£76.6 million paid in Coronavirus business grants - but many businesses are yet to claim

Buckinghamshire Council has paid out £76.6 million in Coronavirus business grants to 5,868 small local businesses and businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. Businesses that have not yet applied are urged to do so. Plus, see how to find your Business Rates Account Number.

As of Friday 22nd May 2020, Buckinghamshire Council had paid out £76.6 million in Coronavirus business grants to 5,868 small local businesses and businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, with a total of 6,705 applications received by Buckinghamshire Council.

Those businesses yet to claim are urged to do so, with millions of pounds in grant funding still to be claimed.

Buckinghamshire Council is processing applications as they are received and carrying out necessary checks to verify entitlement. Payments are then being made within five working days unless there are queries that require further clarification.

Not applied for a grant yet?

Any business that hasn’t applied yet can do so by visiting www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/businessgrant.

Do you need to find your Business Rates Account Number?

You can locate your Business Rates Account Number near the top right hand corner of your Rate Bill in the section marked 'Account No:' This is a 10 digit number starting with '100'.

Update and eligibility

New applications are arriving daily to Buckinghamshire Council and their business grants team are working hard to process the requests as they arrive.

Most businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, and businesses receiving Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief will receive a grant as follows:

  • Eligible properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or less will receive a £10,000 grant
  • Eligible properties with a rateable value of more than £15,000 and up to £51,000 will receive a £25,000 grant

The grants are not loans and do not need to be paid back.

To be eligible for a grant, companies and traders must have been liable for business rates on 11th March 2020. If not, there is no entitlement to relief. Any queries specific to your business should be made to the council directly via the relevant contact details below:

For general information about business grants and full details of eligibility criteria, visit Buckinghamshire Council’s ‘Local support for businesses’ page

Cllr Martin Tett, Council Leader, said: “Supporting businesses is a top priority for the council and we’re working closely with our local businesses to help them during this difficult time. We are determined to ensure eligible businesses are receiving the grants they are entitled to. And as they are grants, not loans, they do not need to be repaid.”

Rory Bartlett, Head of Operations, South East for Esquires Coffee, which has two coffee shops in Buckingham, told Buckinghamshire Council: “The help from the council has taken a huge weight off our shoulders and I can’t thank you enough. Buckinghamshire is one of six local authorities I am dealing with and I have to say you and the team have been head and shoulders more organised, better informed and more helpful above all the others.”

Business rates update for businesses that pay by Direct Debit

If you pay your business rates by Direct Debit:

  • Buckinghamshire Council will not be taking these payments in April or May.
  • Buckinghamshire Council will send letters advising that the May Direct Debit will not be taken.
  • Your business rates will now be collected over 10 months from June 2020 – March 2021.

Business rates update for those eligible for the Extended Retail Discount

Revised bills for those qualifying for Extended Retail Discount will be sent by the end of April 2020.

All businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector will not be required to pay business rates between 1st April 2020 and 31st March 2021. This includes shops, pubs, theatres, music venues, restaurants and bingo halls. It also includes estate agents and letting agents. This discount applies to all of these businesses regardless of their size or rateable value.

Business rates update if you are able to pay your bill

Buckinghamshire Council advise you to continue to pay your business rates if you possibly can. However, they urge any business that is expecting to have difficulties in making their business rate payments to let them know so you can work through issues together in a sensible and practical way.

Be aware of scams around COVID-19 grant funding

We are aware of businesses being asked to pay a fee in order to access grant funding such as the Small Business Grant Fund and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant.

This is not necessary. This is a scam and you will lose any fee you pay.

Neither Buckinghamshire Business First nor Buckinghamshire Council will ask you to pay a fee to access grant funding related to COVID-19.

Businesses should ONLY apply for the above grants directly to their relevant council via www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/businessgrant.

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