Great Yarmouth Borough Council opens applications for Restart Grants to help businesses with safe reopening

The Government's Restart Grant scheme will help businesses that offer in-person services in relevant sectors, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed, business rate-paying premises.

For non-essential retailers, grants of either £2,667, £4,000 or £6,000 are available, depending on rateable value. Meanwhile grants of either £8,000, £12,000 or £18,000 are available for business premises in the hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym sectors.

As part of the eligibility criteria, businesses must have been trading and liable for paying business rates on April 1, 2021. Businesses can apply at www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/restart-grant until June 30, 2021.

The council will process payments as quickly as possible and businesses are advised to apply sooner than later. The Government is requiring councils to undertake pre-payment assurance checks so it will be a minimum of 15 working days for grants to be paid from submission of application.

Cllr Carl Smith, the council leader, said: "Over the last year, we've handed out more than £40m in Government grants to support businesses, and we know this cash has really helped many businesses to keep afloat during challenging times.

"I am sure these new one-off Restart Grants will be most welcome to assist businesses with their immediate challenges, as part of supporting the safe reopening and recovery of our local economy.

"Restart Grants are subject to pre-payment assurance checks, so please read carefully the full eligibility criteria on our website, provide all of the information required and submit your applications as soon as possible."