Alicia Kearns MP has won the agreement of Government to provide support to businesses based in shared spaces.
Over the last few weeks Alicia Kearns led efforts by MPs nationwide calling for support to small businesses falling out of scope of the two existing schemes because they are based in shared spaces such as the Melton Mowbray Market and Pera Business Park.
The Government has today announced it will launch a new £617 million discretionary fund for small businesses, such as for those in shared spaces.
The businesses that could benefit include:
1. Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible work spaces e.g. industrial parks, science parks, incubators etc, which do not have their own business rates assessment;
2. Regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessment;
3. B&Bs which pay Council Tax instead of business rates; and
4. Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief.
Rutland and Melton MP, Alicia Kearns, said:
“I am absolutely delighted that the Government has today agreed to provide the support I have been campaigning for to support our wonderful local businesses who so far had not received the support they deserve.
“This has been my number one ask of the Government, and I worked to secure the support of fellow MPs to make the case to the Treasury, Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. I promised to stand by our local businesses, and the Government has delivered on its commitment to leave no one behind.”
Alicia Kearns awaits full detail on the scheme restrictions.
