In order to support businesses which have been required to close due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Government has allocated £60m of financial support to Greater Manchester.
Bury Metropolitan Council has now received its allocation of these monies and as a result, the application process for eligible businesses has now opened.
These grants are available to businesses which have been required to close from:
- 23 March 2020 due to national restrictions, such as nightclubs. Grant payments are available for these businesses from 1 November and cannot be backdated.
- 23 October until 4 November 2020 due to Bury being placed in Local COVID Alert Level: Very High (Tier 3). These include pubs, bars, casinos, adult gaming establishments, betting shops and soft play centres.
- 5 November until 2 December 2020 due to national lockdown restrictions. These include the business affected by the Tier 3 restrictions as well as all non-essential retail, hospitality venues, accommodation, leisure and sports facilities, entertainment venues, personal care facilities, community centres and places of worship.
Bury Council have introduced several criteria for businesses to apply which are as follows:
- Your business was required to close from:
- 23 March 2020 because of national restrictions and has not reopened since then
- 23 October 2020 due to Local COVID Alert Level Very High (Tier 3 restrictions)
- 5 November 2020 as a result of national lockdown restrictions
- you were liable for business rates for the premises as at the date the lockdown was imposed
- your business was open as usual before the restrictions and was not in administration
- you are planning to reopen after the lockdown period ends
If your business provides an alternative service during lockdown, such as a restaurant or pub providing takeaway-only meals you will still be eligible as you have been required to close the part of your business that provides its main service.
These grants will be determined on the rateable value of your business, the following grants will be available every two weeks:
Rateable value of £15,000 or less - grant of £667
Rateable value of £15,001 and less than £51,000 - grant of £1,000
Rateable value of £51,000 or greater - grant of £1,500
You can apply for support grants here: