The Isle Of Wight Gets Back To Business

Monday, 12 April 2021 10:27

By Jamie White and Oliver Dyer

The Isle of Wight is getting back to business today (Monday), following the easing of Government coronavirus restrictions.

Pubs, restaurants, shops, hairdressers and gyms can reopen today for the first time in months.

Swimming pools, nail salons and zoos are also getting back to business as coronavirus restrictions are eased further.

Many hospitality venues are going above and beyond for customers, by providing outside seating areas.

Newport (IOW's) Pizza Hut has reopened, with outdoor seating.

FSB Development Manager for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Nicola Bailey said:

“It’s fantastic that our shops, hairdressers and gyms can get back to doing what they do best all over England today, with some restrictions easing in other parts of the UK as well.

“The certainty provided by the Government’s road-map is filling many small business owners with renewed confidence. We live in hope that the virus stays in retreat so the remaining indicative dates for unlocking can be met, enabling our vital night time economies, offices and travel and tourism businesses to get back to it as well.

“It’s worrying to see such a sizeable proportion of employers fearing redundancies over the coming months. Initiatives like Kickstart, as well as incentives to take on apprentices and trainees, need to be delivered efficiently over the coming months to protect against a job market shock and support the young people that have disproportionately borne the brunt of rising unemployment.

“Policymakers also need to look at measures to encourage hiring activity. Bringing down the non-wage costs of employment, starting with employer national insurance contributions, which essentially serve as a jobs tax, would certainly help.

“With emergency loan repayments now starting to bite, the Government should carefully consider routes to realising economic value from the facilities it has underwritten: an approach to repayment based on the student loan model and greater adoption of employee ownership trusts could both mark constructive ways forward.

“Lockdowns have caused our £23bn late payment crisis to deepen. As confidence returns, now is the time to bring forward reforms that will help audit committees gain full visibility of payment practices.

“As the economy shifts, support measures need to evolve – particularly where support for start-ups is concerned. The Help to Grow initiative should be urgently reformed in order to both widen its support remit and make it open to all small business owners as they start out, not just those that already have staff.”

Has your business signed up to Isle of Wight Radio's Back To Business scheme? Below is the list of companies that have.

For a list of Isle of Wight businesses reopening today you can click on the link.

Missed one? Let us know here.

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The Isle Of Wight Gets Back To Business

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