hero image

That Was The Bb Week That Was #4 (W/C 13th april)


“I knew it, we are in here for another 3 weeks” was the cry from most living rooms on Thursday at 5pm as the First Secretary of State, Dominic Raab, took to the podium to tell a watching nation that the lockdown measures were working but that it was too early to lift them. By the way, who would have thought that 12 million people would tune in daily to watch a government minister, alongside scientific and medical experts, talking through a series of graphs and tables, whilst answering the same questions that they dealt with on the night before? And, yet, viewers are 4 million more than watched the ‘Call The Midwife’ Christmas special - it’s a strange world we are inhabiting right now.
 
On the same day, the Treasury issued the fourth update of its Job Retention Scheme – the third having been issued only a week earlier. The main two announcements were that the portal for initial furlough applications would be opening on 20th April and that the qualifying date for employment was now 19th March and not 28th February, as previously. Many BIDs have furloughed staff and, if they are quick off the mark when the portal opens, they may get April’s grant before the month-end, thereby easing some cashflow concerns. Make a diary note to go onto the portal now!
 
Only 24 hours later, the Treasury made a fifth announcing that the furlough scheme would be extended to the end of June. This may provide an early indication of the governments’ views of the likely immediate future.
 
To date in this emergency, the sciences that have framed much of the debate have been health (“the longer that people stay at home, the faster that the virus is defeated”) and economics (“every day that the country stays locked-down, the economy worsens and more businesses will fail”). Both are true and, yet, their conclusions are at odds. In the last week, social scientists have started to enter the discussion, stating that the views and intentions of the consumer will need to play a part. In a major study conducted by King's College London and pollsters Ipsos Mori, over 2,500 people between the ages of 17 and 75 were surveyed. Over 90% supported the government’s lockdown measures and wanted them to continue, whilst 87% were following the social distancing guidance either “entirely” or “nearly all of the time” and were prepared to continue to do so for as long as necessary. On Friday, a further study by YouGov found that only 9% of Britons wanted life to return to “normal” after the Coronavirus outbreak is over. That being the case, one might conclude that, if the economists were to suggest that the local cinema should reopen in order that it survives, the medical profession would warn that the action might risk a viral resurgence, and the social scientists would point out that, even if it did re-open the cinema would likely be worse off as it would need to un-furlough staff, increase operational costs, in order to play to an empty auditorium. How employees and visitors want to emerge from their enforced period of isolation will need to feature in the thinking of BIDs as they develop plans for the eventual re-opening of their commercial areas.
 
International experiences will be relevant. In Spain, some workers are starting to return to factories and construction jobs whilst most shops and services remain closed. In Italy some bookshops, laundries, stationers and childrens’ clothes stores are trading again, alongside forestry workers and those involved in the manufacture of IT equipment. In Austria, small shops, DIY stores and garden centres are already back in business ahead of a total re-opening on 2nd May. Schools will be first to re-open in France. Experience from elsewhere will advise government as it prepares to ease restrictions and it also helps BIDs in planning ahead.
 
Meanwhile, we remain stubbornly locked behind our front doors; determined to remain strong in traditional, British ‘stiff upper lip’, style. We may be eating a bit too much, probably drinking more than we should, and not exercising as much as usually recommended, but we have reinvented the habit of gathering together as one community around our TV sets – rather like our ancestors grouped around their radios during the war - to gourge on the daily briefings from Downing Street. Perhaps it will only be when we grow tired of the graphs, tables and repetitive questions that we think about venturing outside again and returning to what is almost certain to be a “new normal”.
 
Meanwhile, keep safe, stay at home and carry on watching.

Latest Articles

SEPTEMBER INSIGHTS BY CHRIS TURNER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

AUGUST INSIGHTS BY CHRIS TURNER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

JULY INSIGHTS BY CHRIS TURNER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

APRIL INSIGHTS BY CHRIS TURNER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

MARCH INSIGHTS BY CHRIS TURNER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

DESIGN YOUR SCHEME READY FOR A SUCCESSFUL RESULT

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

FEBRUARY INSIGHTS BY CHRIS TURNER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

JANUARY INSIGHTS BY CHRIS TURNER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

DECEMBER INSIGHTS BY CHRIS TURNER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

NOVEMBER'S INSIGHT BY CHRIS TURNER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

10 key considerations from The National BIDs Conference

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

October's Insight by Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

A PRO-BUSINESS (AND NOT SO MINI) BUDGET FROM OUR NEW CHANCELLOR

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

September's Insight by Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

National BID Awards 2022

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

August's insight by Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

July's Insight by Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Leadership race: Businesses need competent hands on the tiller

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

JUNE'S INSIGHT FROM CHRIS TURNER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Greening our cities

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

MAY'S INSIGHT FROM CHRIS TURNER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Bringing back The Golden Mile in Belfast

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

April's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Industrial BID Members to meet at Penrith Industrial BID

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

HINCKLEY BID: Attracting visitors through our annual pancake race

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

March's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

February's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Bb joins national campaign to encourage workers back to offices

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

TURNING BUSINESS FOOD WASTE INTO VEGETABLES IN BOURNEMOUTH

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BACK TO PLAN A, NOW NO MORE TO-ING AND FRO-ING!

