Dudley Council has more than doubled the number of businesses it has helped in just five days – from 648 to 1,700.

More staff have been drafted in to deal with the amount of calls which includes working weekends to process applications.

Finance bosses have streamlined the service to speed up help for businesses impacted by loss of trade and income caused by the pandemic.

Councillor Steve Clark, cabinet member for finance, said:

"This is an ever-changing picture and each day we are able to help more and more business get the money they so desperately need.

"The number of applications has rocketed but so has the number of businesses we have been able to help. I am proud of the way our staff have been battling to keep on top of this in the face of some really challenging circumstances."

Smaller businesses, with rateable values of up to £15,000, can apply for grants of £10,000 while certain medium to larger firms in the retail, hospitality and leisure industries, with rateable values of between £15,000 and £51,000, have access to grants of £25,000.

Dudley Council will also soon be applying a full year of 100 per cent business rate relief for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses and nurseries. It has also ordered an immediate stop to bailiffs and court actions for payment defaults, while the initial direct debit payments of business rates were frozen immediately and will be rescheduled for those businesses that are still required to pay.

Eligible businesses can get more information on how to claim by visiting https://www.dudley.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-rates-grant/

For further business advice and guidance visit https://www.dudleybusinessfirst.org.uk/coronavirus-business-guidance/

For all of the latest news and information on the coronavirus visit https://www.dudley.gov.uk/coronavirus and sign up to our regular free email bulletins here