Northampton town centre office workers 'sorely missed during lockdown' and why they need to return

The importance of office workers to Northampton town centre has been keenly felt as the country emerges from the coronavirus lockdown.

Many shops, cafes and other services have reopened but during the week there seems to be fewer people around with many still working from home.

Rachel Roberts, the co-owner of St Giles Street gift shop, Mooch, said: "We definitely really miss office workers, particularly from the council.

"Business is good, we have had a really good couple of weeks but everyday normally we get a big rush between 12pm and 2pm when they came out for their lunch - it's really obvious they're not here.

"It will be nice to see more office workers, we need them to come in, we have got a website and it's done well but it's not the same people coming in to have a mooch."

Since March 16, the government has been saying to work from home where possible because of Covid-19, with millions of employees turning dining tables and kitchens into their office.

But yesterday (Friday, July 18), Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced it will be safe for staff to go back to their old offices from August 1 if they have not done so already.

Yet chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance told MPs he saw 'absolutely no reason' for people to stop working from home on Thursday.

Many large employers in the town have no urgent plans for workers to come back just yet, with Northamptonshire County Council not expecting most staff back at One Angel Square until September.

That may change after the prime minister's announcement and Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) is offering support packs to encourage reopenings.

BID operations manager Mark Mullen said: "We believe office-based businesses will have a phased return to the town centre.

"However we are also aware that there are many varying views on the future use of office spaces.

"Some businesses have identified potential savings through remote working, whilst others have seen increased productivity due to colleagues home working with greater flexibility with hours."

The return of office workers cannot come soon enough for some.

Barry Waddell, a barber at Teddy's Barber Shop in Mercer's Row, said they have had a steady flow of customers since reopening but footfall is definitely down compared to pre-lockdown.

"We usually get a few people coming in from the local businesses but it's early days," he said.

"Looking out of the window right now the town centre is quite derelict and there are not many people about - the virus is keeping them in I guess.

Lunchtime trade is big business for many traders and a lifeline for others, especially for those offering something to eat.

Bing Wan, the owner of Matchbox Cafe in Abington Street, said: "I've not seen a great deal of office workers and there are quite a few offices where we are but I don't know if they're working from home or have been furloughed.

"We've certainly not seen as many office workers as we would expect."

Bing thinks it will take six months to get back to where they were financially before the pandemic but insisted it is safe to pop out for a coffee or a sandwich.

"What's going on is affecting us as we're no closer to knowing what to do with ourselves and how to take the business forward," he said.

"The needs of social distancing are also going to be an issue but generally footfall for where we are has been lower for the past weeks since we have been back.

"But otherwise I don't know what's going to happen next, we're just trying to make it work."

Looking down St Giles Street, Rachel said there has been a slight increase in footfall since restaurants and pubs reopened and more people have been wearing masks ahead of July 24.

But a comeback for the town's desk-based workers would make a difference, she said.

Mark from BID said: “Office-based businesses providing professional services play an essential role in our town centre and complement our overall offering.

"These businesses have been sorely missed during lockdown and have resulted in reduced footfall and less expenditure in the town centre."