On Tuesday 9th June Derby City Council reached a milestone of issuing £40m worth of grants to struggling businesses in the city.

The Council announced its support package in early April and has now almost completed the processing of grants to around 3300 businesses of £10,000 and £25,000 with less than 100 remaining.

However, there is still more money available to support those small businesses and charities who were not eligible for the main grant scheme.

The ‘top up’ grant scheme is still open to support those struggling to meet their fixed building related costs during COVID-19

The grant, which is open to applications until Friday 19th June, is aimed at those who have not been eligible for any other central Government COVID-19 related schemes in areas such as:

  • Creatives – dressmakers, artists, tattooist, jewellery makers
  • Digital – web designers, graphic designers
  • Personal services – hairdressers, beauty therapists, physiotherapists
  • Professional Services – book-keepers, accountants
  • Charities/social enterprises
  • Travel
  • Children’s day care/nurseries
  • Bed & Breakfasts & furnished holiday lets that are registered for council tax.

For eligible businesses, an award of up to 3 months pro-rata fixed property costs will be available, up to a maximum of £10,000 total grant. Businesses will be required to upload evidence of their fixed property costs for the months of February, March and April 2020, to support their claim. Businesses with a rateable value of over £51k are welcome to apply but may not be prioritised.

All businesses applying for the grant will need to meet the following criteria set out by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

  • Businesses that have a business property which has fixed ongoing costs (primarily rent/mortgage, service charge, business rates, property insurance and utilities).
  • Businesses can show that COVID-19 has had a significant negative effect on their income
  • Must be a micro/small business as defined by the Company Act 2006
  • Businesses that were trading on 11th March 2020

To apply for the top up scheme, complete the application at MyAccount portal where businesses are asked to confirm they meet set criteria and also provide supporting documentation in order to streamline the decision-making process.

Cllr Nicola Roulstone, Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement said:

I’m delighted we’ve reached this milestone and have been able to support so many of our businesses here in Derby and whilst we know things are still very difficult, we hope there is now light at the end of the tunnel as we move out of lockdown and start opening up the city again. I encourage those small businesses and charities who have not yet applied to the ‘top up’ scheme to do so as soon as possible so they don’t miss out as the window will close on the 19th June.