Derby’s two Business Improvement Districts have joined a national campaign calling on the Government to do more to help firms in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
The Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter BIDS are backing the #RaiseTheBar campaign to help firms in these sectors survive the lockdown and secure jobs.
Supported by industry representation bodies and BIDs across the 海角视频, it is asking the Government to raise the rateable value threshold for grant assistance from £51,000 to £150,000 for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.
At present, the Government has established two grants specifically for small businesses and those operating in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors.
They are worth £10,000 to companies operating from premises with a rateable value of up to £15,000 and a second grant of £25,000 is available for those based in premises with a rateable value of up to £51,000.
Both the Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter BIDs represent and support a wide cross-section of businesses in the city centre but say that many will go to the wall if they cannot access fresh finance.
The BID boards have written to local MPs asking for their support in the #RaiseThe Bar campaign.
Martin Langsdale, chairman of the Cathedral Quarter BID, said: “The Cathedral Quarter is home to some of the city’s most iconic leisure, hospitality and retail businesses, which greatly contribute to the day and evening economy in the city and employ hundreds of local people.
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“In these unprecedented times we are particularly concerned that many of these businesses do not have the support they so desperately need at this time from the Government.
“Feedback from them suggests that they are carrying significant stock losses and are still facing immediate cash flow challenges that wage subsidies will not address.
“Many are not in a position to take on further debt or have serious misgivings about being able to survive the recovery and service loans.”
Helen Wathall, chairman of St Peters Quarter BID, said: “The retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are vital to the local economy and must be protected at all costs.
“We strongly believe that the retail, hospitality and leisure grant provision and, in particular, the threshold of £51,000 to be far too low to provide adequate support to these businesses in their time of need.”
The #RaiseTheBar campaign and the Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter BIDS’ efforts have been commended by Terry Evans, owner of iconic venue The Flowerpot, in King Street, which falls out of the current rateable value threshold.
She said: “The current situation is a nightmare. Our three main issues are cashflow, stock and staffing.
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“I have unfortunately had to furlough my team of 12 loyal staff but otherwise we feel left on the shelf as we do not currently qualify for the Government grant that would make a huge difference in these difficult times.
“It is heart-breaking when we have worked so hard as a team to build up a strong business to now go through this terrible time. Without financial support us and many other businesses in the city will simply not survive.”
Matt Sheard, owner of Hunters Furniture, in Babington Lane, which was established in 1928, also supports the campaign.
He said: “We are facing challenges that we never thought we would have to tackle and glad that St Peters Quarter BID is getting behind the #RaiseTheBar campaign.
“We would urge the Government to understand the position we, and many of our neighbours, are in as an established and successful high street retailer.
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“Although we are still taking forward orders on our online store, we rely on people visiting our store on the high street to browse our showroom for inspiration – we are very much a people business.
“Unfortunately, we are not in a position to deliver as we offer a ‘white-glove’ delivery service for furniture that requires two people, and we can’t do that safely under current Government guidelines.
“Here at Hunters we are focused on doing everything we can to ensure that we return to the high street for our team, business community and customers, but at the moment the end is not in sight.”