Brief statement below after the government’s 5pm briefing on Friday 20th March.
Bill Addy, Chief Executive of Liverpool BID Company and Chair of The BID Foundation says,
This week the message from businesses and from our BID Levy Payers has been clear – we need help and we need it now. For many, the government has offered a lifeline. We welcome what is an easing of the intense pressure on business and their immediate cash flow. The VAT holiday until June is essentially a cash injection of £30bn. The announcement of 12 month interest free loans for businesses starting on Monday will provide much needed relief and we will seek clarification on how businesses can access this and offer them support as and when they need it.
The support for employees is just as important as for business. The government’s announcement to pay the wages of those not working – (80% up to a total of £2500 a month, backdated to 1st March for at least three months) is welcome, and it will ease the pressure on households as well as business owners. The support for the self employed is a start.
Yet these remain intensely challenging times, particularly for the hospitality sector, which so many of our towns, cities and households depend upon. The closure of cafes, bars and restaurants is important in terms of social distancing but it is vital we continue to support every level of our business community and society and we need comprehensive measures, from those who serve a morning coffee to those running several restaurants.
We will examine the fine print and continue to offer clarification and guidance for everyone who lives, works and operates within Liverpool’s BID areas. At Liverpool BID we will continue to provide a voice for business within the city and beyond. We will continue to offer support through all of our channels and while we may be working remotely we are always contactable.
