In light of the new national lockdown restrictions, the Chancellor has announced further additional support for businesses.

A new one-off grant of up to £9,000 is available for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses that have been forced to close. This is in addition to the monthly closed grants of up to £3,000 per month that businesses continue to be eligible for.

Medway Council, as well as all other local authorities in England, will receive an additional £500 million of discretionary funding to support local businesses throughout the towns. When this becomes available through the Council, information on how to apply will be posted here: https://www.medway.gov.uk/coronavirusbusinesses

Medway businesses have already received more than £36 million pound in Small Business Grants and just under £2 million as part of the Discretionary Grant scheme since the start of the pandemic.

These measures are on top of previous funding that the Government has made available earlier last year to protect jobs and support business – including a 100% business rates relief for retail, hospitality, and leisure business, £1.1 billion existing discretionary funding for Local Authorities, and 100% government-backed loans have been extended until March.

Additionally the furlough scheme remains in place which has been extended to the end of April and there is currently a third Self-Employed income support grant avaliable. 

Full information on the support avaliable can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home#financial-su…