“Pent-up demand” for Bailiwick traders could help many bounce back after lockdown; for others still affected, there continues to be a financial lifeline.
Moving to Stage 3 of the Bailiwick’s exit from lockdown – likely to be Monday 22 March – means “business as usual” for the majority of traders.
For those sectors that are still affected by Covid lockdown measures, the Policy & Resources Committee has agreed what support measures will continue and which sectors will still be eligible for support.
Deputy Mark Helyar, Treasury lead for P&R, said: “Stage 3 is a big turning point for our business community as we finally come out of lockdown restrictions. We’re confident that many of those businesses that haven’t been able to trade at all, or where trade has been restricted, will be able to bounce back quickly.
“We know from the last lockdown there will be pent-up demand, whether in hospitality and nightlife, entertainment, recreation or retail. And we’d encourage people to go out, enjoy those services and support their local businesses.”
Pictured: Deputy Mark Helyar, Treasury lead for P&R.
Not all sectors will be as fortunate, so there will still be money for event management, accommodation, transport and travel, pet accommodation, and car rental sectors. Taxi-operators, which have been supported since the first wave of the pandemic, will continue to be eligible for payroll co-funding. However, this will now be capped at 50% of minimum wage.
P&R said the ongoing restrictions on travel continue to have an impact on the sector, hence remaining eligible for support, but in light of the healthy demand for taxi services among the local population it is deemed that further support should be provided at this lower level, to balance against the cost to the taxpayer.
Eligible sectors will be supported until the end of June, at which point P&R will review the situation. The visitor accommodation sector is supported through a separate, bespoke scheme which the Committee has already agreed will continue for a further year.
Excluding the visitor accommodation sector, payroll co-funding costs amounted to around £1.2m per week for the first 5 weeks of this lockdown. In Stage 3 it is expected this will reduce to around £0.1m per week.
Pictured top: Islanders should go out, enjoy themselves and support local businesses after the move to Stage 3, says P&R.
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