NewsColony

Coronavirus: ‘Time is running out,’ say UK businesses NewsColony Image copyright Swim Quest Image caption Alice Todd, co-founder of open water swimming holiday firm Swim Quest British firms say time is running out to keep their businesses afloat as coronavirus batters the economy – and that they are uncertain about how to access the financial support promised by the government on Tuesday. “There’s been confusion about whether we’re going to be eligible for the grants available to small businesses,” said Alice Todd, co-founder of swimming holiday firm Swim Quest. Multiple firms have told the BBC that their local authorities are “in the dark” and unable to advise them on applying for grants, or whether they even qualify for the business rates holiday offered to the hospitality industry. “We contacted our local authorities on behalf of our tenants [pub landlords], and they don’t know. They’ve had no instructions and told us to call them back next week,” said Jonathan Neame, chi...