Coronavirus: step up to the challenge and pull together

Like many business leaders, our senior team have faced a tumultuous few weeks preparing the Group for the likely effects of the government’s measures to tackle the Coronavirus outbreak.

In dealing with the many different stakeholders of our business – customers, colleagues, suppliers, and shareholders – I have found the biggest potential issue is fear of the unknown and ensuring that people don’t panic.

I understand that we all have to fight against this and have to acknowledge that in these unprecedented times, even the most robust people will have the occasional wobble. My only advice is to take deep breaths, have periods of calmness, eat the right food where we can and exercise moderately if we can.

The advice in an aircraft emergency is to look after yourself first to enable you to help others. We will get used to the new reality quickly and familiarity will reduce fear and panic. We have to remain strong as a community and look after each other whether family or not.

We also clearly need to make sure that we not only follow the self-isolation rules at the right time but maintain some semblance of normality as much as possible. It is a given that we must maintain the personal hygiene disciplines the government has suggested.

If Britain follows the pattern of other countries, we will see widespread school closures and lockdowns. The timing of this will be determined by the government or when schools run out of teachers. Clearly we are mindful of the impact of this both on colleagues and the business and are continuing to monitor the situation and work with Government as a sector.

One area I’d like to highlight in advance is that it’s possible there will be a general lockdown. In our business this would include retail showrooms but exclude service and parts departments.

Our investigations suggest this is what has happened in France. Our service and parts departments perform a vital function in repairing and maintaining not only the vans that deliver food and goods, the ambulances and police cars that do their work as a public service but also millions of people who will be required to continue to work in difficult conditions particularly in the NHS and other emergency services, food distribution and other sectors. I have no details on this but we will do our bit in keeping Britain moving and supplies getting through.

I was pleased by the announcement from the Chancellor. It created a lot more certainty around how businesses will be funded and supported to make sure that when this virus is less prevalent, we have strong businesses with which to rebuild from the short term shock to the economy. It should give our 6000 colleagues more confidence for the future.

I have never seen a stimulus package like it and that is because I have never seen anything like this current situation. Everyone should have confidence that this government is now very much gearing up to provide the necessary support to make sure that Britain emerges in the best possible situation in the circumstances.

We should also take heart from the experience of the countries in advance of us with the virus. There is some semblance of normality returning to the likes of South Korea and indeed China. In the meantime, I have taken to watching war films like The Cruel Sea, to gain inspiration from the previous generations of our country who have tackled emergencies just like this one. Our forefathers faced great challenges over the centuries from disease, war, failed harvests et cetera. Now it is our time to step up to the challenge, summon up individual effort and pull together.

Robert Forrester is CEO of Vertu Motors