Birmingham businesses - Please don’t miss out on COVID-19 lifeline

I won't often write a blog where I'm desperate to hand over money, but that's exactly what I'm doing today.

That's because around 5,000 Birmingham businesses could be set to miss out on grant payments designed to help them through the current challenging times.

That's 5,000 businesses eligible for either:

• The Small Business Grant Fund, which provides payments of £10k.

or

• The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund, which provides payments of £10k or £25k.

5,000 businesses that are entitled to a lifeline that will hopefully ensure they are still trading after the COVID-19 lockdown.

These businesses are missing out because they haven't yet provided sufficient details for the Council to be able to verify and process payments.

If you run one of these businesses, I'm urging you to please put that right.

So far the Council has processed over £102 million in payments for over 8,200 businesses right across the city and staff are working around the clock to help many more.

I want to thank the staff for their amazing efforts (they’ve processed more payments than almost any other council in the country) and I also to thank businesses for their patience at what I understand is a very tense and testing time.

Payments are going out every day and I know from my own correspondence just how desperately businesses need this money.

So please, don't be one of the businesses to miss out.

If your business is eligible for a grant payment, but we don't have your details, now's the chance to put that right.

Just click here https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/xfp/form/714 and fill in your details.

It takes a matter of minutes and could be the difference between your business surviving or not.

Just a few minutes to safeguard all your hard work and save the jobs and futures of your employees.

So please help us help you.

If you're not sure whether or not your business is eligible, provide your details and we'll either process payment or contact you to explain why you're not eligible.

What do you have to lose?

Birmingham's business community is key to the city's post-COVID economic recovery.  This is a city of start-ups and entrepreneurs. You are at the very heart of our economy, so please make sure at this very challenging time that you get the support you are entitled to.

The following links should help you and our brilliant staff are on hand to guide you through the process.

• Info on the business grants: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50232/support_for_businesses_during_the_coronavirus_covid-19/2093/government_business_grants
• Online form for businesses to complete: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/xfp/form/714
• Contact phone number: 0121 303 5509
• Contact email: business_rates@birmingham.gov.uk