‘More than ever we need the government to do whatever it takes’

BID BOSSES IN CALL FOR HELP FOR BUSINESSES TO ‘BOUNCE BACK BETTER’

HUDDERSFIELD BID has backed calls for the government to provide additional support to enable businesses to bounce back from the strain of the coronavirus pandemic.

From tomorrow, all of West Yorkshire will be placed into the ‘very high’ coronavirus alert level, meaning hospitality venues in the region will be forced to remain closed.

And although businesses in retail and leisure will mostly be allowed to reopen, Huddersfield BID has warned Tier 3 measures will place “irrevocable pressure” on all three sectors.

It has led the BID – launched by the government to develop projects that will benefit businesses in the area via an additional levy – to back a manifesto calling on the government to introduce ‘sector specific support’ for businesses.

The Bounce Back Better campaign is proposing a range of measures intended to provide a lifeline for businesses and is made up of four “essential asks.” hospitality and leisure businesses in Tier 2 and 3 with a rateable value of up to, and including, £150,000.

The funds would support 137,000 businesses across England and Wales and be distributed by local authorities.

The overall cost of the grant, if approved, could reach £2.05bn.

The manifesto is calling on the government to “remove the burden of national insurance from employers whose staff are on furlough” until March 31, 2020, which it claims could save the average business £2,000 per month.

The Bounce Back Better campaign is also suggesting the government extend the ‘business rates holiday’ for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses through 2021/22.

The manifesto described its introduction earlier in the year as an “extraordinary and critical measure”. gested B&Bs, hotels and restaurants could be vital in local economic recovery “with a vaccine becoming a reality.”

Matthew Chapman, Huddersfield BID manager, offered his thoughts on the manifesto. He said: “The consensus from businesses in the Huddersfield district is that the support from government so far has been adequate.

“But as the coronavirus pandemic continues we are approaching a very challenging crossroads for many.

“Earlier in 2020, the government provided assurances it will do whatever it takes to support all businesses to help them bounce back.

“Businesses are raising valid concerns as we approach this crossroads and Huddersfield BID are supporting the Bounce Back Better campaign to lobby government to provide sector specific measures to counteract mass closures and job losses.

“Now more than ever we need the Government to stand by its promise to do whatever it takes.”

The culmination of the manifesto follows intense and thorough talks with businesses, Business Improvement Districts, local authorities, destinations and industry bodies to provide options of support to help the UK economy ‘bounce back.’

Billy Addy, chairman of the BID foundation, said: “The government has the chance to act now and lessen lasting damage to economic growth and jobs.”