I don’t know about you, but the weekend couldn’t have come soon enough, at the end of a tumultuous week.
Whilst the weekend focused on getting some fresh air – obviously maintaining a safe distance from everyone else – and spending some time with the family, I was able to reflect on the week that had just been.
My conclusions, as usual, in no particular order;
I’ve been impressed at how easily the Cambridge Network team has adapted to working away from the office and how well this is supported by technology. However, we are only human and we have social and wellbeing needs that are hard to replicate remotely, so we need to look out for each other.
It is no surprise that Cambridge businesses have stepped up to the mark, not just in terms of changing their business models to meet the new demands that we are facing, but also to address some of the technical challenges. To help individuals and organisations work in collaboration to support the healthcare system as it faces numerous challenges, the University of Cambridge's Institute for Manufacturing has published a list of links to open calls for help and on-going projects - available here.
The scale of businesses closing in the leisure, entertainment and hospitality sectors is frightening and we must do all we can to help those who are suddenly facing redundancy or the loss of freelance/casual contracts to find new roles – the Network is working with major employers to help do that.
There seems to be a genuine wave of kindness to each other sweeping through the city, one of the many things that we need to maintain when we get through to the far end of this.
My list of Cambridge Stars continues to grow;
- The wonderful Sam at Calverley Brewery, who has started to deliver his beers to the doorstep and certainly helped raise my spirits during self-isolation (p.s. the beer is suppose to be hazy!)
- Alex Rushmer and the Vanderlyle team, adopting a takeaway service when forced to close the restaurant
- I am sure that there are many, many, more examples which I have no doubt I will need to call upon in the weeks and months ahead of us
Finally, a couple of useful sources of information;
A series of webinars that Deloitte is running for businesses
Until tomorrow – stay safe.
John