Stockport Council opens Discretionary Grant Schemes for businesses affected by second lockdown

A second phase of Discretionary Grant Schemes delivered by Stockport Council is now live for businesses affected by restrictions imposed with the second national coronavirus lockdown and local restrictions.

Businesses that are not eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grants may be eligible for discretionary schemes provided by Stockport Council. There are two schemes available for eligible, qualifying businesses:

1. The Local Restrictions Support Grant (for open businesses), and;
2. The Additional Restrictions Grant (for the latest period of National Restrictions from 04/11/20 and 02/12/20)

Local Restrictions Support Grant (for open businesses)

Hospitality and leisure businesses can apply for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (for open businesses) if they have been negatively impacted by the local restrictions, for example, if there’s a risk of job losses.

Grants will be awarded based on the rateable value of a business’ premises, with a maximum grant available of £2,100 per 28 day period of national restrictions.

Additional Restrictions Grant

The Additional Restrictions Grant provides support for businesses in Stockport which have been forced to close due to national restrictions, but do not directly pay business rates and are therefore ineligible for linked support. Suppliers to the hospitality and leisure sectors that have been impacted by the national restrictions but were themselves not required to pause trading are also eligible to apply.

Businesses which do not pay business rates will receive a fixed £1000 grant for the 28 day period of restrictions. The maximum grant for businesses which do pay business rates is £2,100 for the 28 day period of restrictions.

How to apply

To apply for either scheme, businesses should fill out an application form on the Stockport Council website. Both discretionary grant schemes use the same form, so businesses that need to apply to both programmes, should complete separate online applications for each scheme.

Stockport Council’s website also includes full details of the precise eligibility criteria for businesses applying to either scheme.

Unfortunately, the council anticipate there will be a high volume of applications and contacts to be processed; it will not be possible for members of the team to respond to individual enquiries at this time.