Great Yarmouth Borough Council announces new grant relief scheme for businesses impacted by Covid-19

The council has already handed out more than £28m in Government grants to local businesses under the national scheme. Additional Government funding of just over £1.7m is now allowing the council to support even more local businesses during these challenging times.

Using national guidelines, local authorities were asked to develop their own policies and criteria on administration of this additional funding. Eligible businesses can apply for grants of either £2,000, £5,000 or £10,000, with one grant award per business.

Those that will be prioritised for the scheme are small businesses in shared offices and regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessments, bed and breakfasts which pay Council Tax instead of business rate and charity properties that are in receipt of charitable business rates relief.

Businesses must have been trading on 11 March 2020 to be eligible for this scheme and must be able to provide evidence of a significant fall in income resulting from Covid-19. The scheme is aimed at businesses that have ongoing fixed property overheads. Companies that are in administration, considered bankrupt or where a striking-off notice has been made will not eligible for this funding.  

Cllr Carl Smith and Cllr Trevor Wainwright, leaders of the council's main political groups, said: "The council has already handed out more than £28m to local businesses under the national scheme and we're now pleased to be able to offer support to even more small local businesses.  

"We've designed the local scheme criteria to help as many small businesses as possible among those which were not eligible for the previous Government support, and we encourage those businesses to submit their applications swiftly via the website.

"Council staff will be working quickly to get as many grants paid out to those eligible as soon as possible."

Visit www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support for the link to the online form, information and support about the grants, eligibility criteria and further business advice.  For business advice, contact the Growth Hub via 0300 333 6536 or www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk.