COVID-19 – crisis with a legacy

As a profession, this is our moment to step up. The health crisis caused by COVID-19 continues, but our economic crisis is only starting to be felt. This is the time when businesses need support and guidance to channel the oxygen of cash and navigate the changes we’re all facing.

But where do we start?

The CBI’s deputy chief economist, Anna Leach, and Changeist’s futurist Susan Cox-Smith look at businesses across the UK economy that are fast adapting to the ever-changing circumstances – and what we can learn from them.

We hear from Tate & Lyle’s CFO Imran Nawaz on how they kept production, innovation and financial reporting on track. Prof. Rob Field discusses how the team at Iceni Diagnostics was able to pivot their work on infectious disease diagnostic tools from equine flu to COVID-19. Pollution Solution’s Thomas Delgado talks about supply chain stability and how we should be supporting companies who have values aligned with a greener future.

We also look at how customer behaviour is changing and what that means for business. Lucas Ochoa from Pulse Films is already in production on new epic film and TV content, but the types of stories people want is changing – and how production companies create them is changing too.

Louise Cooper is back as host, chairing the discussion that includes what we can learn from the lessons of the 2008/9 global financial crisis, the psychological change of consumers and being comfortable with uncertainty. The big question for all of us is: do we have the courage to learn from this crisis?

First read Michael Izza’s Crisis with a legacy: can we build something better? Then visit our Coronavirus hub, which details support and practical advice for businesses right now.