Hundreds of businesses across South Kesteven will be having their business rates paid by the government to help them through the coronavirus pandemic.

South Kesteven District Council has identified 686 businesses that will benefit from £17.4m-worth of

rate relief and has called on others to make sure they are eligible. They are all eligible for 100% rate relief under the Government's business rates discount scheme. Originally established in 2018/19 to help the retail sector, the scheme has been extended to cover leisure and hospitality and local nurseries. The relief available has also gone up from 50% to 100%

and restrictions lifted on the size of businesses that are eligible.

It means the number of businesses the council can support has increased from 397 to 686.

SKDC Cabinet Member for Finance, Coun Adam Stokes, said: "Thanks to the efficiency of our business rates team we have been able to respond quickly and apply this relief to businesses that have come under huge financial pressure."

Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will receive a revised bill for 2020/21, confirming that no business rates will be payable for the year.

Local businesses that may be eligible for the discount, but do not receive a new bill should contact InvestSK, the SKDC-owned economic regeneration company, which can advise on the government relief packages available.