New figures released today show that almost three and a half thousand businesses across Bath and North East Somerset shared a total of £42.9m in Covid-19 support grants from the government.

The grant scheme has now closed, and all individual payments have been made

Bath & North East Somerset Council's Invest in Bath team supported businesses needing urgent financial assistance from the Government, launched an online form to speed up the process and offering tailored support to help businesses get their applications right.

Councillor Richard Samuel, deputy Leader, said: "These grants have made a huge difference to our local businesses in these difficult times and I'm delighted that we've been able to support so many. Unfortunately, it was not possible to help every business because of restrictions imposed by the government and limits on the money they made available.

"Our Invest in Bath team have worked hard for several months to turn the applications around as quickly as possible, as well as providing individualised help and advice to any business that needed it. One of our main priorities in recovering from the pandemic is helping businesses get back on their feet, so I'm encouraged to see from these new figures the positive impact the grants have made."

Payments to businesses have been finalised for grants under the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality and Small Business schemes, including the discretionary grants for small and micro businesses not eligible for the main grants.

Individual payments of 3,470 totalling £42.9m have been made for support grants under each element of the scheme :

Small Business Grants, 2,140, £21.400

Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Grants, 984, £19.380

Discretionary Grants (Small & Micro businesses not eligible for main grants), 346, £2.113

Total : 3,470 :£42.893

Joanna Tiley, Director of Joanna Tiley Estate Agents in Chew Stoke, said: "The team at Invest In Bath have been so supportive during this very difficult time. I am a new estate agency business in the Chew Valley and without their help and guidance I would not have known I was entitled to claim for the coronavirus grants. The grant will help towards my business costs during the lockdown and beyond. Without the grant it would have been very difficult to continue and will make all the difference to me and my business in the future. A massive thank you."