Many small businesses and self-employed people have been hit hard by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, and with only limited financial support on offer, some – including several in the sign-making sector – have been forced to close.

The total number of solo self-employed, excluding those who have others working for them, has fallen from 4.6m in 2019 to 4.4m. Prior to 2020, the sector had been growing continuously for 11 years.

Those aged between 18 and 29 have been hardest hit, with an 11% decline, while less highly skilled male self-employed people have dropped 11% and people aged 40 to 49 down 7%.

Worryingly, the IPSE also pointed out that one in seven people in the sector said they became solo self-employed between 2019 and 2020, which meant some 591,000 people would not have been able to access the government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).

As such, the IPSE is calling for the government, which last week extended its furlough scheme to the end of April 2020, to offer more support to those who run their own, sole-trading business.

“Aside from a smattering of positive stories, there has been decline right across the solo self-employed sector,” IPSE chief executive Derek Cribb says.

“As with so many issues, however, 2020 has proved different. The circumstances of lockdown and the gaps in support for the self-employed have left the sector undermined and diminished.

“We fear, too, for the future: many self-employed now face not only many more months without support, but also the economic disruption and confusion of Brexit.

“We urge the government to take steps to fix the damage to the self-employed sector, both by looking again at support for excluded groups and also by providing more certainty and guidance to the sector on Brexit.”

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