The Prime Minister is currently making a speech about the road out of lockdown - and the Government's plans for the economy, international travel and controlling Covid-19.We want your thoughts on what Boris says and how it impacts you in your capacity as small business and charity owners.We will be sending your comments to the media within an hour of the speech ending.The deadline is tight so please keep your comments short and to the point.&nbsp;

Thoughts on Boris Johnson speech this PM

I'm pleased that the high street will finally open up as the restrictions haven't just hurt local shops and services but also the communities they serve. While the easing of restrictions should increase footfall, businesses need to understand that people may still be cautious so offering online and offline interaction will be crucial. The positive sentiment towards localism we have seen over the past year can now be put into action, and I hope consumers vote with their feet for their high street.

Dr Jackie Mulligan

Dr Jackie Mulligan is Senior Fellow of the Institute of Place Management and Expert on the High Street Taskforce – she is also founder and CEO of multi award-winning ShopAppy.com, a platform that enables local businesses to showcase and sell products or services online. A passionate and professional speaker, writer and advocate of women in business and sustainability, Jackie has used her years of research and experience to create a platform that encourages customers to shop locally by making it easier for small businesses to establish themselves online, ShopAppy enables customers to easily browse, book and buy local in villages, towns and cities across the UK. 

Formerly a Principal Lecturer and Director of Enterprise in Leeds, Jackie left her academic career to found her own digital start-up to support local town centres and high streets to help them compete against the online giants. Jackie’s doctoral research into experience, psychology and behaviour helped her develop ShopAppy as she started to look at the importance of place on mental health and wellbeing, understanding how shopping locally can impact consumer and community happiness. Jackie expanded the platform from two to ten towns in the first year and since then has been working hard to improve the resilience of local towns and strengthen their capacity to compete.  
Since the Covid-19 outbreak, the platform has adapted by now offering delivery services and free registration to the website for local businesses and is now available in over 100 towns and cities. Notably, ShopAppy was named as one of the Top 40 Digital Retail Innovations by Retail Insider.


As the owner of a hair and beauty salon, I am relieved that we now have official confirmation that we are allowed to open our doors to the public next Monday. It has been a really difficult time for everyone in our industry, and we have been shut more than we have been open over the past year. We are looking forward to welcoming our clients back into the salon where we will be following all the Government guidelines to ensure it is as safe as possible. Here's hoping that there is no need for any more lockdowns.

Jo Bevilacqua is co-founder of Hallmark Carpets and Flooring, Serenity Loves (a beauty salon with on-site crèche) and Jo Bevilacqua Mentoring (formerly The Unique Mumpreneur). Jo is also author of a bestseller, 'No Longer Last On The List', which is a self growth guide for tired, busy women; helping you to eliminate doubt, set boundaries, and prioritise your own Importance without guilt. Jo Bevilacqua supports and helps like minded women to become successful in their own businesses. Sharing her tools, successes and failures, by mentoring and supporting other people through her network.

Jo Bevilacqua

My stress levels hit the roof on Monday, worrying about the announcement, as many of us in the beauty, hair and massage sector still feel like we are viewed as a hobby and not a proper industry. I'm still nervous that between now and Monday the Government will issue further rules and restrictions relating to beauty and massage close contact treatments. Last time the Government moved the goalposts up to three times a day in the week leading up to the easing of lockdown. It's going to be a long week.

Amy Baker – a self employed therapist who has found her calling with nails and beauty through hardship. Based in Cambridgeshire, Amy lives with her husband, Malcom, and two children: Toby (7) and Lily (5). Halo Beauty & Holistic Therapy is both salon-based and mobile, so Amy is able to provide services to client no matter their scenario. Amy is also a carer for her husband who is affected by Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Tarda.

“While playing Rugby, Malcolm took an injury to his knee,” Amy explains. “When he returned home and went to see his specialist, it turned out that he actually had a degenerative disease that affects his spine and major joints. His fitness levels had actually held off the side effects of it, but he was diagnosed with Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Tarda. It is a rare, hereditary skeletal disorder that only affects males and has now left him as a wheelchair user.”

Alongside working her day job, Amy took evening classes at a local college to obtain her Level 2 qualification in hairdressing. “On completing the course, I tried to gain employment, but I struggled to do so. Local salons would only employ me if I had completed training with them.”

Discouraged and needing to support her family, Amy sought a new career. “I could not work in my childhood dream job hairdressing, I thought I should try my second choice of care,” Amy explains.

