The shape of things to come for shoppers and businesses in Halifax as post-lockdown plans start to take shape

The first easing of lockdown measures was announced earlier this month, while the government has given the green light for more shops to re-open from June 15.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has endorsed plans for a cycle route from Bailiff Bridge to Rastrick via Brighouse and a walking zone in Halifax, while at a meeting of the authority, Calderdale councillor Daniel Sutherland questioned if the roads would ever return to normal after lockdown.

He said: “Will people want to pub a financial investment into a car they may not be able to use for weeks at a time?

“A lot more people will be working from home. We’ll probably see businesses do 50/50 working (where people work from home half the time) and people working more flexible hours. We’ll probably see a lot less cars on the road.” 

Coun Tim Swift, Calderdale Council’s Leader, said: “We continue to work with public and private sector organisations to plan the local recovery and reset of how we’ll work to ensure a safe future for everyone, and to rebuild our place and economy. Our recovery priorities are to create safe spaces, safe transport, safe workplaces, safe communities, safe education and safe care.

“Our work on our 10-point plan, which is driving our response to the COVID-19 crisis, is ongoing. Point five of the plan is about supporting businesses, and helping them will remain a key part of the recovery. We also want them, and local residents, to help shape the recovery and what the ‘new normal’ should look like, making the most of the talent and enterprise that define our borough.

“Over the coming months and years we will be managing the risks and impacts of COVID-19, but also building on the innovative solutions and opportunities that have emerged in recent weeks, such as flexible working and steps to tackle climate change.

“We are also working with regional partner organisations, such as the West Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. I am a member of the West Yorkshire Economic Recovery Board, which aims to rebuild the economy and minimise the impact on disadvantaged communities and the environment.”

Chloe McNeil, from Halifax BID, said: “While absolutely vital for public health, it’s clear that the UK-wide lockdown has had an inevitably damaging impact on town centre businesses everywhere, including Halifax.

“Far less clear is what will happen as the restrictions are lifted and we return to
a so-called ‘new normal’.”Predicting outcomes and planning ahead is extremely difficult in these circumstances, not least because the scale and nature of this situation is unprecedented.”Another major obstacle to predicting and planning is the fact that the situation is shifting on a daily basis, in terms of the scientific knowledge and data at our disposal, and also in response to rapidly evolving government guidelines and policy.

“At BID, we’re working very hard to keep up with all the latest research and thinking around how businesses and individuals will – and should – respond to the easing of lockdown, particularly in the areas of everyday life, consumer behaviour and working routines.

“Arming ourselves with as much information as possible is, in turn, enabling us to put our minds to a range of possible initiatives and campaigns designed to help Halifax businesses recover as fully and quickly as possible in the months ahead.

“One of the areas we’re looking at is ways in which we can re-establish Halifax as a great place to visit, once it’s safe to do so.

“Research shows that spending time with family and friends has been one of the things the public has missed most during lockdown.

“At BID, we think that promoting Halifax as a great place to socialise and reunite, where it is safe to do so, might be an excellent way to generate more trade for local businesses, especially those in the leisure and hospitality sector.

“A shift towards more flexible working and working from home is a likely aspect of the new normal, and it’s true that this might impact on levels of footfall in our town centre.

“Many businesses and employees have discovered for the first time technologies that enable them to attend meetings, conferences and training
using online platforms, and that is set to continue.

“While this could bring various tangible benefits like less road traffic, reduced environmental damage and precious time saved in the working day, it’s only fair to acknowledge concerns around the effect it could have on town centre trade.

“In light of this we’re looking into schemes to allow online access to the high street, which helps retailers do business online, and initiatives like Totally Locally, which promotes local shopping, not least because surveys show that the public has a renewed appetite for supporting their local traders.

“Customers will always need to buy goods and services, and we’ll support their efforts to source them locally and safely however we can, exactly as we have done since BID’s creation.

“More than anything, it’s clear that the outbreak of Covid-19 and the ensuing lockdown have forced us all to learn some important new lessons about business resilience to pandemics.”Even so, by continuing to pool our knowledge and resources with partner agencies, and also working more closely with the levy payers whose interests we act in, we’re quietly confident that we can help make Halifax a commercially and physically safer place in the future.”

Martin Hathaway, Managing Director, Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “There are certainly further changes on the horizon for businesses over the coming months. The lockdown has demonstrated a new way of working across the business community which can be just as productive - if not more - than travelling to and from the office every day as well as a reduced need for office space in remote areas.

“The majority of businesses have now invested in the appropriate IT infrastructure to enable employees to work remotely, so it certainly makes sense for them to maximise the impact of this investment by utilising what has been set up, even when the time comes that they don’t have to.

“I’ve also been speaking to business leaders across the region that have become more flexible on working hours, which is crucial for those trying to adjust to home-schooling schedules for example.

