Middlesbrough Council and Business Doctors have teamed up to offer businesses in Middlesbrough the chance to take part in a free one hour online Covid-19 resilience planning seminar and follow up one-to-one online support.
Business leaders who have already taken part in the sessions have described them as "reassuring", "interesting" and "really useful".
Cllr Ashley Waters, Middlesbrough Council's Executive Member for Regeneration, said: "Businesses thrive when they implement a well thought out plan. It is vital business owners spend some time now planning for the future and assessing what they need to do now to ensure your business is successful as we come out of lockdown. Businesses need to anticipate obstacles that will arise in the coming weeks and months and set a course for the business.
"I'd also like to say thank you to teams across the Council who have worked so hard and adapted to all of the challenges that have risen. Their hard work has already put so many of our businesses in a stronger position to survive and thrive after this."
The COVID-19 Planning Workshop and Toolkit will benefit business owners who:
- Want to feel more in control and have confidence that their business can survive and recover
- Are seeking to establish a 180-day battle plan to tackle the immediate challenges due to COVID-19
- Need clarity on current cash planning and to create reliable scenario projections and forecasts
- Would like to understand how to assess any shortfall in cash, and present a coherent case for raising funds and grant applications
- Are looking to refocus their sales activities around immediate short-term opportunities
- Want to motivate, engage and sustain their workforce
- Like to have the security of having full visibility and control of their business on daily basis.
Among those who have already taken part, Dot Smith, CEO of Recovery Connections (Fork in the Road restaurant), said: "It was a really useful session and helped me have some more clarity as to the tasks I need to do as a matter of importance. I was reassured in lots of ways that I am on the right track at least and it was good to hear other businesses were similar. It can be overwhelming in lots of ways exploring what to do for the best in preparation for mobilising the business again."
Collin Donaldson of Triads added: "Pretty interesting listening to different businesses organising themselves to move forward."
- To take part in these sessions you must be within the Middlesbrough Council local authority area. Only available to businesses that have not already taken part in the Business Doctors planning sessions being delivered by other organisations. Online seminars will take place week beginning May 25, 2020.To book a place or for more information please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
