IKEA LEAVES LIFE-SAVING LEGACY TO COVENTRY’S INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES

The team at IKEA has kindly donated a defibrillator to the Coventry BID team, meaning the city’s independent businesses can now have access to the life-saving equipment, should it ever be needed.

Although there are currently 10 defibrillators dotted around the city, the gesture from IKEA Coventry will allow the BID team – two of whom are fully trained in using a defibrillator – to offer use of the equipment to any of their businesses who don’t currently have access to one. At a time when there are so many changes to adapt to, this will provide some additional reassurance to both business owners and customers alike.

Nadeem Yousaf, Store Manager at IKEA Coventry, said: “We are delighted to be able to donate a defibrillator, that was previously part of our store, to the Coventry BID team. Throughout my time at IKEA Coventry, I have worked closely with Trish and wanted to ensure that we did the best we possibly could for the city before we leave, as our way of saying thank you.”

Trish Willetts, BID Director, added: “We are of course incredibly sad to see Nadeem and the IKEA team leave our great city, but through their kind gesture they are continuing to play a part in Coventry via the legacy of donating this vital piece of equipment.

“Having the defibrillator will enable a swifter and more effective response to incidents, giving those involved the best outcome possible and the wider community more confidence in Coventry city centre, safe in the knowledge that whoever you are, you will be looked after here.”

An announcement was made earlier this year that the Coventry IKEA store would be closing in Summer 2020, but this was brought forward due to COVID-19, when all retail outlets were told to close in March. The majority of its 325 staff have been offered alternative employment, with more than a quarter being re-deployed into other Coventry city centre businesses.

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