Millions of pounds in coronavirus grants still available in England: Is your business eligible?

Businesses in England can still access funding through two of the government's schemes to support businesses negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) was set up in October 2020 to support businesses not eligible for other funding.

Local councils have the freedom to decide how to allocate the grants. ARG has been handed out as three payments to local councils and the government says they should be targeted as follows:

• First payment: Businesses from all sectors that may have been severely impacted by restrictions but were not eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) and Closed Business Lockdown Payment (CBLP) schemes.

• Second payment: Businesses from all sectors that may have been severely impacted by restrictions but were not eligible for the Restart Grant scheme, and those sectors that remained closed or were severely impacted by extended restrictions, even if those businesses had already been in receipt of Restart Grants.

• Third payment: Businesses severely impacted by the rise of the Omicron variant.

Councils must spend all their allocation of ARG funding by 31 March 2022 or the government will take it back.

On 15 March, the government said £234 million still has to be allocated to businesses through the ARG scheme.

Omicron: Extra £102 million for Additional Restrictions Grant

On 21 December, the government announced that it is providing councils with another £102 million in funding for the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme to help businesses impacted by the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

According to new government guidance, councils started to receive the new £102 million in ARG funding on 30 December.

The new funding must be used to support businesses severely impacted by the rise of the Omicron variant. Unlike previous top-up payments, it cannot be used to fund business support schemes.

Additional Restrictions Grant funding currently available

Councils are using a wide variety of eligibility to support businesses. Here's a selection of the latest schemes:

• Reigate and Banstead Borough Council has £148,000 of funding to support local businesses severely affected by the pandemic. Grants of up to £10,000 are available. Applications close on 18 March.

• Barnet Council has grants of up to £6,000 for businesses that have been adversely affected financially by the spread of Omicron. Applications close at 11.59pm on 18 March.

• Three Rivers District Council has grants of up to £3,000 for businesses working from commercial premises which do not pay rates, and businesses based from home or alternative locations. Applications close at midnight on 18 March.

• Carlisle City Council has grants available for various businesses. The deadline for applications is 18 March.

• Waverley Borough Council has grants for businesses with income/turnover that has decreased by at least 25% since December 2021. The deadline for applications is 18 March.

• Boston Borough Council will reopen its Additional Restrictions Grant for applications at 12pm on 17 March.

• Adur and Worthing Councils have funding for businesses that are struggling and are not covered by other grant schemes or where additional funding is needed. The deadline for applications is 18 March.

This is not an exhaustive list of all Additional Restrictions Grant funding in England. To find out what's available in your area, visit your local council's website.

Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant funding

The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant was launched in December 2021 in response to the impact of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. It provides one-off grant funding for hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses.

The grants are as follows:

• Businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under receive £2,667.

• Businesses with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 receive £4,000.

• Businesses with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or over receive £6,000.

The scheme closes for applications on 18 March 2022 and final payments must be made to businesses by 31 March 2022.

On 15 March, the government said £330 million still has to be allocated to businesses through the ARG scheme.

To apply, visit your local council's website.