Hard-hit businesses and sole traders in Wirral are being urged to apply for a new cash grant to help them over the Christmas period.
The new discretionary grant scheme was launched on Monday and is available for businesses who are impacted by restrictions but were not eligible for the previous grants including:
· Retail businesses that operate from commercial retail premises, have been forced to close due to national restrictions, and that are not eligible for Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed). [generally retail businesses in commercial premises that are not assessed or liable for rates i.e. those in shared premises or part of a larger building]
· Businesses that directly supply the Hospitality and Leisure sectors, that are not eligible for Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed), and that operate from commercial premises.
· Home based businesses, for example a self-employed person, sole trader, or a limited company that predominantly works in or supplies the Hospitality and Leisure sectors, and can no longer generate income through usual channels, for example face to face to face, and has ongoing business-related costs. Licensed Market traders (in any part of the Retail sector) are eligible to apply under this category.
Councillor Andrew Hodson (Conservative, Heswall Ward) said: “So far, many of the hardest hit families and businesses in Wirral have been helped with some of the extra £170 million given to the Council by the Government. Other businesses will have been helped by the furlough or self-employed income support schemes.
“However, in spite of all that money, there are still businesses, especially sole traders, who have been relying on the increase in Universal Credit to see them through. Now, this grant could offer that extra support to see them through the Christmas period and into the New Year. Please don’t delay – as the applications close in just over a week.”
The online application portal opened at 10am on Monday and the deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 11th December.