'I'm absolutely livid, I've had no money, no help since March' - Business owner tells LBC
23 October 2020, 08:26
"I'm absolutely livid, I've had no money, no help since March."
After Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a new scheme to support businesses amid the Covid crisis one business owner had told LBC she has not been helped.
Jenny Miles-Byrd the owner of Future Art Limited, told LBC the package of measures announced by the Chancellor to help businesses in Tier 2 regions has done nothing for her.
Speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari a day after Rishi Sunak addressed MPs in the Commons to announce the new package Jenny said she was not getting the help she needed.
"I'm absolutely livid, I've had no money, no help since March," Jenny told Nick.
She said this was because she pays herself with dividends she does not qualify for any support.
Jenny said this was very common in businesses such as hers which offers services such as graphic design and multi-media development.
She revealed to LBC the reason she pays herself like this is that she has done Government contracting "so the Government know this is how we pay ourselves."
"Since March my work has been wiped out," Jenny said, adding because she normally works on the training side of the business."
When Nick asked how she was managing financially Jenny said she has "wiped out our savings, out family have been helping us."
She also revealed her 84-year-old father has been helping to support her too.
Nick pointed out that the Chancellor's measures seemed to offer support to "the same people all the time" which Jenny agreed with.
Rishi Sunak announces new financial support for Businesses
In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Sunak announced that the coronavirus Job Support Scheme will be made more generous, with employer contributions reduced and the minimum hours requirement also cut.
He also announced grants for businesses in Tier 2 areas of up to £2,100 per month they are in the category, that can be backdated to August.There will also be additional help for the self employed.
The grant package alone is expected to cost over £1 billion and around 150,000 business in England could be eligible, the Treasury said.
Mr Sunak said there will be difficult days and weeks ahead.
Hospitality firms in Tier 2 to get grants of up to £2100 per month
The three measures:
More generous job support scheme
Employer contribution to staff's unworked hours is reduced to just 5%. The minimum hours requirement is reduced to 20%, making those working just one day a week eligible.
Grants for businesses affected by tier 2 rules
Cash grants will be available of up to £2,100 per month primarily for businesses in the hospitality, accommodation and leisure sectors. The grants will be available retrospectively backdated to August for areas that have already been subject to restrictions .
Extra help for the self-employed
An increase to the amount of profits covered by the two forthcoming self-employed grants from 20% to 40%, meaning the maximum grant will increase from £1,875 to £3,750.
Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds told the Commons: "For months we have urged the Chancellor to get ahead of the looming unemployment crisis and act to save jobs.
"Instead, we've had a patchwork of poor ideas rushed out at the last minute."
Ms Dodds asked how many jobs have been lost as a result of the Chancellor's "inaction" and pressed him to explain what has changed which means "this is the right thing to do now, but wasn't when parts of the north and midlands" entered Tier 2-style restrictions several weeks ago.
She said: "The Chancellor has only caught up and listened to the anxieties of workers and businesses when it looks like these restrictions will be affecting London and the West Midlands.
"Will he apologise to those who have already lost their jobs, seen their businesses slip through their fingers in those areas which have not had that support until now?"
SNP Treasury spokeswoman Alison Thewliss said Rishi Sunak's economic plan goes "nowhere near" his promises of doing whatever it takes.
She said: "This is the third statement from the Chancellor in the space of a month but this is not a sign of good management, this is a sign of panic and chaos from this Government and none of this should be coming as a surprise to them.
"It's telling that the Government has put out more under embargo today than they gave out to opposition spokespeople, a sign of real disrespect to the other parties in this House."
Separately, Nottingham City Council has confirmed it is set to enter further talks with the Government on Thursday over the possibility of further coronavirus restrictions in the region.
Councillor David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: "We can confirm we have received a diary invite for an introductory meeting with a Government minister later this afternoon along with the leader of the county.
"We will be keen to robustly discuss and understand any impact of Tier 3 given the approximate two-week time lag before we see any potential impact, especially as we are starting to see the numbers reduce now in the current Tier 2 level.
"As part of what we expect will be ongoing discussions starting today, we will be focused on negotiating a financial support package that will help protect the health of local people, save lives and also the livelihoods of local people and businesses in the city."
