Press & Policy

Responding to the publication of the Scottish Government’s roadmap for Scotland through and out of the Covid-19 crisis, Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:

“This route map on the staged exit of lock down is a welcome and helpful start. Businesses have been clear they need practical guidance on when they can return to the workplace and what measures they need to put in place to ensure the safety of their staff and customers.

Many employers have already implemented preventative measures to protect our employees and our customers and we ask that the publication of detailed sectoral guidelines are accelerated to support businesses to prepare.  Whilst today’s route map helps us to understand the sequencing of relaxing the lockdown, the absence of a more detailed time plan for each phase still means that businesses, employees and consumers cannot make plans with complete certainty.

Focus until now has correctly been on protecting lives but we need to start balancing this with safeguarding jobs and the economy. This can be achieved with business and Government working together and we are pleased to see Scottish Government emphasising a partnership approach in today’s document. This recognises it is our joint responsibilities to take the necessary steps to keep the virus under control while re-starting our economy together.

The Scottish Chambers of Commerce Network, will work proactively with Scottish Government to help deliver ways of working that will ensure the health of people in Scotland is maintained and our economy is protected.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making – Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis – https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-framework-decision-making-scotlands-route-map-through-out-crisis/

Press Office:

• Colin Campbell, cc*******@******************rg.uk – 07921 041 344

• The Scottish Chambers of Commerce is Scotland’s largest business network with over 12,000 business members, across a network of 30 regional Chambers of Commerce, providing business support, business intelligence and business connections: https://www.scottishchambers.org.uk/

• In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, SCC has created a new Covid-19 Support Hub with access to resources, support and advice, designed to support business communities with the effects of the global pandemic​