Shropshire Council has announced it is urgently working through a number of measures to support businesses through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The council says it has more than 12,000 businesses listed for business rates but, of those, more than 5,400 do not pay any business rates currently, as they receive 100 per cent small business rate relief, but on Monday, the government announced these businesses will receive an additional £10,000 grant to assist them with ongoing business costs.

Also, it has been announced that retail relief has been increased for 2020/21 to 100 per cent and extended to include leisure and hospitality businesses, among other announcements.

A spokesman for Shropshire Council said: "We would ask all businesses to bear with us while we wait for further clarification from the government about how this assistance will work.

"Please be assured that we are working to get these reductions notified to qualifying businesses as soon as we can."

Any other businesses that won’t qualify for these reliefs but who would like to discuss their payments or spread their instalments over 12 months should contact business.rates@shropshire.gov.uk

Meanwhile, the leader of Shropshire Council has written to businesses in the county to assure them of help and support through the coronavirus crisis.

Councillor Peter Nutting sent out the letter on Wednesday, stating it will be the start of frequent correspondence from the authority concerning COVID-19, around what financial support or hygiene instructions.

In the letter, he also stated that further information will be shared with businesses as and when it is received and hoped that the council would be able to support them while isolation from the virus continues.

He added: "We will do whatever we can to help you through what is undeniably a difficult time, particularly coming so soon after the floods that had such a large impact on many businesses across our county.

"As you may be aware, Shropshire has now seen several confirmed cases of COVID-19. It is likely that we will get more cases, but we want to reassure you that Shropshire Council is working with health colleagues to do everything we can to stop the virus spreading and ensure the people of Shropshire are protected.

"As a council we have specialists trained to deal with issues like the coronavirus, and plans are in place that have been built on years of knowledge and experience.

"That said, it goes without saying that this situation is unprecedented: but please know our teams mobilised many weeks ago, as the threat emerged, to ensure we respond to the government’s requests, alongside our local needs."

He added: "A new Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, delivered by the British Business Bank, will enable businesses to apply for a loan of up to £5 million, with the government covering up to 80 per cent of any losses with no fees.

"Businesses can access the first six months of that finance interest free, as the government will cover the first six months of interest payments.

"For businesses with fewer than 250 staff, the cost of providing 14 days of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) per employee will be refunded by the government in full. This will provide two million businesses with up to £2 billion to cover the costs of large-scale sick leave."

Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the reliefs should be directed to Shropshire Council by emailing COVID19businessenquiries@shropshire.gov.uk. Guidance for councils on the business rates holiday will be published by Friday, March 20.

The government provides current coronavirus updates for businesses around information on healthcare advice for employers and support for businesses at www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-employees-employers-and-businesses

The council has also added links to its own website at www.shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/