Firms urged to move fast on ‘discretionary’ grants 01 June 2020 Businesses who may be eligible for the Government’s new Discretionary Business Grant scheme are being urged to act fast. The scheme is aimed at businesses and charities that did not qualify for existing coronavirus small business grant schemes, such as those in flexible working space which do not have their own business rates assessment or those receiving charitable business rates relief. The deadline to apply to East Staffordshire Borough and Solihull Metropolitan Borough councils is this Sunday, while the deadline for Birmingham City Council is Sunday 14 June. The scheme is also expected to go live for firms in Lichfield and Tamworth, Stafford and Cannock Chase later this week, with more details to be published on local authority websites shortly. There are three levels of grant available - £25,000, £10,000 or any amount under £10,000. Each local authority has some discretion over how they administer the scheme. As a res...