A HEREFORDSHIRE firm which kept a vital NHS role running during the coronavirus pandemic has thrown its support behind a Hereford Times campaign.

As lockdown eases, Whitestone based national payments specialist allpay Limited wants to inspire other county companies to back the Love Local Business campaign from the Hereford Times. The new initiative aims to help firms bounce back from the difficulties caused by the coronavirus crisis.

READ MORE: How to get a free shout-out for your business

But for allpay, it has continued to work with NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) – which provides a range of critical central services to NHS organisations, NHS contractors, patients and the public – throughout the pandemic, said allpay owner Tony Killeen.

With the NHS assigning resources to the Covid-19 frontline, allpay kept the NHS prescription pre-payment running – a system that offers a set price for prescriptions over specific periods no matter how many a patient might need.

The company's comprehensive response earned a personal thank you from NHSBSA CEO Michael Brodie who, in an email, wrote: "It's an absolute pleasure seeing organisations work together towards a shared purpose and supporting each other collaboratively.  Thanks for all that you are doing to help us maintain our key functions."

Another key Covid-19 operation had allpay moving vital support funds from Government to councils and businesses across the country.

Over the course of two days, allpay transferred £14bn to councils and businesses from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

"It's so good to see the Hereford Times backing local business as the county moves out of Covid-19," Mr Killeen added

"We hope that by sharing our story with the Hereford Times, other businesses will be inspired to share their stories – showing what this county is capable of in coming through unprecedented times."