Play by the rules and city can inch forward
AS I write this article I’m sitting in my kitchen with an old episode of Saturday Kitchen on in the background. Looking up I can see the host Matt Tebbutt presenting a majestic plate of freshly cooked food on a table for his celebrity guests to enjoy.
I watch in astonishment as his guests tear off bits of pitta and dip them in the same plate. Not only that, but they’re also sitting right next to each other. In a fleeting moment I’m taken aback by what
I’m watching until I remember this is an episode from 2018, which fills me with a sense of both nostalgia and sadness.
How different the world seemed back then. Things we took for granted then now seem to be from a different time and place. From this week in England the “rule of six” has come into force prohibiting the social gatherings of more than six people indoors and outdoors.
Here in Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell, the lockdown restrictions are even tougher, with Mayor Andy
Street announcing that households in these areas must not mix following a spike in coronavirus cases. The rate of infection has more than doubled in Birmingham in a week to 90.3 cases per 100,000. This is serious news, as is the warning from the Mayor that if the numbers don’t improve and move in the right direction further steps may have to be taken.
For businesses in these geographical areas taking their first tentative steps to reopening their offices, these are nervous times. While the new rules don’t apply to businesses, anything which knocks the confidence of colleagues returning to work is unwelcome news.
Local businesses have been working hard to prepare for their return with regular deep cleaning of the offices, one-way systems in place and hand sanitisers everywhere. In many cases the two-metre rule means that it is not possible for everyone to return just yet but on average, particularly along Colmore Row, it’s possible for around 40 per cent to return.
I’ve been back in my office for almost three weeks now and really pleased to be back. It’s great to be able to see some colleagues again and enjoy social interaction and, of course, air conditioning.
Those who took part in my firm’s pilot scheme to return to work may have been a little nervous at first. However, they have been reassured by what they’ve seen and now plan to get back to the office. Unfortunately, not all our 280 staff can do that at a safe social distance and therefore rotas have been drawn up to allow colleagues to spend at least two days a week in the office.
Of course, it’s not just about the office environment but public transport. It doesn’t matter how safe we make our offices, if colleagues are not confident about their travel to work, they will remain at home until they consider it safe to return.
So far I’m being told that colleagues have been pleasantly surprised by buses and trains, everybody keeping a safe distance and wearing masks.
I’ve heard some slight reservations about trams, where I’m told that wearing masks does not seem to be being enforced.
This is something that clearly needs to be addressed but other than this it looks like our transport infrastructure has prepared well for the return to work.
Throughout the Covid-19 crisis the Chamber’s mantra has been to keep business moving. To make it safe to return to their offices will require us all to shift up a gear. But it won’t happen at all unless we all obey the rules to prevent a further lockdown. While we have a “business friendly” Mayor I have no doubt that as reluctant as he may be to take further steps, he won’t hesitate to do so unless the numbers start heading in the right direction.
I haven’t mentioned the “new norm”, of course, that everyone talks about of working from home, using Zoom and other resources, and I’m sure that post-Covid our approach to work will look different.
However, there are lots of businesses in our towns and cities that need footfall to survive.
I’ve been out buying sandwiches and coffees since my return to the office. I’ve also enjoyed a delicious lunch at Opus in Cornwall Street that even Matt Tebbutt in his BBC studio would be proud of.
So tentative steps are being taken, we’ve had a setback, but if we all stick to the guidance we can get those numbers heading in the right direction and keep business moving. Steve Allen is president of Greater
Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and head of office of
Mills & Reeve LLP