Accounting firms voice concerns with coronavirus grant schemes for SMEs
by Startacus Admin
Countingup, a VC backed startup building one financial hub for 1m small businesses, and nearly 250 accountancy firms have written to the UK Government to appeal for gaps in coronavirus support for small businesses to be bridged.
it's fair to say we've been reporting on concerns about the level of some support that the UK government is offering to the UK startup and small business community. From the Save our Startups campaign, to the recent EISA Survey focused on growth businesses, it's true that questions continue to be asked...Now, Countingup and nearly 250 accountancy firms have written to the UK Government to appeal for gaps in coronavirus support for small businesses to be bridged.
Representing over 70,000 small businesses, the letter voices the concerns and questions posed by small businesses, which accountants are hearing day in day out. 250 accountancy firms contributed, and put their name to the letter, over the bank holiday weekend.
The letter, published at covid19.countingup.com, states that, “More urgency is needed to award grants today. Many businesses face collapse today.“ It also states,
“Entrepreneurs face their business being crushed.” The letter highlights two broad themes:
1. Support those businesses left behind by the Job Retention Scheme (JRS) and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).
2. Provide more clarity on the process and timings of JRS and SEISS grants.
The letter sets out how limited companies with directors who remunerate themselves via dividends, sole traders who started trading since 6th April 1 2019 and sole traders with previous trading profits over £50,000 are all being unfairly left behind by the JRS and SEISS grants.
It also asks for clarity on when grants will be provided, that this process needs to be sped up, and certain wording used such as “trading profits” for the SEISS needs to be better defined.
Tim Fouracre, Countingup’s CEO, comments, “We welcome the government support that’s being made available to sole traders and limited companies. We simply appeal for it to be provided equitably across the range of small businesses represented in the UK.”
The full letter is set out on Countingup’s covid-19 microsite, covid19.countingup.com, which also offers calculators to help interpret the support and grants available to small businesses.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Got a business in the manufacturing sector? These tips on how you can reduce energy costs while being more sustainable are well worth a read...
 Daniel Dierkes, David Schara, and Maximilian Geißinger 2.jpeg)
Innovative InsurTech startup SureIn announces a €4M Seed round to further its mission of making insurance easy, transparent and hassle-free for SMBs.
Nassia Skoulikariti, Director of IoT Programmes, Mobile Ecosystem Forum shares some insights on how IoT is having a significant impact on all our lives.
.jpg)
Roger James Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Genius Group, a world-leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group, discusses how introducing a globalized curriculum will help better prepare students.
SuperFi, the debt prevention platform, has announced a $1m pre-seed funding round to support people during the cost of living crisis.
41 startups from 13 countries, including the UK, have been selected for the 8th Kickstart Innovation program, one of Europe’s leading innovation platforms.
Personal training platform Another Round has secured £300k in its latest fundraise, including investment from angels and its community.
Thingtrax Secures £4.3M to Empower Manufacturers to Build the Factories of the Future
A measure of inflation relief for small firms sees transport costs fall but service price increases remain elevated
Bedfordshire-based HR tech startup HR DataHub has built a range of tools for HR departments
Published on: 14th April 2020
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- SureIn Secures €4M to Close the SMB Insurance Gap 15th Aug 2023 Innovative InsurTech startup SureIn announces a €4M Seed round to further its mission of making insurance easy, transparent and hassle-free for SMBs.
- SuperFi raises $1M pre-seed funding round 28th Jul 2023 SuperFi, the debt prevention platform, has announced a $1m pre-seed funding round to support people during the cost of living crisis.
- Startups rely on AI & sustainability for new partnerships 27th Jul 2023 41 startups from 13 countries, including the UK, have been selected for the 8th Kickstart Innovation program, one of Europe’s leading innovation platforms.
- Another Round closes £300k Seed round to revolutionise personal training 21st Jul 2023 Personal training platform Another Round has secured £300k in its latest fundraise, including investment from angels and its community.
