A SCHEME to reassure staff and customers Warwickshire businesses are operating safely within covid guidelines has gone live.
The Business Pledge is aimed at all businesses across Warwickshire and Solihull, including shops, factories, offices and eventually hospitality. It has been developed to support businesses as England takes the next step on the roadmap out of lockdown.
The voluntary pledge covers social distancing, face coverings, ventilation, vaccination, testing and isolating, employee health and well-being and risk assessments.
Warwickshire County Council has worked in partnership with BIDs and local councils and agencies to ensure a comprehensive support to local businesses.
A dedicated website allows business-owners to take the pledge, sign up for information and support, and access a poster and social media material to show their business and premises support measures to be covid-secure.
Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Warwickshire can also sign up for access to the county council’s Employee Assistance Programme, offering staff and business leaders information and a confidential telephone number for help with mental health and well-being.
WCC’s chief executive Monica Fogarty said: “We want to work with businesses and offer whatever support we can to ensure their re-opening and ongoing operation is as successful as possible. The launch coincides with the next round of business re-openings this week, many of which are town centre businesses.
“The Business Pledge is our way of encouraging businesses to do the right thing and demonstrate to their customers – our residents – that it is safe to shop and do business.”
Small businesses development manager Lee Osborne added: “Our high streets and local centres are the lifeblood of our local communities and it is positive that many of our small businesses will be able to re-open.
“Many small business owners have spent significant amounts in adapting their business and putting in measures to make their premises safe. The pledge is therefore a helpful initiative for businesses to demonstrate that they are doing the right thing and following best practice to help reassure both staff and customers. This has been an unbelievably tough year for small firms and now more than ever they need our support, in any way we can.”
