Team Lopez - Businessmen and women across Hornchurch and Upminster have been commended for the part they have played in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic to mark Small Business Saturday.
This year, Small Business Saturday we know, comes at the end of a hugely challenging period for small businesses, with many facing long periods of closure and reduced income due to the pandemic.
Julia Lopez MP has praised businesses across Hornchurch and Upminster for stepping in to support the local community throughout 2020.
Now retail shops in England can reopen under the tiered system of restrictions, the Government is encouraging people to get out and safely support them on the high street in the run-up to Christmas. It is still important to maintain safe social distancing and observe the measures put in place.
Throughout the course of pandemic, the Government has provided more than £280 billion to support lives and livelihoods. This includes:
- The furlough scheme, which has now been extended until the end of March and continues to support 4,300 jobs in Hornchurch and Upminster.
- Grants for the self-employed , which have been made more generous in light of recent national and local lockdown announcements, and which have benefitted 11,700 people in Hornchurch and Upminster.
- Loans and Government-backed grants which have helped businesses facing severely reduced income because of the pandemic.
- VAT cuts and business rates holidays for many small businesses, including those in the hospitality and retail sectors.
The Conservative Government is determined now to be blown off course by the pandemic and deliver on its promise, made at the General Election one year ago, to level up towns and communities across the whole country. To aid this, the Chancellor has recently announced a new £4 billion Levelling Up Fund to improve the infrastructure people and businesses rely on every day, following the £3.6 billion Towns Fund, and £1 billion Future High Streets Fund, which are helping to transform town centres across the country.
