An advisory group consisting of key business leaders will form to help support businesses attempting to overcome the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown. Carmarthenshire County Council intends to use the group, along with other measures, to help aid in the county’s economic recovery.
The executive board of the council has been in discussion about the challenges that are faced by local businesses, and has implemented a recovery plan after successive months of criss.
The creation of this plan follows a survey on the impact felt by businesses, using the feedback of nearly 600 businesses, over 400 of which involved phone interviews. The results indicate ongoing difficulties felt in the business sector, in particular the food and beverage sectors, visitor economy, and the agriculture industry.
Businesses report a marked reduction in income, a reduced access to customers, and supply chain issues that have persisted since the implementation of the March lockdown, with several stating the possibility of losing their businesses altogether.
The council has provided £43 million in grant support from the Welsh Government to over 3,600 businesses since March, however, many of the businesses questioned in the survey reported that they were not eligible to receive this financial support.
Council Leader, Cllr Emlyn Dole, who is responsible for regeneration and economic development, said the pandemic has had a significant impact on businesses, the economy and communities. He said: “This report is a first of its kind for Carmarthenshire and will help us restart, recover and regenerate the economy. It’s a challenge for us, and one that will be difficult at times, but it’s a clear strategy which will help set us on our way to recovery.”
Results of the business impact survey, the full report and an archive of the webcast of the executive board meeting can be found on the Council and Democracy section of the council’s website.
