Businesses can now find out if they are eligible to
apply for financial support from the next phase of the Welsh Government’s
Economic Resilience Fund (ERF).
The online eligibility checker has reopened and
businesses will be able to make applications for support from this phase of the
fund by the end of the month.
The ERF is designed to support businesses, social
enterprises and charities, which are not eligible for other Welsh Government
and UK Government support schemes.
The next phase of the fund will enable businesses to
access a further £100m of financial support.
It is being targeted at
microbusinesses, small to medium enterprises and large businesses of critical economic importance,
which have yet to receive financial assistance from the ERF.
Economy, Transport and North Wales Minister Ken Skates
said: “Our package of support for Welsh business has been
absolutely vital in supporting thousands of firms through these exceptionally
difficult times.
“Close to £200m has now been provided to businesses from
the Economic Resilience Fund with all applications being processed.
“We are reopening our eligibility checker for the
next phase of funding. This will allow companies time to prepare their
applications, ahead of the fund reopening for applications at the end of the
month.
“The measures we have taken are in addition to the support
available from the UK Government, making our package the most comprehensive and
generous in the UK.
“This next phase will reach businesses, which have yet
to receive funding, but we know it won’t reach all those in need. We are
proactively working on further options, but it is clear we need the UK
Government to step up and provide the longer-term and additional funding needed
to see Welsh business through this pandemic.”
This latest phase will operate in broadly the same way
as the first phase but with an update to the eligibility of the micro scheme.
This will enable limited companies which are not VAT registered to access the
fund, subject to other criteria being met.
Large businesses, which have suffered more than a 60%
reduction of turnover since 1 March 2020 may also qualify for funding if they
meet other conditions. A further £10m has been available from the ERF to
support larger firms.
To date, almost £200m of ERF funding has been
distributed to companies across Wales, supporting a wide variety of businesses
to deal with the impact of coronavirus.
This includes the Development Bank of Wales’ loan scheme
element of the fund which has seen more than £90m offered or invested in
1,300-plus firms.
Work is continuing to develop further options to support
those businesses, which have not yet been able to access help, such as start-up
firms not eligible for the UK Government’s Self Employment Income Support
Scheme.
