The Government has set out a package of measures to support public services, people and businesses through the period of disruption caused by COVID-19.

This includes a package of measures to support businesses including:

• a statutory sick pay relief package for SMEs
• a 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England
• small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief
• grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000
• the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank
• a new lending facility from the Bank of England to help support liquidity among larger firms, helping them bridge coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through loans
• the HMRC Time To Pay Scheme

Further information about all these schemes is available on Craven District Council’s website here: www.cravendc.gov.uk/coronavirus and on the Government website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses#gcslocal

Councillor Richard Foster, Leader of Craven District Council, said: “Our Revenues and Benefits team is working extremely hard to process financial support for businesses and residents as it is announced by central government.

“We are currently re-issuing business rate bills for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. We are hoping to have all the bills reissued by the end of next week and are prioritising those who have direct debits set up to go out at the beginning of April.

“We will be writing to all businesses who are eligible for small business rate relief or rural rate relief, regarding the one-off grants of £10,000 which have been announced by the Government. You do not need to apply for these grants – we will contact you. “The Government has announced that funding for this scheme will be provided to local councils in early April and we will process this as quickly as possible.

“Please note that we are not making the decisions about who is eligible for help – this is all coming from central government.

“We are regularly updating the information on our website as quickly as possible, as we receive further guidance from the Government. Thank you for your patience and understanding in these difficult times.”

The government will provide additional funding for local authorities to support small businesses that already pay little or no business rates because of small business rate relief (SBBR). This will provide a one-off grant of £10,000 to businesses currently eligible for SBRR or rural rate relief, to help meet their ongoing business costs.

If your business is eligible for SBRR or rural rate relief, you will be contacted by Craven District Council – you do not need to apply.

Funding for the scheme will be provided to local authorities by government in early April. Guidance for local authorities on the scheme will be provided shortly.

We have set up an online service for you to send us us your business and bank details. This means we will be able to issue grants to eligible businesses quicker. If you are one of the affected businesses please complete the secure form below with your payment details. If you complete the online form, you do not need to return the paper copy you received in the post:

Business Grant funding payment details

There is also access to further advice on the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership website here: https://www.the-lep.com/business-support/covid-19-support-for-businesses/

Businesses can also contact the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership business support helpline on 0113 348 1818.

The York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership is also offering support and advice via email: support@howsbusiness.org, telephone: 01609 797471, and their website: www.businessinspiredgrowth.com/covid-19/