Welsh Government exit plan welcome, but communication to help businesses plan is crucial

Press Releases 15 May 2020

Welsh Government lockdown exit plan is released

Commenting on the announcement from Welsh Government on a plan to exit lockdown, Ben Francis, FSB Wales Policy Chair, said:

“It has been helpful to see the new document today and get an indication of Welsh Government’s thinking and the way in which they will approach the lifting of restrictions when circumstances allow. We are pleased to see the First Minister’s affirmation his preference for a ‘four nation approach’ and would support that as  very important to avoid confusion for businesses.

“While the traffic light system is helpful, for businesses, many of the themes set out within the document are interdependent which adds complexity. Communicating clearly that one area may be in ‘red’ while another has moved to ‘amber’ will be critical to ensuring safety. While we recognise that the Welsh Government is reluctant to assign a timeline for the lifting of any measures, businesses will need some way of anticipating when we move to the next step.

“As such, focussed and regularly-updated messaging specifically aimed at businesses will be crucial in helping them to understand where we are and where we are likely to go at any point. This will allow businesses to prepare for re-start and make decisions about any adjustment measures which will be needed for them to do so. Our recent document ‘Reopening Wales’ and the proposals within it will be of importance to that.

“We welcome the approach by the First Minister and Minister for Economy in engaging directly with FSB and business in recent days and such engagement will be crucial as we seek to move forward and re-start the Welsh economy in a way which ensures safety for customers, employees and employers alike.”