Hull businesses required to close in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are being urged to apply for a one-off grant worth up to £9,000 to help see them through the latest Covid-19 measures.

But Hull City Council is stressing that only businesses which have not yet applied for any Covid-related support should apply for the grant.

The local authority has confirmed that businesses which have applied for and were eligible for existing Local Restrictions Support Grants will not need to reapply as they will be automatically considered for the new payment, allowing the council to distribute funding as quickly as possible.

The Government announced the funding following news that most business in these sectors will be closed until at least February half-term in order to help control the spread of the virus.

The only retail premises able to remain open are those classed as essential retail – predominantly food and pharmacies. These premises will not be eligible for this grant.

Businesses in Hull with rates accounts which have not received a grant previously should apply for help under the Local Restrictions Support Grant scheme.

Businesses being adversely affected by restrictions but which are not required to close should apply on the Additional Restrictions Grant page. Businesses required to close, but which do not have their own rates account, should also apply under ARG. 

Businesses which have previously applied under ARG will not need to make a further application and those who have received a previous ARG payment, excluding those who received the £3,000 payment made pre-Christmas, will receive a second payment equal to the amount received previously.

The council is already receiving high numbers of applications, so business-owners should only contact the council’s business support team if absolutely necessary. They can be contacted by emailing business.support@hullcc.gov.uk, providing application reference number, detail of business and address.

The council is committed to supporting businesses which are compliant with the Covid-19 requirements for safe operation and actively manage their activities to ensure public safety.

Councillor Daren Hale, deputy leader of Hull City Council, said: “As we enter the most recent stage of measures to combat Covid-19, many business-owners, and in particular those in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors in Hull, will understandably be worried about the future of their business. These grants should provide some security.

“It is vital that we as a council do all we can to help these business-owners to ensure the city’s economy can recover as quickly as possible. Our business support team is working extremely hard to ensure all businesses get the help they need to survive these latest restrictions. We are doing all we can within the terms of the grants to support those businesses in need.”

For guidance on whether a business should be closed, how to ensure a business is Covid-19 secure and any other restrictions on business trading, contact the council's Public Protection team on FoodHealth&safety@hullcc.gov.uk.

Find more information about the funding at gov.uk.