100 signatures reached
To: UK Parliament
Change the criteria for financial support for businesses in receipt of small business rates relief
Change the criteria for financial support for businesses in receipt of small business rates relief so that they qualify for the £10,000 grant promised by the government.
˜Under the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) all eligible businesses in England in receipt of either Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) or Rural Rates Relief (RRR) in the business rates system will be eligible for a payment of £10,000. This payment is made directly from local councils to the accounts of businesses that receive business rates relief.
There is a catch though:
Thousands of small businesses have recently found out that they are NOT eligible to apply for the small business relief grants promised by the government. It transpires that if a small business pays rent including rates to the landlord and not directly to the council, they are excluded from receiving this grant of £10,000 under the current criteria as they are not the registered business rates payer and there is no option for them to apply separately.
This technical loophole has meant that many small businesses have been overlooked by the government (as were the self-employed) and have been affected adversely. This is a testing time and rolling out such a huge financial package of support is a demanding feat, but it has to be fair and across the board. Small businesses will be suffering irreparably at this time and need this financial help to steer their business through these troubled waters.
If you fall in this category or know people/businesses in this category who will not get the support they need during the Coronavirus shutdown - please sign this petition!
Small businesses in receipt fo business rates relief should be entitled to this grant regardless of whether they are the registered business rates payer or not.
Many thanks,
Maria Peters
Sound Gallery Studios
Why is this important?
This technical loophole has meant that many small businesses have been overlooked by the government (as were the self-employed) and have been affected adversely. This is a testing time and rolling out such a huge financial package of support is a demanding feat, but it has to be fair and across the board. Small businesses will be suffering irreparably at this time and need this financial help to steer their business through these troubled waters.
Small businesses in receipt fo business rates relief should be entitled to this grant regardless of whether they are the registered business rates payer or not.
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