A brand new scheme is being piloted in Eastbourne, helping tourism businesses to reopen safely and adapt to industry changes.
The scheme, which is funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, brings regulatory bodies together into one place to help support businesses with essential advice from dealing with fire safety and signposting allergens to hosting outdoor events.
Providing pre-recorded webinars featuring step by step advice from experts, the scheme aims to support reopening businesses and those looking to diversify their offering, while new business owners opening for the first time will also benefit from the advice in the future.
The Eastbourne Hospitality Association organised scheme is backed by East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, East Sussex County Council Trading Standards and Eastbourne Borough Council Environmental Health and Licensing, with experts from each getting behind the camera to provide pre-recorded webinars, online resources and live Q&A sessions.
Eastbourne Hospitality Association Vice Chair Kristian Hayter said “We’re delighted to be working with our Primary Authority partners and the Office for Product Safety and Standards on this innovative new pilot project. We know it can be time consuming to research the vast array of business regulations and this project aims to streamline this process, bringing expert advice to business owners, helping them meet their legal safety obligations and ultimately improve the standard and productivity of their business.
It is particularly relevant now, after such a long period of closure for many tourism businesses and with many potentially adding new offerings such as takeaway and outdoor events, this is an ideal time to reach out and develop a stronger working relationship between our regulatory bodies and their clients, giving our businesses the confidence to reopen safely.”
The scheme follows on from the success of the town’s COVID-Ready quality mark scheme and if successful, it is anticipated that the pilot scheme could be rolled out to all parts of the UK.
Eastbourne businesses can access pre-recorded webinars and sign up to Q&A sessions for free at VisitEastbourne.com/reopening-your-business.
New tourism business can receive support and advice from the Eastbourne Hospitality Association, and subsidised copies of VisitEngland’s ‘Pink Book’ which features the industry safety standards for accommodation, are also available to order for free.
Businesses can still sign up to become COVID-Ready at VisitEastbourne.com/Covid-Ready and access the toolkit and Primary Authority approved risk assessments online, with free welcome packs and window stickers for eligible businesses.
For more information visit VisitEastbourne.com/reopening-your-business.
Press release from Visit Eastbourne website
Image credit: Claire474 from Pixabay
