North Yorkshire business leaders backing calls to create job growth
Struggling business owners are backing calls from students to invest in growth after the pandemic
Last updated 2nd Mar 2021
Struggling business owners and leaders in North Yorkshire are calling for policies that will help them grow, as pressure mounts on the chancellor to create new jobs.
Rishi Sunak will unveil his budget on Wednesday, and now the world of business is backing calls from students to secure job opportunities in the future.
Emma Godivala, who owns the York Gin Company, says the survival of the high street is going to be crucial to making sure we avoid a continued unemployment crisis.
"With the unpredictability of Covid and the world as it is, it'd be good to have tapered support that you can call on when you need it." Emma says.
"Around 50% of my staff are student age," Emma adds. "They need the money for studies and there's very little jobs to come by at the minute."
Sophie McCudden is a first year performing arts student from Ripon. She's hoping the chancellor supports theatres and hospitality, as many performers rely on part time jobs to get by.
She said: "Most actors and people in the theatre industry have to support themselves through other jobs. So we need to know that there are going to be those jobs available.
"Most theatres are central or down in London so it is concerning that maybe theatre won't be accessible locally.
"For young people who want to go into performing arts, it should be there for them and should be an amazing chance for them to grow.
"The theatre aspect is a big part of what I want from the chancellor. We need to have that sustainability and to know that theatre jobs will be there.
"I can't help but think 'Will theatre happen? Will the media still be going on?' There is that worry there that could potentially prevent me from doing what I want to do. There’s that uncertainty there. But, no matter how big or small, there are still going to be people to entertain."
Grants needed to help business survive reopening
It's not just business owners who are calling for support to continue. Tourism groups and non-profit organisations also want to see grants and loans.
Sean Bullick, the MD of Make It York, says a lot of business owners are worried about cash flow ahead of reopening.
"We've asked the chancellor for flexible, low interest loans to help businesses get up and started again." Sean says.
He says the future isn't very bright at the moment, but believes Rishi Sunak can offer hope to both business owners and those searching for a job.
Brooke Davies is a final year Politics and International Relations student at the University of York, and wants to see employers do more to help: "It's got to the point where I'm thinking of doing a Masters, because there doesn't seem to be much out there.
"Before Covid, I was set on not doing a Masters, but now I don't know what options are out there when hardly anything is being run.
"I feel like there is a responsibility as a big business to provide training for the type of people you want to then see apply, because you still get applications for more advanced level jobs - and it's asking for all the same things that they're not willing to do themselves with Covid.
"You still need to provide what you provided for the previous generation because it's not fair; it's going to create an overcrowded job market. It's not beneficial for anyone to not run these jobs. It's not fair on my age group, especially those just graduating - and I don't think businesses are completely aware of that".
Meanwhile, the Federation of Small Businesses is calling for the government step up investment in self-employment.
North Yorkshire spokesperson Carolyn Frank thinks business skills should be taught from a "young age" to help people get into the world of work.
"There's huge potential for new entrepreneurs but if we don't teach the necessary skills, it's really hard to make those businesses work".
"Not the time" for tax rises
Meanwhile, opposition leaders and Conservative MPs have found common ground after chancellor Rishi Sunak hinted corporation tax could rise from 19% to 25%.
On Monday, shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said that now is "not the time'' for tax rises, but suggested that she could support an increase in corporation tax in the future.
Elsewhere, the chancellor is coming under pressure from northern Tories to support high streets by permanently reducing business rates for retailers.
Forty-five MPs from the Northern Research Group called for an extension of the business rates holiday to be followed by "fundamental reform'' after the pandemic.
Prime-Minister Boris Johnson has promised "a strong, jobs led" recovery from coronavirus.