Business Grants offered by East Suffolk Council

Dear Members, The government is hinting that the lockdown will not be ending very soon so we have put together some links and information that might be of help to you. The situation changes so do check the links regularly for updated advice. Also bear in mind that a great deal of information of use to tourism and local businesses is available on the region's Direct Marketing Organisation (DMO) website, The Suffolk coast. The DMO are working hard to keep future visitors engaged and could be promoting you via their offer of 4 months free membership - just click here. We re continuing to like and share all useful information on our Facebook page and Instagram page - members and non members. Whenever there is significant news we will endeavour to keep you informed with an updated newsletter.

Some ABA members have already received their business grant from East Suffolk Council

Some ABA members are reporting a fast turnaround for their grant application. If you have not yet done yours and you are an eligible business you can still complete a straightforward online form which will capture the data required by central government and allow the Council to make payment to each eligible business as soon as possible. The first fund offers a grant of £10,000, announced by the Government to support small businesses (which receive small business rate relief or rural rate relief). The second is a grant of either £10,000 or £25,000 depending on rateable value, for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. Once each business has completed the online form, they will receive an automated email to confirm receipt of the form. The Council will then undertake verification checks and make payment of the grant as soon as possible. Once payment has been submitted to the business an automated email will be sent to confirm payment has been made. As part of this process, and to ensure as many businesses as possible are aware of the funding available to them, East Suffolk Council is also writing to over 7,000 businesses who may be eligible for the grants - the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Fund. Businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or over are not eligible for this scheme. Businesses which are not ratepayers in the business rates system are not included in this scheme. To access the form click here.

Guidance on claiming employees' wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme:

HMRC has published detailed guidance for businesses on how to claim support for furloughed workers through the JRS. As well as stating what information is needed to make a claim, it also includes information on how the JRS applies to people in a range of special circumstances including o office holders (including company directors) o salaried members of Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) o agency workers (including those employed by umbrella companies) o limb (b) workers Find out more here Obtaining Business Rates Relief And Grant Funding

If you have experienced push back from your local council, this guidance may be of use. When the Government introduced the Business Rates Relief Scheme to support retail, hospitality and leisure business through the Coronavirus crisis, the guidance to local authorities did not explicitly state that this relief was available to a range of businesses that are commonly deemed to be part of the tourism industry. If you have experienced push back from your local council, this guidance may be of use. Read the guidance here Guidance on Deferral of VAT Payments

HMRC have updated their guidance for businesses wanting to defer VAT payments. Find out more here. Its hard to recognise Aldeburgh at the moment but we are wishing you the all the best and hoping for a swift end this truly terrible situation. Stay strong and stay safe,

Your committee

Sally Ogden (Chair)

Ella Roberts (Vice Chair)

Gary Thompson (Treasurer)

Sarah Whitelock (Secretary)