This afternoon, Chancellor Rishi Sunak set out a £1bn fund to help businesses, including those in the leisure and hospitality sectors, that are impacted by the sharp rise in Covid-19 cases in the UK.
Richard Osborne, founder of UK Business Forums (UKBF), the UK’s largest online community of small and micro-business owners, said: “Whilst this support is welcome, is it enough? The livelihoods of thousands of UK businesses, not least those in the hospitality industry, are hanging in the balance. Whilst £1bn provides some relief, the road ahead is uncertain, and businesses need more reassurance that this will suffice and that further help will be quickly available if it is needed. Yet again, small business owners are left with uncertainty as they try to salvage some sort of Christmas trade, all whilst knowing another lockdown may be just around the corner.”
“The Government may not have told people to lock down just yet, but the fear of Omicron and the words of the Government have caused swathes of cancellations and a reported 40 per cent drop in business. The Government needs to ensure the support it has offered is easily and quickly made available. It also needs to be ready to step up a mark, should the country lockdown again. Otherwise, without a doubt, we will see many more great small businesses on our high streets go out of business!”
