Extra support measures have been welcomed in the Humber business community as 2021 opens with the dual challenge of lockdown and changes to imports and exports post-Brexit.
The Prime Minister’s warning of the “hardest weeks” yet to come has been repeated by the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, while local authorities gearing up once again for grant allocation to help businesses survive.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced that businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are to be given a one-off grant worth up to £9,000 with the measure costing £4 billion across the 海角视频.
David Hooper, the Chamber's external affairs manager, said: "This isn't the start to the year businesses in the Humber wanted, but the rapidly rising Covid-19 figures are scary and it is clear swift action had to be taken.
"The Government had announced towards the end of last year that the furlough scheme was being extended to April and we are pleased to see Rishi Sunak moving swiftly to put in extra support for businesses which are going to find it especially hard now for the next couple of months.
"We have to try to stay positive though - the vaccine roll-out is gathering pace, so hopefully in the next couple of months infection rates and hospital admissions will come down and the Government will be able to start easing some of these restrictions.”
Closures for many businesses look set to be fixed until at least February half-term.
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The new one-off grants come in addition to existing business support grants of up to £3,000 for rate paying businesses who are forced to close.
They are set at £4,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under, £6,000 for those between £15,000 and £51,000 and £9,000 for those over £51,000.
A discretionary fund has also been flagged by the Chancellor.
Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “We are awaiting further details on our allocation of funds and will release information as soon as we are able to about how businesses will be able to access this money. We know how much businesses in our area are being impacted by the effects of the virus, and we are doing everything we can to provide help and support as quickly as possible.”
Across the Humber, Cllr Daren Hale, deputy leader of Hull City Council, said: “As we enter the most recent stage of measures to combat Covid-19, many business-owners, and in particular those in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors in Hull, will understandably be worried about the future of their business. These grants should provide some security.
“It is vital that we as a council do all we can to help these business-owners to ensure the city’s economy can recover as quickly as possible. Our business support team is working extremely hard to ensure all businesses get the help they need to survive these latest restrictions. We are doing all we can within the terms of the grants to support those businesses in need.”
On the North Bank only businesses that have not yet applied for any Covid-related support are eligible, with those already in the system to be automatically considered.
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A operated by the Humber LEP's Business Growth Hub has also been flagged, with 85 businesses helped so far.
Grants of up to £3,000 are available, and can be used to cover costs arising from implementing “return to normal” activities, such as working with consultants and specialist advisors to devise new marketing and sales strategies, or to look at introducing a new product or service to the business in order to diversify. Also, the grants can be used to fund the purchase of specialist equipment under £5,000 to help with business recovery or to help provide new-to-the business products and services.
Mr Hooper said a team of people is also on hand at the Chamber to deal with import and export enquiries.
“Businesses are also trying to deal with the changes brought about by the 海角视频's departure from the EU,” he said, highlighting the Global Humber Helpdesk contactable via help@globalhumber.co.uk .