Twenty four councillors and MK Council employees have taken to MK’s high streets over the last fortnight to give advice and see any issues first hand as ‘non-essential’ local shops started to reopen.
The high street support team listened to retailers, handed out free materials and made sure that measures were right to support safe reopening.
It’s part of MK Council’s ‘Restart, Restore, Renew’ work to support local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, and get the borough’s economic success back on track.
The council has been running a #restartmk campaign on social media where it profiles local retailers at their stores, to boost people’s confidence in to shopping locally while staying safe. The message has reached more than 158,000 people so far.
Hundreds of businesses have visited the council’s website for advice and to download free material including guidance posters and floor stickers.
The council is now talking to other businesses including cafes, bars and hairdressers, who were given the green light from Government to reopen from 4 July.
Cabinet Member Cllr Emily Darlington, who is responsible for MK’s COVID-19 recovery planning said: “I found it really helpful to get out onto some of our high streets to listen to what retailers and shoppers need, and look at how the council can help people to shop more safely. It’s good news that cafes, pubs and hairdressers and some attractions now have clarity on when they can reopen. We’ll keep reaching out to offer advice and support. Of course it’s not a return to normal and we all have a role to play to help MK control the virus.”
In recent weeks MK Council has distributed over £37m to local businesses in government grant funding, and reduced business rates to over 3,000 companies.
