Government publishes COVID-19 recovery strategy

The Gove! rnment has today published a 60-page document outlining the UK Government’s plan for rebuilding and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The document, which the Government hopes will provide a roadmap for exiting the lockdown and living with the virus, included three specific areas of interest for members:

• Workplace safety guidelines - Later this week, the Government will publish new guidelines that will set out how each type of physical space can be adapted to operate safely. The BVRLA is developing some sector-specific operational guidance for the vehicle rental and leasing sectors and this will be published once the association has been able to cross-check it against the new Government material.
• Reduced public transport use – People that must travel to work are being advised to avoid public transport. The BVRLA is working with officials at the DfT to ascertain what role the vehicle rental and car club sector could play in helping staff with any commuting or business travel needs.
• Winding down of support measures – The Government describes these as ‘extraordinarily costly’ and says they ‘cannot be sustained for a prolonged period’. The BVRLA continues to engage with policymakers on ways in which the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme can be wound down as it supports a gradual return to work for many furloughed workers.

PM’s announcement splits Covid messaging across the UK

Yesterday the Prime Minister addressed the nation, announcing a new change in emphasis replacing the ‘Stay home’ message with ‘Stay alert’, stating that those who cannot work from home should now be encouraged to return to work.

Althoug h the Prime Minister suggested that there is consensus across the devolved nations, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have made clear that they will be sticking with the ‘Stay home’ message as they believe it is too early to ask people to leave their homes and go back to work.

The PM’s announcement sets out a ‘conditional’ roadmap for the slow easing of restrictions based on whether people follow the rules and achieve satisfactory levels for the five tests, which require that we must:

• protect our NHS
• see sustained falls in the death rate
• see sustained and considerable falls in the rate of infection
• sort out our challenges in getting enough PPE to the people who need it
• make sure that any measures we take do not force the reproduction rate of the disease - the R - back up over one

If these are at a satisfactory level, then the easing of restrictions can progress. If not, then restrictions will remain, be re-introduced or be further strengthened.

Public advised to cover faces in enclosed spaces 

The public is advised to consider wearing face coverings in enclosed public spaces to help reduce the spread of coronavirus although face coverings are not a replacement for social distancing and regular handwashing, which remain the most important actions. 

New BVRLA webinar: Working with COVID-19

As the Government begins lifting the COVID-19 lockdown, a new BVRLA webinar will give a status report on the recovery of the automotive market.

On Wednesday May 20th, the BVRLA will join forces with expert speakers from Autotrader, cap hpi, the FLA and Jardine Motor Group to give members a steer on:

• Current COVID-19 priorities for the BVRLA
• Motor finance
• Consumer confidence
• Used vehicle market and outlook
• Vehicle movements

“Businesses and consumers are starting to think about how they recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and the lockdown,” said BVRLA Director of Corporate Affairs, Toby Poston.

“Within the automotive industry, people are assessing the state of their own sector and making plans for how they can operate safely while the virus remains a threat.

“By bringing experts together from across the industry, we can provide BVRLA members with a holistic view of what is happening within their wider supply chain - giving them greater confidence in building their own recovery plans.”

The webinar will be hosted by Lee Hamlett, ! Chairman of the BVRLA’s RVR (Residual Values and Remarketing) Committee.

BVRLA members can register for this free event here.  

Staying safe outside your home

The Government has published guidance to set out the principles you should follow to ensu! re that time spent with others outside your home is as safe as possible.

If you are clinically vulnerable or extremely vulnerable, you should follow the guidance on social distancing and for vulnerable people.

New road signs for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to help social distancing

The Department for Transport has issued statutory guidance for local authorities to help reallocate road space to ensure adherence to social distancing rules.

The Government hopes that people will avoid public transport and will instead travel by car or if possible, walk or cycle.

On Friday, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also announced a £2 billion package to put cycling and walking at the heart of Government’s transport policy.

The BVRLA website is updated daily with Covid-19 Business advice and information

As well as receiving these Covid-19 Bulletin emails, members are also reminded that the BVRLA website contains a dedicated Covid-19 Business Advice section hosting all the latest information as well as the previous Covid-19 Bulletins that have been issued since they launched on 17 March.

If you have a colleague who would also like to receive the BVRLA Covid-19 Bulletin, they should email BVRLA Communications Manager Andrea Davies at andrea@bvrla.co.uk