COVID-19 Grant Funding Schemes
Contact the Council
If you have any questions about the COVID-19 business support grants or the application process please call 01473 296444 or email the Economic Development team
Government Restart Grant
All businesses must submit an application form for the Covid-19 Government Restart Grant even if they have previously applied for and received a grant. This is due to additional information required by Government.
Once you have successfully submitted your grant application and have received a confirmation email by return, there is no need for you to contact us to check the status of your application. We are dealing with a large number of applications and will contact you if we require further information, otherwise please bear with us as we try to process the applications as quickly as possible.
Please check junk/ spam folders if a confirmation email has not been received. Grant payments are starting to be made - however, they cannot be paid until all relevant checks have been completed.
About the Government Restart Grant
The Restart Grant scheme replaces the Local Restrictions Support Grant scheme and aims to support businesses registered for Business Rates that offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed rate-paying premises, in the sectors below;
- Non-essential retail
- Hospitality
- Accommodation
- Leisure
- Personal care
- Gym & Sport
The Restart Grant will be split into two strands. Under Strand One, grants of up to £6,000 will be paid to non-essential retail business premises, to help them reopen safely. Under Strand Two, grants of up to £18,000 will be allocated to hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym business premises.
Find out more and apply for the Government Restart Grant
Discretionary Restart and Back to Business Grants
(Update 14/6) The Discretionary Restart Grant and Back to Business Grant are now closed and will no longer accept new applications.
Due to the high level of applications, all grant funds have been allocated. We are currently waiting for confirmation from central Government about a top up to both these grants which will allow us to support businesses who applied before the deadline but have not yet received confirmation of a grant payment.
Businesses who have submitted an application but have not received confirmation will be informed of the outcome of their application in the coming weeks.
External Support
Further support is being offered by the New Anglia Growth Hub. Contact a Growth Hub advisor
You may also find it helpful to visit the government's COVID-19 support finder
Subsidy Allowance
The new domestic subsidy allowance for the COVID-19 business support grants took effect on 4 March 2021. Applications made prior to that date are subject to the previous rules.
This scheme is covered by 3 subsidy allowances:
- Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance – you’re allowed up to £335,000 (subject to exchange rates) over any period of 3 years
- COVID-19 Business Grant Allowance – you’re allowed up to £1,600,000
- COVID-19 Business Grant Special Allowance - if you have reached your limits under the Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance and COVID-19 Business Grant Allowance, you may be able to access a further allowance of funding under these scheme rules of up to £9,000,000, provided certain conditions are met
Grants under these 3 allowances can be combined for a potential total allowance of up to £10,935,000 (subject to exchange rates).
Read more information about eligibility for the restart grants and subsidy allowances
Questions and Advice
You can email the Economic Development team or call 01473 296444 with any queries about COVID-19 business support grants and the application process.