Tailor Made Travel has reopened half its retail stores after implementing safety measures.
The South Wales miniple has opened some stores with restricted customer access, while some are operating on closed-door policies. It previously announced plans to start opening stores from June 1.
Simon Morgan, chief executive, said: “We have had meetings with both Environmental Health and Trading Standards and both are satisfied that we are adhering to guidelines and within the parameters stipulated to allow 13 of the stores to open.
“A detailed risk assessment has been carried out for each store, staff have been briefed on good practices for working in a safe manner and have signed up to a joint plan that protects both the workers and our clients.
“Multiple protection mechanisms have been deployed, ranging from hand gels, masks, gloves and protective screens to regular hand washing and regular cleansing of high-contact surfaces.”
Morgan added: “Notably, we were advised to limit consultation time, so we have set a 20-minute limit on the amount of time an appointment should last. Staff are given 10 minutes leeway – taking the maximum appointment time to 30 minutes.
“We are finding this very useful to manage reduced working hours as telephone work is still occupying a large proportion of our workload.”
The agency opened its Merthyr Tydfil, Blackwood, Caerphilly, Penarth, Whitchurch and Bridgend stores on June 1 and added its Barry, Treorchy, Pontypridd and Cowbridge this week. Stores in Cwmbran, Ebbw Vale and elsewhere are due to open from next week.