When the world came to a halt in March 2020, we were approached by a Documentary maker who were following the stories of a number of people and businesses across the UK, as they try to navigate through one of the most unpredictable periods in modern history, COVID-19.
In an era defined by rapid change and unprecedented challenges, especially during the global pandemic and lockdown, businesses worldwide had to constantly adapt to new realities. A stark reminder that running a business is a tough, we wanted to share some of the trailers from the documentary which ended up being one of the top 10 Business Documentaries on Amazon Prime in 2022.
The documentary "Business As Unusual" highlights this theme, capturing the resilience and innovation of people and businesses across the UK. Available on Amazon Prime Video, this compelling documentary follows various enterprises as they navigate through one of the most unpredictable periods in modern history, the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the featured businesses is MAES London, showcasing our determination and ingenuity in the face of adversity.
"It seems like a distant memory, but I remember wondering if we would make it through the next few months", says our founder Diana watching the above trailer.
"Business As Unusual" is a powerful narrative of survival, adaptation, and growth. It chronicles our journey alongside several other businesses, each facing a unique set of challenges. Guided by expert coaches, we received valuable advice, guidance, and strategic insights aimed at helping us survive and thrive in a rapidly changing environment.
During the pandemic, MAES London remained operational in some capacity, managing everything as best we could. Initially, we gained some business due to the lockdowns in China and Italy. However, we soon started to feel the effects locally, and by the time the UK went into lockdown, we had to put most operations on hold. A few employees wanted to continue working from home, so we tried this approach. However, it was quite difficult and costly to manage, and we had concerns about maintaining consistently high-quality standards.
Once we were allowed to open in May 2020, We decided to put most of our team on furlough, managing what we could with a handful of staff who lived nearby and didn't have to use the London Underground. During this time, we had regular Zoom calls with staff to navigate through government announcements. The UKFT’s updates were instrumental in ensuring we had the latest information. Additionally, we ended up helping the Emergency Designer Network (EDN) to make scrubs for the NHS.
"Business As Unusual" provides an intimate look at how we, and other businesses, adapted to survive during the pandemic, highlighting the resilience and resourcefulness that define our industry.