Increased help to weather dual storm of Brexit and lockdown
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 UK. 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.
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.”
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 UK’s departure from the EU,” he said, highlighting the Global Humber Helpdesk contactable via help@ globalhumber.co.uk