Coventry City, Solihull and Warwickshire County councils are launching a Business Pledge for all businesses, including shops and hospitality, to help reassure staff and customers that businesses and venues here are operating in a COVID secure manner.
The Pledge is being developed in preparation for the second step of the roadmap out of lockdown.
By taking the Pledge, businesses agree to work towards a number of measures to ensure their premises and staff are taking all the necessary precautions to be COVID secure. It is also another tool that businesses can use to promote to customers and show what they are doing to tackle COVID in their premises.
Businesses wanting to take part, make a commitment to follow the guidelines and the principles of the Pledge. Once they sign up they will have access to the Business Pledge poster and materials to display on their premises, showing their support to being COVID secure to customers and staff alike.
Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council said:
“The Business Pledge is a simple way for businesses across the sub-region to reassure customers that they are doing all they can to operate in COVID-secure way.
“As we prepare to take step two of the lockdown road map we have to remember that the virus is still with us and we cannot drop our guard. Everyone needs to remain vigilant, including businesses.
“I understand that customers need to see that they can once again use local shops and businesses safely, so I urge businesses to support the Pledge.”
Councillor Izzi Seccombe OBE, Leader of Warwickshire County Council said:
“We’re not asking businesses to do more that the regulation requires, we just want them to aspire to the best practice available and let their customers know what measure are in place to be COVID-secure.
“We want to work with businesses and offer whatever support we can to ensure their re-opening is as successful as possible. Our town centres and local centres are the lifeblood of the sub-region and this Business Pledge is our way of encouraging businesses to do the right thing and demonstrate to our residents it is safe to shop and do business.
Councillor George Duggins, Leader of Coventry City Council said:
“I’m really pleased that we are launching a local business pledge and I hope local businesses will see the value in signing up.
“The last year has been tough and we want to do all we can when the time is right to encourage people to trade and shop safely. I know businesses forced to close are making preparations to open and are going to great efforts to do all they can to keep everyone safe.
“Here in Coventry we are looking forward to our year as City of Culture and to welcoming people back in a safe way.”
More details of the Business Pledge are to be released within the coming weeks, for more information please see the respective local authority websites:
Solihull: www.solihullforsuccess.co.uk
Warwickshire: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/coronavirusbusinesssupport