Supporting local businesses has never been more important, but it can be confusing to know if a business is doing their part to keep you safe.  

Since June, Ealing Council has been working closely with businesses to advise them on the COVID-19 regulations and the extra sector-specific steps they need to take to become ‘COVID-19 Secure’, ensuring their staff and customers are safe.

To help you recognise the signs that businesses should be safe, the council’s regulatory services team has put together a list of 10 signs that you should look out for. These help to show that a business is taking your hygiene and safety seriously and that they are taking appropriate steps to reduce the risk of COVID-19.

What to look out for when out and about in the borough:

1. The number of customers is being safely controlled and a business may ask you to make a booking or appointment

2. If you need to queue, this should be part of a safely managed and organised waiting system with social distancing

3. You should be asked to scan an official NHS QR code with your mobile phone, or provide your name and contact details to support NHS Test and Trace

4. If you are eating out, look for food premises with good hygiene ratings – if premises take hygiene seriously they will have achieved a high (4 or 5) Food Hygiene Rating – you can usually see a sticker displayed in their window or door, or you can look it up online at https://www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk/

5. You will be asked to wash your hands/use alcohol gel on arrival and wear a face covering at all times, except when seated at a table to eat or drink

6. You will notice that the seating is spread out so that you are distanced from those not in your group; and that there is no mixing of households

7. You will be encouraged to stay seated unless absolutely necessary

8. You will see that very regular cleaning is carried out and you might find soft furnishings are covered with plastic

9. You will notice that staff are wearing face coverings while observing strict hygiene practices and may also be wearing visors and gloves

10. You will notice that contactless payments are encouraged and preferred over cash.

Report it

If you feel that a business is not acting in a safe or responsible way to keep Ealing safe, you should email covid19businesscompliance@ealing.gov.uk – where all reports are kept in confidence. As much information should be included as possible.

Business support

If you run a business in the borough, the council offers a free, bespoke business advisory service funded by the Reopening High Street Safely fund. It can provide you with advice on how to ensure your business meets COVID-19 secure requirements and identify what you can do to keep Ealing safe.

To request this service, send your contact and business information by email (along with the details of the advice you require) to covid19businesscompliance@ealing.gov.uk  – or, alternatively, information and guidance is also available on the council’s help for businesses coronavirus web pages.

Ealing has received up to £300,759 of funding as part of the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund provided by the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Greater London Authority is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.