My Back To Business Strategy

By Chris Roberts MBE, Founder of the Fairford & Lechlade Business Club (FLBC) and journalist. FLBC means business and supports businesses across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.

Summarise how Covid-19 has affected you? 

During the lockdown, the national and local economies have gone quiet. Some businesses have had to close temporarily or even permanently, whereas other businesses are finding new ways of doing things and sourcing new products and services. This has meant that businesses across our area have needed the help of our business club more than ever and the club has continued to sent out regular newsletters to its members. We've been advertising what our members are doing during this crisis; giving advice about grants available for employers and employees and putting them in touch with other members who may be able to help in any way.

What has been your plan to continue?  

The Fairford & Lechlade Business Club will do what it is best at doing and has always done – be there to support members in any way possible. From a personal viewpoint, I will continue to promote communities and businesses through the many media and social media outlets that I use. 

How has business changed for you over the last few months? 

Everything has changed! And many people believe that nothing will ever be the same again. This belief could be a positive attitude or negative fear. 

I prefer to think that any change can be for the better and to make the most out of any change. For members of the Fairford & Lechlade Business Club and for the club itself, I would like to think that we are able to come back stronger than before, but maybe in a different way of working.

As lockdown eases what measures have you put in place to get back to business? 

For the business club, we will have to review what meetings can still go ahead and whether or not to hold the annual business awards. With very little business going on at the moment, it may be difficult to hold an awards ceremony. However, it might be possible to recognise those businesses that have rallied against adversity

What has been the most challenging aspect of all of this? 

From a personal point of view, it has been seeing all the community events that have had to be cancelled. I write about events and what is happening in communities and this has sadly decreased.

What has been the most positive aspect? 

More and more communities have things to celebrate like introducing volunteer schemes to help the isolated and vulnerable. This definitely needs advertising and applauding.

Has it made you consider how you feel about other businesses/suppliers/customers/clients for good or otherwise? Ie will you make different choices? 

I certainly have a lot of respect for those businesses that have found alternative ways of working and for those who have helped the NHS with providing PPE. It is difficult to know just how choices will be made in the future, as we still don’t really know how long this ‘other world’ is going to last for.

How important is this phrase to you – ‘buy local, supply local’? 

It has been more apparent than ever before that towns and villages need their local shops, restaurants, suppliers. In my small town, our local retailers have been awesome. 

Shopping locally is a relatively safe affair with no problem about social distancing, as residents respect each other and stand clear. The management of shoppers in the shops has also been well handled and the making sure that there is enough to go around for everyone without bulk-buying. 

When these difficult times are over, I hope everyone still appreciates and remembers what the local retailers and tradesmen did to keep everyone supplied and safe. So what if you have to spend 5p or 10p more on a product? That is easily recouped by the saving in petrol to get to a large superstore.

What are your top tips at this time?  

1. Think outside the box, be flexible and adaptable.

2. Talk to other business owners and see how you can help each other – two heads are better than one!

3. Don’t give up. 

Your parting thought? 

When I was particularly worried about something, a friend of mine said: “Don’t stress. Will it even matter in 10 years' time?” That is so true. What seems to matter now will be forgotten about in time.

For more information visit www.flbc.org.uk