Salisbury businesses set for boost as Covid restrictions ease

According to recent calculations by Frank Recruitment, Salisbury businesses are set to benefit financially after Covid-19 restrictions have been eased with city’s workers set to contribute up to £1810.56 to the economy per year.

As workers are encouraged to return to the office as part of the Government’s announcement of a return to Plan A, one firm has calculated the impact that a busier city centre could have on the local economy.

Based on workers returning to offices just two days a week, Frank Recruitment Group has calculated a potential windfall for businesses that support the city’s workforce.

Workers in Salisbury will spend up to £1810.56 each, even without going back to the previous Monday-Friday routine. That’s based on the average price of a morning coffee at £2.86, with lunch also coming in at £6.00, just twice per week, as well as transport costs incurred on the commute.

“There’s a huge range of businesses that will benefit from workers returning to the office,” said Zoë Morris, President at Frank Recruitment Group.

“Even further beyond the 9-5 are the people working to get us into our cities, serving us post-work drinks and meals—there’s an entire support network around the desk-based workforce that we don’t often think of.”

Despite the lifting of restrictions, the success of remote work during the pandemic is likely to mean that the return to offices won’t be on a full-time basis.

“I think most people are looking forward to having the option to be together in person again,” added Morris.

“Remote work isn’t for everybody, so having a hybrid approach offers the opportunity for employees to get a better work-life balance than has ever been possible before.”

The Office for National Statistics has reported that 85% of homeworking Brits want their employer to offer hybrid options for going back into the office. With energy costs on the increase, it offers the potential for savings on utility bills incurred working from home, while also giving employees the chance to better control their week in a way that suits them.

“The savings we make on electricity bills at home can be spent on things that make our daily lives better,” said Morris.

“From a takeout coffee on the way to the office to treating ourselves at lunch, that spend has a fantastic impact on city centre economies, which have really struggled to adapt to the challenges of the last two years.”

On average, a person working two days per week on-site in England will spend £1,373.57 on both hospitality and transport for work-related purposes. For local businesses looking for a light at the end of the tunnel, this provides excellent news as they recover from the effects of the pandemic.

Methodology

Figures are based on the average price (GBP) of one regular cappuccino, one McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent combo meal), and two single journey tickets via local transport per day according to https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/.

Yearly figures based on cost per two days by 48 weeks to account for four weeks holiday. Data accurate as of 20th January 2022.