IT HAS been a year of highs and lows for the Fermanagh business community since the first lockdown came into force last March.

Towns and villages became more like ghost towns rather than bustling centres as restrictions were introduced to deal with the spread of Covid-19.

Businesses in Enniskillen were no different throughout the past 12 months as they closed, reopened, then closed again as restrictions eased and tightened.

Such moves tested the resilience of the business community, according to Noelle McAloon, of Enniskillen BID.

The town was due to undergo major work as part of the Public Realm Scheme, and while the focus was on mitigating the impact of that at the start of 2020, it was not long before priorities changed.

“I think from a town centre point of view, and the businesses in town, the year has been – you can use all of the buzzwords – it has been extremely challenging and emotional,” said Noelle.

“For Enniskillen, we started 2020 with significant work on the street in terms of the Public Realm Scheme, and from a business point of view 2020 was going to be a challenge because of this.

“Little did anyone know that Covid-19 was going to be the ultimate challenge for businesses.

“We were very much looking at how the construction work was going to affect the footfall, and we went from really trying hard to getting footfall in town, to having a lockdown.

‘Businesses were in shock’

“So the businesses were in shock, like the rest of the world, about what was on top of them in terms of Covid-19, and really they were shocked and they were extremely worried about their staff and their business.”

Noelle said when lockdown came in, business owners were grateful the Government support they received, such as the furlough scheme, gave them some comfort about their future and the future of their employees.

It was to help them until the Summer saw an easing of restrictions, and a flurry of activity over the Summer months, with incentives such as the ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ scheme, and ‘staycationers’, driving footfall in the town.

She said: “Our tourist sector had a very busy Summer period, and that was evident in the town centre.

“Our footfall counters showed that we had footfall in the town that was up around pre-lockdown levels during the Summer months, right into September, and we saw footfall during August that was related to Eat Out To Help Out, during Monday to Wednesday, that was equivalent to weekend footfall.”

Further frustration

However, after such positivity, the reintroduction of restrictions and the way they were communicated led to further frustration within the business community.

“Looking back at Christmas, the town was busy [beforehand] – but then the circuit breaker happened in November, and really I think since then businesses have had very little information, and I really think they haven’t been supported.

“I think communication around the circuit breaker was so unhelpful, and I think that was the lowest point last year, because there was so much miscommunication a and lack of communication from the Government.

“Business sector frustration definitely set in around the circuit breaker. I saw a change; a shift in people around the circuit breaker issue who lost all confidence in the information they were being given.”

Throughout the year, some businesses closed for one reason or another, and while Noelle admits there were some that would have been anticipated, the likes of the the closure of Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins were “devastating” for the High Street.

While there may be a focus on the short-term re-energising of the High Street, BID are also looking at what Enniskillen will look like in five years’ time.

However, while there have been closures, Noelle is keen to point out local entrepreneurial spirit, such as from Gavin and Nicky Cassidy, and Declan O’Donoghoue, who have set up new businesses recently.

“I am always looking for the positives. Seeing Gourmet Bros., and seeing how much effort they are putting in, seeing how much they are putting in to Between the Bridges café, is all really positive.”

She hopes this will continue as the hope of a return to some sort of normality grows on the horizon, with the easing of restrictions, rising vaccinations, with the hope of bringing to an end a difficult year.

“It’s been a year of highs and lows and, unfortunately, 2020 just ended on a real low. I’ll never forget the whole conversation that week before the circuit breaker; it was one of the worst, because they just did not know until the very last minute.

“But I think there are good times ahead as long as whenever we come out of this, we are out of it,” said Noelle, before adding a note of caution: “I genuinely don’t know how much more resilience businesses can have.

“I think whenever they open, there will be a celebration, but with trepidation as well.”