Besides India-based unicorns OYO and Ola offering support in the U.K., a host of firms from both nations have pivoted to deal with the impact of the pandemic.
As countries across the world continue to deal with the impact of Coronavirus, business communities in India and the U.K. are showing solidarity and collaborating in the effort to tackle the effects of the global pandemic.
From Bengaluru to London, there are many examples of companies from India and the U.K. that are adapting and innovating their business offering to support local communities across both regions in the fight against COVID-19.
While India and the U.K. have longstanding business and trade links, in the face of a global pandemic organisations big and small from both countries have shown resilience and come together to help each other.
With increasing pressure on both countries’ healthcare systems and its workers, Indian hotel chain OYO Rooms has moved quickly to open its doors to key workers in both the U.K. and India. In London and across other locations in the U.K., OYO is offering around 2,000 rooms for NHS staff and other key workers at a discounted rate. Similar offers have been applied by OYO in its home market, with over 1,000 rooms offered for people looking to self-quarantine or isolate in the Delhi region.
Bengaluru-based ride-hailing unicorn Ola Cabs also announced further support for key workers across cities in the U.K. and India, with the news that it will offer workers across NHS, St John’s Ambulance, police and the U.K. government 50% off their rides to and from work as they care for patients impacted by Covid-19. This follows the company’s recent launch in London in February this year. In India, Ola is offering mobility support for healthcare professionals and senior citizens and the company has also pledged to donate ₹20 crore in relief funds.
Simon Smith, Head of International, Ola UK, says the company is committed to helping the local communities it serves during these difficult times. “The NHS and key workers in the U.K. and India are an inspiration to us all and we are doing everything we can to make things easier for them. There is a great opportunity for global businesses to adapt their services to help their local communities and we will continue to do everything we can to support them.”
Further evidence of the close working relationship between the U.K. and India’s business communities in response to Coronavirus was seen recently when The High Commission of India in the U.K., in partnership with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), organised a virtual roundtable on Covid-19. The roundtable was aimed at giving a comprehensive overview of various support measures announced by the U.K. government and was attended by over 40 Indian business representatives across sectors like financial services, hospitality, healthcare, IT and IT services, trading, and business services.
At a national level, the U.K. and Indian governments last week announced a deal for India to export almost 3 million packets of paracetamol to Britain. The medicine will be distributed to leading U.K. supermarkets and retailers to support supply shortages.
Home to clusters of companies in areas such as artificial Intelligence, medtech, edtech, and fintech, the U.K. and India’s business communities have been quick to rise to the challenge. Other examples of companies pivoting across the regions include:
From India
From London
London & Partners, London’s international trade, investment and promotion agency, says business links between India and the U.K have always been strong, and is providing extra support at the time of the crisis.
“While the Coronavirus outbreak is challenging businesses all over the world, it’s been refreshing to see numerous examples of UK and Indian companies that are adapting and innovating to help communities across both regions. At London & Partners we are working closely with London’s businesses, and those in our networks across the world, to provide support and help where we can as we come together to respond to the current crisis,” the chief representative of London & Partners India, Hemin Bharucha, says.
Views are personal.
The author is Managing Director, International Markets, London & Partners.
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