Southport BID produces Back To Business guide ahead of shops reopening

Ahead of ‘non-essential’ shops reopening in two weeks’ time, Southport Business Improvement District has produced a comprehensive ‘Back to Business’ guide to help owners re-open their stores safely.

Southport BID has brought together key official information into one place for retail owners. Backed by a series of links to high quality sources of information and supporting resources, the BID hopes the guide will help businesses of all kinds prepare to get ‘Back to Business’. 

The guide highlights four key points for businesses: review your staff policies, check your premises, introduce physical distancing and review surfaces & point of sale.

Southport BID, in its role as representatives and supporters of the private sector, has, throughout the crisis utilised its website and social media to provide the business community with a reliable source of information.

The BID has responded to the needs of concerned levy payers by providing updates on all key sector news, clear direction to official resources and reliable sources of information giving guidance on the financial support available to businesses.

Through its Southport Independents campaign, it has continued to promote the businesses continuing to trade during lockdown.

It wants to continue to provide this support as the town begins to enter its recovery phase.

BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said “We have been receiving a huge number of calls and emails from business owners feeling overwhelmed with the sheer volume of conflicting information out there.

“People were concerned about how to ensure their staff and customers were safe. Throughout the crisis we have been working hard to ensure the business owners were kept informed with the latest developments and the most reliable information.

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“By following the advice in the guide, our businesses should be prepared and able to ensure customers and staff are safe.  We also want to help assure the public to build confidence in shopping local. It is now more important than ever people get behind their high street.

“This is not just a retail campaign. We plan to release more sector specific guidance to support our hospitality, leisure and professional sector businesses as details are released by the Government.”

The guide highlights four key points for businesses: review your staff policies, check your premises, introduce physical distancing and review surfaces & point of sale.  Backed up by a range of supporting resources and links from retail industry bodies and official Government departments, the guide is available here.   

 Find out more at southportbid.com and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Linked In on @southportBID

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