Advertisement
UK markets closed
  • FTSE 100

    7,952.62
    +20.64 (+0.26%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    19,884.73
    +74.07 (+0.37%)
     
  • AIM

    743.26
    +1.15 (+0.15%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1706
    +0.0013 (+0.11%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2623
    +0.0000 (+0.00%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    56,062.71
    +1,030.80 (+1.87%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,254.35
    +5.86 (+0.11%)
     
  • DOW

    39,807.37
    +47.29 (+0.12%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    83.11
    -0.06 (-0.07%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,254.80
    +16.40 (+0.73%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,402.37
    +234.30 (+0.58%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    16,541.42
    +148.58 (+0.91%)
     
  • DAX

    18,492.49
    +15.40 (+0.08%)
     
  • CAC 40

    8,205.81
    +1.00 (+0.01%)
     

Energy crisis will push thousands of UK firms to collapse, CBI warns

 energy  Tibard employees make NHS uniforms at their factory in Dukinfield as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Dukinfield, Britain, April 6, 2020. REUTERS/Molly Darlington
CBI said there is ‘no time to lose’ to help households and businesses through energy crisis. Photo: Molly Darlington/Reuters (Molly Darlington / reuters)

The UK government needs to act decisively to help businesses with surging energy bills this winter as thousands of companies could collapse without further support, Britain's biggest business group has warned.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) urged the government to freeze business rates for another year and take quick and targeted action to prevent otherwise viable businesses from going bust.

The CBI said the government needs to target support at the households and companies most in need.

It called for extra money to make its way to households through the current energy bill support scheme.

ADVERTISEMENT

Read more: Cost effective ways to keep cool during heatwaves

“While helping struggling consumers remains the number one priority, we can’t afford to lose sight of the fact that many viable businesses are under pressure and could easily tip into distress without action," said Matthew Fell, the CBI's chief policy director.

"Firms aren’t asking for a handout. But they do need autumn to be the moment that the government grips the energy cost crisis. Decisive action now will give firms headroom on cash flow and prevent a short-term crunch becoming a longer-term crisis."

Nearly one in three businesses surveyed by the organisation said soaring gas prices are likely to stifle their investment in transitioning to net zero.

Meanwhile, 69% of firms said they expect energy bills to rise in the next three months, and nearly a third expect rises of more than 30%.

CBI also urged the government to give companies and the self-employed more time to pay their tax bills and provide easier access to pandemic-style loans to shore up their finances.

The CBI's intervention comes just days before Britain's energy regulator, Ofgem, is set to reveal the new energy price cap for the autumn period, which is widely expected to see average energy bills rise to around £3,500 from October, before then to potentially exceeding £4,600 from January.

Energy bills are set to soar
Energy bills are set to soar

The CBI also called for a massive energy efficiency drive to give people upfront financial support for improving their home insulation. Meanwhile, energy-intensive businesses should be given support to improve their efficiency.

Read more: Some 1.9 million UK households defaulted on bills in the last month

“The impact of soaring energy prices on households is going to have serious consequences, not just for individuals but for the wider economy,” Fell added.

Watch: Why are gas prices rising?