Support still rolling out for borough’s businesses

More than £32million has now been paid out to the borough’s businesses to support them through the coronavirus pandemic.

The grants have gone to 2,948 businesses, representing nearly 70% of firms that have been found to be eligible for the grants.

Help is also at hand for businesses through virtual advice sessions on how to navigate the coronavirus situation with free advice available from experts in business and law.

The sessions are run in partnership with The Hive, Blackburn BID and Blackburn with Darwen Council and an online information chat took place for businesses across the borough to put any questions they had to the experts.

More than 150 businesses took part in the online advice session, which had 13 business advisors from the public and private sector, including the Council, fellow business owners and advisors, legal professionals and representatives from the BID.

Advisors were on hand to give support on business and legal issues, including further help with the Government business grants and business rates relief and assistance for self-employed people in the borough.

A further online advice session will take place on Thursday, May 7^th, with three separate sessions from 10.30am to 2.30pm.

More details can be found here: www.blackburnbid.co.uk

Councillor Phil Riley, Executive Member for Growth and Development, said:

We are continuing to do our very best to support our businesses during this really challenging time. The grant payments are making their way to those who have been approved and this will carry on in the coming weeks.

We’ve had a really good response with the question and answer sessions online and I hope people come on board with the next session to ask any questions they feel might help their businesses get through this unprecedented period that we are all facing.”

Any businesses that could be qualified for the grants can check by filling out the online form which can be found at: www.blackburn.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-advice