The cautious unlocking that has seen people heading to beer gardens for a pint and making long-needed appointments with hairdressers offers a glimmer of hope for hard-hit businesses.
April saw the reopening of non-essential retail, gyms, hairdressers and outdoor hospitality. It also saw the opening of the government’s £75bn Covid Recovery Loan Scheme – seen as a vital tool in helping businesses to unlock.
The new programme aims to give UK businesses access to financial support as they recover and grow following the pandemic.
Companies can apply for loans of between £25,000 and £10m, with the government taking on 80 per cent of the default risk. Invoice and asset finance is available from £1,000.
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