Businesses struggling to cope in the coronavirus crisis will be able to get help with their problems through a new telephone advice line being set up by Kent councils.

Kent County Council, in collaboration with all the local authorities in Kent, is launching a dedicated business support line for coronavirus-related issues.

This support line will go live today at 4pm. At the same time, KCC has said that it is giving businesses who took out loans with it under various schemes to boost the economy a repayment holiday for a year.

Cllr Mike Whiting, KCC Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “The coronavirus pandemic is having a serious effect on businesses in Kent and I’m grateful to the government for announcing a huge raft of measures to help our local economy.”

“Those businesses that employ local people and maintain the Kent economy and it is important that we do everything we can to help them, and I’m happy to announce a repayment holiday for loans we have given them.”

“KCC’s economic development team is continuing to look at what the county council can offer to ensure survival and recovery after the crisis is over, including looking at providing urgent financial support.”

The county council said that the loan holiday would be triggered automatically and businesses would not have to make applications.

The government has already launched its own fund to help businesses weather the coronavirus storm with £330bn being allocated to help companies continue to pay staff and and avoid layoffs for three months.

The Kent coronavirus advice number to call is: 03333 602300.

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