Guidance
The Government has announced details of a Business Recovery Grant (BRG) for businesses impacted by the recent flooding across the county.
The scheme will offer funding of £2,500 per eligible business premises within qualifying flooded areas to help support recovery in the aftermath of Storm Henk.
To be eligible the business must:
- Be an SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise)
- Have fewer than 250 employees, and
- Have a turnover of less than €50m or a balance sheet total less than €43m
- Be trading
- Interpreted as carrying on a trade or profession or buying and selling goods or services to generate turnover at the time of the flooding
- Have premises directly or indirectly impacted by Storm Henk (2-12 January)
- Directly impacted premises by flooding: businesses experiencing flood damage to the property, equipment and/or stock
- Indirectly impacted by flooding: businesses having had no/highly-restricted access to premises, equipment and/or stock as a result of flooding; having restricted access for customers, suppliers and/or staff and directly suffered a loss of trade as a result
- Be able to receive the grant payment in line with subsidy controls
- Have appropriate flooding insurance cover in place or have actively made attempts to insure the business premises against flood damage on at least one occasion since 1 January 2023.
- The business must have been trading at and/or from the property at the point that the property was impacted by Storm Henk
- The business must be the liable party for business rates
The following businesses will not be eligible:
- Larger and local businesses which are part of a national chain are likely to ineligible due to not falling within the SME definition
- Fully constituted businesses in liquidation, dissolved, struck off or subject to a striking-off notice
- Eligible business premises do not include warehouses or sheds unless the business actively trades from the warehouse or shed
- Where the business has made no efforts to seek appropriate insurance
- Where the business has failed to take recommended measures following previous flooding
- To fund routine business expenses/costs recoverable elsewhere
- Public bodies with properties impacted by the flooding cannot be supported through this grant
Before you start to complete the application form you will need the following information to hand:
- Business Rates Bill to obtain your business rates reference number
- Business Bank Statement dated within the last three months to upload. Where online banking is used screenshots can be used
- Photos to demonstrate damage to premises, equipment or restricted access to premises
- Valid insurance document showing level of cover (property, contents, liability etc.) and any excess, or evidence of attempts to insure the business premises against flood damage on at least one occasion since 1 January 2023
- The property owner/landlord. The scheme is open to the business trading from the premises/liable party for business rates. Vacant premises are not eligible under the scheme
Application Process
- Your application will be cross-referenced with data secured on the extent and observed impact of the flooding in the district. When assessing the application, this will require the Council to liaise with other public bodies
- On receipt of your application we will aim to review and respond within 10 working days. Where additional information is required from you this time window will freeze until the information is received to recommence the review
- When you submit your application you will receive an automated email containing your application number. Please retain these details and quote when contacting the council about any queries
- The Council will email you on the outcome of your application
- Successful applicants will receive the payment in their bank account within 10 working days of the grant confirmation being received
- For any further information or queries please email environmentteam@harborough.gov.uk stating your name, business name, address and nature of your enquiry relating to the Business Recovery Grant
- Businesses will automatically be considered for the Business Rates Relief if the Business Recovery Grant is approved so businesses do not need to contact us separately on this