ONE of the £100,000 loans available to businesses affected by coronavirus has been awarded to an Altrincham outfit.

Consensus Workplace, a commercial interior design specialist based in The Downs, is set to benefit from CBILS (Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme) assistance.

Working with GC Business Finance, the regional lender accredited to deliver the emergency government funding as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

Only formed last September, the firm, which also delivers fit-outs, had seen strong growth before the Covid-19 outbreak and had seen cashflow disrupted.

According to GC, the venture had faced difficulties securing lending from a bank and made an approach.

Andrew Plastow, a director at Consensus Workspace, said: “In normal circumstances, we operate a profitable business and are set to return to doing so once the current pandemic subsides.

"But the implications on our cashflow were clearly concerning. We approached GC Business Finance having struggled to confirm short-term funding with our own business bank. I was amazed at the speed of the response, communication and decision-making, which came within 24 hours of us returning all the information required.

"GC Business Finance has really delivered on the promises from the Government to help us as a successful but disrupted small business. The loan is critical to protecting our future growth and ensuring we will be able to immediately mobilise as soon as restrictions are lifted.”

Andy Nichols, senior loan manager at GC Business Finance said: “(This) is a well-run and profitable business with real potential which has, like so many others, been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are proud to provide this funding for the business under NPIF and the Government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme, which will put it in good stead for when we return to business as usual.

"We are committed to helping businesses survive the sudden changes the coronavirus brings and prepare them to drive forward and grow as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Sue Barnard, senior manager at British Business Bank, added: “It is good to see the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund working alongside CBILS to support companies in these challenging times.

"We are pleased by the response of our NPIF fund managers during the Covid-19 outbreak. They are coming together to adapt and respond to the needs of businesses under extraordinary circumstances."

The scheme can offer banking facilities of up to £5million experiencing lost or deferred revenues due to the crisis.