Businesses impacted by national restrictions to benefit from more financial support

"We want to help as many businesses as we can, as quickly as we can, to safeguard as many jobs as possible so as to protect our local economy.”

An additional £3 million in financial support is available to help businesses impacted by the national lockdown arrangements.

The application process for the ‘Additional Restrictions’ grant scheme, introduced by government to support businesses, is now open.

This grant scheme seeks to help businesses who have been able to trade, but have been severely affected by the restrictions, regardless of whether they pay business rates or not. 

The scheme will award eligible businesses up to £3,000 in support based on their size and the extent of their fixed costs. Grants of up to £10,000 will also be available in exceptional circumstances to businesses supporting important sectors of the local economy.

Market traders, taxi firms, businesses operating from home, companies in shared work spaces and those in the events sector are amongst the businesses which will have the opportunity to apply for this grant, the amount of which is dependent on criteria.

Businesses should visit www.braintree.gov.uk/helpforbusinesses to find out more about the scheme, the criteria and application process.

Cllr Tom Cunningham, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Infrastructure at Braintree District Council, said: “We can use our discretion with this particular scheme to help some of the businesses who so far have been unable to access any other form of grant support. We want to help as many businesses as we can, as quickly as we can, to safeguard as many jobs as possible so as to protect our local economy.” 

Braintree District Council opened applications to two grant schemes from a £2.37 million fund last week (17 November) and has so far paid out £709,235 to 474 businesses.

Published: 27th November 2020