12/06/2020 - Permalink

Coronavirus: Extension grant fund to benefit more Shropshire businesses

Related topics: Economic growth / Finance and budget

From Monday 15 June 2020 more of the county’s small businesses will benefit from Shropshire Council’s COVID-19 Extension Grant Fund, as it extends its criteria to include care companies, business enabling services including those working from home and businesses involved with retail, hospitality and leisure supply chains.

Coronavirus: Business advice and support

In this round the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has also provided funds from its Investment Fund, to further support Shropshire business base.

After a fantastic response to the first funding round, that saw over 60% of the total applications submitted in the first 48 hours of its launch, the scheme continues at pace in support of Shropshire business who have been unable to access funding through the main government grant schemes.

Councillor Steve Charmley, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for assets, economic growth and regeneration said:

“The interest in this fund has been even greater than we first anticipated, and the scale of application made in the early stages shows how important these funds are, both for immediate support and the business recovery activity that is needed.”

This next funding round which will close on Sunday 28 June is seeking to support businesses in the following areas:

  • Care businesses with losses incurred by COVID-19, delivering care in Shropshire, and employing less than 50 full time employees can apply for a grant of £10,000.
  • Smaller Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Businesses, and their supply chain who employ between 1 and 10 people, and were not eligible for the previous grant scheme due to a lack of rateable commercial premises, can benefit from a £5,000 grant.
  • Medium-sized Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Businesses, and their supply chain, with between 11 and 20 employees and no rateable premises are able to apply for a £10,000 grant. 
  • Business Enabling Services (including IT, Recruitment, Creative and Digital and Professional Services (such as PR and Comms) and this funding category can also include those who are home-based and working in these areas.

Councillor David Minnery, Cabinet Member for finance and corporate support, said:

“Shropshire Council is proud to see there is now financial support on other important sectors of the Shropshire economy. The ability to support smaller Care providers through this funding will ensure care provision continues to those most vulnerable members of our society.”

Further information on the eligibility criteria and how to apply is provided here: https://shropshire.gov.uk/covid19extensiongrant