A former Business Secretary has urged firms across Coventry and Warwickshire to get as many people back to work as possible in order to kickstart the economy.
Andrea Leadsom MP, a former Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, is the latest figure to speak to companies across the area as part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s #PolicyHour series.
The event was also joined by members of the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce as it was an opportunity for firms across the region to find out more about the Government’s support on offer and raise questions.
The MP for South Northamptonshire, who was educated at the University of Warwick, told the audience of businesspeople that the economy needed as many people back in to the workplace as possible – providing it is safe to do so.
She said: “Business and Government must work hand-in-hand to get the economy going again.
“During lockdown, we saw people working from home in vast numbers but we now have to get more businesses back up and running and back to normal.
“So we’d encourage businesses to get the workforce back into the workplace, providing it is safe.
“This is a really important period as we get the economy moving forward again and we would call upon every entrepreneur and every business – large and small – to help get us going again.
“The Chancellor has recognised the need for urgent action over the past few months to help as many businesses as possible come through the crisis. It’s now vitally important that as many businesses get back to work as quickly as possible to really get our economy going.”
Louise Wall, Group Commercial Director of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Our #PolicyHour sessions have proved to be a great way of businesses speaking directly to decision-makers throughout this crisis.
“We were very grateful to Andrea Leadsom MP for joining us and for answering members’ questions so openly and honestly.
"As a Chamber, we are encouraging employers to consult with their workforce from August 1 about a safe return to their workplaces. This was very much echoed by Andrea on the call. It will be an important step for both confidence and the economy to get people back to work in a COVID secure way."