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• 81% of business owners are concerned about profits not returning to normal
• Over half (56%) of food catering businesses are very concerned about job security following the pandemic
• One third of the food manufacturing industry are currently furloughed or unable to work

Since the 4^th of July, many industries, businesses, and establishments have been able to return to work, with social distancing guidelines in place. But how do some staff members in those industries feel about going back? Are they ready and do they feel safe?

Virtual College surveyed the retail, manufacturing and catering sectors of the food and drink industry to understand their views on returning to work following the Covid-19 pandemic, and the results are very surprising. The main concerns being how are businesses going to be profitable, access to adequate PPE and how to return safely both for themselves and their customers.

Food Catering:

• 64.5% of people working in food catering are very concerned or about the safety of customers/guests
• 69% are very concerned about the safety of themselves/colleagues
• 87% feel that it is very important that they have access to adequate PPE
• 55% of food catering business owners are very concerned profits will not return to normal
• 56% are very concerned about job security following the pandemic
• 63% are concerned about social distancing in the workplace on returning to work

Food Manufacturing:

• 31% in food manufacturing are currently furloughed or unable to work
• 44% are not at all concerned about social distancing in the workplace
• Only 41% are very concerned about job security
• 64% are very concerned about profits
• 92% feel it is very important to have access to adequate PPE
• 52% are concerned about social distancing in the workplace on returning to work

Food Retail:

• 27% feel that their business/employer is not prepared to return to work safely
• 58% are very concerned about the safety of themselves/colleagues
• 86% feel it is very important for them to have access to adequate PPE
• 70% are concerned about social distancing in the workplace

Many concerns were raised within the survey, so to provide information and suggest best practice for businesses in the current climate, Virtual College have gone on to deliver over 150,000 online COVID-19 courses to both businesses and individuals

“Virtual College reached out to obtain the views of people working in the food industry to ensure the online training we provide is tailored to the immediate needs of our customers. Indeed, some of our courses are updated every week due the constantly changing Covid-19 situation”. – Peter Hilliard, Marketing Manager

For more information on the study and the free courses to aid businesses, please visit:
https://www.virtual-college.co.uk/resources/2020/07/post-lockdown-the-return-to-work-for-the-food-and-drink-industry

About Virtual College

Virtual College - https://www.virtual-college.co.uk

Virtual College is one of the UK’s leading providers of online learning. We have been at the forefront of e-learning for over twenty years and have a wealth of experience developing and providing training that positively impacts individuals, teams and organisations.

We constantly strive to deliver up-to-date and engaging online learning, supported by the very latest in learning management system technology, to enable individuals and organisations to reach their full potential. That’s why we recently won ‘Learning Technologies Supplier of the Year 2016-17’ and ‘E-learning Development Company of the Year 2015-16’.

About the Study

Virtual College received over 350 responses to a survey sent to people who own businesses or work in the food and drinks industry to establish their views on their imminent return to work following the COVID-19 pandemic.