Croydon Council is contacting local businesses to verify their details so grant payments can be made to support them through the disruption caused by Coronavirus.

The grants form part of the government’s support package to ease financial difficulties for businesses, and the council is making the payments on their behalf.

There are two grants available as part of the support package. All small businesses in Croydon that are in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief, will receive small business grant funding of £10,000.

Meanwhile, retail, hospitality and leisure businesses across the borough, with rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000 will receive grant funding of £25,000.

Croydon businesses do not need to apply for this funding. All businesses that qualify for the grant will have been contacted by the council today and asked to fill in and return a simple online form to verify details such as the name of the rate payer, their business address, VAT registration details and Companies House registration number.

Grant payments will be made via BACS as soon as possible, but within seven days of the completed form being returned.

Councillor Manju Shahul-Hameed, cabinet member for economy and jobs

“We know Coronavirus is having a significant impact on Croydon businesses and we want the financial support that is available to them paid and in their accounts within seven days.

“There is also a lot of support and advice available to the borough’s business owners both on our website and in our business newsletter and I continue to encourage all local employers and businesses to use these resources and seek our help if they are struggling at this challenging time.“

Any business that believes they qualify for a grant payment that has not been contacted by the council should email croynndr@croydon.gov.uk

As well as the grant payments, it was announced last week that some Croydon businesses are also entitled to business rate relief.

All retail leisure and hospitality businesses, irrespective of the rateable value of their premises will be awarded 100 percent business rates relief for 2020-21. With 100 per cent business rates nursery relief also being awarded to properties occupied by childcare providers on Ofsted’s Early Year’s Register. While pub relief is also set to increase for one year from £1,000 to £5,000 for pubs with a rateable value of under £100,000.

For more information on the business support available click here or to sign up to the business support newsletter, click here.