MORE than 30 small businesses in York are vying for a share of a £20,000 fund set up to support the city s economic recovery as restrictions ease. Applications have flooded in since First York launched the York Restart Fund last week to help small operators post lockdown. Half of the entries so far have come from businesses in York city centre, while 45 per cent are from retailers, 25 per cent from hospitality and the rest from the leisure, health and beauty sectors. Marc Bichtemann, the bus operator s managing director, said the fantastic response so far had been heartening. Stressing that the fund was open to businesses across the city, he added: It is meant to be a catalyst to show that partnership can be a real driver behind recovery.
On the Budget as a whole
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) national chairman Mike Cherry, said: “This Budget will help many small firms with their final push through to September, but there is little here to aid job creation or help people return to work. Ensuring the newly self-employed can now access support marks a big step forward – we’re pleased our campaign has been heard – but directors, who appear to have been left out yet again, will be incredibly disappointed.”
“There’s much to welcome in this Budget for business communities across the UK. The Chancellor has listened and acted on our calls for immediate support to help struggling businesses reach the finish line of this gruelling marathon and to begin their recovery. Extensions to furlough, business rates relief and VAT reductions give firms a fighting chance not only to restart, but also to rebuild.”
Nigel Farage backs Laurence Fox in London mayoral race Joe Murphy
Nigel Farage and the Reform party today threw their support behind actor and activist Laurence Fox to become the next Mayor of London.
The former Brexit Party leader hailed “a new patriotic alliance” between supporters of “a free nation” who were opposed to continuing lockdown and policies such as low-traffic neighbourhoods.
Mr Fox, who is running under his own Reclaim Party banner, and Reform UK Leader Richard Tice shook hands on the mutual support deal in Hyde Park this morning, sealing it with a handshake by the statue of St George.
Unemployment has stabilised but there will be economic pain ahead
(Getty Images)
There are high levels of business optimism. Survey after survey has told us this, from reports from Deloitte on large companies to evidence from the Federation of Small Businesses.
Consumer savings are at an all-time high. People are itching to get out and spend the money they have been forced to accumulate. All in all, a very bright picture. But things might not quite be as they seem at first glance.
Sanjeev Gupta’s problems in the GFG Alliance are putting some 5,000 jobs at risk in the steel industry following the collapse of Greensill Capital. A credit crunch threatens the future of Britain’s second largest oil refinery at Stanlow in Cheshire, owned by Essar Energy.