Like so many in the hospitality and leisure industry, Walker & Williams, a Preston hospitality business, was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

Forced to close its doors to all except a small number of guests, the family-run hotelier turned to long-standing banking partner Lloyds Bank to secure a five-figure funding package to help support cashflow.

The funding allowed Walker & Williams to secure jobs for all of its 50 team members, while continuing to cater to key workers including service personnel and visiting court and Ministry of Defence staff.

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Meanwhile, in a bid to help its local community, the hotelier also launched a dedicated service at its headquarters in Preston to support vulnerable and elderly people who were unable to leave the house during lockdown.

And the service also saw hotel staff volunteering to pick up and deliver groceries, collect medicines and providing other forms of practical support to those in need.

Max Walker-Williams, founder and director at Walker & Williams, said: “There’s no doubt that the past twelve months have been some of the most difficult we’ve faced as a company, but we’re proud of how our teams have come together to continue providing the best service to our guests and additional support to our local community.

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“The support we received from Lloyds Bank allowed us to secure jobs and give our staff the peace of mind to continue meeting their commitments and looking after their families. And it has left us in a position where we can look ahead to the opening of all our sites with optimism.”

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