Deadlines are approaching for a number of COVID-19 business support grant schemes. 

 

Northumberland County Council is urging any business which thinks that it may be eligible, and has not yet claimed, to check the website for details, and apply now. 

 

Of particular note are the schemes for businesses which have been required in law to close during periods of national Covid-19 restrictions since 5 November 2021.  

 

A number of these Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) schemes will close for applications on what is the national deadline of 31 March 2021. 

 

Cllr Nick Oliver, cabinet member for corporate resources at Northumberland County Council said: “We have used a number of means to try to ensure that all businesses which are eligible for schemes are aware of them, and able to apply, but there may inevitably be some which have slipped through the net. 

 

“We are making one final call for those which haven’t applied for the ‘closed’ schemes to do so.  31 March is a national deadline for some of the schemes, so it is imperative that people get their applications in by then.” 

 

If businesses have made an application for early schemes they will have been rolled forward for subsequent ones, however they must have completed a short application form that has been sent by email, so business owners should check to make sure they have actioned all emails. 

 

The council has already made over 26,400 payments totalling over £52million, and has proactively targeted business which it believes could be eligible for the grants. 

 

Full details of eligibility and all scheme requirements are available on the web page www.northumberland.gov.uk/businessgrants     

 

The council has now received guidance from Government for the Restart Grant, which takes effect from 1 April 2021. Processes are currently being put in place to administer these grants, and details will be published soon.