Business leaders call on government for clear and concise ‘traffic light’ guidelines

Organisations representing more than 30,000 businesses across Greater Manchester have called on the Government to focus on three specific areas to ease the burden of lockdown measures on bosses and workers across the region.

The plea is in anticipation of the introduction of a tiered ‘traffic light’ framework for local social distancing measures to create a platform for the immediate future that enables businesses to emerge from a position of strength, driving forward both the city region and the country’s economic revival.

The organisations comprise the CBI, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, Marketing Manchester, Manchester Hoteliers’ Association, North West Business Leadership Team, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, pro-manchester and The Growth Company.

They say COVID has disproportionately impacted the economy of big cities which will need to be supported to repurpose and come back stronger.

They are calling on the Government to act on three key areas to support businesses to operate safely and enable them to do what they do best and keep the economy moving.

The proposals are:

• Proposed new tiered frame for local lockdowns should include fully transparent and evidence-based set of criteria for movement between tiers, consistent application of these criteria to all geographies, clear exit/de-escalation routeway, similarly transparent, consistent and evidence based, and compensatory support mechanism for businesses and employees impacted by additional local restrictions, and that the tiered approach is on a foundation of a fully-functioning test, trace and isolate system.
• Review the work from home guidance for COVID-19 secure office workplaces, recognising the growing impact of this on employee welfare, business innovation, as well as the compounding multiplier impact on dependent sectors such as hospitality.
• Improve the support package for sectors critically affected by government restrictions particularly, but not limited to, aviation and hospitality, for which it is also requested that the Government pause the abolition of tax free shopping for international visitors and grant an extension to the current VAT reduction for hospitality businesses for the remainder of 2021.

Emma Degg, North West Business Leadership Team chief executive, said: “Our cities are crucial drivers of our economy and our communities, jobs and health.

“Enabling businesses to operate safely is crucial in these tough times.

“This is why we have come together with other business organisations across Greater Manchester to call on government to act on three key measures to support them.”

Chris Manka, Federation of Small Businesses North West regional chair, said: “The past nine months have been some of the toughest periods small businesses have ever faced, and this doesn’t look set to end any time soon.

“The Government says it wants to help small businesses adapt while creating support and extending opportunities, but any further restrictions on trading must have an economic support package attached.”

Chris Manka

He added: “It’s absolutely vital the Government addresses gaps in support, especially for businesses in the evening economy and hospitality sectors who have been hammered by COVID over the Summer and who may now be forced to close under further restrictions over what would normally be the busy run up to Christmas trading.

“These businesses are part of the genetic makeup of cities like Manchester, giving places identity and soul – they can’t just be cut loose.

“One of the clear messages we have heard from our members is one of confusion, and that needs to be addressed.

“So, while the notion of a tiered traffic light system of restrictions to help control the virus is largely welcome, there must be a clear and agreed route out of them, that are both timely, fair and easy to understand.

“They also need to know that the state will be there to help those forced to close through no fault of their own.”

Clive Memmott, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce chief executive, said: “The aim of introducing a national three tier framework for social distancing is clearly to bring a higher degree of clarity and consistency of what people can and can’t do.

Clive Memmott

“Different rates of infection in different areas necessitate the use of different rules and guidance to suit local circumstances.
“However, the variation in the number of different local lockdown rules must be controlled or else understanding and compliance will be compromised.

“Naturally, a tiered approach must have a high degree of transparency, so it is clear to everyone that, regardless of where you live in the country, the rules are applied consistently and everyone can understand how movement between tiers works.”

He said: “This needs to be supported by realistic levels of compensation that reflect the restrictions of the relevant tier and a high volume test and tracking system that is critical to the success to a tiered approach.”