But first, let’s pause for reflection on where we are at the moment. 1st August was a significant date in the calendar in terms of working arrangements. It marked the start of the rundown of the furlough scheme that has been in place for most of the year and also a change in emphasis from the Government encouraging people that have been working from home to return to the office.
Fears of a second wave are never far from people’s thoughts however and we’ve seen warning signs in certain areas of the country that COVID-19 is on the rise – namely Greater Manchester, East Lancashire, parts of West Yorkshire. Lightning fast restriction measures have been put in place in those areas in an attempt to combat the outbreaks.
I think these rapid ‘on the fly’ changes to policy will be the norm for the foreseeable future and we have to be ready to implement these changes. Avoiding another national outbreak is paramount.
On a related subject – I must admit I’m in two minds about the furlough scheme now. Undoubtedly it’s been a vital lifeline to many businesses up and down the country and few would argue that it was probably Rishi Sunak’s finest hour, but it is skewing reality somewhat and running it down gradually is probably the right thing to do.
But let’s be clear. Even one single person losing their job is a tragedy. Even one single company going under is one too many – but adjusting to the much touted ‘new norm’ is really important in the overall scheme of things – and that’s impossible with the furlough scheme safety net in place. At some point we have to get back to some semblance of normality – whatever that means?
These past five months or so have been incredibly difficult for everyone – not just in our sector but just about every other from retail to hospitality and leisure to aviation. But despite the phenomenal challenges, some companies are continuing to be successful. I visited a precision subcontractor only last week that has won new contracts since the pandemic hit, with more on the horizon and is continuing to invest in new machines and technology.
On a daily basis, I see sporadic triumphs on LinkedIn and Twitter and it’s really important to shout about those victories from the rooftops – whether it’s a new piece of equipment, taking on a new member of staff or winning a new order. Many businesses have diversified their skillsets and are operating in markets that perhaps previously they wouldn’t have thought of. Every cloud and all that.
So this is a call to action folks. If you have any good news to share then please share away. Get in touch and we’ll do our best to spread the word. Let’s make positivity more infectious than COVID-19.
