Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
Alok Sharma, the business secretary, is considering renewing lifeline grants for small businesses which find themselves in sudden local lockdowns.
Ministers are worried about the effects on local economies, especially in the North, if small businesses have to shut up shop again because of wildcat lockdowns.
The so-called Red Wall constituencies in the North of England will be especially vulnerable to sudden lockdown once the furlough scheme comes to end in October.
>See also: How to claim your £1,500 Kickstart Scheme grant
Ministers are looking at a system of local lifeline grants to help small businesses keep staff on, modelled on an £11bn scheme used during the lockdown, according to The Times.
Pubs, cafés, restaurants, hotels and other hospitality businesses forced to close during the lockdown were eligible for grants worth up to £25,000 each, while other small businesses were handed £10,000 in one-off support.
Almost one fifth (17 per cent) of small businesses don’t think they’d survive another lockdown and would be forced to stop trading permanently if one came into effect, according to a new report by small business insurer Simply Business.
Alan Thomas, UK CEO at Simply Business, said: “The nationwide lockdown has had a significant effect