MOST of the self-employed business owners in Furness have taken advantage of government Covid business grants, new data reveals.

Well over half of the self-employed workers in the borough of Barrow and the South Lakes have successfully claimed grants through an extended government scheme to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic.

But the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) says businesses are still ‘reeling’ from the impact of Covid-19 and need further support, as a second wave of the virus hits.

HM Revenue and Customs figures show 1,100 people in Furness and 3,500 in the South Lakes applied to the second round of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) between August 17 and the end of this month.

From May 13 to mid-July, eligible self-employed workers could claim a grant worth 80 per cent of their average monthly profits for a three-month period, limited to £7,500.

The grant was extended in August, but lowered to 70 per cent of profits and capped at £6,570, with applications closing on October 19.

Claims made by people in Barrow amounted to £2.2 million, or £2,000 per person on average and £8.5 million total for SLDC residents which was an average claim of £2,500 per person.

Andy Chamberlain, from IPSE, said the scheme has been a vital lifeline. “As the second wave of coronavirus approaches, the government must do more to support businesses that will be impacted by these restrictions,” he said.

A Treasury spokesman said: “We’re committed to supporting the self-employed."