High Peak businesses receiving 'lifesaving' grants

Over a thousand High Peak businesses have received over £15.5 million pounds in grant funding to help them through the Coronavirus emergency - with hundreds more set for pay outs in the coming days.

The Borough Council is processing applications for the Government's small business and retail, hospitality and leisure grant funds and has received £29 million to distribute.

There are almost 2,400 eligible businesses in the borough and staff from across the Council have been contacting them by phone and email to encourage them to complete the claim form on our website to access the funding.

Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Executive Councillor for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure, said: "The impact of Covid-19 on businesses is unprecedented and we know that the grants available to help people through this period are critical.

"We've received a huge number of applications and we've already paid around £15.6 million to almost 1,400 companies in the High Peak.

"We're working flat out to carry out the required Government checks and process all the applications. It can take up to ten working days for grants to be received but I want to reassure businesses that we know what these grants mean to their futures and we're working as quickly as we possibly can. I'd also like to thank people for their patience whilst we work through this process."

And, as one recipient of a grant explained, the benefits of the funding are not just felt by the business that receives it.

Sara Wojcik, from the Allison Park Hotel in Buxton, said: "This grant is life-saving - it means re-opening is now a possibility and we can think about the future. Without it, that just wouldn't have been possible.

"It also means we can pay our suppliers, many of whom are also small, local businesses, which is so important for them and for the local economy.

"I'd like to thank the staff working on this at the Council - I am just so grateful."

Alan Williams, from long-established Glossop business Jakasta, also welcomed the grant.

He said: "We've been here for 25 years and, like so many small businesses, we operate on a stock in, stock out basis so receiving the grant has really helped. It means we can pay our suppliers and without it we'd be in a mess.

"The help from the Council has been excellent. We had a call from them to let us know what to do, we pinged off the form on the website and the funding is now in our account. It's great!"

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Anthony Mckeown, said: "I want to place on record our thanks to Council staff who have been working tirelessly on processing the applications many of whom worked straight through the Easter weekend to get these applications processed.

"Whilst we're saying please allow up to ten working days for applications to be processed, it's typically taking around five days and I would urge any eligible local businesses that have not done so to get in touch via the Council website and make their application." 

The Coronavirus Information Hub - www.highpeak.gov.uk/Coronavirus - has lots more information about the support available to businesses and residents.