November/December Issue 59 - Flipbook - Page 6
Graham’s Gab
GRAHAM’S GAB
Let’s touch base with Graham in this month’s Graham’s gab...
must admit I thought I would soon
be out and about again and did not
for one minute think that after twelve
months we would still be in a form of
lockdown – but we are where we are
and as I have said let us focus on
the positives that we currently have.
Contact Details
Graham Steedman Business Consultant
Mobile number: 07864 673533
Email Address: graham@avrouk.com
I am very pleased to be able to see
the UK Government – and up to now
Scotland as well – start to layout the
individual road maps of how we are
all going to begin to move out of the
varying levels of lockdown we find
ourselves in. I do not think anyone
can deny that so far, the vaccine
programme has been proceeding
excellently and it is a credit to those
involved how well it has gone – this
is having a positive effect and let’s
hope that it continues.
I see that in respect of the Republic
of Ireland that their lockdown is to
continue until April at the soonest,
but equally let’s hope that we are all
now seeing the green shoots and we
are all going to come out together
and ready to get on with the task of
getting back to normal.
Looking Forward
Back in March 2020, COVID-19
put an end to my travels around
the UK and Ireland meeting AVRO
members as well as joining any
potential members. At the time I
06
my attention that both the AA and
RAC are applying undue pressure
on operators to carry passengers.
Now one thing that is clear to me
is that there is still a very real risk
from COVID-19, despite the recent
positive news, but the last wave
within the UK confirmed the risk of
I am particularly pleased to see the new variants and clearly showed
coming on board with AVRO over that the new variants are more
the last eighteen months some forty transmissible.
members, including many who have
joined over the last twelve months Each individual operator is firstly
and I think that certainly proves responsible for their health and
testament to the hard work and safety as well as their employees
dedication of AVRO in representing and secondly the public who they
its members.
are providing a service to and
transporting. I am aware operators
I have to say, this pandemic has across all the nations are taking
certainly made us all change our different approaches to carrying
ways of working, I quite often think passengers; some have taken the
back to twenty years ago and think decision they cannot safely do it,
could we all have really been able some have reduced, and some have
to carry on like we have without the fitted screens, but what all operators
modern technology that we have are doing is they are doing the best
today. Twelve months ago, not they can in difficult circumstances –
many of us would have even known there are simply so many factors to
what Zoom or Teams was, but now take into consideration.
we are using this technology every
day and to a certain degree I see it Some operators are a small
continuing.
operation, so the risk to one or two
members of staff going down with
I have to say, despite being confined others in isolation is just simply too
to home, I have been kept busy and high. Some may have employees
it has been a pleasure to continue that are high risk – all of this must
assisting members and particularly be factored into an operator’s
new members. As always if I cannot individual risk assessment and work
answer your questions, I will do my processes and as far as my opinion
best to find the person who can and counts it should be a case that all
that usually means me calling on the work providers are supporting their
expertise of my colleagues in AVRO networks and operators so in turn,
National Council or one of our many they can continue to support them.
Associate members and business
partners.
I am aware many work providers
are continuing to support their
Carrying Passengers
networks by providing alternative
transport for passengers or dealing
Still a very difficult situation for our with their members at the front end
members and it is a topic that is of the assistance and encouraging
brought up in my conversations their members to seek their own
almost daily. It was brought to alternative arrangements – Call
