Small businesses must 'claim every penny'

Small firms in England and Wales have been urged to claim business rate relief by the Local Government Association (LGA).

Research by the LGA has revealed that half of all councils have reported that small businesses in their area are having problems paying non-domestic rates.

What’s more, one in three local authorities has seen an uptake in small business rate relief.

Margaret Eaton, chairman of the LGA, said: "Businesses must… contact their town hall to make sure that they are claiming every penny that they are eligible for."

"Recent research shows that uptake of small business rate relief is surprisingly low."

She added that local authorities would be doing all they could to help small businesses make it through the presently tough economic climate.

Earlier this week, the think tank Tenon Forum advised small businesses to familiarise themselves with new restrictions applying to non-EU and non-Swiss employees.