NEARLY £8million in grant support has been made available for businesses across the BCP conurbation in the form of additional restrictions support grants.

Launched on November 26, the latest grant scheme will offer a lifeline to local businesses who are continuing to struggle due to the impact of covid-19, including those who have remained open.

Funding, a total of £7.8million will be distributed in three streams.

Each will be distinct and together form a comprehensive package of support to a variety of businesses and the local business community in general.

Stream one is open to applications from local businesses:

  • who are not registered for business rates and have been mandated to close
  • which have remained open but are severely impacted by the closure of other businesses

Businesses may apply for this funding via an online form on BCP Council’s website.

Grants will be paid to businesses for each 28 day period of national or tier three local restrictions.

The grant amounts for stream one will vary from £934 to £3,000 depending on the level of fixed business costs or rateable value and whether the business was mandated to close or remained open but was significantly impacted by closures .

Stream two is currently being developed and will be used to provide grants directly to businesses in sectors identified to be most in need.

This will include the wide-reaching areas of the local economy such as the aviation, events industry, nightclubs, cultural venues, market traders and home-based businesses.

There will also be a third stream, which the council will use to fund future initiatives to support businesses over the longer term.

Councillor Philip Broadhead, BCP Council portfolio holder for regeneration and economy, said: “We’ve been carefully considering what we can do to help businesses that may not have been eligible for other grant schemes and those that remain fundamental to the success of our local economy.

“In addition to benefitting non-rate payers and smaller businesses, our approach will provide lifeline support to nightclubs, entertainment venues, events and hospitality businesses who have also been impacted.’

“I have great confidence in the continued success of our dynamic, hardworking and resilient business community. Together, we can get through this.

“In the meantime, we have your back, and we’ll do everything we can to support you during the challenging times ahead.’’

For more information and to apply, visit: bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ARGbusiness