New Restart Grants scheme launched by the Government providing funding of up to £18,000 to eligible businesses. In a joint letter from Small Business Minister Paul Scully and Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston, the Government thanked councils for supporting businesses but highlights urgency of ongoing support calling on all 314 local authorities across England to deliver new COVID grants to businesses in good time and take a flexible approach to updated restrictions.

From today (1 April), businesses in England in the non-essential retail sector will be eligible for one-off grants of up to £6,000, while businesses in the hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym sectors, which are reopening later, will be eligible for one-off grants of up to £18,000. The £5 billion of government funding available through the Restart Grants scheme will be delivered by local authorities.

Small Business Minister Paul Scully said:

"Government grants have been critical in relieving cash flow pressures and enabling businesses to plan ahead, and I am urging councils to deliver these vital funds to where they are needed as soon as possible.

"We have made extraordinary efforts to stand by small business owners. Now we need to press on and continue getting money to them in good time to ensure that our communities are ready to build back better following the pandemic.

Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston said:

"Small businesses are the backbone of our tourism sector and a major part of what makes the UK a world-class destination. These vital funds will make a huge difference to businesses in our brilliant hospitality, accommodation and leisure sectors as we build back better from the pandemic.

"I urge councils to work at pace to distribute these grants and look forward to seeing their impact in communities across the country."