Businesses can now apply for lockdown support grants
If you’re aware of any local businesses that have been severely financially affected by the latest national lockdown, including those that have been temporarily forced to close, please signpost them to the latest financial support available. There’s new support grant funding worth up to £3,000 a month per business. Those needing help can apply for one of two grants available.
Local Restrictions Support Grant (for businesses required to close)
This scheme is for businesses which pay rates and have been forced to close due to the national lockdown. This grant is also available to businesses that have closed their main operations, but who are currently offering take-away or click and collect services. A maximum of £3,000 is available depending upon the individual business’s rateable value.
Additional Restrictions Grant
This scheme is for business that aren’t eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant, including those that haven’t been temporarily forced to close, but have been severely impacted by the current restrictions, and those that do not pay any business rates. This is a discretionary fund with £2,000 available to support individual businesses. Deadline for applications is 4 December.
New Covid compliance marshals to help support communities
We’ve appointed two Covid Compliance Marshals who will very soon be out and about in South and Vale to help keep communities safe during the current lockdown and beyond.
These two new marshals will be out in the districts once they’ve had training. They will:
- encourage and support businesses to trade as safely as possible
- liaise with business owners, members of the public and others to answer enquiries, provide or signpost to further advice
- support the council’s contact tracing responsibilities
The posts are fully funded by a government grant to support compliance with the current measures in place to control the spread of COVID-19 across individuals, businesses and in the community.