Colchester Borough Council backs Essex’s Business Adaptation Grant

Date issued: 30 October 2020

The £2.2million package for local businesses will provide extensive support for hospitality businesses across Essex; delivering capital grants of up to £1,500 to local SME hospitality businesses experiencing additional pressures after Essex was placed into the High local Covid alert level by the Government.

Cllr Mark Cory, Leader of Colchester Borough Council, said: “I have lobbied hard for support to be given to our struggling businesses in Colchester and I am glad Essex County Council are making this money available. Moving to High Covid alert level was the right decision based on the rapidly increasing Covid cases and the increasing hospital admissions.

“However, the move to a higher Covid alert level has brought huge challenges for local businesses and we are committed, alongside Essex, to support them during this time.

“This Business Adaptation Grant will support hospitality businesses across the borough, alongside the Government help announced last week. I encourage businesses to apply when we have the online form ready.

“In the meantime, I will continue to lobby government for greater financial support for businesses. Despite our best efforts, these remain small amounts, and businesses have been suffering for months. It is much better to provide support to save jobs and businesses rather than letting them go under due to no fault of their own.

“It would be a false economy to let businesses fail, rather than step in with greater support. We will end up with laid-off workers receiving benefits instead. I call on the Government to act, giving residents and businesses greater certainty about the months ahead.”

Additional details on the Business Adaptation Grant, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, will be published on Colchester Borough Council’s website next week; meanwhile, the Council urges businesses who need additional support to visit www.colchester.gov.uk/coronavirus/businesses

For more information on the scheme, read Essex County Council’s press release, Local businesses to benefit from £2.2m Essex Business Adaptation Grant.