An award-winning Mansfield business says a NatWest loan will help to keep it going during the coronavirus crisis.

Hall-Fast Industrial Supplies has secured a six-figure coronavirus business interruption loan after it was hit by the closure of much of the industrial sector. It supplies industrial and construction sector equipment.

Managing director Malcolm Hall said: “We are resilient business. The funding from NatWest enables us to keep going and supply much-needed kit to frontline workers.

“Without the loan we probably wouldn’t survive.”

The business is still stocking and supplying PPE items for frontline services. Its trade shop is currently closed but it is delivering to customers and offering a pick-up option within social distance guidelines.

Malcolm, who has helped his business to receive export awards, added: “We opened the business just before the recession.

“We were able to navigate our way through that period and diversified the business to the point where we are doing more exporting.

“Unfortunately, we had a problem with our website a few years back and couldn’t do any trading but, again, we got through that period.”

Graeme Michael, relationship manager at NatWest, added: “We were delighted to support Malcolm and Hall-Fast with this funding which will sustain the business over this challenging period.”