The first wave of grants to Richmond businesses in need of support amid the coronavirus outbreak have been sent out.

Over 1,600 businesses in the borough have now applied for one of the grants on offer, equating to around 62 per cent of those written to by the council.

Small businesses who receive Small Business Rate Relief are eligible for a £10,000 grant, with a few exclusions such as properties occupied for personal uses and car parking spaces.

In Richmond upon Thames this will provide £15m of support for small businesses.

A second grant scheme focuses on the retail, leisure and hospitality sector.

This second scheme will pay a grant of £25,000 to eligible businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000 and a grant of £10,000 to eligible businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 and below.

It is thought that this funding will provide a further £30m of support to local businesses.

Eligible businesses can submit their application online.

Once a claim has been made, the Council is working as quickly as possible to process the grants and payment will be made as possible to businesses.

Cllr Robin Brown, lead member for finance and resources at Richmond Council, said: “As soon as we received the funding from the Government we began processing applications from local businesses straight away – getting the money out and into their bank accounts. Officers have been working day and night.

"We have already processed well over 1,000 of the applications we have received so far – awarding grant worth over £19m.

“However, we think that there are still hundreds of businesses eligible for the funding and they haven’t applied online. I urge any business, go online, look at the support packages available. If you think that you are eligible – don’t delay.”

To find out more and apply online, go to: www.richmond.gov.uk/business_rates_budget_statement

For more information regarding other support for businesses, go to: www.richmond.gov.uk/coronavirus_information