Published: Wednesday, 22nd December 2021
We are deploying a two-pronged strategy to alleviate the financial pain inflicted on many local businesses over the last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, its Omicron variant.
Businesses across Royal Greenwich are encouraged to complete a new COVID-19 business impact survey. Feedback from the consultation will help the Council and its partner support agencies tailor their response and recovery strategies to current and emerging issues within the local business sector. Business owners can complete the survey by clicking this consultation link.
Secondly, the Council is asking local business owners to apply for a variety of grants that make up a £1 million pot to support recovery and growth. There are five available grants within the scheme that targets the hospitality and leisure sector, the retail sector, micro and small business enterprises as well as local town centres within the borough. There are several grants available that range in value from £2,000 to £75,000 depending on eligibility.
Online applications will be open until the application window closes on Sunday 16 January 2022 at 11:59pm. Businesses that are interested should visit the council's website as soon as possible to see if they are eligible.
Councillor Danny Thorpe, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “We are acutely aware of the need to supply all the support we can muster to aid the borough’s local economy.
“We know some of the challenges businesses presently face with staff absences, cancellations, lost bookings and more. To this end we need business owners to take part in our survey so we can better understand these challenges and what sort of reactive actions can help now and in the future."
Councillor Mariam Lolavar, Cabinet Member for Business & Economic Growth, said: “We hope this holistic approach, which includes both financial support through grants and direct local business consultation about how best to tailor our businesses support services, can offer relief during the rampant spread of the Omicron variant.”
We will also be exploring how the £1 billion funding for businesses announced yesterday by the Chancellor will be distributed. We will share the relevant information as soon as we know more.”