Prior to COVID-19, ANT Telecom specialised in providing solutions to protect employees and businesses with the latest telecommunication technology, but the onset of the pandemic and its effects on the business community saw the company pivot its activity to provide a state-of-the-art body temperature monitoring solution to local businesses to ensure safe working conditions.

Fellow Buckinghamshire businesses Lata Lata in High Wycombe and Bijou Wedding Venues near Aylesbury, both part of a tourism and hospitality sector that has been hugely affected by restrictions and lockdowns, are early beneficiaries of ANT’s temperature monitoring technology allowing them to re-open safely.

As a restaurant, Lata Lata was prevented from opening as usual for several months. Before a full reopening was allowed, Lata Lata concentrated all its efforts on its takeaway service, supported by the likes of Wycombe Wanderers Football Club who Lata Lata provided catering for, which helped keep the restaurant running during a critical time. This particular partnership of local restaurant and football club was founded and strengthened on the peer-to-peer Tourism and Hospitality Mastermind programme, run in partnership by Buckinghamshire Business First, Visit Buckinghamshire and The Chilterns, and Be the Business, part of a support package for tourism and hospitality businesses to help them through this trying time.

Now given the green light to open fully, the team at Lata Lata have been meticulously planning for a safe reopening and along with social distancing measures and hand sanitisers, have gone a step further by deploying a temperature monitoring terminal. The terminal is located at the entrance of the restaurant, with all staff and customers using the device to check their temperature before entering.

Ross Hunt, Co-Owner, Lata Lata, comments: “We found working with ANT Telecom really easy. They understood what we were after from the very beginning and made the perfect solution for us; an unobtrusive instrument that adds an extra layer of security making our customers feel safe and ready to come back.”

Klaus Allion, Managing Director, ANT Telecom, adds: “It’s been great to work with Lata Lata to implement a solution to get the restaurant up and running with a COVID-secure environment. Although the measures put in place to keep everyone safe may seem like dining out has fundamentally changed, the temperature monitoring solution is designed to cause as little impact on the experience as possible. And with the knowledge that risk-reducing initiatives are in place, customers can enjoy their meals with peace of mind that they are within a safe environment.”

Another Buckinghamshire business, Bijou Wedding Venues, was also looking to reopen for business as restrictions were lifted enabling large groups of people to meet, and ANT Telecom’s state-of-the-art body temperature monitoring equipment was their solution to enable special days to go ahead with confidence. ANT Telecom’s thermal imaging cameras can detect multiple people at the same time, and will be used to scan guests discreetly as they enter the venues.

Sam Cutmore-Scott, Managing Director, Bijou Wedding Venues, comments: “We’ve made a range of changes in light of the pandemic to ensure that weddings can continue as planned and we’re pleased to offer couples this extra layer of safety alongside other measures. The temperature monitoring cameras allow us to protect all of our guests and staff right from the entrance of the venue.”

Klaus Allion, Managing Director, ANT Telecom, states: “We’re delighted to support Bijou in enabling couples’ memorable days to continue and take place as close to as expected as possible. Our cameras support fast temperature measurement with discreet notifications to ensure minimal disruption and peace of mind for both the couple and guests at the venue, as well as staff. It’s an essential component of hospitality and event management and will help many types of gatherings similar to this take place safely as the fallout from the pandemic continues.”

Philippa Batting, Managing Director of Buckinghamshire Business First, adds: “This is one in a litany of inspiring stories of the Buckinghamshire business community rallying round in a time of great need, helping our economy flourish and build back better and stronger, ready for the new normal of doing business. The pandemic has put a spotlight on the willingness of businesses, communities, and individuals to innovate and work together for the greater good.  Over the coming months, it is our intention to help intensify and facilitate this collaboration to support our economy to recover and thrive by bringing business leaders together with the intention of facilitating even more inspiring stories like this one.”

Peer support pays off

ANT Telecom, Lata Lata and Wycombe Wanderers Football Club have all benefited from their involvement in peer-to-peer support groups. To see what support is on offer for your business, call 01494 927130 or email: BusinessSupport@bbf.uk.com