If you are self-employed or a small business owner based in Lewisham, who has been affected by national lockdown restrictions, you might be eligible for a one-off cash payment of up to £9,000.
The second phase of our Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) scheme launches today. It offers support payments to local businesses that have been forced to close or severely impacted by COVID-19 but are not entitled to the Closed Business Lockdown Payment.
We are welcoming applications from businesses in all sectors but are prioritising the following:
• Shared workspaces
Small businesses and social enterprises operating from shared offices or flexible workspaces that do not have their own business rates assessment, with a rateable value of less than £51,000.
• Cultural, Creative, and Evening and Night Time Economy
Small businesses and social enterprises in the ‘Cultural, Creative and Evening and Night Time Economy’ sectors with a rateable value of less than £51,000.
• Childcare Providers
Lewisham registered childcare settings which have been severely impacted due to COVID-19 restrictions.
• Home-Based Businesses
Established businesses operating from the homes of their owners. You will need to provide:
• proof that the business is your main source of income – through Companies House or HMRC registration
• the last 12 months trading records
• pre-COVID revenue of £10k or more
•Affordable Workspace Providers
These are independent providers who cater predominantly to the creative and digital sectors, providing affordable workspace.
The ARG is a discretionary grant which is funded by the government but administered by the Council, based on local priorities. Applications for phase two close on 31 March 2021 or when the grant allocation has been fully administered.
Find out whether you meet the eligibility criteria for the ARG and apply.
Are you eligible for our lockdown grants?
If your business was legally forced to close due to national lockdown restrictions which started on 5 January 2021, you could be eligible for our two lockdown grants.
The National Lockdown Grant (3) and one-off Closed Business Lockdown Payment (CBLP) launched last week and are only available to business rates payers.
Businesses that are eligible for National Lockdown Grant (3) are also eligible for the CBLP. We are inviting applications from businesses in the following sectors:
• non-essential retail
• leisure
• personal care
• sports facilities
• hospitality sectors
If you have already applied for the Local Restrictions Support Grants for November 2020 you won’t need to do anything. Your applications and payments will be processed automatically.
Businesses that have not previously applied for any Local Restrictions Support Grants will need to complete an online application form.
Full details of our lockdown grants and all previous Local Restrictions Support Grants are available on our website. Click here to check your eligibility and apply.
Rapid Covid-19 testing available for frontline workers
If you and/ or your employees cannot work from home and are in frontline or public-facing roles out in the community, it ispossible that you could be inadvertently spreading COVID-19. One in three people with the virus have no symptoms and could pass it on without realising.
To help protect everyone in your workplace and the wider community, we recommend getting tested for COVID-19 twice a week. If your business employs 50 people or more, you can now access rapid tests via the government website.
If you are a business with fewer than 50 employees please get in touch as we can either arrange dedicated slots for your workers at one of our rapid test centres, or outreach testing at your workplace.
Find out more about community testing
Save on energy bills for your business while also helping the environment
Do you want to save on your company energy bills and generate your own clean electricity? Having your own solar panels can be an intelligent investment; not only can you save on your energy bills, but you will be powering your business with renewable energy.
Lewisham Council is partnering with the Mayor of London on Solar Together, London. This is an initiative that makes the purchase of solar panels as cost effective and hassle-free as possible, giving Lewisham businesses the opportunity to buy solar panels, battery storage and even electric car charging points at a competitive price. Register for free today!
Local café owner shares his thoughts on managing a business during COVID-19
We caught up with Nolan West who runs Rise Café in Brockley. He shares his experiences of running a business in Lewisham during the COVID-19 pandemic. He explains how takeaway burgers have boosted his menu and how the support he’s received from the council has made a difference. Read the full story in our latest blog post.