Medway has more than 14,000 businesses, ranging from those who are self-employed, to small businesses with just a few employees and larger companies with hundreds of staff.
The council has helped distribute more than £82 million of government funding to Medway businesses during the pandemic.
Medway Council has now received millions in additional government funding to support businesses during the current national lockdown which began on 5th January 2021.
Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed): 5th January onwards
Medway Council has received £5.289 million government funding to support rate-paying businesses which have been forced to close during the third national lockdown. Eligible Medway businesses could receive up to £4,500.
Businesses which received a Local Restrictions Support Grant following the national lockdown in November 2020 will automatically receive funding from the latest Local Restrictions Support Grant.
Medway businesses which have not previously applied for a Local Restrictions Support Grant, and wish to apply, are encouraged to Email rates@medway.gov.uk with the subject ‘Local Restrictions Support Grant for closed businesses (from 5th January)’. The Email should include their business rates account numbers and property addresses. Businesses must also confirm that they meet the qualifying criteria, which is set out on the council’s website. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, 31st March.
Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment
Medway Council has also received £10.575 million government funding to provide one-off grants of up to £9,000 to Medway businesses forced to close during the current national lockdown.
Businesses which received a Local Restrictions Support Grant following the national lockdown in November 2020 will automatically receive the Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment and do not need to apply.
Medway businesses which have not previously applied for a Local Restrictions Support Grant, and wish to apply, are encouraged to Email rates@medway.gov.uk with the subject ‘Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment’. The Email should include their business rates account numbers and property addresses. Businesses must also confirm that the meet the qualifying criteria, which is set out on the council’s website. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, 31st March.
Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG)
Last year Medway Council received £5.571 million Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funding from government to support businesses between December 2020 and March 2022.
This is a discretionary scheme and the funding has been split into two elements; a scheme which will provide grants to businesses impacted by national lockdown restrictions and a programme of business support interventions which will be developed over the coming months.
The council has now received a further £2.474 million ARG funding from government to support Medway businesses which have been forced to close, or are significantly affected, by the current national lockdown (which began on Tuesday, 5th January 2021) and are not eligible to apply for a Local Restrictions Grant.
Businesses can apply for the grant on Medway Council’s website. If businesses are unable to apply online they are encouraged to Email businessandskills@medway.gov.uk.
Christmas Support Payment
Medway Council has also received £76,800 government funding for the Christmas Support Payment for wet-led pubs. Medway pubs which earn less than 50 per cent of their income from food sales are eligible for a one-off £1,000 payment. The council directly contacted pubs which received a Local Restrictions Support Grant to find out if they were eligible and has distributed the payment to 64 pubs. Businesses which have not been contacted, but meet the criteria, are encouraged to Email rates@medway.gov.uk with the subject ‘Christmas Support Payment’. The Email should include their business rates account numbers and property addresses. The deadline for applications is Sunday, 28th February.
Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Alan Jarrett, said:
Businesses which received a Local Restrictions Support Grant following the national lockdown in November 2020 will automatically receive funding from the latest Local Restrictions Support Grant.
Medway businesses which have not previously applied for a Local Restrictions Support Grant, and wish to apply, are encouraged to Email rates@medway.gov.uk with the subject ‘Local Restrictions Support Grant for closed businesses (from 5th January)’. The Email should include their business rates account numbers and property addresses. Businesses must also confirm that they meet the qualifying criteria, which is set out on the council’s website. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, 31st March.
Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment
Medway Council has also received £10.575 million government funding to provide one-off grants of up to £9,000 to Medway businesses forced to close during the current national lockdown.
Businesses which received a Local Restrictions Support Grant following the national lockdown in November 2020 will automatically receive the Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment and do not need to apply.
Medway businesses which have not previously applied for a Local Restrictions Support Grant, and wish to apply, are encouraged to Email rates@medway.gov.uk with the subject ‘Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment’. The Email should include their business rates account numbers and property addresses. Businesses must also confirm that the meet the qualifying criteria, which is set out on the council’s website. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, 31st March.
Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG)
Last year Medway Council received £5.571 million Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funding from government to support businesses between December 2020 and March 2022.
This is a discretionary scheme and the funding has been split into two elements; a scheme which will provide grants to businesses impacted by national lockdown restrictions and a programme of business support interventions which will be developed over the coming months.
The council has now received a further £2.474 million ARG funding from government to support Medway businesses which have been forced to close, or are significantly affected, by the current national lockdown (which began on Tuesday, 5th January 2021) and are not eligible to apply for a Local Restrictions Grant.
Businesses can apply for the grant on Medway Council’s website. If businesses are unable to apply online they are encouraged to Email businessandskills@medway.gov.uk.
Christmas Support Payment
Medway Council has also received £76,800 government funding for the Christmas Support Payment for wet-led pubs. Medway pubs which earn less than 50 per cent of their income from food sales are eligible for a one-off £1,000 payment. The council directly contacted pubs which received a Local Restrictions Support Grant to find out if they were eligible and has distributed the payment to 64 pubs. Businesses which have not been contacted, but meet the criteria, are encouraged to Email rates@medway.gov.uk with the subject ‘Christmas Support Payment’. The Email should include their business rates account numbers and property addresses. The deadline for applications is Sunday, 28th February.
Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Alan Jarrett, said:
“We understand the ongoing difficulties that businesses across Medway are facing due to the pandemic. We are committed to doing all we can to support Medway’s businesses during these challenging times and I would like to thank business owners for their patience whilst our finance team works tirelessly to process thousands of funding applications. The team will be in touch with individual businesses regarding their applications as soon as possible.
When applying for financial support businesses are required to include evidence of the impact COVID-19 has had on their trading performance, for example, bank statements and trading accounts with details of fixed costs compared to previous periods. Medway businesses are encouraged to provide as much information as possible to help speed up the application process.”
Further advice and guidance is available on our website and I would encourage Medway business owners to access the support available.”
For more information about the support available to businesses, visit medway.gov.uk/coronavirusbusinesses
When applying for financial support businesses are required to include evidence of the impact COVID-19 has had on their trading performance, for example, bank statements and trading accounts with details of fixed costs compared to previous periods. Medway businesses are encouraged to provide as much information as possible to help speed up the application process.”
Further advice and guidance is available on our website and I would encourage Medway business owners to access the support available.”
For more information about the support available to businesses, visit medway.gov.uk/coronavirusbusinesses
Medway Council
