“We’ve had to close our business, we’ve been able to ensure our staff get looked after under the Government furlough scheme, but this leaves my husband, our family and I with almost nothing on which to live, and for how long?” This is what Hannah Withers, proprietor of Imagine Studios in Savernake Forest told marlborough.news earlier today, Friday 3 April, following her interview on the BBC lunchtime National News.
“It’s a very difficult time for everyone” added Hannah, explaining that Imagine Studios had to close immediately the social distancing rules came into operation as they could no longer run their photography studio business which relied on customers visiting their premises. Over the ten years that Imagine has been going they have built up a workforce of five staff, all of whom are now on furlough and Hannah expected that the business would be able to recoup the 80% of their salaries under the Chancellor’s scheme announced recently, although when is another issue as their cash flow could become tight.
As small business owners Hannah and her husband pay themselves via minimal PAYE contributions and company dividend income, as do very many business proprietors in a similar situation. “We are falling through a very large crack” she pointed out, as the system introduced recently didn’t recognise owners in this common situation which could lead to very many companies of similar size, who collectively employ a very large workforce going to the wall and adding significantly to the number out of work.
Hannah, along with other small business owners are pushing a petition on change.org which has already exceeded quarter of a million signatures. Yesterday Hannah wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, asking that he reconsider the position regarding protecting small business dividend income. A small point, in the grand scheme of things but one that could have devastating consequences for very many (otherwise) successful businesses in an around the Marlborough area and across the rest of the UK as well.
Hannah’s letter below:
From the front line – what’s happening elsewhere: Nova Scotia, Canada
