COMMENT
THE LAST WORD
DAWN EDWARDS, Chamber President, on the issues that are worth talking about
A NEW REALITY A lot has happened in the few weeks since my last column, as businesses and individuals across the region and the rest of the UK come to terms with the new reality. The coronavirus pandemic has sadly affected
many lives, from the people who have contracted the illness and their families, and the keyworkers who selflessly provide frontline support, to the workers and businesses that face an uncertain future because of the restrictions that have necessarily been laid down to save lives and protect the NHS. Our daily lives won’t be the same again for a
long time. However, a lot of good has arisen from the
unprecedented situation we find ourselves in. It’s been inspiring to see the way that many
businesses and individuals have responded, from people volunteering their free time to help support the fight against Covid-19 to firms adapting their working models to produce much- needed PPE and other urgent supplies for those on the frontline, or get food and other supplies to the most vulnerable and isolated people in our communities. It’s a stark reminder that we are all in this
together and in order to emerge stronger, we need that unity to hold strong.
SUPPORTING OUR MEMBERS The Chamber was quick to put in place a package of measures to support our members during this difficult and uncertain trading period. With lockdown making physical events all but
impossible to hold, we quickly introduced a wide range of virtual networking, information and engagement sessions to help you stay connected, keep up to date with the latest business issues and get access to the latest advice and information about the financial support available from Government, local authorities and other support organisations. I was also pleased to see the launch of a new
campaign, East Midlands Coming Together, an online positivity hub aimed at sharing good news stories from our members about some of the initiatives they are carrying out to support each other and help support the fight against Covid-19.
66 business network May 2020 Finally, we took the unprecedented step of
introducing a substantial financial support package, giving our member businesses which needed it most the opportunity to claim a rebate on their membership fees, to ease their cashflow. Just a small gesture, but as the saying goes, every little helps! The response to all these initiatives has been
overwhelmingly positive and I’d like to offer my personal thanks to all the members who have continued to engage with the Chamber over the past few weeks.
A JEWEL IN OUR CROWN East Midlands Airport has once again demonstrated the crucial role that it plays at the centre of our economy here in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. As the UK’s biggest pure freight airport, EMA
plays a key role in helping businesses across Britain get their goods in and out of the country. As the coronavirus pandemic started to tighten
its grip on the UK, with lockdown measures starting to bite, EMA outperformed its contemporaries to see the amount of cargo it handled daily increase significantly. It continued to operate 60% of its flights as
other major airports were scaling back, only instead of shifting people, it shifted products. The growth was driven, in part, by the huge and sudden demand for urgent medical and PPE
equipment to support the NHS as its frontline workers battled to provide treatment for the patients in their care. It showed just how strong the transport and
logistics sector is in our region, and the work- horselike-role it plays in keeping the economy ticking over. Even in times of crisis, this complex ecosystem
of firms providing services to ship vital supplies, food and materials to keyworkers, vulnerable individuals and the businesses that support them can be relied upon. Their efforts should be applauded.
STAY SAFE AND WELL While it’s important that the economy returns to normal as quickly as possible, so we can start to build a sustainable recovery and bounce back from the temporary shocks created by the coronavirus, your safety and wellbeing is paramount. So, if you are still at work, be careful, follow
the guidelines and take all necessary precautions. If you’re working from home, don’t let yourself become too isolated – make sure you regularly check in with colleagues and friends. Most importantly, stay safe and well. Business will be called upon to do most of the
heavy lifting to continue to support the NHS and get the economy back on an even keel. We need you, so look after yourselves, and one another.
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