As last week saw Ireland close schools and Scotland ban mass gatherings of 500 or more, damage limitation created by COVID-19 is every business’s number one priority.
Many offices are preparing to close for at least two weeks as the government warns that the UK could face disruption for a long time to come. There is also fear of the pandemic causing a global recession on the scale of 2008.
Those most affected will, inevitably, be SME businesses. Smaller businesses will struggle to stay afloat. The Chancellor has announced ways to support small businesses with loans and other measures, although those who can utilise virtual working have a greater fighting chance of survival.
Lily Shippen, Managing Director of Lily Shippen Recruitment, whose recently launched Virtual Assistant offering provides Virtual Assistants to businesses, says companies are being forced to look at their work environment and adopt new ways of doing things, to rely more on technology and accept that working from home is the safest way for now.
Virtual Assistants don’t need to commute. They can work while self-isolating, if needs be, so risk of contamination is vastly reduced.
Neither does a VA need to be in a crowded office, and can comply with the current advice from the World Health Organisation (https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public) to “stay indoors and avoid contact with other people”.
Lily says:
“If your business is office-based and following the WHO advice poses a challenge, then consider this – the demand for virtual working is growing. The Office of National Statistics believes that 50% of UK employees will be working remotely by next year, and 90% of staff say they’d like to work remotely at least part-time. It really is time for businesses to take notice and COVID-19 has forced this issue into public debate.”
Lily Shippen's virtual offering provides virtual support around the clock to companies and individuals, offering:
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Immediate support provided by an Executive Virtual Assistant
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No training or induction required
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Use of innovative technology to support virtual collaboration
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Access to an unlimited amount of support from a team who have established a successful working pattern at home.
To further support struggling companies at this difficult time, Lily Shippen is offering a no minimum hours guarantee.
“Many companies are going to find it hard to weather this Coronavirus storm,” says Lily. “Working virtually as much as possible is going to limit spread of the virus, so our company wants to help those who might be finding it difficult to get through the next few weeks by offering a guarantee of no minimum hours, so the smallest of companies and individual workers can get the vital support they need.”
Lily shippen's virtual offering provides companies and individuals with highly experienced remote Executive Assistants, around the clock. For more information, contact Lily on 0161 711 0767 or follow lily shippen on Twitter (@lilyshippen), Instagram (@lilyshippensecretarial) or LinkedIn.
