Harborough council leader welcomes the news that extra money will be given to help small businesses who may not have qualified for earlier schemes

Harborough District Council has welcomed the Government's announcement to provide up to an additional £617m to help small businesses across the UK who may not have qualified for earlier schemes.

A portion of that amount will be allocated to Harborough, as well as Blaby, Charnwood, Hinckley and Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire and Oadby and Wigston district and borough councils.

The seven councils have already distributed nearly £100 million of existing coronavirus support grants to over 8,000 local businesses.

However, some local firms do not qualify for these grants and the councils have lobbied government on their behalf, along with local MPs, for extra support.

Cllr Phil King, leader of Harborough District Council, said: “We welcome news of extra Government funding which could help those businesses which do not qualify for the other grant schemes.

"Harborough District Council has already allocated more than £18m to businesses in the Harborough district and been named as one of the best performing local authorities nationally in achieving this and, once we know how much each authority will receive; we will continue to work quickly to get the funding to those businesses which need it.”

Councils are waiting for further guidance on how to administer the grants. When this guidance is received, Harborough District Council will determine the process for eligibility and how businesses can apply.