Sandwell Council has launched the application process for businesses to apply for support grants if they have been forced to closed due to the latest national government restrictions.

The online application is now available for business owners to complete at sandwell.gov.uk/supportforbusinesses.

These grants apply to businesses including hair salons, gyms, hospitality and non-essential retail who are forced to close from 5 November to 2 December.

Councillor Wasim Ali, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for resources urges business owners to apply for these ‘life-line’ grants. He said:

"Our teams have worked very quickly to get this process up and running so we can get grants to eligible businesses.

"During the last national lockdown we paid out more than £56million to over 5,000 businesses in Sandwell.

"We understand this is a really difficult time and these grants can be a life-line for our local businesses so we aim to get these grants to those who need them as quickly as possible.

"I urge Sandwell business owners affected to apply online."

The government has set out criteria for eligibility and the amounts payable to businesses. Grants range from £1,334 for smaller businesses up to £3,000 for larger businesses. 

Sandwell Council will aim to process applications as quickly as possible and hope no business owner who meets the criteria will wait for more than 28 days for a grant payment.

Other grant schemes will be available to business owners over the coming weeks including a discretionary grant scheme aimed at helping businesses which have been affected by a downturn in trade due to local government restrictions.