A sports and health supplement business has increased its stock levels and boosted its cash flow to meet increased demand throughout the coronavirus crisis thanks to funding from banking-giant HSBC.

Staffordshire-based Biobrade, which is run by former international athlete Clifton Bradeley, saw the orthotics side of its business come to a halt as a result of the pandemic, which solely funded the manufacturing side of its health supplements, a separate part of the business.

But now the Cellarhead company has secured an increased overdraft facility with HSBC UK from £70,000 to £100,000.

The cash boost will ensure Biobrade can facilitate its increasing number of online orders for health supplements.

CEO Clifton Bradeley – who also runs the podiatry and biomechanics Sub-4 practices in Cellarhead and Newcastle-under-Lyme – said: “The Covid-19 crisis means we’ve had to freeze our orthotics arm of the business, which in turn would have seen a stop to our supplement manufacturing, despite a high number of online health supplement orders since the start of the outbreak.

“Thanks to HSBC UK’s support, we have been able to continue our supplement manufacturing and fulfil these orders.”

Biobrade specialises in a range of vitamins, minerals and supplements that meet the needs of anyone who wants to maintain ‘maximum health’.

The company has implemented the Government’s furlough scheme for three members of staff in the orthotics team, with six remaining in the manufacturing facility to produce its supplements.

The cash boost from HSBC is part of a host of new measures introduced by the bank to support businesses throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

This includes £5 billion being allocated to help businesses that need support and removing the £100 Small Business Loan fee as well as stopping unauthorised overdraft charges and the offer of payment holidays for business who need to free up some cash.

Melissa Orpe, relationship manager at HSBC UK said: “Biobrade has seen such high demand for health supplements in recent weeks, and we were more than happy to increase its overdraft facility to help ensure the business is able to fulfil its online orders, getting health supplements in people’s hands across Britain.”