I don't mean to be rude but businesses whose models hinge on loads of people being in office work have had four months to start pivoting their strategy now rather than blatantly begging government to make people go back to the office.

Pret could have figured out some sort of subscription service for homeworkers by now so you can be mildly disappointed an overpriced sandwich and latte from the comfort of your home if they'd had the will.

Or idk, distribution in supermarkets, so people can enjoy the experience of paying over a fiver for a baguette on their own local high street.

Here comes the Upper Crust van, like an ice cream van except it's charging you three quid for a slightly stale croissant! It plays a jaunty French tune.

WH Smiths concessions in pubs, so you can get a free copy of the Mail to read over drinks when you spend £2.50 on a sports bottle of water.

Thing is, a lot of local businesses have been getting creative in their models, pivoting to delivery and takeaway, meeting people where they are, and they're reaping the rewards, while meanwhile the big names are out there just moaning and begging for commuting to be mandatory.

Yep, city centre developers and landlords are the ones who probably take the biggest hit and guess what? Fuck them. https://twitter.com/angryaboutbikes/status/1285147332053434368

But even then, those profiting from the rents in city centres could pivot somewhat by incentivising making city centres a place people might want to go for something different, unique and local rather than "oh look, here's a choice between Costa and Starbucks".

But look, here's the thing. If we're letting any businesses die, which economists agree will probably have to happen, it should be those who failed to pivot - the Prets and WH Smithses and city centre developers and landlords, because it might just be the world moved past them.

And in conjunction with that, incentivising independent local businesses and ventures because there'll be a lot of units going cheap.