Page 4 - BPIF inPRINT Issue 62

inDEPTH

business WORKING

THROUGH THE

LOCKDOWN

We asked our own CEO, Charles Jarrold, about COVID-19

and the BPIF’s response to it.

What do you think of the with most businesses being to go about accessing and as demand rebuilds is going
Government’s response to able to reopen to a greater implementing that support. to be a gradual process,
the COVID-19 crisis? or lesser degree over the As the support schemes then which businesses will need
We were very impressed next few weeks. It’s vital that bedded in, we monitored to plan carefully. This will
with how Government our sector continues to be how well they were working. place pressure on cashflow,
engaged with us seeking able to access the support This information was fed so careful cashflow planning
information and feedback, schemes, especially the Job back to BEIS. We facilitated will be more important than
in particular our contacts Retention Scheme (JRS). We discussion between ever.
at BEIS (Business Economy welcome the announcement organisations and BEIS so
and Industrial Strategy). to extend the JRS to the Government could hear What do you think will have
They were putting requests end of October, and in about experiences first-hand. changed for the industry
for information to us that principle the additional We’ve also been holding post COVID-19?
sometimes needed turning flexibility to that scheme that weekly open webinars, It’s likely that, to a greater or
around in a couple of hours. we’ve been asking for and covering relevant topics, lesser extent, the steps taken
It rapidly became pretty clear have been told is coming. and enabling organisations to limit virus transmission
that they were listening. What’s important is that to ask questions, as a way will remain in place. This
We gave a lot of feedback the flexibility meets sector of helping the sector stay will change how businesses
about the likely pressures needs in the short-term, connected. Currently, as operate. In some ways this
on organisations, and the and that support is there for businesses reopen and will generate new print –
types of support they needed, business in the medium- rebuild, we’re providing for signage, guidance and
and a lot of this was taken term. Many companies have detailed guidance on how so on – but in other ways,
on board. Once the decision needed to access additional to apply the Government’s businesses may need to
to lockdown was made, the funds, usually in the form advice on reopening safely. operate at a lower intensity,
information gathering and of debt under the Business retail in particular. It’s likely
then implementation of Interruption Loan schemes. What advice can you offer that we’ll see more home-
support schemes was pretty to printers to protect their working, and the crisis
impressive and has been What have the BPIF been businesses during this has accelerated the use of
essential in supporting our doing to support the sector? period, and ensure they are technology to support that.
sector as demand dried up. We’ve been extremely still viable when it ends? More people spending more
busy. We provided detailed Most businesses had to time at home represents an
What is your insight into guidance at each stage to the react very quickly to a interesting opportunity for
what may happen going sector on Government advice rapid decrease in activity direct mail, which combined
forward – short- and and legislation, and when levels. They’ve done that with other channels to
long-term? the details of the support by furloughing staff, and ensure targeted and
We’ll see a pretty quick schemes were provided, we accessing other support relevant communications,
emergence from lockdown, offered guidance on how schemes. Scaling back up can be extremely engaging.

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