2020
Gedling businesses urged to contact us about unclaimed grants
Date Posted: 10:51 AM on Fri, 1 May 2020
Businesses in Gedling urged to contact the council over unclaimed financial support grants
Hundreds of businesses in the borough have yet to claim business grants from Gedling Borough Council in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.
The council has identified over 1,400 businesses in the area who are eligible for a grant payment and so far, 75% of eligible businesses have applied for but there are many businesses who have not yet responded to contact from the council.
In March, the Government announced that grants of £10,000 and £25,000 would be made available to eligible businesses, with around 1,200 businesses in Gedling in line for the £10,000 grant and around 180 businesses qualifying for the £25,000 grant. The verification process is needed to ensure the payments are made to the correct bank details to reduce fraudulent claims.
This is not a loan scheme and none of the grants are required to be paid back to the Government.
Gedling Borough Council is responsible for distributing these grants and has paid out over £12.3 million so far to over 1,100 businesses. The council has contacted all businesses eligible for the grant by post, text message, email or phone but there are still hundreds who have not responded to the council’s contact.
The grants available include:
- small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief
- £10,000 grant per business in the Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure Sector with rateable value of 15,000 or less
- grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between 15,001 and 50,999
Businesses eligible for the grants have already been identified by the Council and do not need to fill out a lengthy application form but they are required to verify their details in order to receive the grant, which is not required to be paid back to the Government. The verification process is needed to ensure the payments are made to the correct bank details to reduce fraudulent claims.
One of the businesses who received the grant was Patchings Art Centre at Calverton.
Liz Wood, Co-Proprietor of Patchings Art Centre said:
“The process was really straight forward and easy, we had to verify our business name and provide proof of bank details and the process for payment was cleared. This money has made a considerable difference to us and will help us through a very difficult and challenging time. I would urge any businesses who have been contacted by the council to get in touch and claim this grant.”
Deputy Leader, Councillor Michael Payne said:
“Our council officers have been working around the clock to administer and pay out over £12.3 million in grants to help our local businesses but there are still hundreds who have not responded. Businesses like Patchings Art Centre have seen how quick the process is to get the payments and we are urging any businesses who have been contacted by Gedling Borough Council to get in touch, all we need to do is verify a few details and we can process the payment. This is not a loan, it’s a grant and you do not need to pay it back. If you’ve not received anything from the council but you think you are eligible, please visit our website or call us to check.”