Devastating impact of COVID-19 on Chelmsford businesses – City Council acts on survey

Chelmsford businesses will receive targeted support from the City Council, following a COVID-19 impact survey. 93.5% of respondents said the pandemic has negatively affected their business. Overwhelmingly, those affected say they have lost income (89%) and nearly two thirds have reported cash flow problems (63%). More than a third of this group (37%) say they face the threat of having to lay off staff.

Chelmsford City Council’s ‘Business Recovery Survey’ has also revealed local firms’ concerns for the future. Around half of the 416 businesses responding to the survey say they are currently ‘surviving’ (53%), but a large number (43%) would describe their business as being in ‘crisis’. Many are pessimistic about their prospects of recovery over the next 12 months, with 45% unsure whether they will still be operating in a year’s time. A small proportion (2.5%) say they expect to be gone within a year.

The Council carried out the survey to get a detailed understanding of the challenges faced by local businesses so that effective support can continue to be made available. Many businesses have already used the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (56.5%), and a similar number have reported making use of a Small Business Grant (53%). Access to information, financial advice and short and longer-term capital are among the key things companies say they will need in the future.

Councillor Martin Bracken, Cabinet Deputy for the Economy and Small Business, says this information will be crucial in designing help to keep small firms going:

“So many of our Chelmsford businesses, like others all over the country, are fighting for survival and we must do everything we can to help. We’re grateful to the hundreds of firms that have completed our survey and the Council has already been in touch with respondents to help them find appropriate advice and support.

“We will share the results of this survey with our business support partners like BEST Growth Hub and Back to Business Essex so they too can learn from these important findings.”

Chelmsford City Council is using the results of the survey to help inform the Council’s forthcoming economic renewal plan. The Council’s Economic Development team is also utilising the survey to signpost businesses to resources to help businesses to move online and make better use of technology. More information for businesses can be found at www.chelmsford.gov.uk/business/.