Efforts to support Harborough businesses hit by the Covid-19 pandemic are being ramped up

Efforts to support businesses hit by the Covid-19 disaster are being ramped up by Harborough council.

Cllr Phil King, leader of Harborough District Council, is staging two special virtual meetings on Thursday June 4 and Thursday June 11.

Alongside others, Cllr King will talk to small, medium, and large businesses invited from different sectors - including retail, rural, food and drink and tourism.

Local entrepreneurs will be asked “What innovations or diversification has your business considered” and “What is the one non-financial intervention the council could do to assist or enable your business into recovery”.

Businessmen and women will also be told more about the Government’s Discretionary Business Grants Scheme.

The blueprint aims to help businesses which may not have qualified for previous financial support.

Harborough council has recently been hailed one of the top-performing local authorities in England in getting Government grants to eligible businesses.

A ‘toolkit’ for shop owners has also been created by the council to give practical advice on social distancing and keeping customers safe as the town centre gears up to re-open this month after weeks of lockdown.

“We are building on the virtual meetings that have taken place with business representatives from across the district to discuss the current challenging business environment,” said Cllr King.

“We want to listen to businesses to understand what they need so we can respond, alongside other regional organisations, to get our local economy open and growing again and help get people back into work as safely and as quickly as possible.”

Keep up to date with latest news and support and funding streams by subscribing to the council’s business newsletter at www.harborough.gov.uk/business-newsletterIf you require non-financial advice or support then email [email protected]