Business Responds To Go Ahead For July 19 Reopening

Responding to news that the full reopening of the economy will go ahead on July 19, Claire Walker, Co-Executive Director of the BCC, said:

“This is the news that firms across England have been waiting for and many will be sighing with relief to hear the Health Secretary finally give the green-light to reopening. 

“But they still don’t have  the full picture they desperately need to properly plan for unlocking.

“Business leaders aren’t public health experts and cannot be expected to know how best to operate when confusing and sometimes contradictory advice is coming from official sources.

“Without clear guidance there  could be real uncertainty on how companies should operate from July 19 and what they should be doing to keep staff and customers safe.  

“This could lead to an inconsistent approach with different businesses reopening at different times, and with different requirements, which could damage public confidence, give firms a huge logistical headache and create a real risk of the economic recovery splintering.” 

On the need for legal clarity, Walker said: 

“Firms have been told to make their own judgements on which COVID secure measures to keep and which to ditch. But they are not public health experts and guidance from Government is needed.

“In particular, the government must give clarity on the  issues of  employment law, health and safety requirements  and liability. Firms  need to know what will happen if they remove some, or all, COVID-safety measures  and then have a large  outbreak linked to their premises.”

On changes to the self-isolation  rules, Walker said:

“We are already seeing issues for businesses related to staff having to self-isolate and some of our members are struggling to stay open as a result.  

“Instances of self-isolation will almost certainly continue to rise between now and the change set for 16 August, so firms need to know if there are any plans to help them cope in the intervening period.” 

 On working from home, Walker said:

“With so many businesses already experiencing staff shortages, due to employees contracting COVID or being forced to self-isolate, many will likely take a cautious approach even with the government giving the green-light for the return to the office. Our research shows many businesses are planning to keep at least some staff working remotely for the next year. But the capability to do this varies greatly across business types, so it won’t be an option for everyone.”

On vaccine certification, Walker added: 

“If the  government  is encouraging some businesses to use a form of domestic  COVID certification  then it should immediately set out the  rationale  for the system and say which  sectors  will be included. BCC research shows  most  firms had previously no plans to use certificates. If  they are being asked to use  such a scheme  then Government must set out exactly how it will work,  including what this means for the  issues of  employment law and liability.”

On  contingency  plans for the future, Walker said:

“Our  research shows that  almost two  in five businesses cite concerns about  possible future  lockdowns as a barrier to  restarting or returning to pre-pandemic levels. This rises to 50% for business-to-consumer facing firms such as hospitality and retail.    

“To give firms the confidence to fully reopen the Government  must  set out contingency plans for  any  future virus response, the  circumstances  under which they  would  be used, and the support it would  provide  businesses  impacted.”

Matthew Fell, CBI Chief UK Policy Director, said:

“With the economy in England fully reopen soon, we’re now entering a brand-new phase to the pandemic: living with the virus.

“The Government has rightly set out the terms of how we do this in a way that is practical, pragmatic and easy to follow. Instilling a sense of confidence in the plan for businesses and the public will be critical to success.

“It makes sense that the order to work from home if possible is removed at this stage. “The reality is that many firms are well-advanced in their plans and are proceeding with hybrid working models, just as the Government advises. It’s up to employers to engage positively with their staff to shape the unique new way of working every business needs to consider.

“It is now mission critical that the Government, with the support of business, does all it can to build confidence in the reopening.

“Part of that is evolving the test and trace system to be fit for purpose in this new phase. That means minimising the need for self-isolation, introducing a test and release scheme swiftly and making it that bit easier for people, especially those who are double jabbed, to go about their business.

“The Government can play a pivotal role in setting new norms, starting with fresh workplace guidance, encouraging the use of public transport and continuing support for workplace testing.”