The head of business at Germany's Gauselmann Group in the UK, Sascha Blodau, has gone on record to promote an exit plan for the industry to emerge successfully from the lockdown.
Sascha Blodau, who runs the group’s several UK companies that includes machine supplier Blueprint and adult gaming centres operator Praesepe, suggests the industry and government should work together to get the details ironed out, ready for the reopening.
He told us that the current inoperative period should be used to settle any issues around the opening up of the business again in AGCs and bingo clubs.
“As a business and as an industry we need to plan for a successful reopening and to be able to hit the ground running as soon as the health data tells us it is safe to reopen.
“In specific terms we would like to know what the perceived risk hierarchy is for retail premises on the high street and the criteria used in this evaluation; whether the plan is to return to tiering and if so, what will be permitted under each tier as greater numbers are vaccinated; identifying and understanding what conditions have to be met in order to introduce a lighter touch regulatory regime and an insight to the structure if not the precise detail of government support measures as businesses begin the long journey of commercial recovery.
“We operate a total of 180 venues in Britain and each week of lockdown is costing the company close to £1m. We have learned a lot about operating during the pandemic and I believe our safety protocols compare favourably with any bricks and mortar retailer and we are committed to supporting local economies and providing employment for people living in the 140-plus towns and cities where we have venues.
“It’s of huge importance that we use this time to ensure that we are crystal clear about what’s required to reopen and trade alongside businesses such as Licensed Betting Offices with whom we share key characteristics. As an industry we can use this period to undertake any preparatory work that’s necessary to plan for re-opening and help to kick-start high street economies.
“There’s a huge appetite throughout Gauselmann and the UK industry to play a key role in helping to drive the recovery: so let’s get the details agreed now for when lockdown ends thereby providing the security and confidence that business needs.”
