EAST MIDLANDS FIRMS BACK PACE OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN EASING
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 6 April 2021
The majority of East Midlands businesses support the pace of easing of lockdown restrictions, according to the latest data from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking research, with two-thirds ready to operate at close to full capacity when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted from Monday, 12 April.
- Six in ten (60%) East Midlands businesses support the pace of easing lockdown restrictions
- Two-thirds (66%) say they can operate at close to full capacity when restrictions are lifted
When asked whether their business would have preferred or benefitted from a different pace of easing, 60% said they preferred neither a faster nor slower easing of restrictions. However, a net balance of 29% of firms said they would have preferred a faster route out of lockdown and just 11% said they would have preferred a slower easing of restrictions. The majority of those questioned (66%) said they will be able to operate at 80% capacity or more when restrictions for their sector are lifted.
The results of the research come a week after Lloyds Bank’s Business Barometer research revealed that UK 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. The East Midlands registered its highest confidence reading since February 2020, with 20% of firms planning to increase their staff levels in the next 12 months.
Amanda Dorel, regional director for the East Midlands at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said:
“After such a turbulent time, it’s uplifting to see that the majority of East Midlands firms will be able to operate at close to full capacity when restrictions for their sector end. This will stand the region in good stead on the road to economic recovery.
“There will undoubtedly be more challenges ahead, but we will remain by the side of businesses across the region to support them through their recovery.”
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