Representatives from the two associations spoke with officials from BEIS yesterday (15 April).
IPIA chairman Graeme Smith said that BEIS had recognised that the printing industry is a “decisive barometer for the economic health of every other sector of our economy and is intrinsically linked with each of the UK’s major industrial bases”.
“Our meeting with BEIS was very productive and inspired a tremendous amount of confidence about the Government’s plans to support industries such as ours when we move into the post Covid-19 recovery phase,” Smith said.
They also called for a total suspension of VAT on print and merchandising material for two years following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.
The IPIA and BAPC said that BEIS had confirmed that a graduated approach to the withdrawal of Covid-19 business support mechanisms was being explored.
The IPIA presented the findings of its Covid-19 Business Impact Survey to BEIS, alongside some initial feedback from its new Finance and Recovery Survey, detailing “the far-reaching economic damage being caused to our industry by this crisis”.
“Among the recommendations we made based on this research was the need for a glide path for the eventual withdrawal of Government Business Support schemes,” Smith added.
“Another key recommendation is that the Job Retention Scheme needs further flexibility built into it for when restrictions are lifted, and demand starts to flow back into the system.”
Smith said that it would be beneficial if the designated furlough period could be split up over the course of the scheme, with the minimum consecutive period of furlough reduced to two weeks to allow for more flexibility.
Other recommendations made by the two associations included: a time-limited and Government-backed book debt loan scheme; a 12-month suspension of auto-enrolment pension fees for employers; a substantial increase in capital equipment allowances.
They also provide feedback on the well-documented issues with the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), and how it could be adapted to provide greater financial confidence and support to the printing sector.
The representatives from the IPIA and BAPC also gave industry feedback on the poor provision of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), and how it could be adapted to provide greater financial confidence and support to sectors such as ours. They also called for print businesses exposed to hospitality, retail and leisure to be included in the £25,000 cash grant scheme pertinent to those sectors.
The IPIA and BAPC have also set up The Sourcing Bridge to assist members who may have mothballed their own facilities and need to find suitable trade suppliers or partners to help them through the crisis.
