Frances Darling is head of business and consumer protection, Homes & Communities, Place Directorate, with Shropshire Council, and its representative on the CEnTSA management board ‘In the run-up to the Commonwealth Games, we encourage businesses to report concerns about counterfeit goods, to maintain a fair trading environment’ Welcome to the Spring 2022 edition of TSBN. With the lifting of the government’s ‘Plan B’ response to Omicron at the end of January, I hope businesses are now looking forward to a largely restriction-free, economy-boosting spring and summer period. The experience through December and January, however, has been a timely reminder that the ‘cautionary note’ I referred to in the Winter 2021 edition was, regrettably, not ill-founded. Collectively, we must continue to do all we can, professionally and personally, to promote good public health behaviours that protect customers and staff from the risks associated with COVID-19. For this reason, we are providing a link (see below) to the latest government information on how to stay safe and prevent the spread of coronavirus; this includes a reminder about the COVID-19 working safely guidance for businesses. In this edition, we also have a range of resources and advice to help businesses ‘build back better’, including steps to ensure customers pay on time and in full; guidance on caring for the mental health, as well as physical wellbeing, of your workforce; designing and improving business continuity plans to address supply chain problems; and fire-safety advice. We also take a look at the impact COVID-19 has had on food hygiene ratings and standards practices, with advice on how to reverse what has been a significant decline over the past two years. A feature on the beauty industry covers the safety issues that affect customers seeking the ultimate ‘summer holiday look’, while owners of mobile-home sites – both residential and mixed-use parks – are reminded about the requirement to appoint a ‘fit and proper person’ to manage their sites and what they need to do to ensure this is in place. Keep safe and carry on In the run-up to the Commonwealth Games, which are due to take place in Birmingham from 28 July to 8 August, we encourage businesses to report concerns about counterfeit goods, to maintain a fair trading environment for legitimate businesses. There are also details about permanent changes to permitted development rights, aimed at further supporting hospitality businesses and town centre high streets to recover from the impact of COVID-19. Find the latest updated government information on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of coronavirus, including a helpful reminder about the Covid-19 working safely guidance for businesses. Please read on for the detail, and feel free to circulate this and future editions of TSBN to other organisations and your colleagues. Until next time