The headlines have been dominated by pandemic inflicted job losses – but for many there is light at the end of the tunnel.
In Liverpool, some enterprising self starters have seen lockdown as an opportunity to set up in business and are putting plans in place for when we exit current restrictions.
Personal trainer Lauren Caffey is currently renovating a gym in Wavertree to open in April. Now 23, she had the idea to own a gym when she was 14 and has created her own brand ‘The Zone’.
In pre-pandemic times Miss Caffrey did face-to-face sessions in her parents’ garage-turned gym and also runs a personal training website and app.
Now, the success of ‘The Zone’ has enabled her to open a gym a year ahead of schedule.
She said: “If you really believe in yourself, then you can make it work.
“Who would have thought that I could build a business up and move it on to bigger and better things when everywhere in the world was shut and wasn’t allowed to open. I would never have dreamed that this would be the case.”
‘The Zone’ isn’t the only new business opening during the pandemic. Cocoa Desserts opened in Hatton Garden just last week.
The owners already run Fattoush, a restaurant a couple of doors down, and have now branched into the dessert sector, currently only offering takeaways and deliveries due to the restrictions.
Elsewhere, St Johns Shopping Centre is set to welcome Boom: Battle Bar in March this year; with axe throwing, shuffleboard and crazy golf.
Later this year, we should also see the opening of Innside by Melia, a four-star hotel on the site of the former Liverpool Echo building.
Watch our interview with Lauren Caffrey>>>