Crawley businesses need more support to bounce back from pandemic

This message was delivered loud and clear by business owners and Steve Sawyer, executive director of the Manor Royal Business Improvement District, during a visit by shadow minister Rachel Reeves MP.

The group gathered in the sunshine opposite Thales where they discussed the impact the pandemic has had on the town and their businesses, gaps in the financial support system, and plans for the future.

Mr Sawyer said: “The impact of Covid has been well reported in terms of how it’s affected Crawley. 

“We’ve seen here in Manor Royal a huge number of businesses who have failed to get the support that they need to be able to survive the crisis and to recover.

“What we’d like to see the government do is to ensure that the money and support that businesses need gets to the right places at the right time to allow these companies to bounce back.

“The sooner they bounce back, the better Crawley will be, the better UK Plc will be because so many places rely on the success of Crawley to do well.”

Mr Sawyer was joined by Chris Meeking, MD of aviation supply chain Avtura, and Gevin White, MD of hospitality supply chain Co-ordination Catering Hire.

One of the concerns shared by the two businessmen was the level of help offered to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors compared to that offered to firms like theirs, which actually supply those sectors.

Mr Meeking, who has a staff of ten working from Metcalf Way, warned this could cause problems as the country gets back on its feet.

He said: “It’s a supply chain. And the problem is that if you don’t protect the supply chain and all the SMEs [small to medium enterprises], when it does come back, if we’ve all gone, the airport will be turning round and saying ‘we’re ready to go’ and nothing will happen.

“Because if you lose those SMEs, the place will come to a standstill.”