Restart, Rebuild and Renew – campaign update

Following recent consultation work at the Chamber Rapid Policy Group, BCC has decided to include an extra product as part of our Restart, Rebuild, Renew campaign and we want to share the following timetable.

Over the coming weeks and months BCC will be publishing campaign documents including:

 
PUBLICATION DUE
Letter and grid covering our progress on the Rebuild asks from May early August
Policy publication on Rebuild – timed with Conference season and Autumn fiscal statement early September
Strategic report on Renew addressing the longer term needs of business late 2020/early 2021

This will allow for the Rebuild and Renew documents to draw on feedback from the Regional Assemblies’ which are timetabled for late August/early September. We will shortly be reaching out to Regional Assembly Presidents on arranging these. Contact the BCC policy team for more information.

The next chapter in the UK government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy

The Prime Minister has set out the plans for moving to the next phase of the UK government’s response to the virus. The strategy sets out a cautious roadmap to easing existing measures in a safe and measured way, subject to successfully controlling the virus and being able to monitor and react to its spread. The roadmap will be kept constantly under review as the epidemic, and the world’s understanding of it, develops.

 

BCC responds to Prime Minister’s speech setting out next steps in Coronavirus response

Take a look back at BCC’s response following the PM’s announcement. Please share with your members on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Lifting restrictions from businesses in England

In England, from 1 August, if prevalence remains around or below current levels, and COVID-19 Secure guidelines are followed, the UK government will:

 

• Give employers more discretion on how they ensure employees can work safely. Working from home is one way to do this, but workplaces can also be made safe by following COVID-19 Secure guidelines.
• Reopen most remaining leisure settings, namely bowling, skating rinks and casinos, accompanied by COVID-19 Secure guidelines. This will not include particularly high-risk activities and settings such as nightclubs, which will be kept under review.
• Enable the restart of indoor performances to a live audience, subject to the success of pilots that are taking place.
• Enable all close contact services to resume, including any treatments on the face such as eyebrow threading or make-up application.
• Carry out pilots in venues with a range of sizes of crowds including sports stadia and business events. If plans progress in line with expectations, pilots will expand to build up to and prepare for a full, socially distanced return in the autumn.
• Enable wedding receptions; sit-down meals for no more than 30 people, subject to COVID-19 Secure guidelines. Over time, we will assess whether gatherings of this type for other purposes can be made possible and when larger wedding receptions can take place.
• In September, schools, nurseries and colleges will open for all children and young people on a full-time basis.

 

Additional points to note:

• All businesses and venues which are listed to reopen on 25 July or 1 August must remain closed until those dates.
• Business events and conferences will be permitted to resume from 1 October provided rates of infection remain at current levels.
• People are advised that they may now use public transport but are encouraged to consider alternative means of transport where possible.

UK Chambers please share this information with your members and see further information on our Coronavirus Hub. Contact the BCC policy team with any queries.

Coronavirus Business Impacts Tracker – fieldwork for tranche two of series two

The next tranche of data collection runs from 20 July – 24 July. As with all our national surveys outside of QES, if your Chamber has contributed a database to the BCC for surveying members then no action is required. The BCC manages the fieldwork process entirely in-house. If your Chamber has not contributed a database, a standalone link can be provided on request.

Results from the tranche one of series two will be published this Wednesday 22 July. Contact David Bharier for more information.