Lockdown grants now available to help Northampton's businesses stay afloat through lockdown

Northampton's businesses can now apply for the new round of grants to help them pay their bills during the second national lockdown.

As of Monday (November 16), the borough council has begun to roll out the new support scheme to distribute £2.913 million of funding allocated by central Government.

The money can be claimed by businesses who receive a rates bill from the council and are required to close during the current lockdown restrictions.

The fund will work the same way as in the first lockdown and is primarily aimed at small businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors who have had to close during this 28-day period.

It includes non-essential retail, leisure, personal care (such as hairdressers and nail salons), entertainment, sports facilities and hospitality.

Apply for a Covid-19 business relief grant from the borough council website here.Businesses that can apply are those who occupy a property on which they pay business rates, they were open and trading on 4 November 2020, and have been required to close for at least 4 weeks because of the national lockdown, or have adapted their business to offer takeaway or 'Click and Collect' service.

Three levels of grants are available depending on the rateable value of the business:

- For properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or under, grants will be £1,334 for the four weeks

- For properties with a rateable value of more than £15,000 and below £51,000, grants will be £2,000 for the four weeks

- For properties with a rateable value of £51,000 or over, grants will be £3,000 for the four weeks.

A single grant to cover the four-week period will be paid to each eligible business.

Councillor Jonathan Nunn, Leader of Northampton Borough Council, said: “Businesses in Northampton have been going through and incredibly tough time, but nevertheless make a huge contribution to the local economy and the life of the town, so and I’m pleased that we can continue to support them to get through these unprecedented circumstances.

“I would urge eligible businesses to apply as soon as possible so we can begin processing the grants and getting them out to you.”

A series of business support programmes and further grant funding is also being developed to support businesses who fall outside of these categories.