LEP offers support to help businesses re-opening after lockdown

The service is aimed at companies of all sizes and from all sectors that will be reopening or welcoming staff back into the workplace

As businesses continue to adapt to new ways of working following the easing of some national Covid-19 lockdown restrictions and as others prepare to open in anticipation of further changes in the coming weeks and months, the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP is offering a package of support to help businesses to reopen.

The LEP is working with partners at the Growth Hub, Chambers of Commerce, local Councils and mental health organisations to ensure businesses have the support and advice they need to reopen their premises, welcome staff and customers back on site and create a safe working environment throughout the coming weeks.

This focused support has been developed as a direct result of feedback from businesses across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire that are seeking advice on issues such as lateral flow testing for employees, what grant or loan funding they are eligible for, or how to support the mental health and wellbeing of their staff.

More than 5,000 businesses have engaged so far.

Alun Rogers, chair of the LEP, said: “This targeted support is about providing timely, straight-forward and relevant advice, from business for business, to prepare for the critical weeks and months ahead as the Covid-19 restrictions are gradually lifted.

“We want businesses to have the confidence to open safely, so the LEP is here to help navigate the challenges the pandemic has presented and find opportunities for businesses to capitalise on new opportunities, adapt to this new agile digital world we are working in, and ultimately thrive. The key to reopening and going onto grow a strong business is to do it safely, and our ambition through delivering this support is to provide all the information needed to do that.”