KuKu Connect, a business membership service that connects businesses and entrepreneurs from across the East Midlands, has posted its 60th business-focussed daily update video bulletin whilst simultaneously helping thousands of businesses from across the East Midlands stay in touch during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Stephen Goddard and Philip Brooks-Stephenson, KuKu Connect co-founders, said: “During Covid-19 businesses have clearly not been able to physically meet up and network, but at KuKu Connect we felt that it was vital to keep businesses talking and connecting.

“To that end we immediately began offering free support to any business, not just our members, using the power of digital connecting and our audience platforms to help all businesses during this time of crisis.

“To date we have connected approximately 5,000 businesses together during COVID-19 and whist our own business is on pause and we made the decision to stop Members payments to support those experiencing financial hardship, we are delighted to be able to help other businesses still do business, make connections and develop relationships.

“Part of our activity has been our Carry on KuKu daily video bulletins and we are thrilled to announce that we have now passed the sixty mark with our daily episodes. These have been hugely well received and the feedback has been phenomenal.”

The Carry on KuKu daily video bulletin offers viewers business tips and advice as well as promotes different businesses whilst giving shout-outs for businesses and charities who are supporting each other and / or the NHS during COVID-19.

Added Philip: “We do have some fun with it too, of course. We choose a daily song with which to keep up motivation and positivity and our catch phrase for the Carry on KuKu bulletins is ‘Carry on Going, Carry on Smiling and Carry on Connecting’.

“I think it’s fair to say that we’ve taken our inspiration from both the Great British spirit of pulling together and the Carry On films so a little bit of humour mixed into our bulletins seemed only right.”

Using this shout-out service KuKu Connect has also helped to raise over £1,000 for the NHS, which was used to donate more than 700 PPE visors to nursing and care homes.

Tim Moss, director 200 Degrees Coffee with outlets across the Midlands, said: “The pandemic has hit all businesses hard and whilst many of us have tried to be resilient and strong, KuKu Connect has been there to support 200 Degrees Coffee and businesses all over Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands.

“Without any prompt KuKu, who have been just as affected, went out of their way to send out daily video messages of support, advice, news and opportunities in what for many is a really dark time in business.

“KuKu has promoted businesses and venues, many of whom they have no previous contact or relationship with, being there to support any business without asking for a penny.

“They have helped kept our brand present and promoted 200 Degrees Coffee as one of the hundreds of businesses who have benefitted from their support, much of which KuKu have undertaken quietly in the background, as a welcomed and unexpected surprise to local businesses and venues, giving businesses a reach to thousands of other business people across the Midlands, which is a really effective platform to be featured within.

“KuKu Connect is already well-known and respected as a caring and supportive connector of business people and as a networking organisation, but the pandemic has shown some truly inspirational and selfless efforts of which KuKu Connect is a star amongst many here in Nottingham and all over the region. KuKu Connect always tell us that 200 Degrees is their favourite coffee, so we look forward to connecting with them again soon at 200 Degrees, ‘Carry on KuKu!”

“Businesses of all shapes and sizes have had to be extremely creative during this time,” say Stephen and Philip.

“KuKu Connect continues to respond by offering online business networking with a difference – the KuKu Cocktail Hour – which is live broadcast over Facebook and where we dress up in Black Tie, cocktail in hand and connect, introduce and promote businesses who join the live feed, as well as promote some of the positive news, tips, advice and support offers that have come through from businesses.

“These take place twice monthly on Wednesday’s at 5pm, the next one being held on the 24th June and they are totally free and open to any business or community organisation from across the region.

“We have also been sharing news submitted to us by businesses across our social media channels and have set up new channels to support businesses through this time including a new Facebook group called KuKu Connect Corona and LinkedIn group called KuKu Connect.

“We are genuinely here to help and invite any business to join us without charge. We’re here to help all businesses keep doing business and one thing I will absolutely promise you is that our activity, however you engage with it, will definitely have our very distinctive KuKu Connect flavour to it!”

Pictured are Stephen Goddard and Philip Brooks-Stephenson.