THE managers of Milton Park in Didcot, home to 250 companies and 9,000 employees, are stepping up their efforts to support staff returning to the workplace following the Covid-19 lockdown.

In line with the most recent UK government advice, it has created a new dedicated web page about returning to work and will continue to update the page on travel, amenities and events.

The MEPC website said: “We are grateful that the bus services have continued to run during the lockdown, albeit on a lower service level, which have been essential for key workers and other people working at the park.

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“In line with Government legislation, face coverings are now mandatory on public transport. Please follow this guidance and note that only card payments will be accepted.

Oxford Mail:

“Following discussions with the County Traffic Commissioner, the Milton Park shuttle bus operator, Courtney Coaches, is now running its usual service of three buses to and from Didcot Station. We will continue to monitor passenger numbers and Courtney Coaches will ensure that services run accordingly to allow safe social distancing. “

In June, park managers revealed the results of a survey, which found that 95 per cent of its business leaders have a Covid-19 return to work plan in place or are working on one.

The survey also found that people’s biggest worry about returning to work was ‘the ability to socially distance in the workplace’.

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Milton Park carried out its survey between May 13 and May 22, which received 605 responses from people who work in many different roles at the park and included 57 business leaders.

Oxford Mail:

Philip Campbell, commercial director at Milton Park, said earlier: “With so many changes impacting so many people in different ways, several businesses have asked us about the return to work intentions of other Milton Park occupiers and we wanted to share the feedback we have heard from people in our community.

“The aim is for such results to assist our occupiers and people who work here so that they can understand how people are feeling and can plan for when people are ready to return to work.

“The survey showed us that by and large business leaders were more confident about returning to the workplace than employees.

“We believe this is because business owners will have thought about what they need to put in place and a better knowledge of what they need to do.

Oxford Mail:

Philip Campbell

“Therefore, we believe that communication with staff around measures that have been put in place will be key.”

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Staff from companies and different centres across the site are being provided with useful information about how to stay safe in the workplace.

The website said: “As people are starting to return to work at the Park, our property and facilities management service providers, CBRE and Ashdown Phillips & Partners, have been busy planning for a safe return following the COVID-19 outbreak.

“A reminder that CBRE’s role covers the whole Milton Park estate and managed buildings, whilst Ashdown Phillips undertakes the operational management of Milton Park’s Innovation Centre at 99 Park Drive.

“Following Government and Public Health England guidance, both suppliers have provided information to help you re-occupy your buildings.

Oxford Mail:

“The safety of all our occupiers at Milton Park is our priority and the measures set out below have been designed to allow safe working practices across our community.”

Companies are being alerted to ‘Reoccupation information’ sets out measures for multi-occupied properties and across the Park’s external common areas.

It also aims to remind occupiers of their health and safety responsibilities.

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It covers social distancing measures with coming in and out of buildings, lift and stairway usage, toilets, cleaning, building services, fire safety, water hygiene and outside areas.

Reassuringly for employees, of those 57 Milton Park-based business leaders who replied, 95% said that they had a Covid-19 return to work strategy or plan in place or were working on one.

When business leaders were asked how they plan to reconfigure their physical workspace as part of their return to work strategy, to enable social distancing 24.53% said that they were considering making substantial changes to their physical workspace, 49.06% said that they were considering making minor changes to their workspace, 11.32% said they didn’t yet know and 15.09% said they will make no changes.