Dorset Chamber has ruled out the resumption of face to face meetings and events in the immediate future.
The county’s voice of business is holding fire on physical networking to safeguard business people and its own team while the Covid threat remains.
It will instead continue to focus on its successful programme of virtual events via Zoom to support businesses and allow members to meet online.
Chief executive Ian Girling said: “Covid has not gone away. “We recognise how important it is to get the wheels of business turning once again but we felt that it was too early for physical face to face meetings.
“This policy is one which is echoed among many of our members, who very quickly have adapted to new ways of working.
“We will continue to review the situation and Government advice as we move forward.” Ian added: “During the lockdown we provided vital support for businesses and continue to do so.
“We also innovated very quickly to launch our virtual networking and events programme, which has been embraced by the business community very successfully.
“Businesses in Dorset are incredibly resilient, and the mood remains buoyant although we all recognise that there are challenging times ahead.”
The Dorset Chamber’s board took the decision to adopt a policy against resuming face to face meetings.
As well as a pause in networking events, it means the Chamber office – where staff have returned to work with social distancing – is open only for deliveries. Staff will only hold face to face meetings where absolutely necessary.
Dorset Chamber, the county’s leading business support organisation, was the first chamber nationwide to ban handshakes and events.
It was among the first to send staff home, and has published its own risk assessment online for its returning employees.
The Chamber’s ‘Simply Networking Online @ 9am’ fortnightly Zoom has become among its most popular virtually events, regularly attracting 60 business people each time