Businesses will continue to need added support even as Covid restrictions ease, says the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
Clare Elsby, its East Midlands policy representative, said lifting restrictions was welcomed but small business owners still needed help when it came to dealing with the ongoing consequences of the pandemic.
Ms Elsby, who is head of people and culture at Northampton accountants Elsby & Co, has urged the Government to stand by small businesses – particularly if they are hit by future outbreaks of the virus in their ranks.
Likewise, she said access to testing should remain straightforward – especially if new variants appear.
It comes after Boris Johnson announced that people who test positive for coronavirus will no longer be legally required to isolate from Thursday, and free universal testing will end in April under Boris Johnson’s plan for “living with Covid”.
The Prime Minister detailed the strategy for England to the Commons late on Monday afternoon after a Cabinet disagreement thought to centre on funding for future surveillance of the virus.
Those who receive a positive Covid-19 test will still be advised to stay at home for at least five days, but will not be obliged to under law under the plans subject to parliamentary approval.
Ms Elsby said: “Small firms right across England will be hoping that this week definitively marks the end of chopping and changing restrictions that have blighted them over the past two years.
“Lockdowns have proved devastating for our small businesses. The priority now must be containing the virus and protecting community wellbeing whilst avoiding the need to shut down the economy entirely.
“As we learn to live with Covid, it’s important that we all respect the house rules that each unique small business has in place to keep staff and customers safe – many have invested thousands in safety measures.
“Support and swift, clear guidance remain key – small employers need to know exactly where they stand with regards to this new normal.
“The need for business support with regards to the pandemic will not disappear when restrictions do – containing this virus is clearly still a priority.
“Small firms should not be out of pocket when they support staff who are unwell. That’s why we’re urging the Government to expand and make permanent the existing statutory sick pay rebate for small businesses.
“It’s important access to testing is still maintained for when people feel ill, and the infrastructure surrounding it should not be immediately discarded, so that it can be deployed when new variants appear.
“Government should also be assessing the effectiveness of its existing Covid business support schemes ensuring that, if needed in the future, they are sufficient, widespread and quickly distributed.
“Our economic recovery is still fragile. Firms now find themselves bracing for an April flashpoint when a regressive jobs tax hike is set to take effect alongside a grab on dividend income, fresh business rates bills, a rise in the living wage and the end of residual Covid support measures such as a lower rate of VAT for hospitality.
“While scrapping the increase in NICs would be a huge relief, increasing the Employment Allowance by a quarter, to £5,000, would go some way to offset the worst of the pain for small employers.
“Before then we’ll have the Chancellor’s Spring Statement. Our recovery will hinge on it being a pro-business one.”
