Those Purley businesses which were forced to shut during the second national lockdown can now find out if they are eligible for up to £10,000 each from a £7.7m government-funded grant. The £7,734,200 discretionary grant is to share among borough firms forced to close over the 28-day period from 5 November until 2 December with priority going to non-essential retail, leisure, personal care, sports facilities and hospitality businesses. The money will be available in two parts – first the council will share £3.5m among eligible companies needing to cover urgent costs in December, and the remainder will become available in January so businesses can invest in any new equipment or technology that will help future growth. Croydon Council’s website has information about who is eligible for the one-off Additional Restrictions Grant and how to apply. Awards will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and range from £2,000 to £10,000.
There are separate grant schemes available for several other types of business including for the self-employed: start checking here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support
