Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 12 January 2022

ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES in Hinckley and Bosworth who have seen their trade hit by the coronavirus are being encouraged to apply for a new grant from the Borough Council.

Businesses in the hospitality, tourism, events, and recreational sectors across the borough are being invited to apply for the new ‘Extra Support Grant’ of up to £10,000, which Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC) have recently launched.

The new grant aims to provide financial support for businesses to help them meet on-going fixed business costs whilst their trade is ‘severely’ impacted by cancellations from customers, and low demand, as a direct result of coronavirus concerns.

It is expected that the amounts given from the grant are between £1,000 to £10,000 depending on the business costs and impact of the business.

But, the Council have stressed that they ‘retain discretion to award lower, or higher, as it sees fit’.

Funding is limited, so grants will be paid on a first come, first served basis, as long as all necessary information is supplied by those applying for the grants.

Businesses in the aforementioned sectors who recently received a coronavirus support grant from the Council in the past are being contacted by them directly to check if they are eligible to apply as soon as possible.

Affected businesses are being urged to check the criteria to see if they are eligible.

Council Leader, Coun. Stuart Bray, said: “This discretionary grant scheme will allow us to provide much needed support for smaller businesses in the borough, who have not been eligible for other government schemes, to help protect people’s jobs for the future.

“Whilst I welcome this extra funding I would urge businesses to make their application immediately as it is most likely, there will be more businesses needing support than can be provided by the allocation provided.”

Applications first started being made earlier this month on Wednesday, 5 January, but the grant scheme closes at midnight on Monday, 31 January.

Payments will be paid before mid-March this year.

Business owners who want to apply for the grant can do so here.