RESET, RETURN, REFRESH, REVITALISE. That’s our motto for the New Year at Gilson Gray.
The Festive Season, and in particular New Year, are always times for reflection on the year which has passed and the anticipation of the year to come. 2020 will leave us with a great deal more to think about than most years. The impact Coronavirus has had on people’s lives is incredible and in many cases, unquantifiable. There has been physical and personal loss which can never be measured. Unfortunately, there has also been business and economic loss. The measure of this will be the state of our economy, potential recession and, unfortunately, the very clear and damaging impact this has had on our licensed trade and hospitality sector.
Positive action has been taken. Although the case was unsuccessful, action was taken by licensees challenging Edinburgh remaining in a higher level. A pre-action letter has also been lodged re a potential Judicial Review by trade bodies representing different areas of the licensed trade. Each of these actions puts a spotlight on the way the licensed trade has been treated and the fact changes must come. Articles from OnTrade Scotland, conversations with an MSP or local councillor, and each Tweet and post are all positive steps. They highlight the issues for the trade and stress that restrictions must be justified and carefully thought through, taking into account all of the evidence.
The Festive season is normally a time at Gilson Gray when our licensed trade and hospitality clients are extremely busy. All fit outs, upgrades, business reorganisation and other matters are put on hold from November until mid-January, when the sheer volume of trade has passed and operators have had the chance to draw a breath. The only time they want to see us is at their tables or on the customer side of the bar!
Whether or not it is the case that decisions made can be justified, the focus does have to be on moving forward and looking at what can now be done in a new normal, wherever possible with a positive outlook.
Sadly, that is not the case this year and instead our city centres look abandoned and villages, small towns and community premises are not much better. Premises which should be open to friends, family, diners, dancers, and singers are closed, or operating on a very restrictive basis. Different parts of the country remain under different levels which, while it may be a necessary evil, causes significant discrepancies in ability to trade and is still causing confusion for patrons. It is also acknowledged some premises and some types of operation, such as the late night economy, live entertainment and wet led public house premises, have been unable to reopen. There is little clarity going forward on when that will change. The arrival of a vaccination, already dispensed to many, gives us some reassurance that we will be able to return to some “normal” in the coming year. There are other positives. The furlough scheme was continued and will provide some job security. Albeit we acknowledge operators would much prefer to be fully open and trading, at least there is a hope for some job preservation. There are further grants and support packages promised for hospitality and licensed trade and there is a general recognition the licensed trade has been worst hit from the pandemic measures.
Gilson Gray has sought that positive move forward, not only for ourselves but also for our clients and we want to help you go forward for 2021. Positivity is not just about society’s collective mental health. It is about being on the end of a phone to answer questions about restrictions, levels and other general enquiries. It is about providing you with direct support for your business, and your family. In spite of all of the negatives from this year, we have encountered so many positives and have embraced these with our clients. We have seen new ideas developed from the need to pivot in uncertain times and new businesses set up and thriving despite the challenges. Our clients’ abilities to change and develop has astounded us and we have been delighted to be able to support new them through this time. Getting a positive outcome for a client and seeing a smile, relief and renewed fervour for their business going forward is very rewarding. On that note, Jo Millar would be delighted to speak to all of you. Please feel free to give Jo a call or drop her an email. Jo and her colleague, Craig Darling, will provide a free business review for 2021 to consider if there is any way we can help you and your business go forward in to what will hopefully be a positive and fruitful year. We at Gilson Gray want to extend our very best wishes to you and yours for 2021. Although our focus is now reset and refresh, it remains the fact that we are still #InThisTogether. Happy New Year!
14 ontradescotland.co.uk