Calmer year in store but virus is still a threat - public health chief
Businesses can expect a more stable year in terms of Covid disruption - but must respect that “the virus is still with us ”.
That 's according to Birmingham 's director of public health Dr Justin Varney, who was addressing Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce 's Quarterly Business Report briefing.
While Dr Varney (pictured) believes a less disruptive year is in store, he urged businesses to continue taking precautionary steps when bringing staff back into work.
His address to Chamber delegates came just hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the lifting of most Covid-19 restrictions, such as working from home advice and mandatory face mask rules.
Dr Varney, dialling in from New York to provide an update on the Covid situation, said: “My hope is we 'll have a more stable year - less of an in, out year than last year - but it is important that we all continue to respect the fact that the virus is still with us and is still putting people in hospital.
“Those things are really important to keep in mind when you think about how you bring people back into the office or into work.
“Wearing masks, ventilating well, hand sanitising and hand washing are small prices to pay to enable us to have a pretty relaxed and free year.
“I would encourage all businesses to continue to keep that up and also reflect on some of the gains that we 've had in terms of people working from home and thinking about how we create a mentally healthy workforce and a mentally healthy approach to work. ”
Dr Varney also called on businesses to do everything they can to encourage staff to take up their Covid vaccinations.
He said it would not only help with controlling the spread of the virus but also reduce staff absences.
He added: “Please do everything you can to encourage your staff to vaccinate. If you 're able to give them paid time to go and get the vaccine, please do it. Every little nudge helps.
“From your point of view, it will help reduce sickness absence and the length of time people are off.
“It also has a big impact on isolation. The guidelines remain that if you are unvaccinated and you 're in contact with someone who is positive, you don 't get to use the daily testing exemption. You have to isolate for 10 days.
“So it is a really disruptive thing if people are unvaccinated, in terms of how much sickness absence that will cause. There are things employers can do to encourage vaccination, and encourage awareness. ”
The Quarterly Business Report webinar for Q4, sponsored by Birmingham City University, explored the topic of innovation in Greater Birmingham.
Delegates were given overview of the Quarterly Business Report - the most comprehensive report of its kind in the region - from the Chamber 's head of policy Raj Kandola.
Ali Bell, head of external communications at National Express West Midlands, spoke about the bus operator 's investment in innovation as part of a drive to meet its environmental targets.
She explained how rolling out electric and hydrogen buses across the region has already saved thousands of tonnes of harmful emissions from being released into the atmosphere.
The bus operator has further green transport ambitions, with plans revealed for Coventry to become the UK 's first all-electric bus city in 2023.
Tracy Westall - who is involved in a host of organisations, including her role as chair of Chamber patron Curium Solutions - then gave her take on innovation, describing it as “business oxygen ”.
She said organisations often underestimate the role of people and culture when it comes to innovation and growth.
Tracy added that innovation is very important to addressing some of the business community 's productivity challenges.