50 signatures reached
To: Rishi Sunak
Support for businesses forced to close or operate under restrictions due to the COVID-19
Offer realistic financial support for businesses forced to close or operate under unworkable restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why is this important?
The government is heavily focused on job retention and the furlough scheme, of which there is no doubt is beneficial to employees and is keeping the unemployment figures down. However, without adequate and realistic financial support many businesses will not survive the pressures which the COVID-19 restrictions are placing upon them. Many of these employees will find there are no jobs for them to return to without the government offering realistic support to the businesses employing them. The grants being offered at present will not even cover the rents or mortgages on many of the premises occupied by these businesses.
Being the owner of a small rural public house (rateable value under £51,000) I can tell you that £500 a week is not covering my £800 a week rent let alone the insurance, electric and rental contracts, etc (which have no interest in pandemics) all which require paying. I am now extremely worried for the future of a business which I have worked hard to build up. It has been in the family for almost 30 years. We are self-employed operators who are not eligible for very much by way of self-employment support as we don't make much from the business by way of profits. So the pressure is now building as we are unsure how long we can continue. This not only puts the livelihoods of myself, partner and children at risk but the 10 local people who we employ.
I beg this to be looked at as a matter of urgency as we are only a very small representation of the country and there are countless others in our situation.
Being the owner of a small rural public house (rateable value under £51,000) I can tell you that £500 a week is not covering my £800 a week rent let alone the insurance, electric and rental contracts, etc (which have no interest in pandemics) all which require paying. I am now extremely worried for the future of a business which I have worked hard to build up. It has been in the family for almost 30 years. We are self-employed operators who are not eligible for very much by way of self-employment support as we don't make much from the business by way of profits. So the pressure is now building as we are unsure how long we can continue. This not only puts the livelihoods of myself, partner and children at risk but the 10 local people who we employ.
I beg this to be looked at as a matter of urgency as we are only a very small representation of the country and there are countless others in our situation.
