Published: Tuesday 12 December 2017
12 December 2017
£250,000 funded by Mayor of London, Kensington and Chelsea Council and Business Department
A recording studio and a car mechanics' workshop are among several small businesses supported by a scheme launched by the Mayor of London and Kensington and Chelsea in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Local business owners who were left struggling following the fire have received a total of nearly £100,000 in payments from the Mayor of London and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Local businesses were invited to apply for funding to cover expenses such as rent, lost stock and payments to suppliers. Thirteen claims have been approved and paid out since the devastating fire in June, which claimed 71 lives.
Of the initial £100,000 fund, £50,000 was provided by the Mayor and £50,000 by Kensington and Chelsea. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has also provided an additional £100,000 to cover claims by affected local businesses and Kensington and Chelsea have now pledged a further £50,000.
A number of business owners were unable to access their premises as they were within the area cordoned off as the emergency services dealt with the fire and its aftermath.
Among those affected were Samurai Sound, a recording and photography studio less than 100 metres from Grenfell Tower, and Holland Park Motors, a car repair, sales and hire company which has been based at the same railway arches near the tower since 1969.
The funding is being distributed through the Portobello Business Centre, which is an established part of the local business community.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "The tragic fire at Grenfell Tower took a terrible toll on the local community, including a number of small businesses around the area who were left struggling to make ends meet. Shortly after the fire I asked my team at City Hall to develop plans to support these businesses as they came to terms with the impact of the tragedy.
"I'm pleased that we've been able to help local firms to get back on their feet and I'm committed to continuing to do all I can to help the community recover. I hope Londoners will also do their bit to help by supporting these local small businesses."
Leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, said: "Alongside residents, schools and services we have also pledged our support for the business affected by the fire.
"We will do all we can to help all of the victims, and I am determined that the council keeps stepping up wherever and whenever our communities need us."
Small Business Minister, Margot James, said: "The Government is committed to helping the community of North Kensington to recover following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower.
"That is why we are providing up to £100,000 to support local businesses to ensure the businesses that are at the heart of this community can continue to thrive."
Chief Executive of the Portobello Business Centre, Allen Pluck, said: "The micro business community in and around Grenfell continues to be significantly affected by the tragic events at Grenfell Tower. The funding made available by the GLA and RBKC has been crucial and much needed.
"We recognise that more help will be needed as the community starts to rebuild and we would encourage the public, now more than ever, to shop and buy local and use these local businesses to give them a fighting chance of survival."
William Anderson, who runs Samurai Sound, a recording and photography studio and exhibition space which was inside the police cordon following the fire, said: "We couldn't trade for a month, then when we were back up and running no-one knew we had reopened or they didn't want to shoot videos against the backdrop of the tower.
"We had to issue thousands of pounds in refunds - we basically limped along for about two and half months. The bottom line is without the money from the fund and the help of PBC we would have been out of business.
"Not only did it help us get through the difficult times, it has also helped us build the business up and become more established in the local community, as we've been able to offer free workshops for local people to come together and do something creative."
Narain Jagtiani, owner and director of Holland Park Motors, which was also affected by the cordon, said: "From the day of the fire until August, our takings were down by about £53,000.
"Even when we were able to trade again we had to call our customers and persuade them that we were open and they should carry on coming to us.
"The money from the fund has had a great impact because it has helped carry us through this lean period."
Notes
Each application to the fund must be fully supported by evidence and is scrutinised by an expert panel consisting of representatives from the Greater London Authority, Portobello Business Centre and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Further information about the businesses which have received payments from the fund and the ongoing support available can be found at http://grenfell.pbc.co.uk.