West Midlands campaign highlights Covid-secure businesses

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has launched a new campaign to highlight the measures local businesses are taking to make their premises Covid-secure.

The campaign, called ‘Open for Business, Safely’, will promote the steps that shops, cafes, gyms, beauty salons, transport providers and others have put in place to make their premises safe as they prepare to welcome back customers.

The campaign has been created to help make shoppers and workers feel more confident when venturing out following the lifting of some restrictions yesterday (12 April) as England moved to Step Two of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Shops are now allowed to stay open until 10pm from Monday to Saturday in a bid to spread out shopping and avoid congestion. Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality can also reopen but customers must sit outdoors and be served via table service.

Using the hashtag #WMOpen4Biz local companies are being encouraged to share on social media details of the preparations they have made so they can invite customers and members of staff back on to their premises safely.

‘The West Midlands is Open for Business and by following government guidance, all of us can now shop and work safely,’ said the WMCA’s director of strategy, Julia Goldsworthy.

‘No one is better placed than business to demonstrate the measures they have put in place to make sure they are COVID-secure and to promote what they have to offer.

‘This campaign aims to show how businesses have worked hard to prepare for the second step of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown and that residents and workers alike can feel confident in their efforts.’

The WMCA is asking businesses to go online and use their social media accounts with the tag @WestMids_CA and the hashtag #WMOpen4Biz to show what they have done to make their business or offices COVID-secure. This can include measures such as social distancing floor stickers and hand sanitising stations.

The WMCA is also asking local authorities, public bodies, business organisations and charities to get involved by posting their support online help to reach more local audiences.

Mike Olley, general manager of the Westside Business Improvement District (BID,) which includes the Broad Street entertainment area in Birmingham city centre, said: ‘After months of planning, new outside hospitality spaces around Broad Street are open to welcome back customers, and I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone involved.’

Photo Credit – Pixabay