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

January's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Businesses need clarity from government in 2022

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Over 100 destinations urge UK government to deliver 'business booster

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

December's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Plan B: £4bn Loss Predicted for hospitality sector

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Small Business Saturday Spotlight: BRINGING FAMILIES TO TOWN WITH THE HELP OF SNOW QUEENS AND ICE FAIRIES

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Small Business Saturday: Wizard of Oz comes to Saffron Walden

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Small Business Saturday spotlight: Hidden crackers in Nottingham

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs and The Means are delighted with GO! Southampton BIDs successful ballot

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs to welcome new BIDs to the Ballot Buddy portfolio

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

November's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Unemployment is falling, but our recovery is patchy

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

National BIDs Conference 2021

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Budget 2021 - letter to Chancellor

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

October's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

High street app attracts thousands of visitors to Lanark

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

September's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Getting back on track

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

August's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

The future health of our High Street Businesses

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

July's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Freedom day is coming… and BIDs are performing an incredible public service

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

June's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BIDlife

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Our rapidly evolving workspaces

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs appointed to support Swindon renewal ballot

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

May's Insight from Chris Turner - 2021

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Indoor service please

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

ACT NOW FOR A STAND-OUT LIGHTING DISPLAY THIS WINTER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Evidence to The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee on Permitted Development Rights

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Amazon clicks and thirsty punters… now for business rates

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Welcome people back to your high street with Plantscape’s floral displays

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

High streets a part of life?

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BIDlife - Send us your reopening photos

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

April's Insight from Chris Turner - 2021

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

The Big Heart of Merthyr Tydfil BID and Northfield BID achieve Accreditation

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Maybe* - 7 ways to reconnect with your BID levy payers and their customers

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

March’s ballot results – a congratulations from British BIDs

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Ballot Buddy helps achieve a new term for Sheffield BID

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs meets with UK's largest national chains

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

March's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Retail repositioning continues

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Colour and animation for magical lights this Christmas - GALA LIGHTS

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

The recovery Budget delivered, where now for our towns and cities?

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

£1bn Towns Fund for 45 areas in England announced

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

February ballot results – a congratulations from the British BIDs team

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

February's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Letter on proposed new Permitted Development Rights

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Watford BID overcoming the challenges to secure a ‘YES’ vote

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BID ballots during lockdown

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Business Interruption Policy Checker, Christmas Support Payments and Lockdown Guidance and elections

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

The headlines are gloomy, but our future evolved local high street looks exciting

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

As we lose a retail icon, we must embrace the change

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

January's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Digital trends in 2021

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs and Industrial BIDs discuss crime prevention

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Government names 72 high streets in England to share £831m recovery fund

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

A look back on 2020 BID ballots

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

December's insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

#BIDlife - putting the spotlight on our towns and cities!

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

How can and should BIDs be more community focused?

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Christmas lights provide feel-good factor in challenging times

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Welsh guidance about the coronavirus rules that will be in place from 6pm Friday 4 December

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Repurposing our places for the future

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Arcadia Group – Guidance for BIDs, 1 December 2020

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Calling on the Government to do more to support Retail, Hospitality and Leisure

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Increase your footfall over the festive period - Blachere Illumination

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

The shop local and loyal revolution from Scottish fintech Miconex with Town and City Gift Cards and Mi Rewards

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

November's insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

LoyalFree: The high street app helping businesses trade through the lockdown

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BID community prepares for second lockdown

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Job Support Scheme expanded to firms required to close due to Covid Restrictions

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - 1st November 2020

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs congratulates confirmed areas to receive new Town Deals Fund

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Paul Clement steps down from British BIDs after long-standing service

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

October's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs congratulates Melanie Beck on being awarded MBE for ‘Services to the Community’ during Covid-19

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BIDs in the news

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs and Industrial BIDs share best practice

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

September's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs requests extension of 'Eat out To Help Out' Scheme

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

​Bb requests further BID term extension from MHCLG

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Bb to launch new research entitled 'Shaping the Future'

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Your Pontypridd Receives Accreditation

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

August's insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Levy reduction letter from BIDs - download the template

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Local lockdowns and areas of interventions: how to prepare

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs' response on levy payments

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs supports Business Resilience Survey

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Get involved in our response to Government

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Preparing for localised lockdown webinar follow up

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Look back on lockdown - BIDs (part 2)

