Humber businesses urged to get in touch with local authorities for COVID-19 grants

BUSINESSES across the Humber region are being urged to get in touch with their respective local authorities to access grants and business support, after concerns were raised that some business owners still don't realise they qualify for support.
All four local authorities in the Humber are now starting to contact businesses who have not come forward for help directly to encourage them to apply for the grants and loans that the Government has made available.
In North East Lincolnshire, nearly 900 businesses are being contacted directly to ask them to submit their business details as they are likely to be eligible for government business grants.
So far, more than 2,100 eligible small businesses in North East Lincolnshire have received government grants worth a total of more than £25-million to date (figures at 30 April).
But around 1,000 businesses that have been identified as eligible for the grants have not yet been in contact, so the council is writing and calling those businesses directly to encourage them to submit their information through the council’s website.
Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of the Council, said: “Overall, we think that around 3000 businesses in North East Lincolnshire should be eligible for these grants, and the team has done a great job so far to make sure the eligible businesses get the money quickly to help them through the COVID-19 crisis.
“But there’s a number of eligible businesses that haven’t yet contacted us, and we’d encourage them to do so quickly rather than wait for our letter. We’re doing what we can to contact the remaining businesses that haven’t been in touch, but if businesses take the initiative and contact us, they are likely to be able to receive the funds more quickly.”
Around 3,000 businesses currently in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief are eligible for this support in the area, and are being invited to submit their information in order to access the grants.
100% Business rate relief for all businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors for 2020/21 and 100% Business rate relief for all non-Local Authority child care providers for 2020/21. For these, new bills will be issued to businesses as soon as possible. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-rates-retail-discount-guidance
Grants of up to £25,000 for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with rateable values of less than £51,000. Grants of £10,000 for all businesses in receipt of Small Business rate relief or Rural Rate relief. These grants will not need to be paid back. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding
A simple online form needs to be submitted in the first instance – available on www.nelincs.gov.uk/coronavirus - in the “Business grants and support” section. The Council will then check eligibility and distribute grants as soon as it possibly can.
Cllr Jackson also issued a warning about potential fraud: “As part of the process, businesses need to submit specific information through the council’s website, which includes some financially sensitive information regarding the business. Businesses need to make sure that when they submit this information, they are doing it through the council’s website, not through any other resource. If there is any concern, businesses should contact either the E-Factor email or visit our website for more information in the first instance.”
If you need additional general information about other council services, visit www.nelincs.gov.uk/coronavirus in the first instance.