Forgotten industry

ONCE again manufacturing has been forgotten.

As a result of the pandemic, retail, hospitality and leisure businesses have had grants, VAT reduced to just 5 per cent and after no business rates in 2020 they are facing low bills this year.

With my husband, I run a small manufacturing company employing ten people. The only help I’ve had is a bounceback loan, which I have to repay. Help with wages through the furlough scheme has saved jobs, but not produced any revenue. I’ve still had to pay business rates in full and 20 per cent VAT.

The rateable value on our small factory slightly exceeded the threshold, so we did not get a grant.

When I applied to the council for a discretionary grant, I was told manufacturing was not deemed important in my area. What a slap in the face.

I had an interruption clause in my insurance, but they refused to pay because Covid is not a listed contagious disease. However, they would pay out for mumps, rabies and whooping cough.

When a court judgment went against them, the insurance company still refused to pay as our company was not one of the industries that was forced to shut down, as schools, nonessential retail, hospitality and leisure had to.

I have sent a complaint to the ombudsman.

Through the first lockdown I was able to keep my business open with a skeleton staff to try to fulfil orders for our hard-pressed customers.

We export all over the world and these markets just shut down. Keeping my company going and protecting jobs is a daily struggle.

People want to resume spending in shops, cafes and restaurants, so they are bouncing back. Manufacturing will take longer to recover.

It would have been welcome if the Budget had announced help for all businesses.

JANET BODLEY, Broadstairs, Kent.