(20 Apr 2020, 3:32 pm)Ambassador wrote The next big issue is post lockdown.I wonder if we could see some of GNE's staff start to work from home permanently. There's no need for customer service staff to work in the office and that could save quite a bit if they don't need as much office space
Even with a gradual return the reality is many of us won't see the inside of our offices potentially until next year. The likes of Zoom and Microsoft Teams have opened the eyes of even the most hardened IT critic. Equally some businesses who were already struggling simply won't survive. Then there's a confidence issue of passengers themselves (how many parents - where they can - will now drive little Jimmy and Jane to school instead of risking their little darlings on a bus?)
This of course means the same passengers numbers won't be there and I think Martijn G and the Team at GNE are very aware of that but it's a huge challenge for them and even before COVID-19 it was already a big ask. Sellable assets aren't assets if you're competitors are equally in the same position which rules out an immediate cash flow solution.
It's a balancing act between enticing passengers back and paying your costs and it's going to be like that across most of business, however I think for public transport (buses in particular) it will be a much much bigger challenge
How many people work in the Bensham office, and if more work from home could there be the potential to move the staff that need to work in an office to work from the depots?
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