Southport businesses to benefit from new £8.1m scheme to support Covid-hit businesses
Having successfully distributed more than £44m in emergency funding to more than 4,000 businesses across the city region, the Liverpool City Region has secured a further £8.1m to support local businesses.
The original £44m from the government’s Additional Restrictions Grant scheme was secured by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, following negotiations with government when the city region was first put into Tier Three restrictions in October 2020.
Funds to be shared under ‘Trading On Scheme’
This further £8.1m in funding – to be known as the Trading On Scheme – will be allocated to the city region’s six local authorities, proportionate to population. This latest support scheme will specifically support small or medium-sized businesses, with between 10 and 249 employees.
This further £8.1m in funding – to be known as the Trading On Scheme – will be allocated to the city region’s six local authorities, proportionate to population. This latest support scheme will specifically support small or medium-sized businesses, with between 10 and 249 employees.
Businesses across Sefton will benefit from the £1.4million allocation for the local authority area.
The scheme will open for applications at 10am on Monday 25th October and will close at 5pm on Friday 12th November 2021.
In a joint statement, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, Cllr Mike Wharton, Leader, Halton Borough Council, Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader, Knowsley Borough Council, Joanne Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Ian Maher, Leader, Sefton Borough Council, Cllr David Baines, Leader, St. Helens Borough Council and Cllr Janette Williamson, Leader, Wirral Borough Council said:
“Throughout the past 18 months, we have worked together to protect our region from the biggest challenge it has faced since the war. That collaboration, creativity and hard work resulted in millions of pounds of support that helped sustain thousands of businesses in all parts of our region through the worst of the pandemic.“More than £44m was distributed to more than 4,000 businesses, saving many more thousands of jobs and livelihoods in the process. We start our recovery from a much stronger position as a result.“That recovery is already well underway and received a massive boost in May, with the launch of Mayor Steve Rotheram’s £150m Covid Recovery Fund, which has allowed our region to get a headstart on the rest of the country.“Today, we’re launching another £8.1m of funding for SMEs, who make up a massive chunk of the local economy. Together, we are making sure that the Liverpool City Region has the fastest and strongest recovery possible, with no one left behind.”
Grants to be administered by each local authority
The government requires each council to exercise its local knowledge and judgment in devising a grant scheme that aligns best with the particular economic characteristics of its area by funding those businesses that have been severely impacted by Covid-19. Because of this and the limited amount of funding available, the amounts of grant funding for individual businesses will vary across different local authority areas.
The application form will go live on the website at 10am on Monday 25th October.
How Sefton Council has supported its local businesses since the start of the pandemic
Sefton Council has administered 23,000 grant payments through local, regional and national financial support packages and schemes totalling £97.7 million in payments to businesses right across the Borough – from taxi drivers to childminders to pub landlords.
A total of £41.8 million in Business Rates retail discounts were awarded in 2020/21 with a further £22.5 million awarded in 2021/22.
To administer this latest grant scheme, Sefton Council is utilising its Business Rates, InvestSefton, Tourism and Environmental Health business relationships to contact as many eligible businesses as is possible.
Anyone who has not been contacted can still check their eligibility and submit an application before the closing date of 5pm Friday 12th November 2021.