Shropshire Chamber of Commerce says the county’s business community will need to show its trademark ‘grit and determination’ to get through the latest uncertainties presented by Covid-19.

The Chamber welcomed news that Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin, have been placed in the lowest tier of lockdown restrictions under Boris Johnson’s new three-tier system, announced today.

And it also highlighted the positives in Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s latest Job Retention Scheme, designed to ease the burden on many employers when furlough comes to an end this month.

Ruth Ross, Shropshire Chamber’s director of business, said: “The extended financial support being offered to those businesses that are forced to close is welcome.

“But it doesn't appear to take into account their suppliers, who will also see a loss of demand for their goods, through no fault of their own – and it’s important these don’t slip through the net.

“All the current uncertainty is extremely worrying for businesses, but the Shropshire business community has shown great resilience and diversity so far.

“We must continue to adapt to the forever changing landscape, with the county’s trademark grit and determination.”

Richard Sheehan, Shropshire Chamber’s chief executive, said it was pleasing to see the Government responding to the British Chambers of Commerce’s long-standing calls for more local support.

“Cash grants will be of some help, but this will not be enough for some businesses to offset a sustained financial crunch.

“We must recognise that no financial support packages can ever compensate for a fully functioning economy – but equally, we must realise the cashflow pressures that many Shropshire businesses are going to face during a challenging winter.”