OUR RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNMENT’S ROADMAP OUT OF LOCKDOWN

It has been a long, hard winter and a hugely challenging 12 months for the retail, leisure and hospitality sector so we’re very pleased to hear that shops, hairdressers, gyms and outdoor hospitality will potentially be able to reopen from 12 April, if the government’s conditions are met. We all very much hope that these businesses can start the road back to recovery, followed by pubs and restaurants opening indoors, along with theatres and cinemas, from 17th May.

This is still a very difficult time for the leisure and hospitality sector, including our businesses in Southside District, many of which are independents. This announcement today is not a magic bullet for their survival and after the huge losses they have faced, they will need all the support they can get, particularly as many office workers are still being advised to work from home until June, and tourism and travel will take many months to return.

Following the roadmap today, many will be anxiously awaiting further news on business support schemes, the continuation of furlough and what will happen with business rates. We call on the Chancellor to consider all of these aspects in his Budget next week, and hope that the government and Birmingham City Council will continue to support us to ensure we are doing everything we can to secure the future of these businesses, who are the lifeblood of our city.

For more information about the roadmap out of lockdown, click here for the summary and here for the full document.