming put him ahead of the game when lockdown hit.
You can contact Phil via www.xscapehealthandfitness.uk

Kevin Urquhart is one half of the PR and Publishing company, Fraser Urquhart Media – aka FU Media. He's launched the iconic SIXTY9 magazine and other luxury magazines within the Midlands  He's proud to have worked with some of the biggest and most influential brands in the world – including Rolex, Jaguar Land Rover, Selfridges, Paul Smith and many more. He joins Mark to talk about the challenges of the PR and publishing world under Lockdown.
You can contact Kevin through the website at www.fu-media.co.uk

Adam Winfield runs a photography business with a stong emphasis on using images for marketing, especially in real estate. When covid-19 hit, he saw bookings literally fall away but for this entrepreneur he knew he had to adapt. He chats to Mark about developing new ways of working whilst preparing for lockdown to be lifted.
You can contact Adam via www.through-the-lens.co.uk

For the Events Industry - Neil Thompson is a name that brings experience and the chance for professionals to get together. He runs The Delegate Wranglers a website and Facebook forum which sets out to solve the conundrums of the events industry by bringing people together. With lockdown - the industry is practically paralysed - but as Neil explains, it's a great time to take stock and plan for the future.
You can contact Neil at www.thedelegatewranglers.com

As the founder of London's thriving boutique voice agency, Chatterbox Voices, Camilla Laxton understands the changing ways of the media industry - but when covid-19 hit, production around the country slowed, stuttered and tried to find it's voice again. Keeping up with the changing needs of producers is what she does best, and here, Camilla chats to Mark Ryes about the challenges of running a London agency in Lockdown.
You can contact Camilla at www.chatterboxvoices.co.uk

Brian Richmond is a fitness professional of more than twenty years, running classes in London gyms and face-to-face personal training. When the gyms closed, and 1-2-1 training was no longer an option - Brian had to think of new ways for his business to survive, and even become international. Here he talks to Mark about the challenges of bringing fitness into a online environment.
You can contact Brian via [email protected]