The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead has opened applications to Covid grants funding for eligible businesses that were severely impacted by the Omicron outbreak, though not entitled to the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant.
The council is offering one-off Government grants, on a first-come-first-served basis, of either £2,667, £4,000 or £6,000, depending on the rateable value of their trading premises, to help eligible rate-paying businesses in specific hard-hit sectors.
The latest round of the Additional Restrictions Grant is aimed at rate-paying businesses in personal care, leisure, hospitality, wedding industries, travel agents, tour operators, the supply chain to the hospitality industry, and educational establishments such as English language schools and theatre schools.
Under the eligibility criteria, businesses must have been registered to pay business rates on Thursday 30 December 2021, must be able to prove they were trading from the premises immediately before that date, and crucially that they have been severely impacted by Omicron.
In addition, businesses seeking an Additional Restrictions Grant must be excluded under national criteria from applying for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant and cannot already have received funding from the ARG Innovation Grant scheme.
Businesses are encouraged to apply early with the full evidence required. Grants will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis, and therefore may not be awarded where funding has been exhausted prior to the closing date.
Applications with full supporting evidence must be made by Thursday 31 March 2022. To see full eligibility criteria, check exemptions and apply, visit
www.rbwm.gov.uk/covid-business-grants Councillor Andrew Johnson, the Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Business, Economic Development and Property, said: “This welcome top-up to the Additional Restrictions Grant is for eligible businesses that were severely impacted by the Omicron variant but were not entitled under the national criteria to the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant.
“We’re pleased to have received these further Government funds to help those businesses and we’ve shaped our scheme criteria in line with national guidance to help as many businesses as possible within the limited funds available. The levels of grant available reflect those of the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant. If you think you’re eligible, please read the criteria and exclusions carefully and make sure you submit an early and complete application to stand the best chance of securing some of these limited funds.”
