Hull City Council has launched a new business grant fund to help businesses that may have missed out on previous support during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Hull Business Discretionary Grant Fund is to help small businesses and charities not eligible for the Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund.

An online application form is now live on the council’s website.

The fund will allow small businesses and charities that have suffered loss of income due to Covid-19 to apply for grants of up to £10,000.

The discretionary fund is aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs.

It will prioritise businesses including those in shared or flexible workspaces without their own business rates assessment, such as those in units in industrial parks and business centres.

Regular market traders with fixed building costs are also eligible, as are small charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief.

Bed and breakfasts eligible to pay council tax rather than business rates can also apply for the grants. Other small businesses with fewer than 50 employees and which missed out on the earlier schemes can also apply.

The council has already distributed more than £40 million to support thousands of businesses in Hull.  The two earlier rates-related grants were based on having a business rates assessment, which unfortunately excluded a number of businesses from accessing grant support.

Apply for the Hull Business Discretionary Grant and find more details here.