Council makes support available to businesses in Swindon
Millions of pounds in lifeline funding will be given to small and medium-sized businesses by Swindon Borough Council as part of the large package of support available to residents in Swindon.
Published: Friday, 27th March 2020
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has announced that grants are available for small businesses and those in the retail, hospitality and leisure industries.
There will also be business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses alongside nurseries.
The Council has identified businesses in Swindon which fit the Government’s criteria and is now working to process these grants and make the money available to businesses as soon as possible.
Those eligible will receive a letter from the Council on either Saturday 28 March or Monday 30 March providing details of how to access the funding.
Any businesses which believe they fit the criteria and do not receive a letter from the Council by Tuesday 31 March should visit the Council’s website on that day for advice.
The full eligibility criteria and further information will be available via swindon.gov.uk/coronavirus from Monday (30 March) and businesses should check they qualify for funding before contacting the Council.
All applications will be screened for eligibility and any business caught falsifying an application may face prosecution and any funding issued will be subject to clawback.
Councillor Russell Holland, Swindon Borough Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “We know this is an unsettling and worrying time for many businesses in Swindon so we are working hard to provide as much support as we can. I’m really pleased that the Government have worked so hard to be able to provide this support.
“We have been able to very quickly identify all those businesses currently eligible for the Government grant available through the Council and we will be distributing funding as fast as possible.
“All businesses should check they have received our letter while also checking the criteria on our website to make sure they can claim the grant before contacting us.
“For those who can’t claim these grants, information on the other Government support is available at www.gov.uk/coronavirus.”