In-Cumbria’s Business Doctor Peter Fleming brings the information you need to know if directly affected by the floods.

If your business has been flooded or severely disrupted, i.e. road closed, bridge down, within Cumbria, as follows is what you can claim and use the Cumbria Recovery Grant for.

The amount of Flood Recovery Grant available is based on the number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employees or turnover.

1 employee - max £3,000 (i.e. self-employed, single director LTD)

2-5 employees - £5,000

6-10 employees - £7,000

11 employees plus - £10,000

All applications must be submitted by 28th February 2016, any claims against the grant offered must be completed by the end of 2016.

A Cumbria Business Growth Hub advisor, will visit you to help put together a growth recovery plan, and complete the necessary forms as part of the application. You will also need to submit your latest set of accounts and a copy of insurance with your application.

Grant moneys can be used for paying towards;

• Specialist expertise, Accountants fees, Solicitors fees, Design fees, Architects fees, IT infrastructure planning, Sales, Strategy consultancy fees, HR advice and fees. Grant only covers non-tangible support, i.e. you can’t buy equipment, machines or tools with the funds as these would have been covered by your insurance.

• Marketing, to help reinstate the business and create a marketing plan, introduce electronic sales, web site development, e-commerce marketing & any traditional marketing material.

• Interest Relief on existing, new or re-instated costs.

• Training – for employees to be able to use new equipment, machinery or implementing new processes, sales, online accounts systems.

Grant covers 100% of any incurred costs based on an approved recovery plan, however excludes any VAT. Grant Money will not be reclaimed, however Cumbria Business Growth Hub & Cumbria

County Council reserve the right and will follow up during and after the process to ensure jobs are safeguarded or created and grant moneys being used appropriately.

Once the business support has been completed and funds implemented the local Business Growth Hub advisor would collect outputs and up to date financial information.

75% of the grant value will be released by Cumbria County Council as soon as application is approved which can take 3-5 working days from application, remaining 25% of grant is paid on proof of expenditure. Grant moneys will not cover the loss of any equipment or damage which would normally be claimed through Insurance or any disruption/loss of earnings due to floods.

Important Contacts:

Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, Tel; 0845 226 00 40 www.cumbriachamber.co.uk

Cumbria Business Growth Hub; Tel; 0844 257 84 50  www.cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk

Helpful documents on Google Drive:

Flood crisis fact sheets: Click here

Flood Recovery Grant, application forms and guidance notes: Click here

Should you wish to discuss this further do not hesitate to contact Cumbria Business Growth Hub directly on 0844 257 84 50 or contact the Business Doctor. Peter Fleming a registered business advisor with Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and Cumbria Business Growth Hub.

If you are looking to grow your business in 2016, Business Doctors Cumbria offer a free business health check and can help you to set a clear vision to understand the steps you need to take to fulfil your aspirations. www.businessdoctors.co.uk/health-check