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Grant business support for Birmingham based small and micro businesses

Grant business support for Birmingham based small and micro businesses
Details of Birmingham City Council Discretionary Grant - Round 2 Whilst the Government have provided substantial support for businesses throughout the Coronavirus crisis some businesses have fallen through the net and in this blog we explain how those who have not been able to access support to date may now be able to do so.
Birmingham City Council have recently opened round 2 of their discretionary grants aimed at small and micro businesses who, so far, have been ineligible for other financial grant support.
 
The deadline for submitting the grant application is midnight on 17th August, so if you think that you may be eligible, we advise you to get cracking with your application.

The Council have a pot of £6m available and they have widened the criteria so that more businesses are eligible to apply for the funding. If you have already received funding under one of the Government's other grant schemes, then you will not be able to apply.
 
To be eligible you need to fit some of the following criteria: -
- Small businesses across all sectors
- You employ less than 50 team members
- Self-employed with fixed property costs
- You must be an existing business with a main trading address in the area which falls within the Birmingham City Council area and you must have been trading on 11 March 2020.
- Business with fixed property costs e.g. rent, broadband, utilities, insurance etc.
- Business who have applied for Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme can apply as can businesses in receipt of Self Employed Income Support.
- Business who pay business rates with a property rates value in excess of £51,000 can apply.

There are three levels of grants available: -
Level 1 - grants of up to £10,000.
Level 2 - grants of £10,000
Level 3 - grants of £25,000

The main factors that the Council will take into account when assessing applications are: -
a) Business who can demonstrate that they have lost at least 30% of their business as a result of Coronavirus
b) Business who have ongoing fixed property costs

If you have not been able to access grant support to date as you did not fit the criteria, we suggest that you reassess your position in the light of the widening of the scope for eligible business as described above and if you feel that you now fit into the required categories submit your application

If you would like help or a guiding hand through this process, we have a dedicated team member in Sue Blackledge who will help you through the process. Call James, Stanley & Co. on 0121 706 8585 if you need help.
 
Job Retention Scheme Bonus
Self employed income support scheme - Grant 2 of 2