Over £28 million in coronavirus grants still available to eligible businesses – do you qualify?
£62.5 million in business grants has already been paid out to Buckinghamshire small businesses and businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors to help them through the coronavirus crisis. That means there is still over £28 million available to businesses who haven’t applied and could be eligible – are you one of them?
Buckinghamshire Council received just over £91 million from government that is strictly for eligible businesses only and may not be used for any other purpose. Already 4,737 local businesses have applied and received their grant.
Cllr Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, encouraged businesses in the relevant sectors to visit www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/businessgrant where they can take a look at the eligibility criteria and apply. He said: “This grant is intended to help local businesses meet expenses while there is very little money coming in and keep going until things start to return to normal. The money is available to all eligible businesses – if you qualify you will receive the money and, as it is a grant and not a loan, you will not have to pay it back.”
Local businesses who have already received the grant have been in touch to say how much it has helped. Charlie and Mike at the Three Horseshoes in Marlow said: “We cannot express our gratitude enough. This grant will allow us to pay all bills until July, and we cannot describe our relief. Without this grant, we would have inevitably lost our beautiful little pub, which is also our home.”
Go to www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/businessgrant for details about eligibility and to apply. The grants are available to all eligible businesses and, as they are grants and not loans, do not need to be repaid.
Most businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, and businesses receiving Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief will receive a grant as follows:
- Eligible properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or less will receive a £10,000 grant
- Eligible properties with a rateable value of more than £15,000 and up to £51,000 will receive a £25,000 grant
To be eligible for a grant, companies and traders must have been liable for business rates on 11 March 2020. If not, there is no entitlement to relief.
For business support information visit our ‘Local support for businesses’ page at https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/coronavirus-business-support-hub/local-support-businesses/
Any queries specific to your business should be made to the council direct. We are working in partnership with Buckinghamshire Business First who can help businesses with general support, advice and information. Visit the website at bbf.uk.com or email BusinessSupport@bbf.uk.com