Cumbrian businesses encouraged to take up grant support

Jo Lappin, Chief Executive of CLEP & Chair of BERRG

Cumbria’s Business and Economic Response and Recovery Group (BERRG) is urging businesses that have been forced to close, or have been otherwise impacted by COVID-19, to check their eligibility for Government grants.

There are now numerous grants available, which are being issued by district councils. However, the number of grants available appears to be causing confusion for businesses, which could result in businesses missing out on vital financial support.

Some grants will be paid automatically to businesses that are eligible, provided that the district council has the businesses bank details on file. However, in most cases businesses will have to apply and should check that their district council has all of the details that they need to make the grant payment.

In the first instance, businesses are encouraged to visit their local authority website to establish what grant/s are available to them and what they need to do to access these:

Jo Lappin, Chair of BERRG and Chief Executive of CLEP, said: “Numerous new grant schemes have been introduced as a result of the changed COVID restrictions and we are encouraging all businesses to check their eligibility with their district council. It is vitally important that all of Cumbria’s affected businesses have the opportunity to access all of the help and financial support available to them in these unprecedented times.

“Many different grants are now in place, which account for the lockdown in November, the Tier 2 and Tier 4 restrictions that followed and now the latest national lockdown. A number of the grants apply to businesses required to close, whilst others are for businesses that managed to stay open but were severely impacted. There are also some that are sector-specific, for example, to compensate wet-led pubs for loss of Christmas trade together with the latest support for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses.

“Cumbria LEP is currently offering free advice and support to businesses so that they can unlock all of the funding available to them, so if you are unsure please get in touch. Our business experts are offering bespoke advice on any specific issues that your businesses might be facing, to help your business to survive and thrive in 2021.”

If you would like additional guidance for your business, Helen Atherton, Project Manager (Business Support) at CLEP will be able to help and can be contacted at: helen.atherton@thecumbrialep.co.uk.

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