Recently, the government / HM Treasury have outlined their plans to help business overcome the problems caused by covid-19. However, without ensuring all businesses can access these funds, members of the public are still being put at risk - either through the spread of the virus, as people still travel to work, or unemployment which can be equally devastating for individuals and their families. 

One such measure is the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) whereby "all businesses in England in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) and Rural Rates Relief (RRR) in the business rates system will be eligible for a payment of £10,000."

The problem is that many startups and other small businesses rent their office space 'flexibly' e.g. co-working or a serviced office space (6% of the total UK office market). In these scenarios businesses 'license' their office space from a service provider who in turn pays the business rates for the whole building, opposed to each business individually paying their respective rates. Consequently, these small businesses which would otherwise be eligible, had they individually paid business rates are unable to claim this much needed grant.

Please support small businesses and sign this petition asking the government to extend the SBGF to those working within flexible office space, protecting both the small businesses, the flexible workspace providers and, most importantly, the people of the UK.