Latest lockdown guidance and financial support for businesses

Cheshire East Council’s single application to support businesses remains open to applicants, assessing local businesses for several government grants on offer.

Find out more details and apply: 

https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/business/business_rates/business-rates-relief/coronavirus-covid-19-business-grants.aspx 

Do not use the current form on the website to apply if you have already submitted an application for a Local Restrictions Support Grant or Additional Restrictions Grant. This may cause further delays to processing applications. You can still use this form to apply if your business was affected by the previous November lockdown and Tier 2 restrictions and you have not already done so.

UPDATE: The councils grant policy covers businesses affected by Tier 3 restrictions and any subsequent restrictions, including the national lockdown position that was announced on Monday 4 January. If you have received a payment for the November lockdown or Tier 2 from us, as a result of your business being closed, then you will automatically receive any relevant Tier 3, Tier 4 and national lockdown payments providing you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. You do not need to make a further application if you have received a payment from us.

Forthcoming support

Further to the national lockdown news on 4 January, the Chancellor has announced £4.6 billion in new lockdown grants to support businesses and protect jobs. This includes:

• One-off top up grants for retail, hospitality and leisure sectors worth up to £9,000 per property to help businesses through to the Spring. Eligibility and level of payment will be assessed against a business’s rateable value
• A discretionary fund of £594 million will also be made available to support other impacted businesses
• £1.1 billion further discretionary grant funding for Local Authorities, Local Restriction Support Grants worth up to £3,000 a month and extension of the furlough scheme

We are awaiting full guidance from government for these schemes and details on eligibility and how to apply will be available on our website as soon as possible.

How the council is supporting your business

During the pandemic the council has provided grants of almost £100 million to Cheshire East businesses. This has been a huge administrative task.

The council continues to work on grant applications for businesses affected by the previous November lockdown and Tier 2 restrictions in December. We are working as fast as we can, so we appreciate your patience if you have not yet heard from us, you will be notified if you are successful and do not need to contact us or re-apply.