Businesses considering applying for grant funding for the hardship or home-based business scheme, need to do so now as the deadline for applications is on Sunday.
Businesses are being advised that the closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 20 June, with interested applicants being strongly encouraged to apply before the deadline. The news follows earlier confirmation that the eligibility criteria had been widened to make it easier for businesses to apply.
Councillor Peter Morgan, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing said, “We want to make sure that as many businesses as possible receive the funding that is available. Thousands of businesses have already benefited in some way, with over £80 million distributed in total. If you have thought about applying and have not done so yet, now is the time. As the criteria were recently widened, it is worth looking at it as you may now be eligible. These grants are not linked to business rates and as such, apply to many businesses across the borough.”
The hardship grant provides funds of up to £10k for eligible businesses within the borough and is targeted at businesses who can evidence a 50 per cent decrease in income during any three-month period over the last year. The recent inclusion of businesses to the scheme who have been receipt of SEISS, is in addition to recent changes to the grant, where the requirement for businesses to have at least £50k turnover, no longer applies.
The £2k home-based business grant is targeted at those who can demonstrate an unavoidable fixed cost for their business. This could include vehicle costs, professional fees, software, phone costs, insurance and any other unavoidable fixed cost that can be evidenced within the application.
Businesses that have previously received the Self-Employed Income Support (SEISS) Grant are now also potentially eligible for both schemes. Businesses that have previously been rejected because they have been in receipt of SEISS, are now being strongly encouraged to reapply.
Applications, which should be made via the council’s website, need to be received before the closing date, which is midnight on Sunday 20 June 2021.
For any business-related enquiries, please contact business@bromley.gov.uk
ENDS
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