Businesses in Tendring which are allowed to open but have been severely impacted by the latest national Covid-19 restrictions can now apply to Tendring District Council for further financial support.

The current round of grants is for firms which either could open but were impacted by a severe loss of trade during the period of national restrictions (5 November until 2 December), or were forced to close by the measures and are not in the business rates system. Eligibility for the Additional Restrictions Grant Scheme is discretionary, though the Government has set priority sectors which should be targeted for support.

Businesses do not have pay business rates to qualify, but levels of grant will be consistent with those firms which are assessed on rateable value. The deadline to apply is midnight at the end of Sunday 13 December. The Government has provided the council with £2.9million to cover support but no further cash will be supplied under this scheme in the event of a future national lockdown or Tendring entering Tier 3 local restrictions.

Mary Newton, Tendring’s cabinet member for Business and Economic Growth, encouraged eligible firms to apply. “We want to do everything we can to support local businesses, which we know have been struggling, and this is part of our Back to Business agenda,” she said. “These grants will go some way to supporting them, and while we appreciate there is a complex picture of different grant schemes coming out from Government, we are hopeful that businesses are now used to making such applications – and we continue to stand by to help those who don’t.”

For details and to apply visit www.tendringdc.gov.uk/coronavirus and click on the Business Support tab.