Covid-19 business grants update

For businesses that have been impacted by Covid-19, Cheshire East Council has the Business Interruption Fund, and it is still open for applications.

The Business Interruption Fund is to support businesses that can demonstrate they have continued to be impacted by the pandemic.

Last week the council announced it had already increased the amount of support available through this fund to a maximum of £10,000 per business. It means that those who previously applied for funding and received the maximum amount available at that time of £5,000, can now submit a further application for support.

The current grants policy and package of support for businesses can be found on the council’s business support webpage here: https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/business/support_for_business/covid-19-help-for-business-recovery-and-grants.aspx

Business rates customers can also find support on the council’s help for business rates customers webpage:  https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/business/business_rates/business-rates-relief/coronavirus-covid-19-help-for-business-rates-customers.aspx

In addition, on 21 December 2021 the Chancellor of the Exchequer, introduced a new grant scheme to support hospitality and leisure businesses that are experiencing difficulties because of the Omicron variant.

The new grant scheme is in the form of one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises for businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors in England and government has pledged a top-up for the Additional Restrictions Grant allocation to local authorities.

The council is currently waiting for detailed guidance from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The guidance will be reviewed and will make any amendments to the council’s Grant Policy, as necessary.

The council webpages will be updated as further information becomes available.