New Additional Restrictions Grant scheme opens for applications from businesses

Wiltshire Council has confirmed the new Additional Restrictions Grant scheme for local businesses is now open for applications.

This cash injection comes after the council received over £10 million of additional Government funding to support local businesses.

This new grant scheme is a discretionary scheme that will help those businesses required to close, or that have been severely affected by the national restrictions and are outside of the business rate system.

The scheme aims to support those businesses who are not eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant scheme.

Split into two phases, this scheme will initially provide quick financial support for businesses during the current national restrictions. These businesses could receive a grant worth up to £3,000 to help them cope with the challenges presented by COVID-19. Grants will be awarded on a simple employee ranking:

• £500 where the grant applicant has 1 or no employees, such as a Director paid by dividends
• £2,000 where the grant applicant has 2 to 9 employees
• £3,000 where the grant applicant has 10 or more employees.

These grants will be awarded on a rolling basis with successful applicants receiving payments in November and December 2020.

As part of the second phase, a review of the scheme will be carried out in January 2021 to see whether further grant payments could be awarded on a rolling basis in the new year.

Applications for the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme must be submitted by 5pm on Friday 18 December 2020 via the online application form.

Applications will then be reviewed and assessed, with grants being paid as quickly as possible.

Full guidance for applications and the online application form for the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme is available on the Wiltshire Council website here.