Halton Borough Council is working hard to support local businesses affected by the Coronavirus outbreak.
The Government has announced a range of measures to support businesses and workers, including Business Rate Relief, Business Support Grants, support for the self-employed, access to finance and support for employees.
Halton Borough Council is processing Business Support Grant payments daily and, by Thursday of this week, 552 grants totalling £6.2m will have been awarded.
In addition, the Council’s Business Growth Team is supporting local businesses by setting up a dedicated helpline service, recognising that each business is individual and that they may wish to discuss the support options that are available to them.
To keep the business community informed on an ongoing basis the Council is also sending an email bulletin every week to around 2,500 local businesses. You can sign up for this bulletin at business@halton.gov.uk
Support is evolving and fast-moving and the Council and partners are currently working hard to translate the Government’s announcements into practical schemes that will get the support to all the businesses that need it as quickly as possible. Other agencies, such as HM Revenues and Customs, are also working to get support to those that need it as soon as possible.
The main source of detailed information about business support during the current crisis remains the government web site www.businesssupport.gov.uk or alternatively, the Liverpool City Region Growth Platform website at https://growthplatform.org/business-covid-19-advice/
Initial support will be provided to businesses via the Business Rates system, although there is further support for businesses, which don’t pay Business Rates and self-employed individuals. We are also giving businesses advice on how they can support their employees. For further information please go to https://www3.halton.gov.uk/Pages/business/businessrates.aspx
Cllr Eddie Jones, the Council’s portfolio holder for Economic Development, says: “These are very difficult and uncertain times for businesses. Not all businesses qualify for the financial support announced by Government and we are pushing them strongly to extend this support to other businesses.
“I have been regularly in contact with the Council’s Business Support Team to keep up to date with how businesses in Halton are coping and to see how we can provide support, which goes beyond the immediate Government support available. We are also working to support the third sector in Halton, as many local groups employ residents.
“Where Government support is available, I’d like to reassure businesses that the Council and partner organisations have acted quickly and are working hard to put in place the systems necessary to make sure they receive it. ”
To contact the Council’s Business Support Team please telephone the helpline on 0151 511 7825 or email business@halton.gov.uk
