Altrincham BID Covid-19

What are the main concerns for Altrincham businesses as they tackle the impact of Covid-19?  What funding and support is there to help you and what further help do you need?

It was questions like these that inspired Altrincham BID to set up the Altrincham Business Task Force.  Below are some of the issues which the Task Force and the BID have been asked about:

Operations and Finance

• £10,000 grant for businesses – This grant is for businesses with Small Business Rate Relief that were actively trading and occupying properties with rateable values of £15,000 or less and who fit the government criteria for this grant.
   
• £25,000 grant for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector – This grant is for eligible businesses in those sectors occupying properties with rateable values between £15,000 and £51,000.

BID Actions - The BID emailed more than 500 businesses and has spoken to over 70 businesses on the phone signposting information about the grants.  

Many businesses have been enquiring about the progress of the Small Business Grant Fund and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund payments. Trafford Council has been working to ensure they are getting the grant payments to businesses as soon as they can. To date, it has been confirmed that they have paid out just over £15m to over 1,100 businesses. The Council will be making updates on further progress later in the week. Businesses yet to submit their grant application are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. For further information on the grant application process and eligibility criteria, click here.   

If you’re not sure whether you are eligible email businessrates@trafford.gov.uk or call 0161 912 4176.

• Landlords and rents – Commercial tenants who cannot pay their rent because of Covid-19 will be protected from eviction. More information
   
• Furloughing staff – Employers can claim 80% of furloughed employees’ (employees on a leave of absence) usual monthly wage costs, up to £2,500 a month, plus the associated Employer National Insurance contributions and minimum automatic enrolment employer pension contributions on that wage. Employers can use this scheme at any time. 

BID Actions - A lot of BID businesses have already gone through the process of furloughing their staff and are waiting for the HMRC portal to open to start their individual company claim.  We can confirm that the HMRC Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is due to open next Monday, 20th of April. For further information on the scheme, click here. 

• HMRC – Support for businesses paying tax. Any business concerned about paying outstanding tax liabilities to HMRC may be able to take advantage of the ‘Time To Pay’ service.

It has also been said that HMRC will waive late payment penalties and interest where a business experiences administrative difficulty contacting HMRC or paying taxes due to COVID-19. Any business concerned about being able to pay tax can call HMRC’s dedicated helpline on 0800 0159 559

BID Actions – Businesses have told us that HMRC were helpful and had already authorised to defer payment on everything they owed for a significant period. These payments include PAYE, VAT and Cooperation Tax.

Help via Trafford Council

If you would like to speak to a member of Trafford Council's Strategic Growth Team team to discuss support currently available to businesses, please do so via email as outlined below or contact 0161 912 4176 and ask to be connected to a member of the team.

Allison Brierley - Allison.Brierley@trafford.gov.uk

Damien Cutting - Damien.Cutting@Trafford.gov.uk

Mark Bamford (Town Centre Enquiries) - Mark.Bamford@Trafford.gov.uk

Nidi Etim (Skills, Employment and Apprenticeships) - Nidi.etim@Trafford.gov.uk

Becci Page (Skills, Employment and Apprenticeships) - Becci.page@Trafford.gov.uk
or Business@Trafford.gov.uk

Altrincham Business Task Force

A reminder that Altrincham's Business Task Force members are available to talk to you and share updates, advice and support.   

 Weekly What's On ONLINE

The BID has been producing a What's On ONLINE Guide, which goes out on all social media platforms each week.  If your business would like to be included please let us know by emailing: info@altrinchamunlimited.co.uk