Lancashire businesses hit hard by lockdowns and Brexit red tape, QES survey shows lep.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lep.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Babs Murphy
Babs Murphy, Chief Executive at the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce said: “Businesses will welcome much of this budget. There is support that is essential to help businesses recover in both the short and longer terms.
“New grants for the retail and hospitality sectors will help many shops, pubs and hotels get through to the end of restrictions. Extensions to furlough, business rates relief and VAT reductions offer some security as they not only restart, but to recover and rebuild.
“While we welcome many measures taken in this budget, how successfully business rebuilds needs to be closely monitored. Kickstarting the economy is a necessary to start in repaying the debts taken on over the pandemic. If the bounce back isn’t as profound as hoped, the Chancellor must be prepared to step in.”
PM s plan for lifting Covid restrictions may be too late to save some businesses
Business leaders in Lancashire have welcomed Boris Johnson s road map for reopening the high street - although they say it may have come too late for some in retail and hospitality.
Monday, 22nd February 2021, 6:31 pm
The Prime Minister says non-essential shops can only start trading again on April 12 at the earliest - subject to a continued reduction in the Covid figures.
Pubs, bars and restaurants will be allowed to reopen at the same time, but only serving customers outdoors. It will be another five weeks at least before they can trade indoors.
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Celebrations at a past BIBAs event
The Be Inspired Business Awards – The BIBAs – has opened for applications for 18 categories from businesses of any sector or any size in Lancashire.
Due to the restrictions in place around Covid-19, all interviews will be conducted by teleconferencing to ensure the safety of applicants and judges.
Babs Murphy, Chief Executive of the awards’ organisers, the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said the categories would offer firms the opportunities to show how they have innovated their way through the pandemic.
She said: “The BIBAs has always been about recognising the best in Lancashire business, and this year will be no exception.
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Health secretrary Matt Hancock says the measures are necessary
While business groups understand the need to protect the public from the coronavirus they are increasingly concerned how stop-start trading is affecting thousands of livelihoods.
They have again called for suport packages to be strengthened.
Babs Murphy, Chief Executive of the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce said: “Whilst we accept the government must act in the best interest of public health, it must also address the economic consequences of its actions. The Chancellor must act with the utmost urgency to help businesses who have been forced to either shut their doors , paid for stock they now can’t sell and whose cash flow projections have once again been thrown into chaos.