Business Secretary urges small businesses to support vaccine rollout

Mr Kwarteng called out major business in the UK such as Marks and Spencer, Heineken and Boots, which have made offers to repurpose vital workspaces, including warehouses, pubs and shops, to be used as vaccination hubs to support NHS staff in delivering the vaccination programme.

He also noted that business leaders are also allowing thousands of UK workers to take paid time off work to receive their jab, while also encouraging their staff, supporting crucial tasks such as checking patients in and guiding people at vaccination sites across the UK.

Further, Mr Kwarteng said he will make the call for even more businesses to get on board as part of a visit to Pall Corporation in Portsmouth.

Pall specialises in the provision of critical equipment for biological manufacturing, supporting multiple vaccine developers including AstraZeneca, Novavax and Valneva with single-use consumables, which are essential for the vaccine development process.

“It has been awe-inspiring to see businesses lending their hand over the past few months to our heroic healthcare workers and clinicians – all playing their part to support the biggest vaccination programme in our nation’s history,” Mr Kwarteng said.

“Businesses and their workers have shown an indomitable spirit and leadership that will help us to defeat this virus, and I urge all businesses, no matter how big or small, to join us and do what they can as we reach the next stage of the rollout.

“I want to thank British businesses for their ingenuity and collaboration, which will help guide us towards the light at the end of the tunnel, which is getting brighter by the day.”