CORONAVIRUS: Help for self-employed welcomed

SELF-employed workers in Warwickshire have welcomed news that the government is to offer financial help to them, as well as to employees.

At the government’s daily press conference yesterday (Thursday) Chancellor Rishi Sunak said new measures to be introduced in the next few weeks would give freelancers and other self-employed people similar safeguards to those working for companies.

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We recognised very early as a network that the self-employed needed to be included in the government’s support packages and we are very pleased that the Chancellor’s latest round has made provision for this hugely productive and important section of the economy.

“The Chancellor testified to the difficulties of establishing this system – especially as they are still working through the furloughing scheme for employees within companies.

“That means that this new support won’t be available until June which, of course, is not perfect but we do have to recognise the challenges that are being faced in creating these systems from scratch in a short space of time.

“There are other forms of support available in the short term for businesses and, as ever, we’d advise them to speak to their Chamber in order to understand what will work for them best.”

To contact the Chamber, call 024 7665 4321.