More than £30 million has been paid out to local small businesses as part of a wide range of support packages to employers and employees affected by the coronavirus crisis.

Over 2700 companies have received grants from Wychavon and Malvern Hills District Council as businesses cease operating with national lockdown measures in place.

The £12 billion Small Business Grants Scheme means that funding is provided to local authorities, who are then able to offer grants of up to £10,000 to small businesses, and up to £25,000 for eligible leisure, retail and hospitality businesses.

The support offered to business includes help to pay people’s wages, loans of up to £5 million and help with small and medium-sized firms to pay statutory sick pay of employees off because of Covid-19.

All retail, leisure and hospitality businesses have been taken out of the business rates scheme altogether for the next year. Since the scheme’s launch in March, £6.1 billion has already been paid out to 491,725 business properties across England.

Harriett commented: “I receive regular updates from local councils about their efforts to support local business and I also receive approaches from small business owners who are looking for help accessing funds.

“Any small business in West Worcestershire still waiting for funding should get in touch with their district council as soon as they can.

“These are unprecedented times and the Government’s swift action to help businesses and employees mean that the economy is protected in the short-term while lockdown measures are in place.

“I remain eager to help any business or individual who needs specific help, but the general feedback is that the scheme are working as expected and funds are reaching local people.

“I want to thank the local district council teams who have gone into overdrive this year first helping businesses with the terrible floods and now leading the support processes in this coronavirus crisis.

“We have seen fantastic effort from a wide range of public service workers from nurses and doctors to council staff and I am pleased to be able to publicly mark everyone’s selfless hard work.”