Thumbs down for Government from Chamber members
THE GOVERNMENT is not doing enough to support local businesses through the recession, a survey suggested today.
A poll of 354 members of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce found that 78% felt that despite a clutch of new schemes and announcements, not enough was being done to help them.
The same proportion said the 2.5% cut in VAT had not helped them.
A big majority – 85% – said there should be a freeze on new legislation that could cost them even more during the downturn.
More than two thirds said further interest rate cuts would not help the business community, and almost as many – 63% – called for the increase in employer NICs, scheduled from April 2011, to be scrapped.
Nearly 80% of those polled said their utility prices had increased over the past year, the majority saying the increases were by up to 50%.
Chris Fletcher, deputy chief executive of Greater Manchester Chamber, said: “What we’re hearing from members is that the multitude of Government announcements seem to be without substance and are proving totally unhelpful.
“Time and again we are hearing some consistent issues coming out around improving cashflow and getting invoices paid quicker. Many businesses that we have spoken to were also keen on seeing more money put into support for apprenticeships and training of staff.
“The other key message is that business needs some breathing space so new and costly legislation should be put on hold and there needs to be obvious delivery on already announced initiatives rather than a bombardment of new ones.”
Of those surveyed more than half were small firms, with up to 20 staff, 38% employed up to 200 and 8% employed more than 200 staff.
