Sheffield motorcycle firm facing ruin over lack of coronavirus grant support

The boss of a crisis-hit Sheffield motorbike firm turned to The Star after waiting nine weeks for the city council to answer a plea for support.
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Frank Hayes, managing director of SMC Bikes on the Wicker, said he spent weeks contacting the authority’s rates offices through emails and voicemails - until it stopped allowing messages because it was full.

Mr Hayes, who employs 25, was chasing up an application for a business rates discount which he believed could lead to the firm’s £56,000 rateable value falling below £51,000 - the threshold to qualify for a £25,000 coronarvirus support grant.

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He said: “We simply can’t survive without support. Our season is March through to September, but with Covid-19 that has set the industry back and won’t recover until maybe this time next year.

The SMC Bikes team.The SMC Bikes team.
The SMC Bikes team.

“2017 through to 2019 have been tough mainly due to Brexit and the election, the three powerful storms all adding to a very hard winter – and now this.”

Mr Hayes said he started the business on Derek Dooley way in 2004 ‘with nothing’.

He added: “Before we opened I jumped through all the hoops and demands the council put on me in renovating a building and its surrounding wall that had been laying empty for two years and derelict.

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“We have invested all that I own, every penny as a private, one-man band, a passionate motorcyclist wanting to bring business to the local area and made the building look better than anything around it. Other business came to the area because we started the regeneration the council promised was coming some 15 years ago.

SMC Bikes boss Frank Hayes.SMC Bikes boss Frank Hayes.
SMC Bikes boss Frank Hayes.

“We have employed 25 staff, most of whom are local. We have paid our dues and our rates, even contributed to the flood scheme for this area.”

The Star chased Sheffield City Council and Mr Hayes’ application for a business rates discount was approved.

But his rateable value has not changed. Challenging that is done through the government’s Valuation Office Agency, according to Coun Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for business at Sheffield City Council.

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He added: “We know that this is a very difficult and uncertain time for businesses and we’re doing all we can to support and advise them in accessing the variety of funding available.

SMC Bikes.SMC Bikes.
SMC Bikes.

“Unfortunately businesses with a rateable value over £51,000 are not eligible for the Covid-19 business support schemes under criteria set out by central government.

“The council has no discretion in this, but businesses can appeal their rateable value to the Valuation Office Agency via their Check, Challenge and Appeal scheme.”

The authority has so far paid £86m to 6,994 businesses in Sheffield – 96 per cent of those who have applied. Some £30m is unclaimed.

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Coun Iqbal added: “I’d like to encourage business owners who think they may be eligible to apply online on our website or to get in touch with us.”

The premises on Derek Dooley Way.The premises on Derek Dooley Way.
The premises on Derek Dooley Way.

For more information on the support available for businesses call 0114 224 5000 or email [email protected].

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