With lockdown measures recently eased and a new, socially distanced normal becoming apparent for individuals up and down the country, there’s no better time to prepare your business for life after the Covid-19 lockdown.
Whilst there are still a long list of uncertainties facing professionals throughout the business community, with only selected businesses only now able to open their doors, thinking ahead, and planning accordingly still remains important.
As a leading provider of award-winning serviced accommodation in Cambridge, our business has had to adapt to these changing times.
By offering safe and secure quarantine packages to key workers and those isolating, we’ve been able to acclimatise and deliver a valuable service that caters to the current demand.
Whether you’ve been able to operate during lockdown in some way or have just strived to keep your business afloat, there are many steps you can take to ensure your business is ready for action once lockdown is lifted.
We take you through the next steps for your business so you can take a positive look beyond Covid-19.
Consider your digital offering
If you haven’t already, look more closely at moving your business forward online if it’s suitable for your particular niche.
Lockdown has seen some of the biggest brands change their entire operations to ensure they can still provide the products or services that they are renowned for.
Some have even announced that their businesses will continue to operate in this manner long after lockdown has come to an end. Social media giants Facebook and Twitter have decided that most of their workers will now work from home permanently, and many banks have followed suit.
As well as the lockdown providing a watershed moment for remote work, consumers have embraced the world of online shopping wholeheartedly. With this in mind, selected businesses have what they need, and it’s not too late to adapt to a more digitally focused operation.
Prepare your business premises
If your business cannot survive through online trade alone or at all (those in the hospitality and leisure industries, for example, cannot operate online), take the time to prepare your premises while your company is closed for business.
Subject your business premises to a well-timed deep clean, and make sure regular sanitisation and disinfection practices are carried through once you reopen your doors.
Complete those long-overdue repair jobs that you just didn’t have time to undertake before and give your premises a makeover.
In addition to improving the look and feel of your premises inside, get to work on its exterior to boost your business curb appeal. You could even support fellow businesses and sole traders by recruiting them to help.
Continue to support your staff
Your staff will have been one of your main focuses during lockdown and this shouldn’t change as you look beyond Covid-19. Continue to support your staff so they can return to work with the right attitude and enthusiasm to push your business forward during this challenging time. We’re not just talking about financial support through furloughing and other government initiatives either.
Maintain communication with your team with regular catch-ups and keep them updated about the steps you’re taking to prepare your business for life after lockdown. You should also be open about how they’ll be a part of the new setup, and what a regular working day in a Covid-19 pandemic may look like to prepare them.
Ensure that your employees are in the right frame of mind by providing support both in and beyond the workplace, particularly if they continue to work remotely for your company, as Body+Soul details:
“If one of your employees is struggling, be responsive. Where possible, approve requests for leave or consider arranging modified duties that will reduce the immediate pressure while enabling the staff member to stay connected to work. If they need more structured support, connect them to your employee assistance program (if you have one) or to other high-quality mental health resources and services external to your organisation – it’s not your job to try and counsel them yourself but it is part of your role as manager to support them!”
Keep customers in the loop
Your customers will want to know how you’re getting on during this strange period so keep them updated. Information can be shared via your website, social media channels or email newsletter. Regular communication with customers ensures they’re kept up to date with the steps you’re taking to get back to business.