There are a number of estimates as to how much the UK scheme will cost, but there are suggestions that it will cost £100bn for the duration of the scheme. None of this money has to be repaid, so it does represent a subsidy as opposed to a loan that has to be repaid.
As far as I can tell the UK scheme is one of the most generous that has been introduced anywhere and I appreciate the support we have been given, but of course the amount we have received is an insignificant proportion of what we have paid into the state over the last 25 years.
It is at times like this that the difference between a smaller privately owned company is in massive contrast to the large plc's. I think it is usual for small company owners to be the last to be paid once all other employees are looked after and of course we have to use our own funds as the shareholder to support the business. This is just not the case for the large UK plc's.
Good luck and I hope you come through it all OK without needing to borrow.
