Businesses in north-west London have around two weeks to apply for government grants to help manage the impact of coronavirus.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma wrote to councils across the country asking them to remind companies they have until 11:59pm on August 16 to put forward applications for financial support.

The Government gave Harrow Council around £42.2 million to dish out to small and medium sized businesses in the borough, while Brent Council received just under £64.4 million.

The councils also received additional funding to allocate as ‘discretionary funding grants’ to those who did not benefit from the main scheme, though councillors stressed this was “not enough” to help everyone.

Both authorities have urged businesses who are eligible and yet to apply to submit their details as soon as possible.

According to government data as of July 26, Harrow had surplus funding of around £4 million, while a similar amount was outstanding in Brent.

If this money is not spent, it will be returned to central government.

Cllr Shama Tatler, who is responsible for business at Brent Council, said: “These grants have been so important to many businesses across Brent, and it is a surprise the government is looking to end the schemes and demand the money back, before everyone has come forward to claim what they are entitled to.

“We’ve been telling people about these grants in every way we can, and we now even have a team of officers physically knocking on people’s doors and urging them to claim before the deadline.

“My message to every Brent business couldn’t be clearer, if you are yet to receive any grant to help with the impact of Covid-19, even if you think you are not eligible, please check out these schemes on our website and apply before it is too late.

“After August 16, the money set aside for you which you are entitled to will be gone.”

Businesses in Harrow should visit www.harrow.gov.uk/businessgrants for more information, while www.brent.gov.uk/businessgrants is the point of contact for those in Brent.