Apply now: new coronavirus business grants launched
Small and micro businesses and the self-employed in Hackney can apply for a one-off payment of up to £9,000 today after a new grant to support those affected by coronavirus was launched by Hackney Council.
The second round of the Additional Restrictions Grant, a discretionary grant scheme, will support small businesses who either had to legally close from December onwards due to the tier and national lockdown restrictions and who don’t have a business rates account, or businesses not legally required to close but who have been severely affected by the restrictions.
The first round of the Additional Restrictions Grant, launched by Hackney Council in December 2020, received almost 800 applications, with £1 million in grants due to be awarded to successful applicants by the end of February.
Hackney is home to significant numbers of creative professionals and entrepreneurs in a range of sectors. The borough also has many market and street traders and a growing number of supply chain businesses. Many have not been able to meet the rigid central government funding criteria set for previous pandemic business grants and as a result have missed out from accessing some much-needed support.
Hackney Council designed the first round of the Additional Restrictions Grant to help address this deficit and it has, and is, helping hundreds of those businesses who had missed out. This second round of funding will help hundreds more.
If you think you meet the grant criteria and didn’t submit an application for the first round then apply now. If you applied to the first round then all you have to do is go online and sign off on the consent form. Finally a request to everyone – please share this information with your networks so no business in the borough misses out on this second round of the Additional Restrictions Grant.
Successful applicants for the second round of this discretionary scheme will receive a grant of up to £3,000, £6,000 or £9,000 depending on the rateable value of their premises and businesses without a business rates account will receive a grant based on employee numbers with sole traders being awarded up to £3,000.
The grant can support a range of businesses including the self-employed, directors of limited companies, freelancers and those running home-based businesses in the borough.
The Council will prioritise businesses that supply the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, businesses in the events sector, market traders and Ofsted registered nurseries and childminders, but all businesses who meet the criteria are encouraged to apply.
Previous applicants for the first round of the Additional Restrictions Grant won’t need to complete a new application form and instead can complete a short online consent form to be assessed for the second round, this can also be found on the website.
Businesses wishing to apply for the Additional Restrictions Grant for the first time will need to evidence their eligibility by providing company information, personal identification and financial records with their application, which will then be assessed by Council officers.
Applications close on 5 March 2021. To apply, visit hackney.gov.uk/additional-restrictions-grant