BUSINESSES in southern Oxfordshire can apply for help from their council for coronavirus support.

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have launched an online form to help local firms apply for small business grants and retail grants.

The two councils are working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to understand the UK Government’s support for businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. The Government’s package of measures to support businesses include a 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England.

It also includes grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000, and small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief.

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Robin Bennett the cabinet member for member for economic development and regeneration at SODC said: “Small businesses in particular are likely to find the coming weeks and months difficult – that’s why we’ve made it as easy as possible for them, and all businesses in South Oxfordshire, to apply for the financial relief they’ll need.”

Businesses in South Oxfordshire, can find the form and more details via the South website and businesses in the Vale of White Horse can access the information via the Vale website.

For further information about the support available, business owners can visit the South and Vale Business Support website at svbs.co.uk/coronavirus-guidance-and-support