Liverpool City Region leaders announce deadline extension for £8.1m scheme to support COVID-hit businesses

The new window for applications opens 10.00 am Monday 29th November 2021 and closes 5.00 pm Friday 10th December 2021.  Businesses that have already applied are being appraised and do not need to reapply.

The additional £8.1m to support local businesses – known as the Trading On scheme – was secured by the Liverpool City Region after it successfully distributed more than £44m in emergency funding to more than 4000 businesses across the city region.

The original £44m 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 £8.1m in funding available under the Trading On Scheme is allocated to the city region’s six local authorities, proportionate to population.  This latest support scheme will specifically support small or medium-sized businesses (SMEs), with between 10 and 249 employees.

In a joint statement about the Trading On Scheme, 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 protect 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.

“We launched this additional £8.1m of funding for SMEs, that make up a massive chunk of the local economy, and are extending the deadline for applications so it can benefit as many local businesses as possible. Together, we are making sure that the Liverpool City Region has the fastest and strongest recovery possible, with no one left behind.”

The government requires each council to exercise its local knowledge and judgment in devising a grant scheme that aligns best with the particular economic characteristics of its area by funding those businesses that have been severely impacted by Covid-19. Because of this and the limited amount of funding available, the amounts of grant funding for individual businesses will vary across different local authority areas.

For more information on the individual schemes, including eligibility and how to apply, businesses should visit their local council website.