Two further business support schemes are now live to support businesses affected by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
This means there are now three new financial support schemes available to businesses through funding that was announced by the Government before Christmas to help businesses in light of the Omicron variant.
The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG) has now been open for a week and we have already received hundreds of applications, which are being processed and payments have already started to go to the first applicants.
The information and application pages can be found here: www.manchester.gov.uk/ohlg
Two other grant schemes have now opened:
- Additional Restrictions Grant top up (ARG)
- COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF)
ARG is designed to support businesses that have been impacted by the latest Covid-19 variant but are not eligible for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG).
Businesses will need to demonstrate that they have been impacted by the on-going pandemic and that this grant will make a tangible difference to the ongoing success of the business.
All applications will be processed and businesses informed of the outcome as soon as possible.
Support will be available to:
- Manchester based businesses who are based and work out of the city of Manchester.
- Businesses who can demonstrate the impact of Omicron (submission of bank statements for Dec 19/20 and Dec 21/22
- Businesses who have and can demonstrate fixed property costs and overheads by means of lease agreement.
The information and application pages for ARG can be found here: www.manchester.gov.uk/oarg
The closing date for this scheme is Monday 7 February.
CARF is a fund to support those businesses affected by the pandemic that are ineligible for existing support linked to business rates (such as previous COVID related reliefs).
This is one of the first CARF funds to go live in the UK.
Businesses that did not receive the maximum Small Business Rates Relief or the Expanded Retail Discount can be considered.
The following property types are NOT eligible:
- shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues
- those used for assembly and leisure
- hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation
The information and application pages for CARF can be found here: www.manchester.gov.uk/carf
Both of these funds require businesses to act and apply through the Council’s website.
If a business is struggling and requires support, help is available.
Please contact Manchester’s Business Growth Hub on 0161 359 3050 visit www.businessgrowthhub.com
Their enquiries team are available:8.30am – 5.30pm Monday to Thursday & 8.30am – 5pm Friday
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said “Last week a new support fund went live to support Manchester’s hospitality and leisure industries, whose trading we know has been hit hard by the Omicron variant of the Christmas period – and at a vital time for the sector.
“This week two more Government support packages have gone live to help those businesses that weren’t eligible for the initial scheme. One is a cash grant and one is to support businesses through business rate relief. I would urge business to have a look at our website. If you’re not sure if you are eligible, put in an application and we’ll be in touch. “We will aim to support as many businesses as we can, but as these schemes are limited, we urge businesses to get their application in as soon as possible. We will let you know if you have been successful as soon as possible.”
