Working with Hughes Electrical, MHA Larking Gowen had seen how that changed with the pandemic. “The analogy I’ve used is that it’s been like having one foot in a bucket of boiling water and one foot in a bucket of ice water,” says Mr Hughes. “On average, it’s been okay – but it isn’t half uncomfortable.” While stores were closed for four months, the online business boomed. “We can compete by having a strong website supported by shops, where it used to be strong shops supported by websites,” explains Mr Hughes. “The legacy of Covid will be how that relationship has changed.”