Liverpool City Region gets £8.1m scheme

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has received a further £8.1 million from the Government to support local businesses that have been hit by Covid-19.

The £8.1m secured is in addition to the £44m originally secured from the government’s Additional Restrictions Grant scheme was secured by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, following negotiations with government when the city region was first put into Tier Three restrictions in October 2020.

The additional funding will be known as the Trading On Scheme, to help city region economy with the impact of Covid-19. Each local authority, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral will receive a small amount of funding to help businesses severely impacted by the pandemic.

In a joint statement on 21^st October 2021, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, Cllr Mike Wharton, Leader, Halton Borough Council, Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader, Knowsley Borough Council, Joanne Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Ian Maher, Leader, Sefton Borough Council, Cllr David Baines, Leader, St. Helens Borough Council and Cllr Janette Williamson, Leader, Wirral Borough Council said:

“Throughout the past 18 months, we have worked together to project our region from the biggest challenge it has faced since the war. That collaboration, creativity and hard work resulted in millions of pounds of support that helped sustain thousands of businesses in all parts of our region through the worst of the pandemic.

 “More than £44m was distributed to more than 4,000 businesses, saving many more thousands of jobs and livelihoods in the process. We start our recovery from a much stronger position as a result.

 “That recovery is already well underway and received a massive boost in May, with the launch of Mayor Steve Rotheram’s £150m COVID Recovery Fund, which has allowed our region to get a headstart on the rest of the country.

 “Today, we’re launching another £8.1m of funding for SMEs, who make up a massive chunk of the local economy. Together, we are making sure that the Liverpool City Region has the fastest and strongest recovery possible, with no one left behind.”

What is the funding?
The funding comes from the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG).

What is the grant for?
The scheme will specifically support small and medium sized businesses and charities with between 10 – 249 employees who have been severely impacted by Covid-19.

Who can apply?
Businesses and charities that meet all the following criteria can apply:

• Can accept the grant under Subsidy Control/State Aid rules.
• Is viable and trading on or before 1st April 2021.
• Employ globally between 10 and 249 Full Time Equivalents (FTE) working at least 35 hours per week and are on payroll.
• Is based and has commercial property-related costs in Liverpool and can evidence 2021 annual rental costs including service charges and annual business rates (where applicable).
• Must demonstrate the business has been severely impacted as a result Covid-19.

You can read more about the application criteria here.

Who can’t apply?
Business or charities are not eligible for this grant if any of the following apply:

• They have received grant payments that, along with any grant funding that may be awarded under this scheme, exceed the maximum permitted levels of Subsidy Control.
• They employ fewer than 10 full time equivalent staff or greater than 249 staff.
• They cannot evidence loss.
• They are based in residential property.
• They are a mobile business without commercial property-related costs.
• They are advertising and billboard properties.
• They are predominantly funded by the public sector (e.g. schools and other education providers, care homes, health care settings)
• They are a place of worship (except organisations trading within these settings)
• Their businesses is dissolved or about to be dissolved.
• Their business is insolvent or has had insolvency action instigated against you, including any petition or subject to a striking off notice.
• Their business is dormant, i.e. not trading but not insolvent.

You can read more details about who cannot apply here.

When is the deadline?
Applications can be submitted up until Friday 12th November at 5pm, application forms can be found here.

For more information please contact us.