Help For Flood-Hit Businesses

June 13, 2016 by Southend Borough Council

Help for flood-hit businesses

Tuesday 14th June 2016

Southend firms hit by floods on Tuesday 31st May could get up to £3,000 cash help.

The money from the Government’s Business Support Flood Scheme is being administered by the Council, and eligible businesses are invited to apply by 5pm on Sunday 31st July.

This is an extension of the support scheme for small and medium-sized businesses who endured severe flood damage between December 2013 and March 2014.

Seven Southend businesses applied for and secured the funding then, with grants to tackle flood-damaged walls, windows, carpets, flooring and equipment not covered by insurance, as well as helping offset cleaning costs.

The funding this time is specifically for those who have sustained hardship and significant loss of trade as a direct or indirect result of the 31st May floods.

Those suffering an indirect impact, are businesses which had no - or highly limited - access to premises, equipment and/or stock due to flooding, as well as having restricted access to customers and suppliers, causing a significant loss of trade.

They money is available for:

• small and medium-sized businesses to develop and implement business recovery planning, immediate clean-up costs, materials, exceptional businesses costs (such as hire of drying equipment), and temporary accommodation for businesses to continue trading.
• business continuity planning and marketing costs
• non-recoverable insurance excesses for repair or replacement of buildings, equipment and stock, removal of debris, additional business accommodation or extra staff costs, structural surveys, security measures, additional marketing, exceptional costs to improve access to/for suppliers and customers etc.
• It will not be used for rewarding poor business practice (such as a business with no insurance arrangements in place) or for routine business expenses, or for costs that are recoverable elsewhere.
• The funding is only for the impact of flooding from the recent adverse weather conditions. It is NOT to help with the aftermath of failures of water mains or internal water systems or the failure of a sewage system (unless this failure was itself caused by the adverse weather conditions).

Executive Councillor for Culture, Tourism and the Economy, Councillor Ann Holland said: “We know that a number of Southend businesses caught by flooding have appreciated this help in the past, so we would urge those affected on Tuesday 31st May, to get in touch to see if they are eligible.

“Although the deadline for applications is 5pm on Sunday 31st July, we strongly advise people to apply as soon as possible.

“For more information and an application form, please contact the Economic Development Team on economicd@southend.gov.uk or call 01702 215022.”