SMALL BUSINESS / ORGANISATION CASH

A new local emergency fund for Small Business has been launched. You can apply for a grant of up to £5000 through the 'Discretionary Fund for Small Businesses'. Deadline is 8th June to apply.

The fund will prioritise businesses in shared spaces (such as units in industrial parks, science parks and incubators which do not have their own business rates assessment), regular market traders, small charity properties that would meet the criteria for Small Business Rates Relief, and Bed and Breakfasts that pay council tax rather than business rates.

Other examples of the type businesses that could be eligible include:

• Independent businesses – those that are not eligible for Small Business Rate Grants due to payment to a landlord of all-inclusive rent

• Community organisations – those not eligible for Small Business Rate Grants due to payment to a landlord of all-inclusive rent

• Childcare Nurseries – those with a rateable value over £15,000 who will not have received business support grants to date, or that are not eligible for Small Business Rate Grants due to payment to a landlord of all-inclusive rent.

Applications are open until 8 June with eligible businesses expected to demonstrate a significant drop in income because of the coronavirus pandemic restriction measures.

For further information on eligibility, criteria, grant amounts and any other questions, please read the Discretionary Grants Fund FAQs www.southglos.gov.uk/discretionaryfund

CASh for small business / self employed

ARE YOU A SMALL BUSINESS / SELF EMPLOYED?

WANT SOME CASH as a GRANT no strong.

Have you applied for a grant, not a loan, a grant from South Glos Council? The government has given South Glos £39 Million to give to local small business and the self employed. This is in addition to the loans schemes and furlough.

But so far they have only managed to give out under half. They are working through applications as quickly as they can - but the real issue is that people are not asking for the cash. This is a grant you can get. Cash for just filling in one form. No strings. So what are you waiting for??

• .For more info please visit www.southglos.gov.uk/businessinfo"
• Please share with anyone in South Glos who runs a small business

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"

Support for local businesses

If you are a local business, S Glos may have been in touch with you.  But if they have not been in touch, contact the  Business Rates team at the address below or on 01454 867700 to find out how youcan get access to the central government help announced last Friday. It isn't just about business rates, it accesses all the government support.

https://beta.southglos.gov.uk/information-for-businesses-and-employers/

Not an April fool

Help for businesses from South Glos

Some local small businesses have had a letter from Liam Dewsbury at South Glos asking for bank information and linking to a  South Glos web form. A resident asked us to check as they thought it might be a scam, but on Sunday (yes S Glos staff are working Sundays in the crisis) the Director of Finance has confirmed this is from S Glos.  Make sure you are only inputting your details into the web form on a South Glos official site. If you have any doubts, get in touch with us and we can check.