A businessman who was a former chorister and Minster School pupil at Southwell has been nominated for three awards for his work during the coronavirus pandemic.

Philip Brooks-Stephenson is a co-founder of KuKu Connect, an innovative business networking service that has supported businesses and charities for free during the crisis, with Stephen Goddard, of Mansfield Woodhouse.

KuKu Connect has been nominated for the Best Business Awards’ Outstanding Support During Covid-19 category; the National Business Awards’ Pivot For Purpose Award, and the Global Business Excellence Awards’ Outstanding Support During Covid-19 category.

KuKu Connect’s Covid-19 support work and services were set-up in March for free to help its members, but were also opened up to any business or community organisation.

The company paused its members’ subscription payments to focus on supporting others, despite the impact on its own business viability.

Philip has been posting on social media and over LinkedIn for free. KuKu Connect also set-up several innovative free support services at the outset of the pandemic and its services have continued ever since.

They include Carry On KuKu video-bulletins, broadcast over social media, like a kitsch news show, giving out daily business tips, events, opportunities, business news and offers to help.

Philip also featured daily shout-outs for a range of individual businesses, venues and charity appeals, recording more than 100 videos from his kitchen, which has been turned into a mini-studio.

Another free service is KuKu Cocktail Hour, a networking event that uses Facebook Live.

Dressed in black tie, Stephen and Philip, connect businesses and charities together over virtual cocktails, offering something completely different to online networking events.

Philip commented: “I am really touched that KuKu Connect has been nominated for these prestigious awards, not just one, but with two national and one international awards nominations is just amazing.

“I have been so proud to support so many different organisations throughout the pandemic and we are still here supporting, but I am really looking forward to hosting our physical business networking Connect Reception events as soon as is safe to do so, as we know that face-to-face networking will always be more powerful for building great business relationships.

“The awards nominations were such a surprise it has really lifted our spirits in what has been such a drastic time for us and so many organisations. The power of social media and digital technology along with some ‘KuKu style’ creativeness has been immense in terms of keeping people connected and to carry on doing business.

“I know just how hard the pandemic has been personally, so we are now really looking forward to meeting many of the businesses we have helped in person through our KuKu Connect Receptions.”

For KuKu Cocktail Hour event details go to https://www.facebook.com/events/314697712976093

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