Small firms count cost of cold snap

THE cold weather has cost smaller firms over £174m, at an average of more than £1,500 per business, according to a new study.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Apr 2013, 09:28 BST

A survey of 1,600 members of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) showed that just more
than half had suffered a financial hit.

Many businesses had to close for over two days last month, or employed staff who were unable to get to work because of the disruption caused by the cold snap.

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Mike Cherry, policy chairman of the FSB, said: “We may finally have turned a corner into spring, but it’s been a long haul, following the coldest March in 100 years.

“While a few businesses have managed to take advantage of the weather many have found it difficult to manage. Not only have they had to cope with a lack of demand for products, but many have had to close. Our fear is that this prolonged cold spell will mean people are travelling by car to supermarkets or out of town shopping centres rather than utilising local shops.”

The FSB has 200,000 members in total across 33 regions and 194 branches.