So, maybe I’m going out on a limb with this, but here goes. Everyone is talking about COVID recovery. Everyone is talking about getting back to a ‘new normal’. We are all looking ahead to life after COVID, or at least the ability to live with it.
That’s great. Up until a couple of months ago, I would’ve been the first to be full of hope and encouragement for the future and the ability of our region’s economy to recover, while adapting to the business environment that COVID-19 has thrown up.
However, disruptive events of recent weeks have prompted me to think very, very differently about the situation facing many local businesses, in particular organisations reliant on a steady, skilled workforce to deliver their service.
When lockdown first struck, every business was forced in to survival mode. Many of us have done that incredibly successfully; diversifying and continuing to invest in people, training and technologies, and all the while communicating every step of the way with clients and staff to ride the COVID storm.
Just when doors began to reopen, rules were relaxed and everyone felt the worst corner had been turned, along came the mass disruption caused by the seemingly endless cycle of transmission, testing, isolation, and lengthy periods off work.
I suspect it is causing many sleepless nights across much of the service sector, as depleted team members pull together to fulfil promises made to clients. I’m also sure many local service organisations are hanging in the balance right now because of the massive disruption. They will be fighting to survive.
In Goldstar’s case, our team demonstrate immense dedication and teamwork every day to meet our clients’ needs. I’m proud of that ethos. Our local supply chain will always be at the heart of the success of our business. And we are continuing to hire new talent to ensure we ride the storm and keep delivering the award-winning service that our clients expect.
For all the service sector – whether that’s a pub, hotel, restaurant, care home, or family-run business like ours – it would just really help if processes were simplified; if support was more obvious; if everyone appreciated the complications faced by locally-run businesses on a daily basis and how the shifting sands make planning, logistics and fulfilment incredibly difficult.
Navigating these daily challenges will be tough for us all. As we do, please appreciate your local businesses. Please do everything you can to support them. Sometimes you only know what you’ve had when it’s gone.