 Funding and guidance has now been received from the Government, so we will now start preparations to make payments to businesses eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Grant Fund.
Businesses are encouraged to check if they are eligible on the website and then complete the online form so payments can be processed.
We will be making payments as quickly as possible but ask businesses to be patient as our IT systems need to be changed and there will be a lot of applications to process.
Small Business Grant Fund
Under the Small Business Grant Fund all businesses in England receiving small business rates relief with a rateable value of less than £15,000 will be eligible for a grant of £10,000. We have now received funding from the Government and will begin processing payments.
Please complete the online form here as soon as possible: www.portsmouth.gov.uk/businessfunding
If you do not currently receive small business rates relief and think you may be eligible, please check the criteria on our website.
We will start making payments as quickly as possible but please be patient as we have a lot of payments to process.
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Grant Fund
Under the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Grant Fund businesses in England receiving the expanded retail discount (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure) with a rateable value of less than £51,000 will be eligible for the following cash grants per property:
- Eligible businesses in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of up to £15,000 will receive a grant of £10,000, in line with the eligibility criteria.
- Eligible businesses in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a grant of £25,000, in line with the eligibility criteria.
We have now received funding from the Government and will begin processing payments as soon as the system changes have been made and application forms have been received.
Please check the criteria to see if you are eligible and complete the online form here as soon as possible: www.portsmouth.gov.uk/businessfunding
We will start making payments as quickly as possible but please be patient as we have a lot of payments to process.
 If your business is affected by coronavirus and you would like some help and support on how to proceed in the current climate, you can now access a dedicated helpline.
Please call 023 9284 1641 Monday to Friday between 7am - 7pm to speak to our economic growth team. They can help businesses navigate the wide range of support that is available.
Demand is likely to be high so please check our website first if you to see if you can find the help you need there. We have a dedicated business and employers web page which is regularly updated with the latest information. If you can't find what you need, or would prefer to speak to someone, please give the team a call.
 Emergency services, local authorities and utility companies are coordinating the local response to COVID-19 across Hampshire. In addition to supporting our NHS Health partners on the frontline and managing the logistics of distributing emergency food and medicine parcels to the most vulnerable, they are continuing to:
- Respond to police, fire and ambulance emergencies
- Maintain refuse collections
- Maintain visits to sheltered housing schemes and supporting the homeless community
All of these activities require Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect the key workers who are delivering these services on a daily basis.
You will have seen in the media that there is a national need for PPE to support these critical frontline services and we are therefore asking local businesses to donate any of the items that they may have in the image above.
If you can help please email COVIDdonations@hantsfire.gov.uk
Could you help supply ventilators or ventilator components?
The government is looking for businesses who can support in the supply of ventilators and ventilator components across the UK as part of their response to COVID-19.
As well as manufacturers, they are looking for businesses with the following skills:
- design/specification
- rapid prototyping
- contract/product assembly
- certification/regulation/testing
- logistics
- medical training
 The Solent LEP Board have agreed the immediate release of £0.6m via Crowdfunder, with more available if demand is there.
There is also a vast range of support on their new coronavirus support hub.
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