The Yorkshire theme park faces an uncertain future after struggling financially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The forced closure of the attraction has increased financial pressure on the park, missing out on a large chunk of the busiest season of the year already. As Income disappeared overnight, the need for staff to look after the 1,200 animals on-site remained. Flamingo Land employs more than 700 people at the peak of the season and is known as a major employer locally.
Now though, a brighter future looks to be on the horizon for the park, after receiving support from Barclays through the Government-backed Coronavirus Business interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) allowing them to continue trading throughout the crisis.
Gordon Gibb, CEO of Flamingo Land said: “Prior to Covid-19 we were growing year on year and reinvesting our profits back into the business to expand our core services, support our workforce and deliver on our environmental commitments. With more than one and a half million visitors coming throughout gates each year, the Covid-19 lockdown saw immediate and widespread business interruption across all of our core business units. The support we have received from Barclays to access a CBIL loan in a matter of weeks has been a lifeline to ensure we have sufficient working capital throughout this uncertain period.”
The confirmation of the loan is also good news for the welfare of the animals of the park, “Although we are temporarily closed to visitors, many of our dedicated team of keepers have remained on-site to care for our 1,200 animals,” confirmed Gordon.
The loan has helped to bolster Flamingo Land’s diminished cash flow throughout this uncertain period, helping to support day-to-day expenditure. Oliver Whitehurst, Barclays Relationship Director put together the funding packages and said, “Covid-19 caused immediate business interruption to Flamingo Land’s operations and saw revenues fall overnight. I’m delighted that Barclays was able to step in to support Gordon and the team to access a CBILs loan within a two-week period. Ensuring we continue to back UK businesses like Flamingo Land through Covid-19 and beyond will be vital to kick-start the local economic growth and to support the UK’s recovery post-COVID-19 and beyond.”
