South Yorkshire businesses call for certainty on financial help through roadmap
The Prime Minister revealed his plans to ease lockdown yesterday
South Yorkshire businesses tell us it's vital new potential opening dates set out in the Prime Minister's roadmap come with extended financial support.
Yesterday Boris Johnson laid out his plans for lifting restrictions between March and June, offering many companies in sectors which are closed more certainty on when they might start trading again.
Outdoor hospitality could return on 12th April along with hairdressers, gyms and non-essential shops, followed by outdoor hospitality, theatres and concert halls on 17th May. Nightclubs could reopen on 21st June.
There's more detail on the roadmap here.
But with much of the government's financial support expiring at the end of March, South Yorkshire's Mayor's warning the lockdown easing could lead to a "divided recovery" without the right help.
Zoe Mizon owns her own Lash Lounge in Swinton and has had to cut her staff by more than a half since the start of the pandemic.
She's crossing her fingers she'll be able to reopen in April but worries there might be less business for her:
"I am quite surprised. I was thinking it might have been a little after that. It's really good news because we're all itching to get back. It's just unbelievable that he's actually given us something to look forward to now. Over the last 12 months, I've probably been closed for 7 or 8 months of it.
"It's amazing but I do feel like we are going to have to try and rebuild businesses from the ground now because everyone's gone so long without their treatments.
"Our busiest time of the year usually is when people are taking their summer holidays. People aren't going to be doing that this year and obviously that's going to have a massive impact on the business. We're just hoping we can get a little bit of normality and people will support us."
For many businesses, schemes like furlough, businesses rate relief and the VAT reduction have helped them survive the pandemic.
But those programmes are due to end on 31st March.
David Lister owns E'Lupo's Italian restaurant in Rotherham which won't be able to reopen until at least May:
"We don't have the facility to be able to offer an outdoor eating service. I'm just hopeful that the financial packages will be properly distinguised so that those businesses that can't offer that get the appropriate level of support.
"What I am worried about is having the capital with which to set back up, refill the fridges, make sure that we've got enough cash in the bank to pay the wages in the first few weeks whilst we're waiting for the money to hit.
"What we want to see going forward for the next three months is a tiered package that steps down as we become more self reliant. So it shouldn't be once busineses can reopen that's it they're on their own."
The Prime Minister says the Chancellor will outline financial help for businesses in the Budget next week.
Sheffield City region Mayor Dan Jarvis is urging him to make sure the support is there to help out county recover from the pandemic:
“In the short term we need an extension of the furlough scheme, action to address business debt, and an extension of the business rates holiday and VAT cut for hospitality, retail and leisure for at least 6 months.
"In the longer term, we need a rebuilding that does more than get us back to the status quo - but tackles our deeply unequal society and helps build a stronger, greener and fairer UK."