Taxi firm donates more than £5,000 to NHS in Sheffield

City Taxis is forwarding the amount raised from orders last weekend between Friday tea time and 6am on Monday.

The firm’s ‘City Grab’ app had a record 900 orders costing about £6 delivery each. It features 24 local companies that are still trading online despite most shops being closed due to lockdown.

Self-employed taxi drivers were still paid for their journeys and the sum came out of company coffers, bosses say.

Paul Gosney, business development director, said: “We just wanted to show our appreciation to the NHS. They are putting themselves on the line for us. If anyone gives us a chance of getting through this, it’s the people in the NHS.”

He added: “Thank you to everyone who placed an order with us over the weekend. They raised an amazing £5,415.40 in delivery fees.”

City Grab features convenience shops, restaurants, takeaways and food producers.

Mr Gosney said it had thrown a lifeline to companies such as Ranmoor Friery which was on the brink of shutting down when they spoke to proprietors. Since signing up they had never been busier and it had saved the company, he added.

It has been snapped up by taxi firms across the UK and Mr Gosney said he had been contacted by two in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia.

City Taxis is the biggest cab company in Sheffield with 1,500 drivers. Those working for City Grab are trained to carry out doorstep deliveries that meet social distancing rules, he added.