It is so good to see businesses re-opening and our shops, hairdressers, gyms, pubs and venues once again welcoming customers.  It has been worrying times for those unable to trade during lockdown and the Chamber hopes that customers will come out in force to support local businesses.  Of course, we must also remember those companies and employees that have continued to work throughout this pandemic, the essential workers of the NHS and care services, as well as the supermarket staff, post and parcel company employees, utility workers, public transport staff and the many more who have kept the country running throughout the last year.

The country has been here before but this time we are lifting restrictions with the backing of an unbelievably successful vaccine roll-out.

How many of us back in December would have believed that it was possible to vaccinate such a huge number of people in just a few months, at times hitting over 800,000 jabs per day? This amazing achievement has been made possible by the hard work and dedication of a team of thousands: the NHS staff putting in extra hours, the army and St John’s Ambulance as well as a huge number of members of the public volunteering their spare time to get the jabs done.

With this amazing effort underpinning the lifting of restrictions, the Crowborough Chamber hopes that the country can continue moving forward out of lockdown so that all businesses can benefit from a return to more normal trading.  In the meantime, we would like everyone to work together to make things run smoothly.  Please respect the social distancing and sanitising guidelines when visiting premises and be prepared to supply contact details at certain venues.  

If customers experience an issue, we encourage them to speak with staff or owners in order to highlight the problem and give the business a chance to rectify it.   

For more information please visit our website www.crowboroughchamber.co.uk