Restart Grant will help Southend businesses reopen safely as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted

May 9, 2021

Businesses across the Borough have been successfully applying to the Council for the Restart Grant scheme in readiness for Step 3 of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown on 17 May.

The Restart Grant scheme supports businesses in the non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure, personal care and accommodation sectors with a one-off grant, to reopen safely as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Eligible businesses in the non-essential retail sector may be entitled to a one-off cash grant of up to £6,000 whilst eligible businesses in the hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym sectors may be entitled to a one-off cash grant of up to £18,000.

The scheme went live for applications on 1 April 2021 and the Council has received nearly 1,100 applications with grants being paid out totaling circa £6 million. There now remains only a small number of applications to be processed of around 25.

Joe Chesterton, Executive Director (Finance & Resources), at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, said: “Small businesses are the backbone of our tourism sector and a major part of what makes Southend such a popular destination. The Restart Grant provides vital funds and will make a huge difference to businesses in our brilliant hospitality, accommodation and leisure sectors as we build back better from the pandemic.

“We are now receiving on average less than 10 applications every day and these are now being processed as soon as they arrive. I strongly urge any eligible business that hasn’t already done so, to apply for the Restart Grant and successful applications will be paid out as quickly as possible. The Government will soon have a closing date for this scheme, so it is vital as part of the recovery of our Town that eligible businesses apply for these grants now.”

Eligibility

Your business may be eligible if it is:

• based in England
• rate-paying
• in the non-essential retail, hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care or gym sectors
• trading on 1 April 2021

Businesses excluded from the fund

You cannot get funding if your business:

• is in administration, insolvent or has been struck off the Companies House register
• has exceeded the permitted subsidy allowance

How to apply

For full eligibility criteria and to apply, visit www.southend.gov.uk and search ‘restart grant’.

This scheme will close for applications on 30 June 2021 and final payments must be made by 31 July 2021.