IMPROVEMENTS have been made to the council’s business relief tool to ensure more self-employed people and start-ups can secure help during the coronavirus pandemic.

Recognising that there are now more than five million self-employed individuals in the UK, accounting for more than 15 per cent of the workforce, the authority has made changes to its online tool.

Anyone currently self-employed, or that has started a new business, or sought to start one prior to the Covid-19 pandemic is encouraged to make themselves known through the form in order to gain advice and support, as well as to ascertain if they are eligible for grants.

Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden said: “We recognise start-ups and the self-employed are in a very precarious position right now, especially if they need to self-isolate.

“The improvements we’ve made to our online relief tool are about connecting with you and ensuring you can get the support you need.”

Cllr Tom Jennings, chair of the supporting the local economy committee, added: “Being self-employed myself, I understand the uncertainty you face and I’m determined to ensure we do all we can to assist you.

“This enhancement helps ensure everyone in our business community can get the support they’re entitled to and deserve, so long as they make themselves known to us.”

The council’s Covid-19 business relief tool, set up to enable the council to connect with businesses across the borough, can be found at warrington.gov.uk/coronavirusgrant

If you’re self-employed and are one of the estimated 600,000 who haven’t filed their 2018-19 tax return yet, you have until April 23 to do so or you won’t be eligible for the Government’s self-employed income support scheme, subject to further criteria.

You can file your tax return at gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return

Whether you are self-employed, own a business or were planning to before the coronavirus outbreak, you can get a range of help by visiting:

-warrington.gov.uk/coronavirusgrant

-warringtonandco.com

-candwgrowthhub.co.uk