March 26, 2020 3.21 pm This story is over 63 months old

Lincoln businesses affected by coronavirus offered £10k grant

Financial support in a time of need
Lincoln's bailgate looking quiet under lockdown in March.≈

Businesses in Lincoln affected by the coronavirus outbreak can now sign up for a £10,000 grant.

City of Lincoln Council has offered the grant to small businesses as part of government support amid the pandemic.

It comes as many companies across Lincolnshire have lost income or being forced to close due to the virus.

You can follow live updates on coronavirus from around Lincoln and Lincolnshire in our live blog.

In order to qualify, a business must:

  • Be based in England
  • In receipt of small business rates relief, rural rate relief or tapered relief
  • Must be a business in an occupied property as of March 11, 2020.

The funding is expected to be available by April 1, 2020.

You can find out if your business is eligible and apply for the grant by filling out this form

Photo: Ellis Karran for The Lincolnite

The announcement comes as the coronavirus outbreak has impacted companies and employees across the county.

The spread of the virus raised concern that some businesses will “go to the wall” without support.

Insurers came under fire for “avoiding pay out” to companies and were called on the back business in the county.

Stewart Hardy, who runs Hardy’s Animal Farm in Ingoldmells, warned that failure to help would lead to some companies going under.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce support for self-employed during the coronavirus crisis.

“There will be a lot of businesses who go to the wall,” he said.

“If they do not go under, they will take on a debt burden which makes growth difficult.”

Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced a number of measures to support employers in a £330 billion fiscal stimulus package.

It includes a Coronavirus business interruption scheme, as well as other grants to help small business.

The government also said it will pay 80% of wages to employees affected by COVID-19.

Mr Sunak is expected to unveil further measures to help support the self-employed later today (March 26).

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