Business Grants - a message from West Suffolk Council

We have already paid out in the region of £95 million through grants and rate relief for this financial year to thousands of West Suffolk businesses since the pandemic began.  As you know the Government has set out its roadmap to recovery and with it the lifting of restrictions and the anticipated reopening of many more businesses.

The Government has now informed Councils of the deadlines for its existing grant schemes (dating back to November 2020), designed to help businesses through the restrictions, as well as announcing that there will be Restart Grants, although we are still awaiting the exact details of this and will update you when we can.

In terms of the existing restrictions grants, these are to gradually be phased out from 31 March through to 31 May 2021. West Suffolk businesses that have previously applied need take no action as the Council has paid them automatically to make the process easier. But those that haven’t and were forced to close during the restrictions, only have until 31 March to apply in order to get the full combination of grants for which they may be eligible. Those applying between 31 March and 31 May will receive smaller amounts of grant funding, before the schemes completing actually close to all applications on 31 May 2021.

Businesses in the ratings system that were forced to close, can still apply, if they haven’t already, for a combination of grants extending back to November. The scheme for open hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses that were impacted by restrictions in socialising during December, also closes to applications on 31 March.

Government criteria apply to these schemes.

For all these grants plus updated on the Restart Grant, we ask that you direct businesses to our dedicated grants webpage at www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/c19business

Cllr John Griffiths

Leader of West Suffolk Council