£3.3million already paid out to help 250 Sunderland businesses through the crisis - here's how to apply for financial help

Sunderland City Council has been handed millions of Government cash to support business rate payers left stricken by the pandemic.

More than 3,000 Sunderland business rate payers – who receive Small Business Rate Relief, or are linked to the retail, hospitality and leisure sector - are eligible to receive a payment of either £10,000 or £25,000.

This is part of a package of support offered by the Government to ensure companies are able to survive the challenging weeks ahead.

Businesses of all kinds and sizes have been hit hard by the pandemic and restrictions in place to help stem the spread of Covid-19, including those who have been forced to close and others which have seen footfall and custom plummet in a matter of weeks.

Full details can be found on the Council’s dedicated Covid-19 web pages for businesses and employers – www.sunderland.gov.uk/covid-19business

Sunderland City Council, like other local authorities across the country, has been asked to administer the grants and has set up a simple form for those eligible to fill in online to provide vital business information which can be verified for their grant to be processed.

Within two days of receiving the funding from the Government, the council has made the first 250 payments totalling £3.34million.

Work will continue to get the grants paid out to all those that qualify as quickly as possible.

Peter McIntyre, city development director at Sunderland City Council, said: “We have very quickly mobilised the team to ensure that the grants promised by the Government are paid directly into the accounts of those businesses and organisations who qualify as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“As a local authority, we are doing everything in our power to ensure that our residents and businesses are protected as best as possible from the impact of Covid-19, and the team is working round the clock to respond quickly as the situation develops.

“It’s important that we play our part and support Central Government in getting services and support delivered to the people and businesses that need it most.”

The council is calling on any businesses and organisations which believe they are eligible for grant support but haven’t yet completed the online form with their business details to come forward.

The online form is included on the Council’s website at https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/Covid-19Business.

Payments will continue to be made to businesses over the coming weeks as the information provided is validated and in accordance with any further guidance from Government.

Businesses will receive an e-mail confirming that their payment has been paid to the e-mail address that they supplied on the on-line form that they submitted.

Any business or organisation that has not yet submitted their details on the online form, but would like to find out whether it is eligible for the grant should visit https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/Covid-19Business.

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