Businesses berate ‘scattergun’ approach to UK government energy support

Exclusive: small business and hospitality groups urge rethink to let firms renegotiate fairer contracts and stave off closure

Groups representing more than 100,000 UK firms have accused ministers of taking a scattergun" approach to supporting businesses with their gas and electricity costs, amid fears many will be forced to close this year by unaffordable bills.

Earlier this month, the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, confirmed that the scheme designed to soften the blow of soaring monthly payments for energy would become significantly less generous from April.