A TEESSIDE business which employs 15 people was one of the first in the country to receive a government coronavirus support loan.

HTES Ltd, which specialises in training and assessment services to engineering and construction industries, said it had seen a 'significant drop' in sales following the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Hartlepool-based firm had applied for the coronavirus business interruption loan after company director Brian Goodlad said sales had dropped by 75 percent as a result.

But confirming HTES had been one of the first to get the loan, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said he was "pleased" that emergency loans had started to arrive.

He said: “Businesses across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool are facing unprecedented uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic, but I am pleased that these emergency loans are starting to arrive to businesses in my region.

"It is important in this time of national crisis that firms in every corner of the country get the valuable support they need, and fast.

“The government has really stepped up to the plate when it comes to support for small and medium sized businesses.

"This is a really difficult time for everyone and people are understandably concerned, but the support is available to help firms get through this pandemic with as minimal impact as possible."

Brian Goodlad, director of HTES said: “We have seen a significant drop in sales following the start of the coronavirus outbreak.

"The support provided by Business Enterprise Fund provides a boost to our cashflow which ensures certainty and stability in very difficult circumstances.

“It is an important lifeline that will help us survive and safeguard 15 full and part-time jobs.”

It comes as Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed more than £90 million of loans to nearly 1,000 small and medium sized firms had been approved under the government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme since launching last week.

Today, The Northern Echo was told employers had claimed for 67,000 jobs in just 30 minutes of the new furlough scheme going live online.