“We will bounce back,” says
Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston.
It’s going to be tough,
but we will bounce back
Middlesbrough mayor
Andy Preston’s defiant
coronavirus message
N
ow is the time to stand up and fight – but
also to stand together. That’s my message
to Teesside businesses and the many
employees who will now be understandably
concerned about their futures.
Life feels completely unfair right now. The
sheer speed and nature of the coronavirus
pandemic and its devastating effect on our
economy has left our region, along with most of
the world, in a state of shock.
Of course, our priority is to save lives and
our actions to do so have inevitably meant our
businesses have taken a big hit. Unfortunately,
we don’t know exactly how long it will be before
normality returns, which makes it so much harder
to plan a way forward.
But sooner or later we will definitely come
through this. And I am absolutely certain our
businesses will bounce back, brimming with as
much, if not more, ambition, innovation and drive
as they had before we were hit by this crisis
beyond our control.
As the coronavirus crisis took control, my initial
reaction was that I should drop the feature on
the opposite page about Boho X and our plans
to make Middlesbrough the UK’s digital city. But
I then realised that would send out the wrong
message.
Because while our ambitious digital plans are
likely to be delayed by the Covid-19 outbreak,
they definitely have not been cancelled. Will the
pandemic delay the start of building work on
Boho X? Almost certainly. But it will be just that –
a delay. It’s a blow but it’s not a fatal blow.
We will bounce back. And it is that same
defiant, resourceful and determined attitude that
is a part of so many Teessiders that will ensure
our businesses bounce back too.
Things will be tough, of course. Businesses will
struggle. Some may inevitably fail. Jobs will be
lost, many talented people will suffer redundancy
through no fault of their own, and there will be
times when life feels bleak.
But this unprecedented situation, as horrible as
it is, won’t be forever. We’re pushing on with our
ambition for Boho X and many other incredible
projects and innovations. If this crisis slows things
down, then so be it, but our ambition remains
completely unbowed.
In the meantime, let’s stick together, look out
for each other, take this opportunity to reassess
what’s important and be ready to make the post-
coronavirus era a boom period for Teesside.
Coronavirus business support
Before Tees Business went to press, the UK government had
made key business promises including:
> All retail/hospitality/leisure businesses to receive 100 per cent
business rates holiday for the next 12 months.
> Any retail/hospitality/leisure businesses operating from
premises with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000
to receive £25,000 grant.
> Any small business currently in receipt of Small Business Rates
Relief to receive £10,000 grant.
> Job Retention Scheme, whereby all employers can access
support to continue paying 80% of staff who would otherwise
be laid off.
Any business based in the Middlesbrough Council authority
area that falls into any of the above categories will be contacted
with the next steps.
The voice of business in the Tees region | 41