“In some sectors, the unique approach to business ‘opening hours’ has in fact boosted customer contact opportunities.

“Having said that, the retail sector has been hit particularly hard and will need a great deal of support to recover, post Covid-19. Strong initiatives to drive consumers back into the town centre will be vital for their survival.

“An increase in reshoring to avoid future supply chain issues is also going to be a likely development in the coming months. Many of our exporters have seen little reduction in orders and are now beginning to explore new markets, many seeing opportunities from Brexit and new trading relationships around the globe.

“It’s great to hear of so many recently furloughed or redundant individuals that have been using their time productively too, to undertake training and development. These new skills will potentially allow them to pursue alternative opportunities in the future.”
Alison Bartram, from the Hebden Bridge Business Forum, said: “We have been thinking about the ‘new normal’ for our small independent businesses here at the Hebden Bridge Business Forum for most of the last eight weeks.

“Some businesses have already adapted and created their own new way of working through these initial weeks of restrictions in order to try to continue to trade.

“These have included implementing new hours and safe working environments to continue to supply food and goods from their current premises. Some great examples of these are Weighsted on Bridge Gate, Blue Sky Baker on Cheetham Street and Valley Organics and Saker Bakery on Market Street in Hebden Bridge. Some have also introduced delivery options as well, keeping those vulnerable and shielding at home fed and watered.

“Ryburne Insurance Brokers fortunately reacted very quickly before the lockdown to ensure all employees could work from home with full office facilities, whilst Simon and Paula have carried on working at the office in Hebden Bridge with the reception closed.

“To keep the loyal and personal touch going, staff have been calling every customer with a home, motor or business policy renewal due. They are open to handle any changes to existing business, deal with claims or provide new quotes. Ryburne Brokers aim to show that customers can shop locally, get professional advice from real people and still save money and this hasn’t changed during lockdown.

“Many other non-essential retailers have sadly not been open and not been able to trade as they don’t have online facilities in place and this has been a huge blow to those as sales dried up overnight. These businesses, such as Heart Gallery on Market Street, have however been inventive with social media and video posting trying to make sure their businesses are not forgotten. 
“Dragonfly Boutique in The Square in Hebden Bridge has an online shop but owner Joanne has been posting regular videos including a virtual fashion show using clips sent in from her customers which received a lot of views and support.

“Another business successfully adapting has been Colour Yorkshire at Mytholmroyd; Kate has been extremely busy with so many people furloughed at home and has worked tirelessly and safely in her new premises to fulfil the demand for DIYers.

“Early indication is that from the beginning of July most non essential retail shops will open but with shorter hours so that perhaps not all staff will be taken off furlough at once.

“Businesses are worried about doing this if there are not enough customers to go round. Flexible working is a great start to begin to dip toes back in to getting in to a new working routine without it being retail suicide. Going forward it’s hard to predict what will happen to some of these businesses if visitor numbers take a long time to return to normal and we sincerely hope that we all make it through.

“It’s all about consumer confidence so it is hoped that the latest incentive by the Business Forum to produce branded masks for shops and businesses will help locals and visitors feel safe when they begin to return to Hebden Bridge and a new but possibly quieter normal initially. We feel that more people will choose to travel here in their own cars as they will feel safer doing so we want them to still feel safe when they arrive.”
Two of Halifax’s biggest employers say there will be no rush back to office working when the lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Covea Insurance and Lloyds Banking Group both have plans in place for staff returning to work, but are preparing for some preferring to work from home.

Adrian Furness, Chief Operating Officer at Covéa Insurance, who employ just over 1,100 people at Dean Clough, said: “Our employees have adapted well to working from home.

“Early on, the business acted swiftly to put in place resources to enable this, pre- lockdown.

“It’s a great credit to everyone that we’ve remained fully operational throughout, maintaining a near normal service to our customers.

“This means we’re not under any pressure to return to the office, although we’re also mindful that some are keen to get back as soon as possible for the social contact.”Taking everything into account, we’re currently considering reopening the office in stages, so those who want to return can as soon as safety measures are in place and those that don’t can continue to work at home.

“Longer term we are assuming others will want to continue working from home as well, so it’s likely to be a mix of both.”

Lloyds Banking Group said they are not asking the majority of staff to return to work premises at this time and that they are following central and devolved government guidelines to ensure the wellbeing of staff and customers and continue to monitor the situation closely.

All staff who can carry out their roles from home have been asked to do so, and they expect this to remain the case for some time for the majority of staff so that they can minimise the number of people who need to travel and to maintain social distancing.

They said there will be no rush back to the office, now, or when the lockdown restrictions lift, and that they have rolled out the technology and training to enable around 45,000 staff to work from home, up from the previous level of around 15,000 prior to the crisis.