Merthyr Tydfil businesses supported to get back on track post-lockdown

Merthyr Tydfil council officers have been working with local businesses to try to limit the damage they face as a result of the coronavirus lockdown.

Merthyr Tydfil businesses supported to get back on track post-lockdown

As well helping companies access £12m in Welsh Government grants, the County Borough Council’s Revenues and Community Regeneration teams are helping them plan for recovery using a business health check questionnaire.

To date, 975 Merthyr Tydfil businesses with premises affected by coronavirus have been identified as qualifying for funding, with those remaining in the process of being tracked down.

In addition, hundreds of businesses are taking part in a survey aimed at building a picture of Covid-19’s impact on their trading and recovery planning, the results of which will be used to determine what further support is needed.

Cllr Andrew Barry, Cabinet Member for Finance and Governance, said: “We’re very pleased that we’ve been able to respond quickly and get grants out to those that desperately need them, and we’re trying to contact the remaining ones that haven’t come forward.

“We’re also pleased with the way in which the business health check is helping us understand the models the businesses were set up on, and to look at whether they will still work in the future.

“Using this information, our teams are developing action plans for individual organisations and assigning a key officer from the department to work with them. These businesses are one of our top priorities and we’ll do all we can to help their survival.”

Morgan Financial Solutions, based at the Orbit Business Centre since 2014, received the £10,000 grant for small businesses, which meant the company didn’t have to make any staff redundant.

Founder and Managing Director Phil Morgan said the firm, which offers mortgage advice through an extensive broker and introducer network, had a head office team of four permanent members of staff with more than 20 self-employed advisors in locations across England and Wales.

“The grant has been fantastic because it’s meant I haven’t had to lay people off,” he added. “The support I’ve had from Council staff based at the Orbit Centre has been a massive help. In fact, I wouldn’t have known about the grant if it wasn’t for them.”

Another small business in receipt of a grant was Lucy Lou’s Tattoos in Pontmorlais. Proprietor Lucy Turner is already gearing up to reopen when allowed, although she’ll have to take strict precautions.

“I’ve purchased face visors for myself and the two other tattooists who’ll be working here after lockdown,” she said. “We’ll have disposable masks for our clients and there will be one client per tattooist, with no friends or family allowed to stay with them during the session. There’ll be hand sanitiser in each room, and payments by card only.”

Lucy said she was very grateful for the Council’s backing. “The Council have helped me out a great deal during this time and there was no hesitation in explaining anything I was unsure about,” she added.

“I had been in the middle of renovating part of the shop before lockdown, and the grant has given me the ability to continue with that and keep the shop ticking over. Thank you very much!”

The Council is working on other proposals to ensure the future sustainability and vibrancy of businesses in the town centre after the lockdown ends. Ways of operating will be different, but plans are in hand to make sure that traders can continue to operate as normally as possible.

For further information on the available support, please email economicdevelopment2@merthyr.gov.uk