COVID-19 in Barking and Dagenham – Business Impact Monitoring
Earlier this year we conducted a survey to understand how the economic affects of Covid were impacting on local businesses. We had over 300 responses from a wide range of businesses in Barking and Dagenham.
The top issues that businesses were facing were cash flow, declining sales, property costs, and staff at risk. With other respondents being worried about staff retention, repayment of loans, supply chain disruption and insurance coverage.
Awareness of eligibility for government support schemes was fairly high, but uptake was much lower.
The vast majority of suggestions for how the council could support businesses related to the speed and level of information being provided about access to government reliefs/grants.
Since the announcement of the various grant packages, our Business Rates team have worked tirelessly in processing over 2,000 grants to eligible businesses and awarded a total of £26.5m in grants. We’ve also dealt with 1000’s of enquiries from businesses signposting and advising on what support is available, and throughout, the Business Forum Network have been organising a range of monthly webinars.
It is important that as a council we continue to provide help and support to thousands of our residents and businesses who have been affected in one way or another. With all businesses now reopen and trading again we want to look at how businesses are coping now and look to see how we can shape council services going forward.
Earlier this year we conducted a survey to understand how the economic affects of Covid were impacting on local businesses. We had over 300 responses from a wide range of businesses in Barking and Dagenham.
The top issues that businesses were facing were cash flow, declining sales, property costs, and staff at risk. With other respondents being worried about staff retention, repayment of loans, supply chain disruption and insurance coverage.
Awareness of eligibility for government support schemes was fairly high, but uptake was much lower.
The vast majority of suggestions for how the council could support businesses related to the speed and level of information being provided about access to government reliefs/grants.
Since the announcement of the various grant packages, our Business Rates team have worked tirelessly in processing over 2,000 grants to eligible businesses and awarded a total of £26.5m in grants. We’ve also dealt with 1000’s of enquiries from businesses signposting and advising on what support is available, and throughout, the Business Forum Network have been organising a range of monthly webinars.
It is important that as a council we continue to provide help and support to thousands of our residents and businesses who have been affected in one way or another. With all businesses now reopen and trading again we want to look at how businesses are coping now and look to see how we can shape council services going forward.
Your contact name and email will not be shared outside of Barking and Dagenham Council but your business name, address and comments will be used in reporting.
