Small Business Owners Pack Their Bags and Call on the Chancellor to Keep Energy Bills from Running Up the Escalator
Before the Spring Budget hits the headlines, a letter written on behalf of the country’s 5.5 million tiny titans of trade is shouting: “Hold the line! Keep the Energy Bills Discount scheme running past March 2024.”
Why the Current Climate Feels Like a Ticking Time Bomb
Think of small businesses as the living room of the nation’s economic house. They’re the ones who ensure the lights stay on, the coffee keeps brewing, and the community keeps kicking. Yet right now they’re being squeezed from every side—energy costs rocketed 40 %, interest rates are climbing, late‑payments keep rolling in, and the big business rates tower overhead like an ominous cloud.
Key Issues That’re Hitting the Wallets and the Wallet‑Suits
- Energy Bills Rising” – SMEs are paying up to 40 % more per month than a year ago, a spike that’s squeezing the budget more than a pair of handcuffs.
- Late Payments” – £32 bn of overdue money knocks out cash flow for many businesses; timely pay could mean an annual economic bump of £2.5 bn.
- Higher Costs of Doing Business” – Incremental rises in wages and rates leave owners re-evaluating hiring decisions, dodging risk, and worrying about that one bed‑and‑breakfast they can’t afford to keep on the books.
“We’re not asking for a pause in the drama—just a refund to the bleak mid‑term”
Solomon’s own “Just keep the energy discount alive” plea sums it up. Small businesses are the backbone of communities, but without crack‑free support, over a quarter are already “at risk of closure.” If growth is the key to a stronger economy, it can’t be stifled by rising fuel costs and sluggish cash flow.
What Our MVP (Most Valuable Plan) Looks Like
Extend the Energy Bills Discount scheme over the next few months. Thank you for the hard work so far, but we’re not just hoping for general elections to sort things out. The company must act now so entrepreneurs are not stuck in traffic while waiting for “policy light at the end of the tunnel.”
Bottom Line: Keep the Energy Bills Discount Scheme Running Until After March 2024
Small business owners’ message to the Chancellor is clear: invest in the future of the “neighbourhood shops,” “local cafés,” and “boutique studios” that keep our streets buzzing. With clearer, patient support, we’ll all feel the ripple effect of a vibrant, thriving economy.