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

July's insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Webinar with high street expert Bill Grimsey

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Ruth Duston joins British BIDs Advisory Board

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Towns Fund – updated guidance

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Look back on lockdown - BIDs

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

June's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

From BBC news, to virtual meetings & training, we reflect on the past 3 months

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BBC News Channel - Professor Christopher Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Industrial and Business Park BIDs share good practice with virtual networking sessions

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

New research on BIDs and the 'new normal'

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Important announcement: MHCLG BID Loan Fund

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Ed Cooke joins British BIDs Advisory Board

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

THAT WAS THE BB WEEK THAT WAS #9 (W/C 18TH MAY)

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

THAT WAS THE BB WEEK THAT WAS #8 (W/C 11TH MAY)

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

3R Toolkit; Driving recovery in your place

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

THAT WAS THE BB WEEK THAT WAS #7 (W/C 4TH MAY)

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BIDs Advisory Board welcome Resilience Fund

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

THAT WAS THE BB WEEK THAT WAS #6 (W/C 27TH APRIL)

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs announces new research into the recovery of BIDs and urban centres in the ‘new normal’

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs Announces BIDs Resilience Fund

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Government lobbying for BID levy relief during COVID-19

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

THAT WAS THE BB WEEK THAT WAS #5 (W/C 20TH APRIL)

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

New measures to protect UK high street from aggressive rent collection and closure

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs expands Ballot Buddy portfolio

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Sidcup BID achieve British BIDs Accreditation

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Government Survey - your help needed by 22nd April

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

April's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

COVID-19 - Job Retention Scheme Update

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

That Was The Bb Week That Was #3 (W/C 6th April)

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

That Was The Bb Week That Was #2 (W/C 30th March)

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs' Ballot Buddy helps secure a 'yes' vote for West Bromwich BID

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

The Coronavirus Act 2020 and what it means for BIDs

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

That Was The Bb Week That Was #1 (w/c 23rd March)

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BID levy payments and COVID-19

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

New Q&A sessions announced

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Communications support for BIDs

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs Guidance - Q&A

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Business Improvement Districts and their Coronavirus Response

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

March's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Join our live Q&A session this Friday

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

COVID-19: An update for Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs' response to the Chancellor's Budget

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs launches new Advisory Board

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Sunak urged to reform rates that ‘hammer’ local retailers

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

February's Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs partners with Welsh Government

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Business Rates - a representation to the Chancellor for the 2020 Budget

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

New year, new Christmas

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

January's BID Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Celebrate our 10th birthday with us

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs support Plymouth City Centre BID at renewal campaign launch

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

December's BID Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

November's BID Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Digital Lego Trail successful boost to the City Centre

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Can your BID assist school/college leavers in their area to obtain employment locally?

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

October's BID Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

September's BID Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

August's BID Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

July's BID Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

June's Insight from Professor Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs appointed to support West Bromwich BID for renewal ballot

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs appointed to support Sheffield BID with 2020 renewal ballot

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

May's Insight from Professor Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

April's Insight from Professor Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Debenhams Administration - Guidance for BIDs

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

March's BID Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BID Loan Fund Workshops with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee - New Policy Issues

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Celebrating 25 Years in Christmas Lighting - Gala Lights

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

February's BID Insight from Chris Turner

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

InLinkUK - New to our Suppliers Portal

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BID INSIGHT FROM CHRIS TURNER - JANUARY

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BID INSIGHT FROM CHRIS TURNER - DECEMBER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Thank you to our British BIDs members

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BID INSIGHT FROM CHRIS TURNER - NOVEMBER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Autumn Budget 2018: Highlights for the BID industry

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BID INSIGHT FROM CHRIS TURNER - OCTOBER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government BID Loan Fund

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

British BIDs appointed to support South Bank BID with 2019 renewal ballot

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Faster broadband underpins UK BIDs - Openreach

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

National BIDs Conference by Ben Collins

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BID INSIGHT FROM CHRIS TURNER - SEPTEMBER

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Is slow broadband hindering your business and do you want to do something about it?

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BID INSIGHT FROM CHRIS TURNER - AUGUST

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Do Your BID’s Lights Need A Refresh?

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BID INSIGHT FROM CHRIS TURNER - JULY

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Applications for the 2018 Great British High Streets Awards are now open!

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Launch of the Second Grimsey review

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Launch of the Great British High Street Awards 2018

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BID INSIGHT FROM CHRIS TURNER - JUNE

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BID INSIGHT FROM CHRIS TURNER - MAY

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT INDUSTRY CELEBRATES 300 BIDS

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

Check out our photos from the Professional Development Day

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BID INSIGHT FROM CHRIS TURNER - APRIL

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

What you can discover on the new Bb website

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020

BID INSIGHT FROM CHRIS TURNER - MARCH

POSTED ON: 20/04/2020