‘We’re still viable - but we need help,’ Sheffield’s independent businesses declare

"I have a bit of government money left and when that runs out, I have nothing.

"I’ll likely be gone in a couple of months.”

As Michelle talks, she surveys her empty Chesterfield Road shop; the same premises she’s been in for 15 years.

Pre-covid, she says, at 12.30pm on a Saturday this shop would be bustling.

So far today, she’s had only one customer.

"I naively thought everybody would come back once we reopened,” says the 51-year-old.

"But my older customers aren’t coming out, and a lot are furloughed at home.

"In the meantime I have rent and bills to pay.”

Michelle is one of a number of independent Sheffield business owners backing a new campaign, ‘We’re #StillViable,’ to ask for more government support to help them survive the crisis, as South Yorkshire goes into Tier 3.

Louise Haigh, MP for Sheffield Heeley – who is leading the call to action – said: “Rishi Sunak says he is not prepared to support unviable businesses, but many are only unviable because they’re not legally allowed to operate normally.

“Of course these businesses will struggle when they can’t open at full capacity, but they’re still viable long-term.

"They just need a helping hand to get through the current crisis.”

Lena and Nada, the mother and daughter team behind Des Amis Cafe, a few doors up, reveal they are taking things day-to-day as their business struggles to survive ever-changing restrictions.

"People aren’t eating out, so we’re just trying to survive until customers return,” says Nada.

“We don’t know if there will be any extra financial support.

"I don’t know how long we can carry on like this.”

Nasir Raja has run Everest Restaurant in Heeley for 23 years, and reveals the past two weeks have been the toughest in the restaurant’s history.

“This restaurant belongs to the community, but right now the community just wants to stay home,” he says.

“The government should take stricter action, and lockdown the country for a month, rather than playing around with our livelihoods.

"This has been a government failure.”

Erica Anderson, owner of Blynk Lash & Brow Bar, agrees, saying: “It’s disheartening; people aren’t going out, or on holiday, so we’re only filling half our appointments.”

Rachel Hanif, owner of Delphine Fish & Chips, is determined to keep her doors open, even though some weeks she is operating at a loss.

"I'm just keeping some staff on by the skin of my teeth, as I know they have mortgages to pay,” she admits.

"And where some takeaways have hiked their prices over the summer, I’ve kept mine down to support my customers while they need it.

"Hopefully they’ll come back to us when they do have the money.”

Miss Haigh, who is asking residents to sign the ‘We’re #StillViable’ petition in support of local businesses, added: “These businesses are being kept open, but can’t possibly continue as they are.

"If we lose them, the results will be devastating – unemployment costs money too, and I don’t want to come out of this pandemic to boarded-up shop windows.

“The government must recognise their measures are harming people, and step-in to support independent businesses before they’re gone for good.”

Sign the petition.