The wider impact of the coronavirus becomes more clear by the week, as businesses take stock of the potential longer term pressure.

This week included a signal of permanent redundancies from companies such as Rolls Royce where there is already furlough in place, while others seek to further diversify.

In this week’s Monday Business Voices column by Guy Stenhouse, the Scottish financial sector veteran who wrote formerly as Pinstripe, he lays down the  challenge to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, declaring: “Those we have entrusted with political power need to show courage and leadership.”

In Mark Williamson’s SME Focus this week, the Scottish Bee Company talks business but also health, wellbeing and the environment, saying: "In just two years we’ve increased bee numbers in Scotland by around 23 million."

In Kristy Dorsey’s Monday Interview, she writes … Like many, Eddie Black had big plans for 2020. With a 10-year multi-million pound contract due to come into play, a new £5 million headquarters for his Eco Group of companies sits 80 per cent complete in Annan.

It was to have been finished this summer, but now as with most construction projects, that remains on hold. Similarly, the coronavirus pandemic has forced him to put most of his 50 employees on furlough. After shaking off the initial shock, he assembled his remaining team of eight active staff. He says: “There is always opportunity, even in the worst times, and there is always opportunity to help as well.”

Read the full articles in the business section of tomorrow's Herald print and digital editions. 

BUSINESS WEEK: Debenhams to permanently close Glasgow store | Hotels set for ‘stepped’ reopening | Airport chief: I have no doubt we will be successful

Also on Monday, Pret A Manger stores are reopening across the country.

The sandwich chain is reopening 70 stores - including in Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester - for takeaway and delivery.

Trading updates from Centrica and Dignity are also due on Monday, and the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Impact of Covid-19 on homelessness and the private rented sector is being held with witnesses from 9.30am including Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis.

The ONS is expected to release figures on which occupations have the highest potential exposure to Covid-19.

It uses an estimate of exposure to disease and physical proximity for different occupations to calculate which have the highest potential exposure to the coronavirus.

On Tuesday Vodafone and Land Securities finals are due, along with a trading update from Morrisons.

The BRC - KPMG Retail Sales Monitor is due on Wednesday along with a trading update from TP Icap and on Thursday WHSMith interims are expected.

Also on Thursday, the BEIS Select Committee on the impact of coronavirus on businesses and workers will hear from witnesses including Parikh, chief economist at the Institute of Directors and Sue Davies, head of consumer protection and food policy at Which?

William Hill is expected to post a trading update on Friday.