Quarter of eligible businesses in South Northants have not applied for grant during coronavirus pandemic

South Northamptonshire Council says that 75 per cent of eligible small businesses across the district have submitted information to allow payment of grants, but the authority is urging more businesses to come forward.

Roughly 840 payments totalling more than £9 million have been approved since the council launched its online application system two weeks ago.

Of the total received around 290 are currently undergoing further checks before payments can be made in order to ensure that fraudulent submissions are minimised. However, the council estimates a further 390 businesses in the district are eligible for grants.

Councillor Peter Rawlinson, SNC’s portfolio holder for finance, performance and governance, said: “If businesses can stay afloat without state intervention they should do so and allow resources to be spent where it is really needed.

“But equally we do not want to see businesses failing unnecessarily. For what ever reason you may be holding back, we have a hard-working team processing submissions as quickly as possible.”

A £10,000 grant will be paid to all businesses which are in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate relief.

Businesses which are in receipt of the Enhanced Retail Discount for 2020/21 and have a rateable value of up to £15,000 which are not covered by the Small Business Grant Fund, will also receive a grant of £10,000.

Retail, leisure and hospitality business properties with a rateable value of more than £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a grant of £25,000.

The application form for help is on the SNC website, and can be found here.