Graham’s GabGRAHAM’S GABLet’s touch base with Graham in this month’s Graham’s gab...must admit I thought I would soonbe out and about again and did notfor one minute think that after twelvemonths we would still be in a form oflockdown – but we are where we areand as I have said let us focus onthe positives that we currently have.Contact DetailsGraham Steedman Business ConsultantMobile number: 07864 673533Email Address: graham@avrouk.comI am very pleased to be able to seethe UK Government – and up to nowScotland as well – start to layout theindividual road maps of how we areall going to begin to move out of thevarying levels of lockdown we findourselves in. I do not think anyonecan deny that so far, the vaccineprogramme has been proceedingexcellently and it is a credit to thoseinvolved how well it has gone – thisis having a positive effect and let’shope that it continues.I see that in respect of the Republicof Ireland that their lockdown is tocontinue until April at the soonest,but equally let’s hope that we are allnow seeing the green shoots and weare all going to come out togetherand ready to get on with the task ofgetting back to normal.Looking ForwardBack in March 2020, COVID-19put an end to my travels aroundthe UK and Ireland meeting AVROmembers as well as joining anypotential members. At the time I06my attention that both the AA andRAC are applying undue pressureon operators to carry passengers.Now one thing that is clear to meis that there is still a very real riskfrom COVID-19, despite the recentpositive news, but the last wavewithin the UK confirmed the risk ofI am particularly pleased to see the new variants and clearly showedcoming on board with AVRO over that the new variants are morethe last eighteen months some forty transmissible.members, including many who havejoined over the last twelve months Each individual operator is firstlyand I think that certainly proves responsible for their health andtestament to the hard work and safety as well as their employeesdedication of AVRO in representing and secondly the public who theyits members.are providing a service to andtransporting. I am aware operatorsI have to say, this pandemic has across all the nations are takingcertainly made us all change our different approaches to carryingways of working, I quite often think passengers; some have taken theback to twenty years ago and think decision they cannot safely do it,could we all have really been able some have reduced, and some haveto carry on like we have without the fitted screens, but what all operatorsmodern technology that we have are doing is they are doing the besttoday. Twelve months ago, not they can in difficult circumstances –many of us would have even known there are simply so many factors towhat Zoom or Teams was, but now take into consideration.we are using this technology everyday and to a certain degree I see it Some operators are a smallcontinuing.operation, so the risk to one or twomembers of staff going down withI have to say, despite being confined others in isolation is just simply tooto home, I have been kept busy and high. Some may have employeesit has been a pleasure to continue that are high risk – all of this mustassisting members and particularly be factored into an operator’snew members. As always if I cannot individual risk assessment and workanswer your questions, I will do my processes and as far as my opinionbest to find the person who can and counts it should be a case that allthat usually means me calling on the work providers are supporting theirexpertise 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 businesspartners.I am aware many work providersare continuing to support theirCarrying Passengersnetworks by providing alternativetransport for passengers or dealingStill a very difficult situation for our with their members at the front endmembers and it is a topic that is of the assistance and encouragingbrought up in my conversations their members to seek their ownalmost daily. It was brought to alternative arrangements – Call
It seems that your browser's pop-up blocker has prevented us from opening a new window/tab. Please click the button below to open the link manually.
