The majority of South West businesses support the pace of the easing of lockdown restrictions, a survey reveals.
According to the latest data from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking research, six in 10 businesses are ready to operate at close to full-capacity when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted from Monday, April 12.
When asked whether their business would have preferred or benefited from a different pace of easing, 61% said they preferred neither a faster nor slower easing of restrictions.
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However, a net balance of 32% of firms said they would have preferred a faster route out of lockdown and just 7% said they would have preferred a slower easing of restrictions.
The majority of those questioned (59%) said they will be able to operate at 80% capacity or more when restrictions for their sector are lifted.
Outdoor hospitality will be among those sector reopening in England from April 12 after the Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the roadmap is on track and planned easements can go ahead.
Significant parts of the indoor economy and further outdoor settings will reopen after data confirmed the Government’s “four tests” for easing Covid restrictions had been met.
But the PM continued to urge caution, with no changes to social contact rules and many restrictions remaining in place. Outdoor gatherings must still be limited to six people or two households, and people must not socialise indoors with anyone they do not live with or have not formed a support bubble with.
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Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
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David Beaumont, regional director for the South West at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Businesses across our region are feeling increasingly optimistic as the prospect of reopening their doors comes ever closer.
“It’s encouraging to see many of them in a position to operate at close to full capacity when trading resumes, particularly for those in our world-renowned tourism and hospitality sectors as they have been unable to trade for so long now.
“As ever, we remain by the side of firms across the South West, offering the support they need to come out of lockdown in as strong a position as possible.”
The results of the research come a week after Lloyds Bank’s Business Barometer research revealed that 海角视频 business confidence reached a one-year high during March, with a quarter (25%) of firms saying they were planning to create new jobs in the 12 months ahead.
Business confidence in the South West rose 14 points during March to 8% – its highest reading since before the pandemic. Mr Beaumont said called the fact that business confidence in the South West has returned to pre-pandemic levels “extremely reassuring”.