“According to research from YouGov, only 9% of Brits want life to return to ‘normal’ after the Coronavirus outbreak is over.”
According to research from YouGov, only 9% of Brits want life to return to ‘normal’ after the Coronavirus outbreak is over. And more than half who took the poll said they’d take learnings out of lockdown to make changes in their own lives and for the country.
Last week we discussed this very topic at the second Ask Arena online networking event. After an insightful session on navigating law during Covid 19 from EMW Law consultant Sebastian Calnan, we chewed the fat and agreed: closer bonds with teams were being built; an increased understanding and use of Zoom technology was great; but that the face to face connection was the think that’s missed the most.
Lorraine Wood, director of Arena, says: “Companies are using this time to work strategically on their businesses and are likely to incorporate flexible working into their company culture going forward. However, they also value the importance of keeping conversations flowing and the benefits of video-conferencing during this time have come into their own.”
But what does the wider industry think? We asked what business – and personal – changes leaders will be taking into the ‘new normal’. And what learnings they’ve taken from the last four weeks.
The new normal
Simon Stenning, Strategic Advice for Foodservice
“I am so looking forward to being able to get out and experience the fantastic hospitality from our industry, and have mapped out the places and operations that I will make sure to visit, from a big steak at Hawksmoor, to a blow-out at MeatLiquor, a bacon naan at Dishoom, and a visit to Giplin Lodge in the Lake District to taste Hrishikesh Desai’s food, along with visits to the restaurants that I had to cancel pre-lockdown – Restaurant Story, Hand & Flowers and J SHeekey (I did have a few celebrations planned!).
“I will have concerns about mass gatherings in busy places, not from a personal fear, but from the worry about a future spike happening before any vaccine is developed and distributed, as a series of rolling lockdowns will be catastrophic for the industry.
“And lastly, I have outlined a couple of long term consumer trends from my report on the Future 2030, that are more relevant now – Purpose and Fulfilment – and I will also be living my life with greater purpose towards caring for society and for the planet, and will also be setting out new goals so that I can achieve greater fulfilment from all areas of my business and personal life.”
Joe Lutrario, deputy editor, Restaurant magazine
“As essential as technology has been during this crisis, for me it’s highlighted the importance of getting out and about. Post lockdown I’ll be making more of an effort to meet my contacts face-to-face while simultaneously supporting the hospitality industry.”
Anita Murray, CEO, William Murray
“I will be doing more of the things that I want to do rather than the things I think I should, or need to do. From a business perspective, I admire how the team has adapted. It will be really important to stay agile and finding new, better ways of doing things. That’s exciting.”
Jason Mumby, client development director, Freemans Event Partners
“New normal is the use of technology and virtual meetings, and the ease with which Teams and Zoom can bring people and groups together. Prior to lockdown I would not have dreamed talking to a client virtually, but it works and for certain circumstances will be behaviour I continue post lockdown.”
Wendy Sutherland, managing director, Ramsay Todd
“What I’m hoping to take into the post COVID-19 world is a better work life balance. Work from home more often but when I choose to have face to face meetings make them more meaningful. Evaluate what the return on the investment in time and effort will be for a face to face meeting compared to online and then be focused on achieving the benefits of the face to face meeting during the meeting. This will avoid meeting for the sake of it and potentially create stronger relationships (that’s the plan anyway!).”
Diana Spellman, managing director, Partners in Purchasing
“In the return to the officed workplace, we believe food service operators will be inclined to offer pre-ordered and prepaid dishes via a click and collect format. This will offer reassurance of customers and staff to enjoy safely prepared and packaged food, whilst maintaining social distancing protocols as they prefer. We believe this will assure satisfaction in menu choice; additionally improving efficiency and minimising waste. The click & collect formal is one most families have mastered and already a familiar habit during lockdown”
Lockdown learnings
Jane Renton, editorial director, H2O Publishing
“I’m enjoying simple pleasures, such as reconnecting (remotely) with long-neglected friends, who seem, or pretend to be, pleased to hear from me, as well as channelling my inner domestic goddess – one who will shortly take strike action over unfair workload, laundry and pay, or rather lack of. I’m also pondering the future; what will the medieval-style quarantine mean for our economy and politics and why the death rates appear to be lower and sometimes considerably so, in countries that haven’t entered into the same level of lockdown as us?”
Simon Hulstone, chef proprietor, The Elephant
“The one thing I learnt very quickly – and something I thought I already was, but realised I needed to extend on – was to become super adaptable. To survive is to be flexible and I have learnt a lot from that and swallowed pride over necessity.”
Tim Anderson, chef proprietor of Nanban, and MasterChef Champion 2011
“On a personal note, home cooking, for me, is a much greater joy than restaurant cooking. I prefer to make food at home, and I prefer to eat at home. It is less stressful and more creative. If something goes wrong, it doesn’t particularly matter, and I mean that as a diner as well as a chef. I am actually surprised at how little I miss restaurants. The thing I am most looking forward to when this is over isn’t going out to eat. It’s going to get a haircut, see a movie, and take a train somewhere. I love cooking at home!”
For me, I’ll be focusing more on a more mindful approach, a better work life balance and a more flexible style of working – both for the team and myself. We’d love to hear your views.&nb
sp;Drop us an email, or join the next Ask Arena networking session to take away some practical business advice and catch up with industry friends.
