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The Early Years Alliance has issued a comment in response to today's announcement that, from 1 October, wholesale energy prices for businesses will be capped for a six-month period. 

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: 

“While a cap on the wholesale price of energy for businesses will offer some welcome respite for early years settings, the fact that the government has only committed to offering this support for six months will be of great concern to many providers.  

“Years of underfunding, rising inflation and rocketing energy costs has resulted in the closure of 4,000 settings in the last year alone – and without significant support over the long term, there is a risk that this trend will only continue. As such, it is absolutely vital that the early years sector is included on the government’s list of ‘vulnerable’ industries set to receive support after the initial six-month period has ended.  

“All too often during the pandemic, the early years sector was overlooked, forgotten and omitted from vital business support schemes, resulting in many unnecessary and preventable closures. It is critical that the government doesn’t make the same mistake again.”