Treasury extends CLBILS loan size to £200m as total support hits £32bn May 26, 2020 The Treasury is extending the CLBILS loan size to £200m after announcing more than £32bn in loans and guarantees have been awarded to UK firms. Chancellor Rishi Sunak today announced that businesses have benefitted from over £32bn in loans and guarantees to support them during the coronavirus crisis. With lockdown restrictions limiting business, Sunak introduced [...]
Coronavirus: Over half of UK firms cannot reopen fully, survey shows May 20, 2020 Almost 50 per cent of UK firms are only ready to partially reopen their businesses as the government lifts the coronavirus lockdown, a survey has shown, with one in 10 saying they cannot restart at all due to Covid guidelines. The survey, from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), also showed that 85 per cent [...]
£500m Future Fund launch mired by fears startups will miss out May 20, 2020 Future Fund, the government’s £500m answer to startups’ need for cash to survive coronavirus, is set to launch today – but risks freezing out a swathe of British firms, entrepreneurs and investors have warned. That many startups cannot yet demonstrate a turnover, and that they typically rely on equity investment for cash flow, excludes most [...]
Coronavirus loans hit £22bn, but just 50 per cent of CBILS lending approved May 19, 2020 UK banks have only approved 50 per cent of applications to the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS), data showed today, even as overall lending hit £22bn. CBILS lending data showed British lenders have distributed that cash to more than half a million UK companies, with over £14bn lent out in the form of bounce [...]
Coronavirus loan cap increased to £200m for mid-sized firms May 19, 2020 The Treasury has raised the amount mid-sized companies can borrow through the coronavirus loan scheme to £200m, up from £50m. The changes to the coronavirus large business interruption loan scheme (CLBILS) come into force next week, ministers said. The CLBILS scheme is targeted at mid-sized companies that do not qualify for the Bank of England’s [...]
More than £6bn paid out as part of self-employed relief package May 18, 2020 More than £6bn has been paid out to more than 2m of the UK’s self-employed workers under the government’s coronavirus support scheme. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the updated figure today and confirmed there would be no change to the scheme’s £50,000 cut-off. The scheme sees the government hand over a taxable grant worth 80 per [...]
Job market set for ‘significant’ downturn despite furlough scheme May 18, 2020 The UK job market is set for a “significant turn for the worse” over the next three months, a new report from the Chartered Institute of Professional Development (CIPD) has found. According to the research, more than half of private sector firms are preparing to freeze pay for the next 12 months, while hiring intentions [...]
Hiscox policyholders set to launch legal action against firm over coronavirus claims May 17, 2020 A group of Hiscox policyholders angry at the insurance giant’s decision to exclude coronavirus-related disruptions from its business interruption policies have been given the go-ahead to launch legal action against the firm. According to law firm Mishcon de Reya, over 400 policyholders with nearly £40m in claims have joined the Hiscox Action Group. The law [...]
Treasury mulling plans for ‘bad bank’ to manage stakes in bailed-out firms May 17, 2020 The Treasury is considering plans to develop a so-called “bad bank” in order to hold stake in bailed out companies, the Sunday Times reported, amid fears that key firms could fail due to the coronavirus pandemic. The initiative reflects similar steps taken by the Labour party during the 2008 financial crisis, when it set up [...]
Watch: Christian May discusses the problems with the CBILS scheme May 14, 2020 City A.M. editor Christian May has said UK SMEs are hitting a brick wall trying to access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme (CBILS), and warned there may be further trouble ahead. The CBILS scheme allows companies to apply for a loan through 60 accredited lenders to stay afloat during the coronavirus crisis. But issues with [...]