South Holland District Council continues to offer vital support to businesses in the District feeling the greatest impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with a further £3.7million of support issued to over 420 eligible businesses since the end of November, bringing the total distributed to around £22million since last March.
Funding has been targeted at those hardest hit by the local and national restrictions over this period, including pubs, cafes, shops and restaurants. Every closed business that has submitted applications in good time has now received a full support package until the middle of February, helping them to prepare for future Government announcements.
To help reduce the burden on business owners at this difficult time, the Council has also been able to start making these vital payments automatically, without the need to reapply or to provide new details at each new stage or level of restriction. This allows the support to be processed quicker and gives those feeling the most pressure one less thing to worry about.
In addition to those businesses that have been forced to close, the Council has also agreed a £550k support package for businesses that have been impacted hardest as a result of COVID, despite not being legally required to close. This package will support business in the supply chain of the events and hospitality sector, the culture and leisure sector, and those with links to the travel and tourism sector, including businesses involved in animal care and welfare. Eligible businesses should begin to receive these payments this week.
The Council continue to closely monitor the latest guidelines and information on any further restrictions that may continue beyond this point that would severely impact South Holland’s businesses, and to work to identify what support is most needed and what industries it can be given to.
All the latest information the Council has on funding and support is available at www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support. This page also provides links to other Government business support opportunities, as well as to organisations who are able to provide advice and guidance to businesses or self-employed individuals looking for more help.
Councillor Harry Drury, portfolio holder for commercialisation and growth, said: “After what has been an intense and challenging past few months for everyone, it is encouraging to be able to reflect on the incredible amount of financial support we have been able to provide to local businesses struggling with the impact of the virus, and the vital difference this has made.
“Our local businesses are a key part of our community, and the support schemes are not just about protecting these businesses in the present, but also helping them into the future and ensuring they are there for South Holland’s residents to use and enjoy once COVID is a thing of the past.
“We will continue to be there for every business and resident we are able to help moving forwards, and would encourage people to explore the other opportunities on our website and with our partners like the Federation of Small Businesses, to make sure you are getting all the help you are eligible for as soon as possible.”
Katrina Pierce, Development Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “I have seen first-hand throughout this crisis how hard local authorities like South Holland have worked to support businesses suffering due to closures, restrictions and lack of footfall. While they have not been able to help every single business and even now, eleven months into the most socially and economically damaging situation we’ve ever known, there is still a phenomenal amount of people excluded from central Government grant.
“But I have seen astonishing dedication from local authority teams including South Holland to help their district’s businesses in any way they can. I always remind myself and businesses that councils are not set up to distribute grants but here in Lincolnshire the councils seem to have done great things to not only pay out but try and plot the local path out of this crisis. It’s been great to work alongside them to have two-way conversations about how we can mutually support and celebrate local businesses, now and see recovery.”
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