‘The hearts of businesses are being ripped out’
ENTREPRENEUR FRAN BISHOP BLAMES THE GOVERNMENT FOR ‘CONFUSION’ OVER RESTRICTIONS
THE difficult reality of operating a business in Tier 3 has become “crystal clear” this week, a Nottinghamshire entrepreneur has said.
Former Apprentice star Fran Bishop owns children’s clothing company The Pud Store and has spoken out in support of small businesses who are struggling with reduced footfall and uncertainty over how long restrictions are going to last.
She has stores in Mansfield and Doncaster (which is currently in Tier 3) as well as a store Newark - which is currently closed - and says the impact of Tier 3 on the high street is “demoralising” and many businesses will not be able to cope.
Mansfield and Newark are both to be placed into Tier 3 on Friday, along with the rest of Nottinghamshire.
The measures will come in from one minute past midnight on Friday (October 30) as Covid-19 cases rise across the county.
It means the initial plan to move just Nottingham, Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe into the Tier 3 restrictions has been delayed by 24 hours, with Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, Ashfield and Bassetlaw now set to follow suit.
It follows talks between council bosses in North Nottinghamshire and the Government on yesterday morning, with ministers delaying their initial plans to factor in spikes across the northern districts.
Speaking to the Post about the impact the strictest of tiers is having and will have on business, Fran said: “Usually I’m the most optimistic person there is - but it’s so demoralising to watch a space which is usually full of such joy and laughter stand empty.
“I don’t feel like there is an endgame at all with this and the communication has been terrible.
“Hospitality and retail are intertwined. People don’t just pop to the high street now, they go for an experience - shopping, meeting for coffee, going for food. Tier 3 is severely restricting that.”
Fran says The Pud Store is fortunate in that it has a strong presence online with many orders made through the website.
“But if we were just a bricks and mortar business, no way would we cope,” she added.
“There are businesses out there that don’t have an online base and will really be struggling. These places will have been very successful before the restrictions.
“There seems to be huge confusion amongst the public as to what’s actually open in Tier 3 areas. The level of contradiction from central government to businesses and the public is beyond absurd.
“I never thought I would be dictated to by the Government about how successful my business can be.
“I have people ringing me up asking if we are open. People don’t know what is going on.
“There is very little support for businesses which are ‘allowed’ to open in these areas.
“The very heartbeat of our businesses are being ripped out through no fault of our own. We have done everything to reopen safely. I am now at a loss at what the Government expects from us.
“I feel utterly demoralised, drained and at the end of my tether this week. My heart goes out to all those small business owners and their colleagues who feel so tired from fighting every day for what feels like for nothing.”