Firms expecting return to pre-pandemic operations - survey

Many businesses in the West Midlands are expecting operations to increase to pre-pandemic levels by October 2021, according to a new survey.

The British Chambers of Commerce Workforce, Reopening & Skills Survey 2021 also reveals most businesses have no plans to require evidence of vaccination from customers, suppliers or employees.

Additionally, more than half have concerns around the impact of flexible working on employee mental health, and over a third of businesses are struggling with skills gaps.

Many business operations (56 per cent) have already returned to pre-pandemic levels, with the vast majority of businesses (84 per cent) expecting a return to this by October.

However, only 15 per cent have placed requirements on customers, suppliers or employees to provide evidence of vaccination.

According to the survey, barriers to effective remote working were staff morale, mental health or well-being (56 per cent), reliance on direct face-to-face contact with staff or customers (42 per cent), needing a presence to operate equipment (41 per cent) and fairness to staff whose roles cannot be done remotely (31 per cent).

Other issues include monitoring or measuring productivity (29 per cent), IT (24 per cent) and internet connectivity (22 per cent).

The skills gap also persists, with 37 per cent of businesses saying they are unable recruit the necessary skilled workers.

Over the next three years business development or sales (52 per cent) leadership and management skills (43 per cent) and industry-specific (52 per cent) skills are perceived to be most needed. Other skills included administrative (39 per cent), customer service or interpersonal (34 per cent), project management (33 per cent), problem solving (31 per cent).

Henrietta Brealey (pictured), chief executive, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “Businesses have worked hard to ensure that their people, clients and customers can remain safe throughout the pandemic, but clarity is needed on what safety measures will be required from them as we reach the final stage of the Prime Minister 's roadmap to reopening.

“Post-pandemic, it is crucial that employers do what we can to avoid what some have referred to as an imminent mental health epidemic, and it is reassuring to see that such a high proportion of business respondents have this front of mind in considering what the future of flexible working may look like in their organisations.

“During these incredibly difficult times, pre-existing issues in the local labour market have not disappeared. Businesses are struggling to access the skilled talent they need in the West Midlands.

“The Chambers are working with local stakeholders on addressing this and have recently undertaken an extensive piece of research with Birmingham City Council to advise how these gaps may be reduced and more young people in particular supported into opportunities in the city-region. We are also celebrating opportunities to learn and develop skills at work- as part of National Learning at Work Week - with a virtual panel discussion on Thursday which I highly encourage interested readers to attend. ”

Click here to attend Celebrating Learning at Work Through Further Education on Thursday 20 May

To view more detailed results of the Returning to Workforce Survey 2021, please see our blog post here.