Representing hundreds of cookshops and housewares stockists, The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has approved the Government’s latest raft of emergency measures to save jobs and businesses . Bira’s ceo Andrew Goodacre has called for “speed and simplicity” in how these financial support packages are made available.
On Friday evening (March 20), Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced the new measures to protect workers, includling: coverage for 80% of salaries up to £2,500 a month, VAT bills deferred for the next quarter – worth £30billion – and a £7bn boost to the welfare system.
Speaking immediately after the measures were announced, Andrew said: “We welcome the grants being made available to support salary payments to keep people in work.
“We also welcome the more generous terms for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the deferral of the next VAT payments.
“It is absolutely vital that the guidelines on how to access these all-important grants are made available as soon as possible, with clear instructions on how businesses can access these much-needed funds.“
He concluded: “Speed and simplicity will be of the essence of this if we are to protect as many businesses and employees as possible.”
Top: Bira’s ceo Andrew Goodacre and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.
