MORE businesses are being called upon to apply for grants to help with costs and loss of income during the coronavirus lockdown and recovery.
Leicester City Council is using the additional restrictions grant (ARG) to support a range of locally-run public-facing businesses and groups which are experiencing significant loss of income, along with ongoing premises and other non-payroll costs.
Two new schemes are now available for businesses not eligible for the mandatory national lockdown grants.
Grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 are available to small and micro suppliers to the leisure, hospitality, events and accommodation sectors. Businesses must occupy business premises and usually get at least 40 percent of their revenues from these sectors.
Eligible businesses could include those supplying equipment and maintenance services to leisure facilities or restaurants, manufacturers or sellers of leisure equipment, caterers, sound and lighting suppliers, pub/restaurant/hotel cleaning services, printers of promotional materials, film production companies, theatrical suppliers, creators of stage sets and staging for corporate events.
Grants of £1,000 can be claimed by mobile and/or home-based businesses, including self-employed people, who provide close contact services and which have been legally prevented from working as usual due to the national lockdown.
Eligible businesses include hairdressers, beauticians, spa and wellness services and homeopaths. Fixed non-payroll costs of at least £750 must have been incurred between April 2020 and March 2021.
The available funding for both schemes is capped. Grants will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.
Details of these new schemes and the full range of discretionary business grants can be seen here.
Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Lockdown restrictions have affected businesses across the city, and these grants can provide much-needed financial support. I’d urge businesses to check whether they are eligible and make sure they claim the help to which they are entitled.”
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