Welsh government urged to remove working from home guidance

Responding to the launch of First Minister Mark Drakeford’s Together for Safer Future Plan, on living safely with coronavirus, the trade body said it welcomed the shift to a more long-term focus.

“Footfall remains low, however, particularly in high-street and city centre locations and so we would urge the Welsh Government to remove its guidance to continue to work from home, in order to revive our once vibrant high streets,” says UKHospitality’s executive director Dave Chapman.

“Business is by no means back to pre-pandemic levels yet and, as we approach the second anniversary of the first lockdown, the Welsh hospitality sector still faces huge challenges. Businesses remain fragile and are carrying large amounts of debt.”

Last week the trade body is called for pavement licences for hospitality businesses to be made permanent to help the sector make a faster post-pandemic recovery.

Outdoor drinking and dining areas have become very popular over the past two years, helping secure survival for some businesses otherwise unable to serve customers indoors due to coronavirus restrictions.

“Pavement licences have been a really positive success story, and in many cases have enabled businesses to remain open, when otherwise they would have had to close or restrict their opening hours, threatening thousands of jobs,” says UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls.