The Restart Grants scheme, designed to support businesses in reopening safely as lockdown restrictions are lifted, is now open for applications. Eligible businesses in the non-essential retail sector may be entitled to a one-off cash grant of up to £6,000, and eligible businesses in the hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym sectors may be entitled to a one-off cash grant of up to £18,000. Businesses can check their eligibility here.
The scheme is coupled with £425 million of top-up funding for the ongoing discretionary grant scheme, which councils are able to distribute to businesses in particularly urgent need of additional support, and which could also be distributed to businesses who don’t necessarily pay business rates like tour operators, B&Bs, caterers, freelancers and wedding service providers.
Through my East of Surrey Local Economic Taskforce, I have worked closely with our local councils and pushed for the criteria of this grant to be wide as possible so that we can reach the greatest number of businesses. You can apply for Tandridge's discretionary grant scheme here and Reigate and Banstead's here.
The launch of the Restart Grants scheme is the latest in a series of measures introduced since March 2020 to provide direct funding to businesses that have been disrupted or required to close. The total provided to councils to give to businesses directly is now more than £25 billion, part of the unprecedented support package of over £352 billion delivered by the Government to protect jobs and livelihoods, including the extended furlough and self-employed income support schemes, government-backed loans, VAT and business rates relief, and a ban on commercial evictions.
As ever, if you have any questions or need my help, please email me at [email protected] or leave me a message on 020 7219 5972.
