New scheme launched rating COVID-19 safety measures of businesses in Camden
A pilot accreditation scheme assessing COVID-19 safety measures is being launched today to promote public confidence in London’s pubs, restaurants, cafes and shops.
Camden has joined up with two London local authorities and their BID partners, to run the scheme, which will support businesses in their reopening and reassure customers that premises are safe to visit.
The initiative is being led by the governing body for the Square Mile, the City of London Corporation, and piloted alongside the boroughs of Southwark and Camden. The pilot will be the first scheme of its kind launched by local government.
Currently by law, businesses must already carry out a COVID-19 Risk Assessment. This pilot will bring in a new independent review by local government Environmental Health Practitioners. They will examine each businesses’ COVID-19 risk assessment and carry out a site visit to look at social distancing measures, customer track and trace, and cleanliness.
Thirty businesses from each local authority area are being invited to participate in the scheme. Firms in the trial will be given a simple pass or fail by the local authority’s Environmental Health teams. Those who fail will still have the opportunity to put into place remedial measures as advised by the officers when on site and be re-assessed. A sticker will be awarded to businesses to display on their premises and the result will be posted on each of the local authority websites.
The pilot scheme will run throughout September and October. If successful, the initiative could be rolled out across London.
“Camden is open and ready to welcome residents safely back into the amazing shops, restaurants and retailers that our borough has to offer.
“Our high streets and town centres are what make Camden the unique, welcoming and vibrant place it is. Throughout this challenging time, local businesses have been fantastic in closely following the Government guidelines to reopen.
“We now want to go a step further, offering residents a more consistent approach to COVID-secure reopening and the peace of mind they need to get back out into the borough. I hope this additional accreditation pilot run by the Council will do just that, so that our communities and businesses can continue to support one another to thrive into the future”
