Tandridge District Council still has £7.5m worth of business grants to award to around 700 businesses, which have not yet applied for government grants to support them through the COVID-19 crisis. The Council has already paid out almost £12m in grants to help 952 businesses.

Businesses must be eligible for one of the following grants to qualify:

  • Small Business Rate Relief: a £10,000 grant for smaller businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or less.
  • Expanded Retail Discount Scheme: a £10,000 grant for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with a rateable value up to and including £15,000.
  • Expanded Retail Discount Scheme: a £25,000 grant for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with a rateable value over £15,001 up to £51,000.

Any business eligible for the Small Business Rate Relief or the Expanded Retail Discount Scheme, should complete this application form. They will need their Business Rate account number, shown on their bill. The Business Rates reference number is also available from the Valuation Office Agency at www.voa.gov.uk.

Some companies charge fees to complete this application on behalf of small businesses. The Council does not charge any fees and business owners should submit applications for grants directly, using the website form.

Many of the businesses are small or medium-sized companies which don’t usually pay business rates. This means there may only be a postal address for them, rather than an e-mail address or other details. Officers are working hard to find other ways to contact these businesses.

Any business which does not qualify for a grant under the government guidelines, but is affected by COVID-19, can apply for hardship relief which could reduce or cancel the amount of rates payable. Any business in this situation should complete this application form.

Councillor Tony Elias, Leader of the Council and Chair of Strategy & Resources Committee, said: “Our officers have been working hard to process all applications as quickly as they can. We want to make sure no businesses miss out on this essential funding.  We are committed to supporting the local economy and I urge businesses to fill in the application form as soon as possible to claim these government grants.”

For more information contact Giuseppina Valenza, Katharine Beynon or Neil Leedham on communications@tandridge.gov.uk or
01883 732704/2962/2742.

Party spokesperson: Councillor Tony Elias (Con) 01883 742685, Councillor Chris Botten (Lib Dem) 07917 862130, Councillor Martin Allen (Ind) 01959 577201.

Tandridge District Council still has £7.5m worth of business grants to award to around 700 businesses, which have not yet applied for government grants to support them through the COVID-19 crisis. The Council has already paid out almost £12m in grants to help 952 businesses.