A TENBURY councillor is leading a drive to support businesses in Worcestershire during the coronavirus crisis.

One Worcestershire, is working with colleagues at Worcestershire Business Central, the Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses and Local District Councils to make sure that local businesses are getting all the support they need right now.

“Businesses across the county have been first class in providing support to their local communities, so it’s vitally important that we return the favour and do all we can to support them,” said Ken Pollock, who represents Tenbury on Worcestershire County Council where he is cabinet member for economy and infrastructure.

“I’d also like to thank all of the local businesses who have got involved with our Here2Help scheme. It’s thanks to volunteers like them, that we are able to make a real difference during these testing times.”

Anyone struggling to figure out their next step, should call Worcestershire Business Central who will point them in the right direction and do their best to help.

The county’s growth hub, Worcestershire Business Central, is the port of call for general support and guidance, or specific advice on the following:

• information on accessing Government-funded support, including grants and rate relief

• information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Job Retention Scheme

• support for businesses through the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

There is a wide range of different kind of support available to businesses but there have been complaints that much of it is fragmented between local authorities and central government.

Some of the support is through grants that are linked to rateable value whilst there are also loans available but initially with the Government guarantee limited to 80 per cent some businesses were finding the banks unwilling to come up with the money.

There has also been concern that even if loan applications are approved businesses that have already been hit will struggle to make the repayments and are unwilling to get themselves into debt.

The Government has recently introduced a recovery scheme in which they will provide a 100 per cent guarantee.

Businesses are also able to furlough staff until the end of June with Government paying 80 per cent of wages.