Business grants to top £20m this week locally.

The latest update on grants to local  small businesses, which are being administered through the South Glos Council Business Rates Team. If you have not applied yet, do get in touch with them.

• "Business grants – Our Business Rates team has been working hard, ensuring all the due diligence checks are covered to issue business support grants. The team will be working over the Bank Holiday weekend and we are issuing the small business support grants first as these can be assessed quickly. The government guidance is frequently updated, and we are refreshing our processes accordingly and have already prevented several fraudulent claims.
  We expect to issue at least a further £20m over the next week and are doing everything we can to speed up the process so that all claims (a further £15m) are processed without delay. 
• Business Rates Reliefs -   The government announced that it will provide a business rates holiday for businesses and venues in the retail, hospitality and/or leisure sector. This will apply automatically to the next business rates bill in April 2020.  
• Financial hardship loans - In addition, any business experiencing financial hardship may make a claim for help with their business rates. In extreme cases of hardship, up to 100% relief can be awarded. For more info please visitwww.southglos.gov.uk/business/business-rates/business-rates-reductions/financial-hards 
• For more info on any of the business support please visit www.southglos.gov.uk/businessinfo"