Blackpool Council has set up a dedicated Business Support Helpdesk to support local businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.
The helpdesk will help businesses to understand and access the £330 billion package of rescue measures announced by the Chancellor earlier this week It includes temporary loans, rate relief and cash grants to help meet ongoing costs.
Business Rescue Measures:
- A business rates retail holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. Plus an additional £25k one-off grant for premises with a rateable between £15,000 and £51,000
- A one-off grant of £10,000 to businesses currently eligible for Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR)
- A Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) offering loans of up to £5m to companies with less than £41m turnover
- A new lending facility to larger firms to raise working capital via the purchase of short-term debt
- Support through HMRC’s Time to Pay service for companies with outstanding tax affairs
Further guidance is expected shortly to local authorities on how to administer rate relief and one-off grants. Businesses do not need to register with the local authority as details are already held.
Further measures are expected to be announced today, aimed at helping employers to protect workers’ jobs and wages.
How to Access the Business Support Helpdesk
The council’s helpdesk will be manned by business support experts. They will be assisted by colleagues in the business rates department.
Businesses should use this link www.blackpoolunlimited.com/c19business-support to complete an enquiry form. The team will then respond with bespoke help and guidance.
Cllr Simon Blackburn, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “The impact of the escalating coronavirus pandemic on the business community is on an unprecedented scale. Over the past few days we have already witnessed the temporary closure of a number of our businesses.
“The emergency measures announced by the Chancellor are welcome. But if businesses are to get the financial support that they need right now, many will need help in understanding how they can access the support package.
“Our business support team have a wealth of experience and along with our business rates team, they will be there to try to help our business community get the support they so desperately need.”
Regular updates on Government support for business during the pandemic are available from the BlackpoolUnlimited.com website.
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