The grants are for eligible businesses impacted by current restrictions.

With three different grant schemes to administer, known as Local Restrictions Support Grants (LRSG), the Council are hopeful that applications and payments can begin in the run up to Christmas to provide as much support as possible to businesses.

The three grants will open for businesses that:

• Must remain closed in tier 3 (LRSG closed)
• Can reopen in tier 3, are in certain sectors and can demonstrate financial hardship (LRSG open)
• Have not been able to open since the original lockdown in March (LRSG sector)

There are currently two grant schemes open that businesses can apply for: a ‘wet-led’ pubs grant for eligible pubs that do not take more than 50% of their sales in food; and an ‘additional restrictions grant’, a top-up payment of £2,000 for businesses required to close in tier 3.

In addition, businesses can still apply for the second national lockdown grant payment for the 5 November – 2 December period if they have not already applied for this.

If businesses eligible for LRSG closed or LRSG sector have received their second national lockdown grant payment, they will automatically receive their new grant payment once the schemes go live and will not need to re-apply. These payments will be backdated to 2 December when the tier 3 restrictions came in to force.

Councillor Richard Hales, Portfolio Holder for Business & Finance, said: “We recognise that at what would usually be a busy and bustling time for many of our businesses, this year is different and they need all of the support we can give them.

“I would urge all businesses to ensure they are up to date with the current grants that they are eligible for, and to keep a close eye on the District Council’s website for further updates when these grant payments go live.

“I would also like to extend my thanks to the Business and Finance teams at the Council, BID Leamington and the Chamber of Trades for their continued efforts this year to support our local businesses.”