60 seconds with (4 months later) … Nigel Armitt, Board Advisor - Amnesty International

How was the re-opening of your business and how was it carried out in line with safety procedures put in place to allow social distancing? 

Went well with a great deal of forward planning ensuring keeping to gov't COVID-19 guidelines re social distancing etc…

How is the general feeling and feedback from your team members and your customers now the lockdown is over?

Still much uncertainty as to how the new "norm" will look like

What role has technology played in supporting your re-opening plan?

Technology re continuing to hold remote conference calls and communications with staff through Microsoft Teams until office fully occupied

What market trends are you seeing since re-opening?

More use digital technology and agile working, organisations being more flexible in ways of working for staff and engagement

What techniques have you used to build sales and re-engage customers?

More telephone and conference calls as substitute for face to face meetings. Setting up regular catch-up meetings.  Sharing best practice across the organisation re most effective processes to use to fund raise and increase membership base

What positive lessons do we need to learn from what the industry has been through?

Being more agile and flexible.  Improved regular transparent communications "Top down". Use of Crisis management techniques from using a task force representative of the whole global organisation to solve problems. Brought all employees and management closer together in dealing with the same crisis and finding solutions.

Improved technology skills of ALL staff.  More use of digital technology.  Improved data analytical skills.  Improved cooperation across the organisation with "one shared goal" to make for better financial sustainability. Increased level of financial literacy at all levels within the organisation due to COVID-19 crisis and urgency to deliver a short-term survival plan. Personal development of staff who have learned from the techniques to deploy during a crisis situation and increased awareness of prioritisation of tasks -What has to be delivered now and what can wait until tomorrow.