Bradford businesses can apply for grant of up to £18k to help reopen

The New Restarts Grants values will depend on the types of business and the rateable value of their premises.

To qualify firms must be registered for business rates with Bradford Council and trading on 1 April, 2021.

To be eligible they must rely on offering a mainly ‘in-person’ service at the property where business rates are paid and be in the non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure, accommodation, gym and sports or personal care sectors.

Businesses that have already applied for the Restart Grant and met the criteria have now been paid and should not reapply.

The council has already paid out £21 million to local businesses under the scheme which brings the total amount the authority has paid to local businesses since the outbreak of Covid-19 to over £200 million.

Any business meeting the above criteria can apply via an application form which will be available on the council’s website from Monday.

Applications close 30 June.

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Since the outbreak of Covid-19 last year, Bradford Council staff have worked hard to support local businesses through the difficult trading conditions.

Since March, 2020, the council has paid £124 million to almost 11,000 local businesses via the Small Business and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business grants.

This is the third highest of any council in England.

A further £6.9 million of Local Authority Discretionary Grant funds has been paid to 639 businesses - the second highest in England.

Jason Longhurst, Strategic Director of Place, said: “Our staff have been working extremely hard to support local firms during the pandemic.

“This new grant will give local businesses some additional assistance to help them through what we hope is the final stages of Covid-19 restrictions.”

To find out more about the new Restart Grant and other support available through Bradford Council, visit www.bradford.gov.uk/business.