Only a few days left to apply for the Discretionary Grant scheme

APPLICATIONS for Wiltshire Council’s local Discretionary Grant scheme must be received by 5pm on Monday 22 June 2020 to be considered for financial support.

A one-off grant worth £5,000 can help support small and micro businesses that can demonstrate they have suffered a significant fall in income due to COVID-19, have ongoing fixed property-related costs and occupy property or shared office space with a rateable value below £51,000.

Eligible businesses include:

• Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces such as mills, units in industrial parks, science parks and incubators which do not have their own business rates assessment
• Regular market traders with fixed building costs such as rent, who do not have their own business rates assessment
• Bed and breakfasts which pay Council Tax instead of business rates
• Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief who would otherwise have received Small Business Rates Relief

Cllr Philip Whitehead, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “This scheme helps more small businesses in the county access vital funding and we want to remind businesses about Monday’s deadline to ensure they do not miss out.

“I would strongly encourage businesses to complete the online application form and provide all the supporting documents required, to avoid any delays with assessing your claim. The funding could provide a welcomed injection of cash for you and your business and even better, it does not have to be paid back.”

Following the closure of this scheme, applications will then be reviewed and assessed with grants being paid from 22 June onwards.

Full guidance for applications, FAQs and the online application form is available at: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/business-advice-support-covid19-grants