SHROPSHIRE Council has processed grant applications from more than 1,800 businesses since applications opened last week and the money is set to arrive in their bank accounts from Wednesday, April 8.

Shropshire’s small businesses, and businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, can apply for government funding through the coronavirus COVID-19 Small Business Grant Fund, and Retail Hospitality & Leisure Grant Fund.

Some £91m of funding has been provided by the government to Shropshire Council to pass directly onto businesses through these schemes.

This is one of the largest allocations to any council in the country and it is estimated that more than 7,000 businesses can access this money, providing they meet the criteria.

Councillor Peter Nutting, leader of Shropshire Council, believes the funding will prove to be a vital boost.

"I'm delighted that our officers have been able to process almost 2,000 applications in just a few days, and that money will soon be reaching the bank accounts of those businesses that have applied for funding so far," he said.

“If any businesses haven’t yet applied for this funding, I urge them to do so as soon as possible so that we can get the money to them.

“This funding is very welcome and will be vital to our many small businesses in these difficult times.

“We’ve never had to do anything like this before, or on this scale. We assured businesses that we would be working as fast as we possibly can, and I hope these figures show that we are doing just that.”

To be included, a business must be eligible for either relief as at March 11, 2020, and have a rateable value of £15,000 or less.

Under the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant, eligible businesses in England in receipt of the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure) with a rateable value of less than £51,000 will be eligible for cash grants of £10,000 or £25,000 per property.

Eligible businesses in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of up to and including £15,000 will receive a grant of £10,000 and those over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a grant of £25,000.

To apply, visit www.shropshire.gov.uk