Member Article

Find a way to let more businesses open up, Chamber urges Government

Business leaders in Coventry and Warwickshire have challenged Government to find a way of allowing more businesses to open up after it was announced that the region will remain under Tier 3 restrictions.

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said the latest decision by Government had come as no surprise but that firms – especially in events, tourism and hospitality – needed to be given an opportunity to trade if they have made themselves Covid-19 secure.

She said: “While we were all hoping to move to Tier 2, this decision hasn’t really taken anyone by surprise.

“We have stated since the very beginning of the crisis that health must come first and while the vaccine has given us all hope of return to normality, businesses will struggle to survive if they are dormant for the next few months.

“They need the opportunity to trade and, if they can provide evidence that they are Covid secure, there has to be a way of allowing them to open in some capacity. That is the challenge for Government.

“On top of that, businesses are going to need further support through to the end of the crisis and beyond. It simply won’t be possible for them to reopen and everything return to normal. The recovery is going to need nurturing after such a lengthy and deep crisis.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .