The UK's creative sector has welcomed the huge financial package announced by the government yesterday aimed at helping companies protect jobs during the coronavirus crisis, but warned that freelancers and self-employed workers need greater support.
The temporary measures, worth an estimated £78 billion, include grants that will cover up to 80 per cent of salaries for workers that are kept in their jobs rather than laid off.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme payments will be worth a maximum of £2,500 per month for each worker, for up to three months. Other measures include the deferment of next upcoming VAT payments and self-assessment tax bills.
"We are encouraged by the financial measures announced this evening and hope they will provide much-needed support for practices to retain staff and manage cash flow," said Alan Vallance, CEO of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). "The RIBA is engaging with the Government on a daily basis and this latest package of support reflects proposals we put to the chancellor earlier this week," he added. "We will continue to ensure the concerns of our members are heard, understood and acted upon.?
The creative industries have a high proportion of small businesses, self-employed workers and freelancers, and there are widespread fears over how businesses and individuals will survive the crisis as the global economy seizes up.
Government has "failed to stand by freelancers and self-employed work...