The shutting down of vast swathes of the economy to protect the NHS amid the Coronavirus pandemic has thrown up some of the most profound challenges business has ever faced.

But through innovation and dynamism, many of our firms have pivoted to respond to the crisis. Many of them have done so in ways they might never have thought possible.

Some have still found success despite the ongoing economic uncertainty, while others have come up with new solutions for sectors well beyond their core market.

Here we take a look at the Business Wales AGP companies which are managing to flourish despite the ongoing crisis.

Bond Digital Health wins equity funding to help fight Covid-19
Health tech firm Bond Digital Health has won a massive investment to aid its development of testing technology for Covid-19. The Cardiff-based firm – which is part of an international consortium producing a diagnostic test for patients suspected of having Covid-19 – quickly secured £700,000 in equity funding through Wealth Club and the Development Bank of Wales. The consortium was set up by Canadian venture Sona Nanotech. Bond's medical-grade technology, which captures and analyses data from diagnostic stick tests, is a crucial part of the consortium's efforts to provide improved diagnostic testing.

 

Business Butler's chatbot helps struggling business through the crisis
Swansea business resource service Business Butler launched a chatbot to aid struggling businesses through the crisis. Boris the chatbot gives daily updates and advice on funding and support for businesses of all sizes. The chatbot asks questions about the company and its location and signposts users to sources of further information and support.

 

Hensol Castle Distillery supplies handwash to NHS
This young business was established last August by founder Andy Mallows. He could never have envisaged that less than a year on, his company would be a key supplier in the fight against a deadly pandemic. The craft gin firm, based in Hensol in the Vale of Glamorgan, has pivoted its output to manufacture 800,000 litres of hand sanitiser for the NHS and care sector – overcoming supply-side issues including PET bottles and glycerol, the cost of both of which has shot up through the pandemic.

 

Simply Do innovates to help coordinate vital supplies response to Covid-19 crisis
Technology firm Simply Do has developed an online portal with Life Sciences Hub Wales for the health services sector to deliver offers for NHS Wales. The portal aims to make NHS procurement of critical supplies more efficient and faster at this crucial time. The portal identifies businesses with the potential to supply items on NHS Wales' critical products list. It also allows companies to register contact details, business information, product information and upload relevant evidence of product regulatory compliance. 

 

Transcend Packaging
Ystrad Mynach-based sustainable packaging manufacturer, Transcend Packaging is helping remove millions of plastic straws from the market and reducing plastic waste with its paper straws, supplied to, among others, McDonald's. But the crisis has seen the company use its expertise to produce face shields for NHS Wales workers, as well as other frontline workers in key industries. 


You can find further information on Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme (AGP)

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