IPSE: New business grants welcome – but self-employed must not fall through gaps in “patchwork of local lockdowns”
IPSE (the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed) has welcomed new grants for businesses affected by local lockdowns, but warned the support will do little for many self-employed.
IPSE has urged the government to match this support – which is based on the value of companies’ business premises – with targeted support for self-employed affected by local lockdowns.
Andy Chamberlain, Director of Policy at IPSE (the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed), said: “We welcome the fact the government is supporting businesses affected by local lockdowns. However, although this will help some self-employed people with business premises, it will leave many more out in the cold.
“Government must ensure that the self-employed do not fall through the gaps in a patchwork of local lockdowns. We urge the government to match this scheme with targeted support for self-employed people across the country whose businesses are affected by local lockdowns.
“Already, one and a half million self-employed have missed out on the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. Many of these businesses are hanging by a thread: finding themselves shut into local lockdowns without any support could be the final straw for them.”
IPSE’s Josh Toovey argues the employment status consultation tackles false self-employment but dodges tax, leaving it only half the job.
IPSE warns the Government’s employment status reforms miss an opportunity to align tax and employment rights for the self-employed.
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