“Government now needs to go all out to ensure that details of the job retention scheme and loan guarantees reach firms on the ground as soon as possible”
Commenting on the further measures announced by the Chancellor to help businesses hit by the impact of Coronavirus, NI Chamber Chief Executive Ann McGregor said:
“The Chancellor has given businesses some desperately needed breathing room at this critical moment.
“The commitment to support the salaries of workers at risk of redundancy by up to 80% is extremely welcome, supporting the livelihoods of all those whose jobs were potentially at risk. This commitment followed a call from the Northern Ireland Business Alliance earlier this week and shows that the government is listening to business at this time.
“We also welcome the deferral of VAT payments which keeps money in the pockets of businesses so that they can pay their people and suppliers.
“As a next step, the government now needs to go all out to ensure that details of the job retention scheme and loan guarantees reach firms on the ground as soon as possible. Given that this situation continues to evolve, government must also keep the door open to additional measures to support business cash flow.