Qureshi Launches Viewing Facilities Action Group

In the UK Bob Qureshi, co-founder of i-view, has set up a Viewing Facilities Action Group, offering support and guidance to facility owners who have been forced to pay local authority rent and business rates during the Covid-19 crisis.

After lockdown in March, these owners found they were not eligible for the business rates rebates available as part of the UK government's Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund. The following month, Jane Frost, CEO of the Market Research Society (MRS) wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, requesting that the support already given to 'the face-to-face sectors of hospitality and leisure' be extended to the market and social research sector. This support, she suggested, should include widening of the 12-month business rates holiday currently available to retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses to those MR operations founded on face-to-face contact.

At a local level Qureshi (pictured) met with Leeds City Council to argue the case to receive coronavirus business rates relief for his i-view Leeds facility, winning their agreement to provide one year's worth of rebate. To share his council lobbying approach, Qureshi has now launched the Viewing Facilities Action Group, which comprises eleven viewing facilities based in England: Aspect, Babble, Engine Rooms, i-view, MIS, Plus4 Qual Lab, Spectrum, Summit, Talk Back, The Research House, and Wyoming. Since joining the group, many members have had their local council decisions overturned, with more than £0.5m achieved in rebates across the group to date.

The group has also been working behind the scenes to ensure facilities are safe for staff, clients, researchers and participants when they return to work, and have come together to share learnings and ensure a consistent standard. Qureshi comments: 'The Viewing Facilities Action Group has plans to meet on a regular basis as we approach re-opening from next week. I am very happy to share and speak with other viewing facilities to help then apply for rates relief with their local council. Together we are stronger'.

More information is available by emailing bob.qureshi@i-viewlondon.com .