It has been a while since I have needed to pen one of these updates, however unfortunately yesterday’s announcements necessitate the need for me to communicate with clients once again about our Covid operating procedures.
The Government has asked for firms to have staff work from home wherever possible and we will support this initiative as far as we are able.
As such, we will re-introduce our operating protocols from earlier this year. The Buckingham Gate office will remain open, however, we will have a skeleton staff attending the office in person each day to receive and scan post, answer the telephones, and manage the smaller number of client meetings that will be taking place in the office. The remainder of the team is able to operate completely effectively at home.
While this guidance is in place, we will move back to Zoom being the default option for the majority of client meetings, however, we will still be happy to host meetings in the office where necessary (trust singing meetings are the best example of a meeting which really requires an in-person session).
The Government has said that they plan to review the current measures in “early January”, however, no further detail has been given on exactly when this review might take place, and clearly things are very fast-moving at the moment. It is probably fair to say at this stage that it is just as likely that further restrictions will be introduced as it is that the current ones will be relaxed.
As such, we wanted to reassure you that any Review Meetings that have been booked in the office will still take place on the agreed date and time, however, we may have to change your meeting to a Zoom meeting, depending on the Government rules or guidance at the time. For those clients who have a meeting booked in the office, we will be in touch with each of you personally a little nearer the time to advise on the next steps.
The good news (if you can say that) in all of this is that we have been here before and our processes and procedures to operate in this environment are very well established. In fact, we have continued to invest in our ‘virtual’ as well as our in-person meeting experience, even since the end of restrictions as more clients opt for a Zoom meeting simply because of convenience or to reduce travel time and costs.
I shall refrain from doing Christmas wishes now as I will write again next week with some final thoughts and reflections on what has been another tumultuous year.
Kind regards
Matthew Smith MSc CFP™ MCSI FPFS IMC
Managing Director