“I started working in a supported living care home and I loved it. I worked through my health and social care training that allowed me to have the qualifications to apply for a post in a nearby NHS hospital as an auxiliary nurse. I then became a community healthcare assistant within the district nursing team.”

Unfortunately, Malcom’s disability became more apparent. “He required extra care to help him do things you or I take for granted,” Amy explains. “He needed help with washing and dressing himself. He was liable to falls and was losing feeling in his hands and feet.

“I tried to organise with my employers more family friendly hours that worked around my children and Malcolm’s carers, but operational needs meant I was spending less and less time with my family to accomplish my contracted hours. It was hard and affected my mental health. I was also forced to take a little time off for stress and anxiety.”

Malcolm’s carer at the time, Tiffany, said she was thinking of completing a nail technician course. She suggested that maybe I should join her. We agreed that we would work mobile, refining our skills and gaining experience.

“When I working in the NHS, I had spoken to patients, carers and nurses about how hard it if for them to find time to attend a salon or find a salon that is accessible. I even remembered one lady advised me that she had been refused a haircut as she was in a wheelchair. Others stated that they wanted to have the opportunity to feel beautiful but could not afford the salon prices.

“This gave me an idea: to provide a service based around the client’s needs. I wanted to offer services at a competitive price to show appreciation to the overworked and low paid health care workers, but also friendly on the pocket of those vulnerable adults who rely on benefits. As both Tiff and myself held Enhanced DBS certificates, we had an edge, too.

“We formed Fenland Hair and Nails. It was a great success and we soon realised that a lot of people out wanted other services also. By offering additional treatments, it also had a knock-on effect and helped build the nails side of the business more and more.

“Tiff has now progressed into working in an established salon in the town centre and I now work under Halo Beauty & Holistic Therapy, and have a nail desk and treatment room at Little Ranch Leisure. 

“My new career is working out great because I am self-employed and am able to arrange my days around my families care needs. I never would have ever considered working for myself until now. I will be honest I would never consider anything other than this now.

“My anxiety and depression have been hard to overcome but the love and support of my family and friends plus the advice of other nail techs has helps boost my confidence a little. I have always been one to feel I am not worthy of something. I don’t see myself as anything more than just a mum, wife and nail tech like anyone else.

“When I left my previous role, I was granted carer’s allowance to look after Malcolm, but it was only around £60 pounds per week. However, as Malcolm got Universal Credit that is reduced to just £30 per week. That’s right – just £30 per week. We used foodbanks to get by. My nail career is new but gradually helping us to come off the need of foodbanks and handouts, and to be able to enjoy our lives.”

“I understand now that trying to do absolutely everything is impossible. My advice to anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation is to accept the help, advice and support from friends, family and peers.

“Don’t be afraid to admit you need help with something, or if you cannot do something that has been requested of you.”

Amy Baker

Let's hope the Government sticks to the roadmap like superglue. It’s been a tough quarter for so many businesses, especially those in the hospitality and retail sectors, so fingers crossed this is the light at the end of the tunnel we all need. Monday 12th April will be a day of celebration around the UK and people should go out and support their local businesses even more than they already have been.

Maddy founded My VIP Card in 2017 after the birth of her first child, she suffered with a couple of nasty mental health conditions, but realised the more she got out of the house the better she felt.

She started a parenting forum to help new parents, and quickly realised that being a new parent was expensive. She started speaking to business owners , and arranging discounts for her mummy friends, and the more she connected with her community and supported local the better she felt.

She has the idea that something was needed to support local and help to champion small businesses , whilst getting people out of the house.

My VIP Card was born.

Maddy has a background in HR , Recruitment and Change management, employee engagement is a huge passion of hers and she wanted to use My VIP Card to help employers to reward and recognise their staff and members whilst supporting the community around them.

Maddy has won 15 awards for My VIP Card in the last 4 years, been featured in The Guardian, The Financial Times, The Mirror, The Telegraph , The Metro and on BBC radio.

She is a clubhouse addict, loves LinkedIn and anything small business, high street and shopping is her specialist subject. 

Thoughts on Boris Johnson speech this PM

4 responses from the Newspage community
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Dr Jackie Mulligan

Founder at ShopAppy

Jo Bevilacqua

Amy Baker

Owner at Halo Beauty and Holistic Therapy

Maddy Alexander-Grout

CEO at My VIP Rewards

4 responses from the Newspage communityCopy all

4 responses from the Newspage community
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