Harlow businesses urged to access Government financial support

HARLOW businesses are being encouraged to take action and apply for Government funding support, as figures show thousands are not yet accessing what they are entitled to.

Official records indicate that so far more than £175million* of Government business grants has been handed out to more than 14,000* businesses Essex-wide following the Coronavirus pandemic.

But there are still more than 9,000* businesses across Essex yet to receive funding which is available to them.

Borough, district and city councils across the county are doing everything they can to distribute funding as quickly as possible but in some cases the local authority does not have the business bank details to be able to transfer the funds. Local councils are struggling to contact businesses which are currently closed and are urging businesses to get in touch via their local authority websites to provide the details required.

There are also many businesses that have not applied to claim what they are entitled to. Businesses who do not usually pay business rates to their local council are also eligible to apply.

The grants are not loans and businesses will not be required to pay the money back later.

Records indicate more than 23,000* Essex businesses are entitled to financial support from the Government in light of the current pandemic. Around 40%* are yet to receive any funds and Essex County Council is urging them to take action to make sure they don’t miss out.

Essex County Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “This is an extremely challenging time for businesses, and we want to help them to survive. Some businesses might not have ever thought they needed to rely on state support, but these are unprecedented times. We want to make sure businesses access the support they need, and I urge all businesses to visit their local council website to apply.”

Businesses can apply for funding via their local authority at: www.essex.gov.uk/applying-for-small-business-grants-in-essex

The Government announced in March a business package of financial support was being made available to help businesses survive through the current imposed lockdown since the rules around social distancing and staying at home to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus have forced many businesses to close their doors or cease operating at the moment.

The aim of the funding support is to prevent as many permanent business closures and job losses as possible. Among the support available is business rates relief, a Job Retention Scheme and various other grants to help businesses stay afloat and pay their staff while not working. Full details of the support options available are published at: www.essex.gov.uk/support-for-employers-and-businesses.

Essex County Council is keen to help as many businesses as possible to survive through the current pandemic and has established a dedicated Covid-19 ECC Business Support Service to help assist businesses to understand the options available to them, signpost them to appropriate points of contact or information, and help answer questions. Businesses can contact the team online, or via Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.