New grant funding now available for eligible businesses in Southend

May 6, 2021

Businesses based in Southend which have so far missed out on previous grant streams are now able to apply for grant funding, regardless of whether they pay business rates or not.

Applications are now being welcomed for phase 2 of the Additional Restrictions Grant allocation for the borough, which is open to businesses that can demonstrate business related costs and a reduction in their income of at least 25% as a result of COVID-19, from 5 November 2020, as well as taxi drivers licenced by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. This includes both businesses that appear on the Business Rates Rating List and those that do not.

Applicants must not have received any other COVID-19 business grant funding relating to the period 5 November 2020 onwards to be eligible for this stream. This includes previous grants such as the Cultural Recovery Fund, Local Restrictions Grant, earlier Additional Restrictions Grants and the COVID Discretionary Grant.

In addition, to aid the recovery of the town with key elements of the business sector, applications are also welcome from large businesses with a rateable valuation of 51,000 and above, where there are various tiered grants according to the business rateable value.

The council are keen to ensure that the grants are given to the maximum number of eligible businesses, including those larger businesses that have so far missed out on grants. However, they need to ensure not to exceed the government funding allocation. There will therefore be a 28-day application period, which ends on 28 May 2021. Full eligibility criteria for this funding can be found on this page.

Businesses applying are asked, where relevant, to ensure they have the following information to hand:

• Business Rates Account Number (if applicable)
• Hackney Carriage Driver’s Badge Number if a taxi driver
• Company Number (if applicable)
• VAT Registration Number (if applicable)
• Unique Taxpayer Reference (if you are self-employed)
• Date your business commenced trading at your address
• Bank details (Account name, sort code and account number)
• Evidence of business-related costs
• Evidence of a loss of income of at least 25% since 5^th November 2020 due to COVID-19

Additional information or evidence may be required at the assessment stage.

Joe Chesterton, executive director for finance and resources at the council said: “This grant stream is designed to help as many businesses as possible in the borough, which have so far been unable to claim any grant funding. If you run a business that has had its income affected by the pandemic or if you are a licenced taxi driver, please read the eligibility criteria closely and if you think you can apply, do so by 28 May. Applicants should be aware that it can take some to process a grant, so to enable the team to process new applications as quickly as possible, please try not to contact the Business Rates team for an update within the four-week application window.” 

For further information and a link to the application form page, please visit www.southend.gov.uk/businessgrants