Nearly 10,000 grant awards have been made to businesses in North Herts since the start of the Covid pandemic, totalling around £49,000,000 to help them cope, recover and move forward.
North Herts Council has been busy throughout the pandemic administering various grant and support schemes, helping thousands of businesses across Letchworth, Hitchin, Baldock, Royston and surrounding villages, including shops, pubs, restaurants, travel agents, hair and beauty providers, and personal trainers.
In the latest round of Addition Restriction Grants, we have paid around £537,000 to businesses in the events, sports and leisure sectors as well as coach tour operators, taxi drivers and those running a business from home.
Businesses all over the UK have borne the brunt of national lockdowns and different local levels and tiers of restrictions over the past two years. As the majority of schemes come to a close, there are still funds available up until the end of March.
Cllr Ian Albert, Executive Member for Finance and IT, said: “The support given by the joint administration of North Herts Council to local businesses over the last two years has made a real difference to our high streets and protected jobs. By way of our range of locally designed schemes, alongside government statutory payments, we have helped thousands of businesses through the pandemic.”
Councillor Sam North, Deputy Executive Member for Finance, said: “We continue to urge local businesses to come forward, especially to seek a reduction in their business rates of up to 25% for qualifying businesses before the end of this financial year – this particular scheme is for businesses that haven’t received certain other grants, so it’s definitely worth checking.”
Support schemes available:
New premises grants – deadline 31 March
Up to £5,000 to reimburse costs of preparing and moving into a new commercial premise within North Herts (the move must have taken place after 1 April 2021, and the costs incurred/invoice date after 1 July 2021).
Covid Additional Relief Fund (CARF) – deadline 30 April
Maximum of 25% relief for qualifying rate paying businesses for the current financial year 2021-22, criteria applies.
Business growth grants – deadline 30 June (or sooner if all the money is allocated)
Up to £10,000 for businesses based in North Herts, for specific and general business advice provided by Hertfordshire Growth Hub, the county’s flagship business support provider powered by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
More information and to apply: Business support schemes
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