Bedford Borough Council has been praised for being ‘ahead of the game’, already approving applications from 321 businesses accessing the government’s coronavirus support grants.
These businesses will be among thousands beginning to receive cash grants up to £25,000 from 1 April. The grants are part of a £22 billion package announced by the Chancellor.
The Council confirmed yesterday (Wednesday) that businesses whose grants have already been approved will receive their money in the next few days.
One of the business owners to apply is Gareth Barber of Esquires and Bears & Tales. He said, “The application for the grants has been very straightforward so far, with the council quickly sharing a link to apply online.
“Their response has been much quicker in comparison to other councils. I know fellow venues have been struggling to get information in other areas.
“I hope we get the grant for both businesses as at the moment, we are preparing not to be able to reopen until September, which is financially devastating.
“At least in the short term this should see us through a couple of months.”
Rae Levene of The Place Theatre said, “Bedford are ahead of the game with the grants.
“Within 35 minutes of the link being published, we’d completed and submitted our application. Other authorities have not been so quick to act.”
“We’ve applied for our grant online,” said Jo Lawday, co-owner of Boutique Planet in the Old Arcade.
“I’ve not idea at the moment how much we’ll get or when, but we’re hoping for some time in April.”
Cllr Michael Headley, portfolio holder for finance at Bedford Borough Council said, “As of the end of the day on 31 March, the Council had received 767 completed forms from businesses and 321 grants have already been approved.
“We are working through the remaining forms as quickly as possible to get this vital support to businesses as soon as we can.
“Businesses that have already had their grant approved will receive their payments in the next few days.
“We would encourage any eligible businesses that haven’t done so already to get in touch and claim their grant by completing the form at https://www.bedford.gov.uk/business/business-rates/”
As of 1 April, shops, pubs, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, music venues and hotels will be exempt from business rates for the forthcoming 12 months.
Tom Foddy, head of retail sales and marketing at Wells & Co. has said the company is working hard to provide its pub partners with all the up-to-date government information to help them apply for grants and funding.
“We’ve created a dedicated area on our website to help our pub partners understand how to cope with the ever-changing situation.
“We’ve done the leg-work, pulling as much trusted information as we can together in one place.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said, “The government has made a number of unprecedented moves to help businesses in recent weeks, which are very welcome.
“However, as we continue to make clear in our regular dialogue with government, hundreds of viable retail businesses that have been forced to cease trading, or seen trading significantly curtailed as part of the response to the coronavirus crisis, need urgent action to ensure that they are eligible to receive funds from recently announced government loan and grant schemes or they will be insolvent in a matter of weeks.”
