The nation’s freelancers, sole traders and company directors want this week’s Budget to help them get their businesses going again after the challenges of the last 12 months.
untied conducted a survey amongst individuals that work for themselves, and the vast majority (68%) said they wanted to see more help for self-employed, with a further 16% specifying that they hoped furlough and COVID-19 financial support would be extended to act as a bridge to the summer and beyond.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that only 24 per cent of self-employed people had received support from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) up to October 2020. The chancellor has faced growing calls – including those from untied – to draw up emergency support for those left out from previous funding tranches.
untied’s study also found that over one in eight respondents said they are hoping for new personal tax reliefs to put money back in people’s pockets or measures on employment and training to create new jobs and help those who need to re-skill. A stamp duty extension will also be well-received.
According to the Government website, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak will announce details about the fourth grant, plus possibly details on the furlough scheme and stamp duty in his Spring Budget on 3 March 2021.