Emergency rescue for Sheffield Chamber staff

Staff at Sheffield Chamber of Commerce had to be airlifted to safety – and performed an emergency rescue of their own – after flooding in the city engulfed the Chamber’s headquarters at Albion House on Savile Street.

Employees had been instructed to evacuate the building at 2.30pm on Monday 25 June but within 15 minutes water was over the front step and rising rapidly leaving around 10 members of staff trapped.

It was considered too dangerous to leave the building on foot so the trapped employees decided to lock the front doors and wait inside until the worst of the flooding was over. At this point the staff noticed a man who had been forced to abandon his car struggling in the force of the water in Savile Street.

Chamber director Stephen Mitchell said: “The water was flowing very, very fast and he was in danger of losing his footing.

“Mandip Dosanjh, the enterprise manager with Sheffield Enterprise Agency, John Hall, one of our international trade advisors and I got one of the flag poles from the display at our international trade centre and some rope, went out on the fire escape and pulled him to safety.”

By this time the water level in the ground floor offices had reached about a foot high so the staff and the rescued man headed to the second floor to avoid the flood.

Helicopters arrived at 9.15pm.

“The helicopters winched us from the top of the building and took us to a variety of safe places where we were able to make it home,” said Mr Mitchell.

“We cannot thank the emergency services enough for their help.”

The offices sustained serious damage in the disaster. The cost of damage and loss of business will run to six figures.

The South Yorkshire International Trade Centre and Business Link offices were also badly affected by the floods.

Just days after the drama the president of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce Paul Jagger announced that Sheffield was back ‘open for business’.

He made the comments to Chamber staff at a special briefing meeting ahead of their return to the flood damaged offices aimed at explaining how they would play a key role in helping the city’s business community recover from the impact of the floods.

“My main message to you all and the rest of the business community is: Sheffield is open for business,” he said.

Chief executive Nigel Tomlinson said: “We will be helping all businesses not just Chamber members. We have suspended some of our commercial activities to focus on supporting businesses which need the help the most.

“The main areas we will try to advise businesses on will be clean-up, cash flow and insurance.”

Chamber members of staff are involved in a business helpline which has been set up as a central point of advice and assistance for businesses suffering due to the floods.

The helpline – 0800 915 6913 – will offer advice and information to Sheffield businesses of all sizes and sectors which have been affected by flooding.

Mr Tomlinson added: “The helpline will be vital to the Sheffield business community in the coming days and weeks.

“We have had many offers of help from our own members as a result of our headquarters being out of action because of the floods. We can help them now and are delighted to be fully involved with this scheme to provide effective partnership help and support to business victims of the flood.”

For up to date information visit the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce website at www.scci.org.uk