By Sandy Bell, President of Chew Valley Chamber of Commerce. Regular announcements about a relaxing of lockdown mean we are edging back towards normality, with more businesses opening and people beginning to gain the confidence to go out and about. But I think a cloud of nervousness will exist for some time to come and that will impact on how we work and live our lives. For example, there are many older people who still have jobs and run businesses. They have done brilliantly

As the lockdown is gradually relaxed individuals will start getting used to the new normal, keeping apart from other people, wearing gloves and face coverings. For businesses things are not so straightforward. Some, such as the hospitality sector, have been completely shut but many companies have found what I have termed a “holding pattern”, operating with a largely or wholly home based workforce and so keeping their heads just above water. Productivity and team work will hav