Businesses in Northumberland which have been legally required to close as a result of the national lockdown restrictions can now apply for a support grant. 

Northumberland County Council has launched an online application form and eligible businesses can now submit their details to receive funding from the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum scheme. 

Businesses which can apply will include non-essential retail, leisure, personal care, sport facilities and hospitality businesses, and the council is providing links to a full list of these on its website. 

The amount of money businesses will receive depends on the rateable value of the property, as follows: 

Cllr Nick Oliver, cabinet member for corporate resources at Northumberland County Council said: “We know this year has been incredibly difficult for local businesses, some of whom were just starting to get back on their feet and are now facing further uncertainty.  

"We want to thank each and every one of them for putting the health of others first and also for their patience whilst we awaited the information we needed to allow us to launch this business grants scheme. 

“If you are eligible please apply now, and we will process payments as quickly as we can.   

“If your business does not meet the criteria for a payment, further grant schemes are due to be announced in the coming days and we will publicise these as soon as we can.” 

In addition to the Local Restrictions Support Grant for closed businesses, the government has also announced the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open).  This will help to support certain businesses which were open from the start of local restrictions until November 5, the start of the national lockdown, but were severely impacted by local Tier 2 restrictions.  It will be focused on businesses such as the hospitality, hotel, bed and breakfast and leisure sectors.  

Businesses such as nightclubs which had to close in March, and have never been able to reopen, will also be able to claim a support grant from 1 November. 

The council will be launching the application process for these grants as soon as possible. 

Please visit the council's business hub at www.northumberland.gov.uk/businesshub or the Government's website at www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support for details of all of the support available for businesses.