Enterprising pair are keeping links open between customers and businesses in Covid lockdown

The founders of the popular blog, the Buzz Hub Co, are using their digital expertise to help small businesses across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire stay in touch with their clients and customers in the face of the social distancing regulations imposed during the Covid lockdown.

Social media manager Katy Murray, who founded the Buzz Hub Co with photographer and web designer Matthew Bishop, said: “The lockdown has been devastating for small business.

“We are lucky to have many wonderful independent businesses in the Three Counties area, but without the access to customers to support business costs, their survival is in jeopardy.

“The Buzz Hub Co is able to play an important role to support businesses during lockdown, both in getting information out to the public in need, but also to support the many small businesses desperate to reach their customers with adapted services.

“Initial support came in the form of our social media platforms, which with a combined following of around 10,000, we use to share timely information from any business offering an adapted service.

“We created a blog-based list that identified local businesses offering delivered food services to support the vulnerable in isolation. “Finally, we developed a new page on our website - #SHOPLOCAL- to provide a place for any business still operating or offering adapted online services.

She added: “Social media and online platforms have never been more important and allow businesses to stay connected with their customers and the community to access vital support.

The Buzz Hub Co operates on social media platforms Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Its magazine-style website, designed by Matthew, won the Herts SME Award Website of the Year in 2018.

A place on the Buzz Hub Co’s #SHOPLOCAL page is currently free to existing members with a one-off low fee through Covid-19 of £10 for the remainder of the year to new members.