Struggling independent brewing businesses need support now, not aspirations for the future, says SIBA, responding to the chancellor’s Spring Statement.
“Today, the chancellor announced plans to help businesses in years to come, but these aspirations for the future are not the immediate support that struggling businesses facing closure need right now,” said a spokesperson for the organisation.
“The energy and supply crunch are an urgent and potentially devastating situation, with most small brewers seeing energy rising between 200% and 300%, and vital business supples, from malt to beer cans, rising exponentially.
“Rising costs combined with Covid debt repayments mean businesses facing financial ruin and an uncertain future, with many unlikely to survive until the autumn Budget.
“While the fuel duty reduction will help businesses running vehicles, most small brewers are still waiting for the assistance promised a year ago under the Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF). This vital money is yet to be paid by local authorities, and breweries do not receive the 50% discount for hospitality.
“In today’s announcement the chancellor missed the opportunity to prioritise these payments and expand CARF for another year, to provide the support small businesses need now to survive.”
