Here’s the support for York businesses during the coronavirus outbreak
City leaders have joined together to ensure business owners have the information they need on how to access help.
The York Business Improvement District (BID), Make It York and the City of York Council are co-ordinating efforts for traders.
The Chancellor has set out a package of measures to help businesses through this period of disruption.
An online portal has been created to give all the business support updates, based on the City of York Council website here:
This portal summarises what help is available, how to access it, and it will be kept updated in the coming days as more information comes from the government.
Support so far
Council support confirmed so far includes:
Talking to any of its commercial tenants about support paying rent, and working with other landlords to try and make sure all commercial tenants benefit from a considered and supportive approach.
Implementing the government’s support on business rates, with all retail, leisure and hospitality businesses paying nothing from April 1, and one-off grants for businesses eligible for small business rates relief. The council will publish guidance on who qualifies as soon as it is available from central government.
The council will continue to buy locally where possible and invest in the economy both in the short term and to aid the long-term recovery from floods and corona.
‘We will do everything we can to help’
“We know York businesses are resilient and adaptable, and we will do everything we can to help them through this extremely difficult time.
“We are realigning BID resources into the highest priority areas which will help businesses going forward, and planning longer term how we will assist in the recovery of the business community once we have weathered this period.”
– Andrew Lowson, York BID executive director
“The Make It York team is focussing in the immediate term on providing businesses with access to information and services. We are already planning for the recovery phase by redeploying staff to assist, particularly with the distribution on the government’s emergency funding as that comes on-stream.”
– Sean Bullick, Make It York MD
“The city’s businesses are creative and resilient. As they find new and creative ways to deliver their products and services, I am sure York residents will respond and support them however they can.”
– Cllr Andrew Waller, City of York Council