The total amount of grants so far paid to city businesses is more than £44 million.
More than 3,900 businesses have now received grants distributed by City of Wolverhampton Council from the Government’s Small Business Grant Fund and Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund, since 6 April.
Over 99% of requests for funding have been paid and there are currently a further 30 city businesses at various stages in the process, working with the Council.
Eligible businesses have been contacted by letter and/or email and allocated a code, a Business Account reference number, and a link to a web form to capture the relevant business information. Businesses are encouraged to check their post and emails for correspondence from the Council.
Anyone with any business support queries should call 01902 290242 between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Thursday or from 9am to 4.30pm on Fridays.
All forms submitted by businesses are subject to thorough eligibility checks, and to ensure that they meet the criteria of:
- being the ratepayer
- in occupation of the business on 11 March, 2020
Further communication with businesses may be necessary if any of the required information is missing.
City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “With the Government announcing a deadline for all its business grant schemes I would urge any eligible Wolverhampton businesses who have yet to apply to act fast so they do not miss out.
“We have ensured thousands of eligible businesses have had swift access to this vital funding to help them through this most difficult time.
“We are determined no business misses out, as our city looks to recover from the financial impact of Covid-19.
“Since the scheme was announced there has been extensive communications to promote, engage and support businesses to access and receive this much needed funding.
“Our staff – as they have been throughout the delivery of this scheme – remain on hand to support businesses who require help and advice with the online process and I’d like to thank them for their efforts.”
The Government guidance on the size of the grants is as follows:
- small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief, and have a rateable value of £15,000 or less; or
- grant funding of £10,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value of £15,000 or below; or
- grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,001 and £50,999
Full details of the latest government business support measures can be found at Business support.
More information on business rates, business grants, labour costs and welfare, business loans and deferring tax liabilities can be found in the employers and businesses section at Coronavirus advice and information.
