Business groups urge Stormont Executive to extend rates holiday for Northern Ireland firms

Retail NI, Hospitality Ulster and Belfast Chamber chief executives, Glyn Roberts, Colin Neill and Simon Hamilton said the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of workers and the future of the firms that employ them depends on an extension of a rates holiday.

“As well as damaging people’s health, COVID-19 is damaging the health of our economy. Day in and day out, we speak to our members, many of whom have had the doors of their businesses closed for near on a month without any income. We listen as they tell us about the legitimate fears they have for the future of their firms and the livelihoods and wellbeing of their staff. And we hear how many of them are hurting like never before.

“We support the Executive in their discussions this upcoming week on how we get our society and the economy on a path back to normality. We have welcomed the support that our Executive has thus far offered businesses. It is greatly appreciated. But it is clear that restarting our economy will necessitate further support for many businesses.”

They added: “With the Scottish Government now deciding to extend its Small Business Grants to each qualifying property rather than business, we also ask that the Executive ensures that Northern Ireland’s Small Business Grant Scheme is brought into line with those elsewhere in the UK. This need to be addressed.

“It is no exaggeration to say that many of our members will not survive this crisis unless they receive the further support and that includes a rates holiday reviewed on a rolling basis.”