The grants from central government will be administered by Dorset Council to eligible businesses in the Dorset Council area.

There are two new grant funding schemes. First is the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) and secondly the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF).

Cllr Gary Suttle, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Economic Growth and Skills

Councillor Gary Suttle, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Economic Growth and Skills, said: “We hope this funding will offer some welcome relief to business owners during this very challenging time. I would appeal to all business owners, having checked their eligibility criteria on our website, to complete our e-form as soon as possible. Our revenues and benefits team will be working very hard to process the grants and we will continue to lobby the government for further support for Dorset.’’

To ensure the right businesses are supported correctly and no fraudulent claims are made, businesses are being asked to provide information via an e-form. In some cases, additional checks may be necessary to confirm eligibility.