President's column: Examining the PM's roadmap

“You have reached your destination. ”

Perhaps not a phrase you hear that often now, but one which has a real relevance to the situation we find ourselves in with Covid, writes Robert Elliot, president of Solihull Chamber of Commerce.

This week the Prime Minister announced his roadmap that laid out a path that could see life return to as normal as we might remember it being last year.

Like any map, it showed a series of stop offs where we could check the lie of the land, conditions, and whether we were fit to carry on. It 's now our responsibility to make sure that when we get to each stop off, we have been doing the right thing.

Social distancing, hand sanitising, wearing masks - none of this has changed and if it does, we might just find ourselves sitting at the first stop for longer than we want.

Equally as the route is followed, various milestones will be passed.

Our schools are returning. Much celebrated I am sure by many, but we must also consider that this will have a profound effect on the children, the teachers, and the families that may have found a routine and balance that sorted their working arrangements.

School runs will now take priority over a Zoom call at 9am and 3pm, and arrangements will change late afternoon in many families.

Working from home if you can do so will no longer be a requirement. This is a huge step for many companies and their employees. Is office space suitable, have people been more productive at home, are people feeling safe enough to return?

Retail is reopening. This is where we can all help.

Is there a purchase you can make at a local shop, potentially in less crowded premises? Need a haircut? Is your salon taking deposits that could help their cash flow in the short term?

Hospitality is still a grey area. Many will not reopen in April as the cost of doing so is prohibitive. But if furlough does not extend into May and hospitality businesses are not opening until later that month there is a huge hole in finances. If you can support by having a takeaway, buying gift vouchers, or shopping with their supply chain that will help?

Can you see now why I feel we have such a responsibility to do the right thing? Follow the directions, take the right road, and we will complete the journey.

Above all, please be considerate to all road users!