More than £2M already paid to hard-hit businesses in Adur & Worthing 

Sums totalling more than £2m have been paid to 176 businesses struggling during the coronavirus crisis in just two days, Adur & Worthing Councils announced today (April 8)

Staff at the Councils are working through hundreds of request forms to send hard-pressed businesses lifeline grants from the government.

The small businesses, retailers, restaurant owners and leisure operators have successfully completed an online form established by the Councils to register for the government cash. 

The Councils are encouraging eligible businesses to continue to come forward and complete the easy-to-use online form believing there are still many more businesses who could qualify for help.

Small businesses qualifying (those that receive Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate) will receive a grant of £10,000 while operators in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will receive grants on a sliding scale of up to £25,000 providing their rateable value does not exceed £51,000.

In total the government has allocated £26M for support to these businesses in Worthing and £17M in Adur.

Around 2,500 qualifying businesses across Adur and Worthing have also been sent a letter from the Councils to their business address as a prompt to register for a grant.

A spokesman for Adur & Worthing Councils said:“We thank everyone for following the guidelines as they complete the forms and want to reassure all eligible businesses that we are working through the submissions as quickly as possible.”

Businesses qualifying will need to give details of their operation so it is important the rate payer accesses the form only when they have all information to hand. 

Details needed include their business rates account number, property reference number, VAT registration number, full bank details, and billing address.

Businesses that have been verified will be sent a confirmatory email with further details of payments while those who haven't met the government's criteria will also receive an email confirmation.

To register businesses should go to https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support/#register-for-sbgf-rhlgf-grant-fund