Firms facing tough times as furlough cash dries up

not disadvantaged.

The next lockdown review is due in three weeks.

The First Minister has signalled to businesses across Wales that they may begin preparations to be ready to resume activity, should the evidence support reopening.

This is expected to include the reopening of non-essential retail, increasing capacity for childcare and public transport to support a wider return to work and allowing people to move-house to boost the housing market.

However, confidence is going to be key. People need to feel safe resuming work and returning to some kind of normality.

Businesses have the responsibility for demonstrating that they are doing the right thing to help public and employee confidence. My guess is that this won’t happen overnight.

I am, therefore, particularly pleased to be welcoming Emma Watkins to our Wednesday at 2pm digital event this week.

As deputy director of economic policy for Welsh Government, Emma will be talking through the steps that businesses can take to restore confidence by preparing for the “new normal”.

Meanwhile, we must also be mindful of the need for some big-ticket items to kick-start our recovery as part of our bounce back strategy.

More than ever, we need shovelready infrastructure projects and investment in much-needed digital programmes that can create jobs and generate economic opportunities for our own supply chain quickly.

Only time will tell if we can build back better, but for the sake of us all, including future generations, let’s look forward with hope and positivity.

We’ve come too far to lose the opportunities that we have to rebuild and reconnect with the pride and passion that comes with being part of our small but wonderful nation.

■ Robert Lloyd Griffiths is director of IoD Wales.