Please Note: applications for the Flood Recovery Grants from the Chamber of Commerce closed on 28 February 2010.

For support for small businesses contact:

Cumbria Chamber of Commerce www.cumbriachamber.co.uk
The Chamber are providing a significant package of support based on what has been successful in previous crises which will make a real difference to businesses. One-to-one support from advisers – including support to produce recovery plans and complete funding applications - amongst a range of other advice in line with business needs is provided. Grant funding of between £3,000 and £10,000 depending on the size of the business is also available for:
o        specialist advice eg accountants, legal advice, architects, HR, IT, designers, etc
o        specialist advice to produce a marketing plan and funding for marketing activities
o        interest relief for up to 6 months on new, rescheduled and existing loans
o        training
This support is available by contacting Business Link on 0845 00 66 888, with delivery of advice by  Business Link and WCDA. The Chamber of Commerce are administering the grant scheme.
The Federation of Small Businesses has loans of up to £5,000 available interest free for the first 12 months and BusinessLink should also be able to help.

Business Link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home?site=102&furlname=northwest&furlparam=northwest&ref=&domain=www.businesslink.gov.uk or the FSB http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/press-releases/environment-and-rural-affairs/fsb-opens-emergency-fund-for-flooded-businesses-$1341681$441919.htm

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
has opened its £500,000 Disaster Recovery Fund for its members in Scotland, Lancashire and Cumbria and the North East of England, which have been adversely affected by recent heavy rain and flooding. 
 
The FSB is offering interest-free loans of up to £5,000 to help small firms cover costs associated with keeping their business trading and with repair of their premises.

For the farming community

There is also the RABI (the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution) http://www.rabi.org.uk/seeking_help and
The Addington Trust http://www.arc-addingtonfund.org.uk/how-we-can-help/

Can the Community Fund support businesses?

Exceptionally the Flood Recovery Fund has helped one-person businesses with things like replacing equipment lost in floods and additional transport costs.

We have been approached about the possibility of a restricted grant for small businesses.

Our usual position is that we advise businesses first to contact Business Link or the Federation of Small Businesses if they are members. Businesses with business interruption insurance can usually claim on that.

People who ‘live above the shop’, often literally, such as farmers pubs and restaurants, we treat as both a business and a private residence and try to help in the same way as other residences, though recognizing that the accommodation is often interlinked. We do not in practice monitor how people spend the money but we have no evidence of trips to sunnier climes. We will look sympathetically at areas such as additional travel or child care costs because of relocation.

Anyone who is in hardship because of the floods is welcome to send in an application.

Visit www.cumbriafoundation.org.uk or tel 01900825760 to talk to one of our grant advisors.